Susan Close has good news for River Murray irrigators
The state government has announced how much of their water entitlements they will be able to access in 2022-23.
River Murray irrigators will be able to use 100 per cent of their water entitlements during the next year, the state government has announced.
Local growers will benefit from wet conditions across the Murray-Darling Basin, including floods that have wiped out lettuce crops in Queensland.
Water storages across the basin are currently at 94% capacity.
Climate, Environment and Water Minister Susan Close said the new state government was determined to make the River Murray a priority for South Australia again.
That would mean delivering the water savings for the environment promised in the Murray-Darling Basin Plan on time and in full.
It would also mean undoing a deal made by the previous government which determined how 450 gigalitres of that water could be recovered, a deal which was later criticised by the Royal Commission into the basin plan.
The state government has also promised to hire a River Murray Commissioner to improve South Australia’s water management processes.
You can help keep local stories like this one free for everyone to read. Subscribe to Murray Bridge News today and support your independent, locally owned news service, plus get access to exclusive stories you won’t find anywhere else, from just $5 a month.
