Locals contribute to Murray Darling Basin Plan review

More than 50 Murraylands irrigators, environmental managers and community members have so far had their say on the biggest review of water policy in more than a decade.

About 55 showed up at Murray Bridge RSL on February 26 as part of an ongoing consultation on the future of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, the agreement which governs how water is used across eastern Australia.

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s Scott Ashby said his team had had a constructive discussion with locals about the issues that mattered along this stretch of the River Murray.

“Many people raised the importance of improving water quality and continuing to manage salinity, and there was strong interest in the early sustainable diversion limit assessments,” he said, referring to a review of the limits on how much water can be taken out of the river system.

“Several community members also highlighted the Coorong South Lagoon as an area needing more attention.

“Communities also raised concerns around South Australia receiving enough flow to ensure both environmental and irrigated agriculture sustainability are achieved.”

In all of the South Australian communities the team had visited, he said, people understood that there were competing priorities along the river, and that people needed to work together to preserve the Murray for future generations.

He encouraged anyone with an interest in the river system to make a submission to the review.

• Have your say: Visit www.getinvolved.mdba.gov.au/2026basinplanreview or phone 1800 230 067 by 5pm on May 1.
• Read more: River Murray’s future put up for discussion as Basin Plan review begins