[email protected] Murray Darling Association Inc. www.mda.asn.au T (03) 5480 3805 ABN: 64 636 490 493
463 High Street P.O. Box 1268 Echuca, Vic 3564 MEETING AGENDA
75th Annual General Meeting Wednesday 23rd October 2019 - 3.30pm - The Annex, City Hall, Toowoomba
1. WELCOME 1.1 Welcome - National President, Cr David Thurley 1.2 Guest Presentation: TAGGLE Systems – IoT Sensor Technology
2. ATTENDANCE 2.1 Present 2.2 Apologies 2.3 Declaration of Interests
3. PREVIOUS MINUTES 3.1 Minutes Meeting held Thursday 30th August, 2018, Leeton Soldiers Club.
4. REPORTS 4.1 2019 Annual Report 4.2 2019 Financial Statements (pp.42-47)
5. MOTIONS ON NOTICE Motions 5.1 All regions - Board Special Motion- Constitution amendment 5.2 Region 4 RAMSAR listing Menindee Lakes 5.3 All regions - Board Minimum flows Barwon and Lower Darling River 5.4 Region 10 Drought preparedness 5.5 Region 10 Barwon Darling priorities – safe supply 5.6 Region 9 Integrated delivery SDLAM 5.7 Region 9 Consequences of water trade 5.8 Region 9 Water Resource Plans deadline 5.9 Region 9 Balancing solar and irrigated farming 5.10 Region 6 Regional chair post local government elections 5.11 Region 6 Proxy attendance at MDA Board meetings 5.12 Region 6 Investment in nutrient load research 5.13 Region 6 Agricultural productivity target 5.14 Region 6 Population growth 5.15 Region 5 Support for water trade inquiry 5.16 Region 5 Trading data 5.17 Region 4 Water storages accounting 5.18 All regions - Board Renewable energies 5.19 Region 4 Traditional owners’ recognition 5.20 Region 12 Western River Diversion 5.21 All regions - Board Productivity Commission Inquiry
6. NEXT MEETING DATE: Thursday 13th August 2020 - Shepparton
7. CLOSE
[email protected] Murray Darling Association Inc. www.mda.asn.au T (03) 5480 3805 ABN: 64 636 490 493
463 High Street P.O. Box 1268 Echuca, Vic 3564 MINUTES
74th Annual General Meeting Thursday August 30th, 2018 Leeton Soldiers Club Trust.Unity.Equity.GROWTH
1. WELCOME 1.1 Welcome - National President, Cr David Thurley
Cr Thurley welcomed delegates to the 2018 AGM and declared the meeting open at 3.30pm.
2. ATTENDANCE 2.1 Present Heather Barclay Rural City of Murray Bridge Cr Julie Barrie Coorong District Council Cr Ross Bodey Berrigan Shire Emma Bradbury Murray Darling Association Mayor Norm Brennan Edward River Council Adrian Butler Federation Council Cr John Campbell Gunnedah Shire Council Cr Russell Campbell Carrathool Shire Council Andrew Crakanthorp Riverina Water County Council Mayor John Dal Broi Griffith City Council Cr Denis Davey City of Playford Cr Barry Featherston Alexandrina Council Cr Donald Forbes Tenterfield Shire Council Pauline Frost Life member Peter George M+S Accounting Cr Mark Hall Lachlan Shire Council Cr Wes Hall Narrandera Shire Council Cr Shirley Halls City of Playford Cr Stephen Heywood Wentworth Shire Council Mayor Barry Hollman Bourke Shire Council Cr Peter Hunter Renmark Paringa Council Rita Jackson City of Playford Andrew Johns Gunnedah Shire Council Cr Trevor Jolliffe Balranald Shire Council Cr Colin Jones Berrigan Shire Gerard José Mildura Rural City Council
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Cr Andrew Kassebaum Berri Barmera Council Jackie Kruger Leeton Shire Council Andrew Lawson Albury City Council Vern Leng Coorong District Council Cr Fred Longmire Federation Council Geoff Lucas Lucas Mills Cr Jane MacAllister Wentworth Shire Council Cr Ian Mann Mid Murray Council Shen Mann Alexandrina Council Cr Peter Mansfield Moira Shire Council Mayor Richard Marsh Balonne Shire Council Mayor Paul Maytom Leeton Shire Council Mayor Ruth McRae Murrumbidgee Council Adam McSwain Edward River Council Cr Jason Modica Mildura Rural City Council Mayor Jenny O’Connor Indigo Shire Council Cr Samantha O’Toole Balonne Shire Council Cr Dennis Patterson Greater Shepparton City Council Cr Geoff Pritchard Snowy Valleys Council Cr Alan Purtill Balranald Shire Council Cr Tony Quinn Greater Hume Shire Council Cr Peter Raison Mid Murray Council Cr Adriaan Sakko Mid Murray Council Cr Clem Schubert Rural City of Murray Bridge Cr David Shetliffe Town of Walkerville Cr Cor Smit Snowy Valleys Council Amanda Spalding Hay Shire Council Bede Spannagle Riverina Water County Council Brett Stonestreet Griffith City Council Cr David Thurley Albury City Council Cr Andrew Tilley Mitcham City Council Cr Frank Tuckwell Alexandrina Council Greg Verdon Riverina Water County Council Cr Jenny Webb Forbes Shire Council Cr George Weston Leeton Shire Council Cr Terry Weston Greater Hume Shire Council Greg Whorlow Albury City Council Cr Frances Young Gwydir Shire Council Cr Dino Zappacosta Griffith City Council
2.2 Apologies Michael McCormack Deputy Prime Minister David Littleproud Federal Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources Vickie Chapman South Australian Deputy Premier Mick Gentleman Australian Capital Territory Minister for the Environment and Heritage Lisa Neville Victorian Minister for Water Neil Andrew OAM Chair, Murray-Darling Basin Authority Mayor Paul Antonio Toowoomba Regional Council Lui Basile Richard Beasley SC Senior Counsel Assisting the Commissioner, Murray-Darling Basin Royal Commission Des Bilske Murray River Council
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Andrew Broad Federal Member for Mallee Mayor Dave Burgess Mid Murray Council Tony Burke Shadow Minister for Environment and Water Mayor Denis Clark Northern Areas Council Jenny Coppock Australian Taxation Office Julie Davies Balonne Shire Council Tim Fisher Assistant Secretary, Murray-Darling Basin Policy Branch Denis Flett Chairman, Victorian Environmental Water Holder Cr Tim Elstone Wentworth Shire Council Andrew Garratt Manager of Water Relationships, New South Wales Department of Industry Jim Geltch CEO, Nuffield International Mike Hammond Maritime Division, New South Wales RMS Professor Barry Hart Emeritus Professor Monash University Jo Haw Gannawarra Shire Council Michelle Head Albury City Council Mayor Melisa Hederics Wentworth Shire Council Terry Hillman Craig James CSIRO Cr Peter Jamieson Port Adelaide Enfield Council Peter Kozlowski Wentworth Shire Council Richard Lee Albury City Council Keith Loeser Margaret Killalea Greater Hume Council Mayor Neil Martinson Renmark Paringa Council Penny McGrath Victorian Department of Justice Mayor Tanya Milligan Lockyer Valley Regional Council Craig Moffitt Murrumbidgee Council Raymond Najar Managing Director, Greenwood Holdings Chris Norman Chief Executive Officer, Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority Don Oberin Life member Cr Steve O’Halloran Balranald Shire Council Cr Garth Palmer City of West Torrens Tony Pasin Federal Member for Barker Kevin Pell Life member Tim Peverell New South Wales Transport – Roads and Maritime Service Juliana Phelps Towong Shire Council Tony Piccolo State Member for Light (South Australia) Andrew Powell Queensland Shadow Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Glenn Rappensberg Alexandrina Council Rob Rendell Senior Fellow, RMGC Consulting Michael Reneham Murray Irrigation Rebekha Sharkie Federal Member for Mayo Rod Shaw Director, Federal Department of Agriculture and Water Resources Josh Thomas Senior Advisor, Federal Minister for the Environment and Energy Mick Veitch New South Wales Shadow Minister for Primary Industries, Lands and Western NSW Bret Walker SC Commissioner, Murray-Darling Basin Royal Commission Peter Walsh Victorian Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Regional Victoria and Decentralisation Tim Whetstone South Australian Minister for Primary Industries and Regional
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Development
2.3 Declaration of Interests Nil
3. PREVIOUS MINUTES
Motion: That the minutes of the 73rd AGM, held on October 12th, 2017 in Renmark, SA be adopted as an accurate record of that meeting. Moved: Cr P Mansfield/Cr A Sakko Carried
4. REPORTS 4.1 2018 Annual Report
Motion: That the Murray Darling Association receive the Annual Report for the year ending June 30th, 2018. Moved: Cr D Thurley/Cr D Shetliffe Carried
4.2 2018 Financial Report
Motion: That the Murray Darling Association adopt the 2017-18 Annual Finance Reports.
Moved: P George/Cr B Featherston Carried
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5. MOTIONS ON NOTICE
5.1 Region 1 Albury City Council
Objective: To mitigate adverse economic impact on visitation dependent regional economies across the Murray Darling Basin caused by low water levels during peak visitation periods.
Key Arguments: The Murray-Darling Basin Authority operates the Murray River system on behalf of Basin Governments. The Basin consists of 23 major river systems and is the home to more than 2 million people.
The Murray River is integral to the Basin, spanning three states and being the primary water supply for the majority of the Basin communities. The river is 2520 kilometres in length and includes four major storages, 16 storage weirs and 15 locks which assist in providing water for urban, recreational, industrial, agricultural, and environmental purposes.
Storage levels and subsequent releases are directly related to demand. Under current legislation the Manager of River Operations manages these storage levels and flows based on water consumption demands such as agricultural, urban populations and environmental initiatives. However, it is important that tourism be included the water demand equation. While tourism is not a consumptive water process, storage levels and river flows influence the social and economic livelihood of the basin communities.
Tourism in the Murray Region included more than 5.3 million domestic and international visitors during 2017. These visitors stayed 8.7 million nights and contributed a total of $1.4 billion to the local economy. What is paramount to this level of tourism is the availability of suitable storage and water levels to ensure water-based activities can be enjoyed.
A decrease in demand for agricultural and environmental flows often coincides with Easter which is a high tourism period along the Murray River. In the past, river levels have significantly decreased in the week leading up to Easter, reducing the appeal and economic benefit to the region that relies heavily on water-based activities. Similarly changes in water consumption demand has resulted in significant river flow reduction in the lead up to Australia Day and typical an extended weekend and stay in our region.
We urge the River Operations Manager to consider tourism as a water demand player when adjusting storage and river flow. This is in line with a healthy, working Murray Darling Basin and the aim of the Basin Plan to ensure that water is shared between all users in a sustainable manner.
Moved: Cr D Thurley/A Lawson
That the Manager of River Operations, Murray-Darling Basin Authority, take into account how river levels impact on Basin communities during peak tourism periods. Furthermore, the Murray-Darling Basin Authority regulate river flows to the greatest extent possible so that there is adequate flow to support tourist activities along the Murray River, especially during periods of high tourism activity, including Christmas, school holidays, Australia Day, and Easter. in consultation with effected councils, the MDA, and the environmental water holders to ensure positive social, economic and environmental outcomes are achieved.
Carried
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5.2 Region 1 Indigo Shire
Objective: To provide for the issuing of a licence or licences to extract water for commercial purposes, and the impact on agricultural activity, aquifer management, and community concern, to be better reflected in the legislation, particularly in the Victorian Water Act 1989.
Key Arguments: Indigo Shire Council and the community are united in the view that the matter of water extraction, particularly in high class agricultural areas, should face greater scrutiny and articulation within the legislation which governs the activity ie the Victorian Water Act, and the Victorian Planning and Environment Act, and associated Planning Scheme provisions.
Council also contends that the practice of converting part of existing water licences to commercial use will potentially proliferate across the state, and that the MDA, as a lead agency for local government, should undertake a strong advocacy program to represent the concerns and issues of local councils like Indigo.
Council also takes the view that the Water Act in Victoria is a product of a previous time when the management and use of water did not have the influential factors affecting it.
The issues of climate change, longer dry periods, community demands for local and sustainable food production, protection of high quality agricultural land, and greater community awareness of natural resource preservation, all bring the need for a review and potential change to the provisions of the Water Act, and the subsequent relationship with the Planning and Environment Act and local Planning Scheme provisions.
The extraction of water for commercial use is a matter which is causing significant concern within the community and within Council. Council is determined to support change to the legislation which governs such activities, and the submission of a motion to the MDA National Conference and AGM is one part of Council’s approach.
Moved: Cr J O’Connor/G José
[That] The Murray Darling Association advocate to the Minister for Water in the Victorian Parliament that an amendment be made to the Water Act 1989 in Section 51. That the Minister in considering an application for a Commercial Water Licence to take and use ground water ( as per section 51 ) be required to take into account i) community consultation and concerns, ii) the effect of the application in regard to horticulture and agriculture, iii) the effect on other bores for domestic and stock purposes, iv) the effect on water use in nearby towns and villages, v) the effect on the environment, the effect on in flows to reservoirs required for domestic uses, vi) consultation with the local authority / Council or Shire and vii) the purposes for which the water is being extracted.
Carried
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5.3 Region 2 Berrigan Shire
Objective: To ensure that the National Carp Control Plan continues to be adequately supported and resourced to investigate the merits of a range of strategies to reduce the numbers of this aquatic pest in our waterways.
Further, to ensure that local government has the means and opportunities to inform the development of the plan and to, without initial costs to be borne by local communities, be able respond to any required managed clean-up process.
Key Arguments: • Councils across Australia will be directly impacted by strategies to control carp, particularly with the release of a biological control.
• The impact of eradicating carp will be directly and immediately felt at local level and may pose a significant risk to water quality, human health and regional amenities
• Councils have established Emergency Management Plans and the staff and expertise to implement these.
• It is essential that the National Carp Control Plan provides adequate coordination and information to local government at a structural level to ensuring a coordinated emergency management response, if required.
Moved: Cr P Mansfield/P Frost
That the Murray Darling Association: a) Continues to support the National Carp Control Plan to undertake robust analysis of the impacts of the release of biological control on carp in Australia’s waterways; and b) Calls on the National Carp Control Plan to engage strongly with local government to ensure that local government Emergency Management Plans are adequately informed to respond to any managed or unmanaged release of the virus.
Carried
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5.4 Region 3
Objective: To ensure that any future projects or strategies to address the natural constraint that is the Barmah Choke incorporates sufficient planning and regulatory oversites, informed by local government to balance the needs of our environmental assets; the health and wellbeing of our towns and communities; the supply demands arising out of existing, new and emerging industries including the proliferation of permanent plantings downstream of the Choke; and the stated objectives in delivering the Murray Darling Basin Plan.
Key Arguments: • The Barmah Choke is a narrow section of the River Murray through the Barmah-Millewa Forest.
• The channel capacity of the Barmah Choke is about 8,500 ML per day downstream of Picnic Point.
• Winter and spring flooding, caused by the Choke, is critical to the health of the forest. River regulation has reduced the frequency and size of winter and spring floods and has increased the incidence of unseasonal flooding in summer and autumn, leading to a decline in the health of forest ecosystems.
• During summer and autumn, river operation aims to keep flows at or below channel capacity to minimise unseasonal flooding of the Barmah-Millewa Forest.
• This constraint provides challenges in meeting downstream peak water use demands and transferring water to Lake Victoria and South Australia, even in relatively dry years.
• The constraint has led to a restriction in water trade from areas upstream to downstream of the Barmah Choke.
• Communities and industry both above and below the choke have significant investment in environmental assists, agricultural productivity, water delivery infrastructure and community services.
• It is essential that detailed planning in collaboration with related councils and communities is undertaken to effectively balance competing priorities and objectives in any work undertake in relation to future projects relating to the Barmah Choke.
Moved: Cr S Halls/Cr A Kassebaum
That the Murray Darling Association call on State and Federal governments and water management agencies to: a) Recognise the relationship between the capacity of the Barmah Choke and maintaining environmental assets; towns and communities; and the increasing demand for water for irrigation purposes arising from existing farming enterprise and the current proliferation of permanent plantings; and b) Works with local government to establish an integrated approach to planning provisions that are consistent with achieving the social, environmental, cultural, and economic objectives of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
Carried
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5.5 Murray Darling Association
Objective: To establish an agreed definition for socio-economic neutrality in the context for the Water Act 2001 - Basin Plan 2012, and a fair, equitable and agreed framework for assessing it.
Key Arguments: The Water Act 2007 (‘the Act’) provides for the recovery of an additional 450 gigalitres (GL) of water (‘upwater’) within the Murray-Darling Basin by 2024, above and beyond the 2750 GL to be recovered by 2019 under the MDBP. Unlike the 2750 GL, impacts of recovery of this water must be socioeconomically neutral.
Section 7.17 of the Basin Plan provides the criteria for neutral or improved socio-economic outcomes of the improved efficiency contributions to be evidenced by willing participation of consumptive water users in projects that recover water through works that improve irrigation and on-farm water efficiency, or where Basin States assess that neutrality can be achieved through alternative arrangements. This is despite clear evidence that these measures can have significant adverse socio-economic impacts regionally.
This provision for socio-economic neutrality is inconsistent with accepted definitions of socioeconomic impacts, which state that these impacts are not only felt directly, but also indirectly through flow-on effects on other individuals and groups. The provision is also inconsistent with Commonwealth guidelines on socioeconomic impact assessment.
The MDA has partnered with the CSIRO and the University of Canberra to scope out a project that will enable local government and the communities we serve to inform the development of a fair and equitable definition socio-economic neutrality and an assessment framework that will leverage existing work by the EY, Aither, the MDBA and others. We are seeking your support to call on government to support this initiative, to build trust and confident in the Basin Plan, and to establish a pathway for the 450GL that is consistent with intention of the legislation.
Moved: Cr D Thurley/Cr B Featherston
That the Murray Darling Association calls on the Commonwealth and all Basin state governments to commit to a) review the definition of socioeconomic neutrality in the context of the Murray- Darling Basin, b) adopt a definition consistent with existing Commonwealth standards and guidelines, and c) resource the development of an assessment framework that incorporates consistent local government participation.
Carried
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5.6 Region 6 Coorong District Council
Key Arguments: The Climate Change Adaptation Plan for the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin identifies protection of the Lakes & Coorong region in response to rising sea levels as a priority area of future decision-making and makes a number of recommendations regarding possible adaptation responses. These recommendations include:
• commencing social engagement to increase community awareness and to promote informed debate about the future operation and location of the barrages;
• adaptation or modification of the barrages for faster operation to provide better ability to manage high-water levels on the estuary side of the barrages; and
• raising the height of, or relocating, the barrages, as a long-term solution.
Current projections from the CSIRO’s Climate Change in Australia website indicates that sea levels in the Murray Basin region could rise above the 1986-2005 level by up to 0.64M by 2090 under a medium emissions scenario and by up to 0.84m by 2090 under a high emissions scenario. We also know that climate change is likely to result in lower average rainfall patterns and more frequent and extreme droughts. We understand CSIRO has predicted that median river flows in the southern Murray-Darling Basin will decline 13% by 2030.
Whilst the existing barrages do have some inbuilt adaptive capacity, it is generally accepted that under these long-term projected conditions the barrages would struggle to perform their function on a regular basis without adaptation.
A number of preliminary investigations on the implications of sea level rise and climate change for the CLLMM region have been undertaken (including one in 2005 for the then State Government Department of Environment and Heritage, another in 2009 by CSIRO for the SA Murray Darling Basin NRM Board, and another in 2011 for the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility) but as yet, no detailed modelling has been publicly released on the impacts of varying levels of sea level rise and river flows on the functioning of the Coorong and Lower Lakes system. Nor are we aware of any detailed quadruple-bottom line assessments (i.e. social, economic, cultural and environmental) of potential adaptation responses.
The barrages are “River Murray Operation Assets” and jointly controlled by the Australian, New South Wales, Victorian and South Australian governments. By agreement of the four asset controlling governments, the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) manages the River Murray Operation Assets and under this structure, SA Water is appointed as the operating authority. It is thus beyond the scope of local government to have primary responsibility for undertaking climate change adaptation planning for the Coorong and Lower Lakes.
It took many decades for Basin states to agree on and then construct the current barrages and we can expect that developing and implementing an adaptation pathway for this critical infrastructure will play out over a similarly long timeframe. Given the long lead time required for decision-making of this kind, it is important that initial steps to gather the evidence base are taken sooner rather than later.
Moved: Cr J Barrie/Cr V Leng
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That the Murray Darling Association calls on the South Australian and Federal Governments to undertake a detailed climate vulnerability assessment and adaptation plan for the Coorong and Lower Lakes, which should include but not necessarily be limited to: a) modelling the impacts of varying levels of sea level rise and river flows on the functioning of the Coorong and Lower Lakes system; b) a review of existing literature and commissioning of further modelling and research to evaluate the likely social, economic, environmental, and cultural impacts of possible adaptation responses; and c) delivery of a supporting community education and engagement strategy to facilitate informed community discussion about a preferred climate change adaptation pathway for the Coorong and Lower Lakes system.
Carried
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5.7 Board – Murray Darling Association
Objective: To ensure that the MDA’s regional boundaries and groupings reflect current and emerging alignments of local government across the Murray Darling Basin to optimise the association’s productivity, efficiency, and efficacy.
Key Arguments: The Constitution, at Part 5, section 15 (2) provides that
the Regions of the MDA shall be made up of those local government municipal areas determined and as amended from time to time by resolution of the board.
Current council groupings for the regions of the MDA (regional boundaries) are a matter of historical reference. It is assumed that the regions were originally created to align councils with common local and regional interests, or evolved as the organisation redefined its footprint in the 1980s.
In many instances existing local government networks serve to enhance regional economic, environmental, and issues-based alignments, including ROCs, Jos, LGAs and GCs.
The MDA must ensure that regional boundaries reflect current and emerging alignments of local government across the Murray Darling Basin to optimise the efficiency and value of participation in order to provide maximum benefit to member councils, and our stakeholders, and enhance collaboration with existing regional local government associations.
A strategic advisory committee will be established by the board of the MDA, tasked to undertake a detailed review of existing boundaries, and make recommendations for change taking into consideration the feedback from consultation with region committees, member councils and partner organisation before making recommendation to the board.
Moved: Cr D Thurley/G José
That the Murray Darling Association note the intention of the Board to undertake a review of MDA regional boundaries consistent with Part 5, section 15 (2) of the MDA Constitution.
Carried
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5.8 Region 6 Rural City of Murray Bridge
Objective: To ensure that investigations are undertaken to analyse the costs/benefits of River Murray weir upgrades for the purpose of improving salinity management.
Key Arguments: The River Murray weirs and barrages, build between 1922 and 1940, were primarily designed to provide navigable weir pool height for vessels and also to provide reliable water supplies for consumptive use given the high variability of River Murray flows.
The majority of weirs (as well as the Lower Lakes barrages) are of a “stop-log” design which spill surface water from the high side of the weir.
This infrastructure design is unable to adequately meet the needs of clearing the denser saline water from the halocline or to scour debris from the bottom of the river, instead spilling fresh water over the top of the logs.
The MDBA liaises with state construction authorities with respect to maintenance and renewal of the weirs. Whilst significant infrastructure improvements have been made to a number of River Murray weirs in recent years, we query whether a systematic review of the costs/benefits of weir upgrades for the purpose of improving salinity management has been undertaken.
Region 6 is also interested in any analysis of how the weirs might operate to help or hinder the clean-up of carp biomass should the National Carp Control Plan proceed with release of the proposed virus at some point in the future.
Moved: Cr V Leng/Cr C Schubert
That the Murray Darling Association call on the Basin States and Federal Governments to investigate the benefits of upgrading outdated River Murray weir infrastructure so as to enable improved scouring of the river bottom to reduce build-up of salinity, heavy metals and debris. Noting that salinities are highest in the Lower Murray, such investigations should commence with the oldest pool weir at Blanchetown.
Carried
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5.9 Region 4 Wentworth Shire Council
Objective: To have a comprehensive database of all water related information for the entire country, easy to use and capable of compiling reports regarding water movement and use across the nation, including foreign ownership information tracking and reporting, in the interests of security of future water supply for communities and industry and being able to plan for future events such as extended dry periods. Downstream impacts of illegal take and government policy need to be addressed. A better understanding of water availability and demand across Australia as our population continues to grow and more rapid identification of illegal take or impacts on long term sustainable future can inform planning and policy.
Key Arguments: While previous versions and elements of Water Registry have come and gone, the technology now exists which enables live data tracking and GPS monitoring of water flow and movement across land. There also is greater capability to combine multiple state databases into a one stop shop, which is easy to use and can adhere to standards, privacy and ensure secure data.
Perhaps the biggest single issue facing water management in this country is lack of transparency and public perception of mismanagement. Sourcing multiple websites from the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, Commonwealth Environmental Water Office, Bureau of Meteorology, various state water authorities and agencies and Regulatory offices can be a tiresome exercise.
Indeed, various macro data is available across NSW which is patently incorrect or the “missing” data referred to in NSW Land and Water Commissioner dataset.
Ken Matthews’ report called for verifiable accurate data, the recently signed Compliance Compact highlights metering and a raft of goals and targets, prioritising risk areas, which suggests there is an appetite across the board for access to trustworthy data.
For companies wishing to maximise their investments, the best way to determine whether the price they want to pay for land and water meets their needs is to have access to all the variables and some historical data to inform possible investment or growth. Indeed, how much water is available is perhaps the biggest determination of investment decisions at the present time.
As well as a commercial function, foreign investors and the Australian public and regulators need to ensure that investment is in line with current legislation pertaining to percentage of foreign ownership. By providing accurate, current information and transparency, there can be greater certainty in the international and domestic market and in the wider public arena, that investment is supportive of Australian industry as a priority
Moved: Cr J MacAllister/Cr J Modica
That the Murray Darling Association lobby the Federal and Shadow Minister to instigate a National Water Registry, to monitor and report on all rainfall, surface and groundwater storage, evaporation and capacity or movement, including flow rate and interstate or intervalley trade, extraction, unaccounted activity, licenses and allocation in real time, and inform the public in relation to foreign ownership of water assets and infrastructure.
Carried
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5.10 Region 4 Wentworth Shire Council
Objective: Sustainable water resource management, water security, and water quality is a key issue for communities across Australian, particularly in a changing climate.
Key Arguments: Under the Constitution of Australia, water is an area for the states to legislate, unless they confer their power to the Commonwealth, as occurred to establish the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA). Since its inception, we have seen the level of agreement between the states which is required to effect change and the occasional threat of some states to revoke their conferred power – to leave the MDBA Agreement.
Climate change adaptation is a challenge faced by local government across Australia. Key to long term sustainable future for communities across Australia is strong policy in water resource management to ensure equitable and transparent allocation and use of our limited water resources.
Recent media investigations have demonstrated that there are potential issues in regard to water management across states and the creation of a National Water Ombudsman would assist in reestablishing confidence among communities and local government, that the Federal Government is committed to ensuring the long-term future of communities throughout regional Australia through transparent and open processes.
By providing oversight through the judiciary, including provisions around preventing the concealment of information (eg NSW Ombudsman reports) and ensuring such office is compelled to publish findings, the public can be assured that legislation is uniform across state borders and adheres to extant laws at all levels around water sharing, trade and use, as the perception of vested interests, which can permeate the political system and erode confidence, will be finally eliminated from the equation.
While states will retain the legislative function in relation to water, proposed legislation will have the benefit of legal opinion at the highest level, with national oversight and vision to provide big picture response and risk management across state borders. The MDBA has been conferred towards a specific purpose – being the Murray Darling Basin and roll out of the Water Act 2007 - Basin Plan 2012 (the Plan), but an Ombudsman with Federal jurisdiction will be able to arbitrate and adjudicate on any water dispute across the country.
By giving this Ombudsman the power to impose punitive measures, enforcement and punishment can be standardised and will better reflect water and its misuse as a national value and matter for redress, in line with and informed by the various legislation and case law history in this country.
Moved: Cr J MacAllister/Cr J Modica
That the Murray Darling Association calls on the Federal Government to create a National Water Ombudsman with Federal jurisdiction to inquire, arbitrate, enforce, impose punitive measures and oversee amendments to state water legislation.
Carried
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5.11 Region 6 Alexandrina Council
Objective: As the level of government closest to community, local government plays an important role in representing local interests in Basin-related decisions that impact our communities. Whilst the views of local government and communities throughout the Basin about the various strengths and weaknesses of the Basin Plan may differ, the sector nonetheless agrees on the need for a national approach and on the need for formal recognition of the important role that local government plays in Basin Plan decision making.
Key Arguments: Within the Murray-Darling Basin, agriculture and tourism are the backbones of our regional economies. The Basin produces $22 billion worth of food and fibre every year and $8 billion tourism dollars are spent in the Basin annually. On this basis, water for industry and water for the environment are both critically important for regional prosperity throughout the Basin.
Correspondingly, one of the goals of water resource management within the Basin must be to ensure (as far as possible) that both water quality and water levels are fit-for-purpose, whether that be for critical human water needs, for irrigation, for ecological health or for access and recreation.
Australia has grappled with the complex issue of Basin water-sharing for over 100 years and the need for a long-term and sustainable water management system involving all Basin States is clear. Successful water management in the Basin can only be achieved through genuine commitment and cooperation amongst Basin States.
Whilst implementation of the Basin Plan is proving difficult the overall objectives are sound. This motion expresses support for continued implementation of the Basin Plan on the basis that it represents a historic opportunity to achieve a healthy, working Basin for the long-term benefit of the Australian community. Backing away from the Plan would create great policy and investment uncertainty for regional Australia.
As recognised by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA), the success and progress of the Basin Plan depends on the support and understanding of local Basin communities. The Basin Plan is essential but complex and its implementation impacts different communities in different ways. Local government has an important role to play here, assisting state and federal governments to engage more fully with local and regional industry and interest groups.
Local government has the local knowledge required to understand, balance, plan for, and serve the various and often competing needs and interests that exist within and across our local communities.
Our established relationships and communication channels with community provide a reliable and effect vehicle for local information sharing, engagement, and collaboration. Having a local government representative meaningfully included in the formal decision-making processes underpinning Basin Plan implementation (such as Ministerial Council, the Basin Officials Committee and Basin Community Committee) would enhance the sectors ability to adequately support our communities through the implementation process.
Moved: Cr B Featherston/Cr C Schubert
That the Murray Darling Association:
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a) Notes the importance of fit-for-purpose water availability for regional prosperity; b) Calls on all levels of government to recommit to full and timely implementation of the Basin Plan; and c) Calls for a formal role for local government in Murray-Darling Basin Plan decision making via an advisory seat at the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council.
Carried
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5.12 Region 4 Broken Hill City Council
Key Arguments: The Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) covers multiple states including Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia.
The Murray-Darling Basin is one of the world’s largest and most productive river basins, accounting for $19 billion of agricultural output and providing one third of Australia’s food supply. It harbours some of our most important natural assets, supporting a diverse array of animals, plants and ecosystems of national and international significance.
The system of rivers, lakes and wetlands that run through our nation (the Murray Darling Basin) is complex, diverse and dynamic. There is nothing simple about it. For those managing water it’s a challenge they navigate through every day.
Currently the MDBA operates across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. The aim of the Basin Plan is to ensure that water is shared between all users, including the environment, in a sustainable way. However, these arrangements are administered by member States and there is a lack of consistency across those States in terms of each State’s arrangements and enforcement.
In July 2017 the ABC Four Corners program “Pumped” revealed astounding malpractice and alleged corruption, which is currently being investigated by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). Some of these allegedly corrupt transactions hide behind an alleged veil of incompetence of some states. Hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars have been spent on water “buybacks”, where the government has paid twice the going rate for water which effectively does not exist, except during heavy rainfall and peak water conditions.
Four Corners also highlighted the problems with pumping and metering arrangements in NSW and the issues of alleged water theft and pumping at times of low river flow.
There are also issues in Queensland and a lack of agreement between Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales about water allocation and efficiencies.
In this context it would be advantageous for the MDBA to exercise the authority for compliance and enforcement of agreed outcomes for the basin regarding water retention and extraction limits to guarantee that agreed flows can pass downstream for the length of the river system.
Moved: Cr J MacAllister/G José
That the Murray Darling Association calls upon the Federal Government to strengthen the role of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority with regard to enforcement of compliance regarding water retention and extraction limits to guarantee that agreed flows are allowed to pass downstream for the length of the Barwon/Darling River.
Carried
19
5.13 Region 12 Lockyer Valley Regional Council/Balonne Shire Council
Objective: The National Water Infrastructure Development Fund (NWIDF) is an Australian Government Initiative. While the state and Territory governments are responsible for the management of water and water infrastructure, the NWIDF is a National fund that seeks to facilitate long-term economic and regional development. Many, if not all, regional industries are dependent on the secure delivery of adequate water. For industries such as agriculture the key limiting factor for future industry development is the availability of secure water supply.
Regional local governments throughout Australia will have a strong and enduring interest in water infrastructure planning and decision making. These local governments will be looking to fund both detailed planning and feasibility of water infrastructure projects as well as the timely development of that infrastructure. In order to have a ‘pipeline’ of water projects, the fund needs to retain sufficient dollars for both infrastructure feasibility and delivery. This fund needs to be replenished to ensure an ongoing stream of planned projects rather than a stop-start approach to infrastructure planning.
Given the substantial costs of both the infrastructure and the business cases are prohibitive to many local governments, it is essential that the National Government replenish funds to enable this important work.
Key Arguments: The National Water Infrastructure Development Fund (NWIDF) implements the Australian Government’s commitment to start the detailed planning necessary to build or augment existing water infrastructure, including dams, pipelines, or managed aquifer recharge. This fund is intended to help secure the nation’s water supplies and deliver regional economic development benefits for Australia, while also protecting our environment.
The fund has two parts. There was a feasibility component to accelerate the completion of business cases and to confirm sufficient demand exists for the infrastructure. There is also a capital component to the fund to provide funding for the construction of this key infrastructure.
It is understood the NWIDP currently retains funds that can be utilised for capital works. However, applications for the feasibility component of the NWIDF have closed. It is understood that the feasibility component of the fund has been fully expended.
Is it considered that a sustained approach to water infrastructure planning and development is required for a ‘pipeline’ of future water projects. A stop-start approach to funding, and therefore planning, is not an optimal approach. A pipeline of priority projects can be a more measured approach working from strategic business cases to detailed business cases and ultimately to delivery of the capital works.
This will provide the nation with steady stream of prioritised projects. An ongoing funding commitment is necessary. This will enable the assessment of the best sites for new water infrastructure and to accelerate the completion of thorough business cases. It will also provide the best balance of funding to both assess the feasibility of projects and to deliver this critical water infrastructure.
The Productivity Commission’s draft report on National Water Reform highlights the need for quality water infrastructure feasibility studies to ensure environmental sustainability and financial viability before government resources are committed for construction. This approach demands funding for business cases for water infrastructure projects. These projects are catalysts for
20 regional and economic development. Clearly, a sustainable and consistent supply of water through enhanced water infrastructure is critical to agriculture, industry, the environment and the community.
Moved: Cr R Marsh/A Johns
That the Murray Darling Association call on the Australian Government to replenish the National Water Infrastructure Development Fund to ensure sufficient funds are available to both assess the feasibility of projects and to deliver this critical water infrastructure.
Carried
21
5.14 Don Obrein Life Member and past president (1982-1986)
Objective: With the use of renewable resources becoming a key topic, utilising flows through weirs throughout the Murray-Darling Basin – similar to the technology utilised by the Snowy Mountains Scheme to generate electricity – will benefit communities and economic growth.
Key Arguments: • Energy is becoming a major issue – specifically the use of renewables.
• The cheapest way to generate electricity is to utilise the water flow that passes through weirs located within the Murray-Darling Basin.
• Torrumbarry Weir, located between Echuca/Moama and Koondrook/Barham, has between 10 and 12 outlets that can be utilised to generate electricity.
• The flows through these outlets have the capacity to generate electricity 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Water flowing down the Murray River can have a dual use. It can be used for food production and to generate electricity for urban and rural communities.
• Water that passes through Torrumbarry Weir has already been through the hydroelectricity process thanks to the Snowy Mountains Scheme located upstream. There would be no issue utilising the same water for a similar purpose.
• If successful, similar technology can be installed at Hume Weir and Yarrawonga Weir to generate electricity.
Moved: Cr A Kassebaum /Cr A Tilley
That the Murray Darling Association calls on the Murray-Darling Basin Authority to investigate and report on the feasibility of utilising all weirs within the Murray-Darling Basin for power generation.
Carried
22
5.15 Board – Murray Darling Association
Objective: To correct an error of omission in the final draft of the MDA Constitution 2016.
Note: A special motion must pass by a vote of 75% of delegates to carry.
Moved: Cr D Thurley/Cr P Mansfield
That the constitution be amended as follows: Part 11, item 38 – add the following subclauses a. The amendment must be lodged with the executive 12 weeks prior to the MDA Meeting, and b. The amendment must be listed as a motion and published in the agenda for the MDA Meeting.
Carried (unanimously)
23
5.16 Region 4 Wentworth Shire Council
Objective: To ensure supply for stock and domestic use downstream of Menindee lakes, by adjusting the top level at which MDBA controls operations of the Menindee Lakes storage.
Key Arguments: Current rules state that when storage levels in all the Menindee Lakes drop below a total of 480GL (under MDBA operation), then operation reverts to WaterNSW control and that when storage levels reach 640GL across the Menindee Lakes, then control again passes to MDBA operations.
The geology on which Menindee Lakes sits and the engineering efficiencies which regulate the flow of water through the lakes leave Lake Cawndilla (as the last in the string of pearls) with nowhere to go, despite calls for the water to be diverted back into the Darling river and all the lakes have a very silty layer which sits beneath the regulators, so that this silty, “dead” water is “stuck” in the lake, unable to be used, yet is (along with the trapped water in Lake Cawndilla) included in storage calculations, despite being inaccessible.
As the 70 families living below the Menindee Lakes once again brace for the third cease to flow event in five years, having seen 6000ml of water released per day during the summer months, as required under the Murray Darling Basin Plan (the Plan), residual storage in the Menindee Lakes is insufficient to meet stock and domestic needs, let alone the two years’ assurance for Broken Hill supply.
The rapid draw down of water out of the Menindee Lakes has once again left an already depleted system, into which annually decreased inflows are approaching zero inflows, at a time of arguably the worst drought in living history, and is contributing to depressed industry, economy, death of stock and native wildlife on a distressing scale and has resulted in many native riverine species being upgraded on endangered lists, as well as the tragic increase of suicides among tight-knit communities.
That evaporation figures and storage level calculations are disputed, further muddies the scientific rigour with which verifiable, accurate and trustworthy data can inform operations and provide the community with any certainty to plan stock levels and plantings into the future.
That the same mistakes are being made, leading to the same results is infuriating and greatly frustrates the community, some of whom have been farming the land of their ancestors for six generations, others who have 65,000 years of knowledge of connection and caretaking the area.
That the 480 / 640 trigger is embedded in the Plan means it is unlikely to be easily removed, but there is now five years’ worth of evidence suggesting that a change needs to be made, and quickly.
Moved: Cr J MacAllister/Cr J Modica
That the Murray Darling Association calls on the NSW and Federal Governments to: a) Renegotiate the management of water in the Menindee Lakes, so that the trigger point for the Murray-Darling Basin Authority to control water is increased from 640GL to 800GL, (as per recommendation 16 of the Augmentation of Water Supply in rural and regional NSW report dated May 2018); and b) that the 800GL referred to in a) above does not include “dead” or inaccessible water, including water held in Lake Cawndilla.
24
Lost
There was broad support for the concept, however recognising that the New South Wales Government has a number of measures in place, time is needed for these initiatives to be completed.
25
5.17 Region 3 Loddon Shire Council
Objective: To promote the use and management of Basin water resources in a way that optimises economic, social and environmental outcomes, recognising the importance of local knowledge to develop lasting solutions.
Key Arguments: One of the most significant and fundamental risks to the effective implementation of the Murray- Darling Basin Plan is the omission of local government from any formal role in the institutional and governance arrangements of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
In the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the MDA and the MDBA, the MDBA commits to involve the MDA in the gathering and collection of data as it relates to the MDBA's monitoring and evaluation framework and reporting requirements dealing with social and economic impacts. The MDBA will consider resource implications of such work and will assist where appropriate.
Collaboration to support and stimulate locally driven regional economic development initiatives, and assist communities to identify and pursue opportunities for structural adjustments in response to changing water allocations requires active commitment by the MDBA to work consistently and equitably with impacted communities through their local government.
The economic benefits can be categorised in two distinct parts:
a) mitigation of adverse economic impacts by understanding the underlying drivers to enable targeted response strategies; and b) enabling communities to identify and peruse regional economic development opportunities.
Moved: Cr J O’Connor/Cr J Modica
The Murray Darling Association calls on the Murray Darling Basin Authority to a) recognise that the greatest challenge for councils impacted by changing water availability due to the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, and acknowledging other cumulative influences, is how to manage structural adjustment within the respective councils, and b) engage formally and consistently with local councils to support community- based solutions for structural adjustment.
Carried
26
5.18 Region 2 City of Greater Shepparton
Objective: To mitigate the serious impacts of erosion of the banks of the Goulburn River caused by summer transfer of commercial water.
Key Arguments: During spring, environmental flows were delivered to the Goulburn River to promote favourable conditions for plant growth to protect the banks of the Goulburn River. These flows also produced habitat for invertebrates and crustaceans, which support a healthy ecosystem in the river for the benefits of fish and other water-based inhabitants. The results of these environmental flows produced a healthy and protective cover of vegetation for the river banks.
In February 2018 the Goulburn River rose approximately 1.5 meters above its normal summer level and that is where it stayed for around 2 months destroying all the ground cover which the environmental flows had produced earlier in the year. The river was artificially held high in these summer months due to the transfer of water to other irrigation areas following purchasing of this water.
The end result is a river in far worse condition than before the environmental flows started, with mud slipping into the river from the bare banks and those bare banks exposed to wave erosion.
Inter valley water transfer was never to be done with any detriment to the river but clearly this is not the case. This has to be reversed immediately.
Moved: Cr D Patterson/Cr P Mansfield
That the Murray Darling Association: Call on Water Ministers, Water Authorities, Catchment Management Authorities and the Murray Darling Basin Authority to undertake a detailed and wholistic review of the environmental impacts of the practice of running commercial water down the Goulburn River during summer periods.
Carried
6. NEXT MEETING DATE The 75th Annual General Meeting will be held in Toowoomba, QLD in 2019. Date and location are to be advised.
7. CLOSE
27 2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT
28 CREATING A BETTER FUTURE
With continuing drought and dire To support our members and the wider circumstances across the Basin, this has Basin community to not only adapt but been a difficult year for many of our member prosper during challenging times, the MDA councils and their communities. continues to work with integrity to voice local government concerns in Basin-related Notwithstanding these challenges, Basin issues and help build the capacity of Basin communities have demonstrated a sense of communities through a range of projects, resilience and ability to look forward. including the Basin Communities Leadership With the release of Australia’s ambitious 2030 Program. Agriculture Plan, the MDA believes that local The following report reflects a busy and government can play an important role in active year preparing the organisation and our creating a better future for Basin communities, 75th annual report of the Murray Darling members to meet the challenges of another particularly in intensifying agriculture Association Inc: 2018-19 dry season ahead. sustainably. Incorporated under the Association’s Incorporation Act 1984 NSW Registered number Y 40317–47
Copyright © Murray Darling Association Inc. Further copies are available from the October 2019 Murray Darling Association Echuca office: PO Box 1268 National Library of Australia Echuca Vic 3564 ISSN 1443-7767 03 5480 3805 [email protected] Murray Darling Association Incorporated’s www.mda.asn.au public fund, the Murray Darling Foundation is a Registered Environmental Organisation. ABN: 64 636 490 493
Cover photography (centre right) courtesy of Mike Bowers-Guardian Australia.
The MDA would like to acknowledge the generous sponsors of our conference:
Menindee fish kills Darling River, January 2019.
29 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 1 CONTENTS
Creating a better future 1 National President report 4 Chief Executive Officer report 5 Our organisation 6 OUR REGIONS 8 Annual report: region 1 9 Annual report: region 2 10 Annual report: region 3 11 Annual report: region 4 12 Annual report: region 5 14 Annual report: region 6 16 Annual report: region 7 18 Annual report: region 8 20 Annual report: region 9 21 Annual report: region 10 22 Annual report: region 11 23 Annual report: region 12 24 Our performance 26 Outcomes from our resolutions 30 Annual planning workshop 35 Business development 36 Our partnerships 37 Communications and engagement 38 Our people 40 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 42-57 Honour roll 58 Looking forward looking back 59 Acknowledgements 60
30 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 3 Top row – Left: AshleyTop Bland and Graham Stirling, Leeton 2018. Right: Brewarrina fish traps. Second row – Left:?Irrigated rice in Leeton. Right: Mayor DennisClark and Bottom Almond – row plantation CEO Emma underway. Bradburytour Region 8. NATIONAL PRESIDENT CHIEF EXECUTIVE REPORT OFFICER REPORT
The past year has been a challenging one for I would particularly This year’s Annual Report reflects a significant We are also communities in the Basin. Continuing drought, like to recognise the year of achievement in the corporate experiencing a changing water availability, and escalating hard work of our CEO development of the organisation, and dynamic period of water prices are conspiring to place real Emma Bradbury who continuing sound performance against our rapid change in the pressure on rural and regional communities, has managed the Strategic Plan 2016-19 in this, its final year. management of and uncertainty in our towns and cities. MDA almost single- many other Basin We have set the strongest financial position handedly for much of resources. Severe During these challenging times, the Murray in the organisation’s history with a return the year and provided drought, climate Darling Association has continued to work to funded project undertakings, continued excellent support change, emerging hard to represent our members, offering a growth of our human resources and strong to the Board. Her developments in whole of basin perspective, seeking balance to outcomes of our advocacy endeavours. With a tireless work has also energy, horticulture achieve a healthy, connected, productive basin modest growth in membership revenues and enhanced the value of the Association and and agriculture, investments in water and uniting communities up- and downstream a significant growth in sector participation, contributed to a small but significant growth infrastructure all present local government for all our futures. this year also establishes the Murray Darling in membership. We have signed another MoU with a host of challenges and opportunities. Association as an essential participant in the Now, more than at any other time in the with the MDBA for a further 5 years giving Much of the work this year has focused local government sector. We are continuing history of the Basin Plan, we also have us the opportunity to have strong and direct on our relationship to energy, assets and to identify and deliver an expanding suite Ministers who can focus on real solutions, input to matters which directly affect our communities. of value services to members, councils and restoring public confidence by showing communities. It also enables us to give direct governments across the Murray-Darling Basin. The MDA has this year continued to provide leadership and negotiation based on evidence, and relevant feedback to the Authority. advocacy built on unity, equity and trust; to rather than election cycles. The role of the MDA is to exercise a I encourage all Councils throughout the basin partner with members and stakeholders to collective voice for local government on Against this backdrop, it has been a positive to become part of the MDA. A united voice advance the interests of local government; the management of Basin resources. While year of growth for the MDA with a number is a strong voice and local communities need to respond to the vagaries of drought and this extends more broadly than the Murray- of changes in the office including new staff to be heard. It is this level of government devastation, to exchange knowledge and Darling Basin Plan alone, it is true that the members whose addition has enabled us to that is closest to the people being affected information; and to build regional leadership Plan represents a legislative step-change in better respond to the challenges we face as by the plan and which can provide the direct and capability. the management of the most fundamental of we try to bring the views of local government feedback of how our communities are going. our Basin resources. The Basin Plan continues In conclusion I would like to acknowledge the to the fore. to have direct and significant effects, positive leadership and dedication of our National and negative on many communities and President Cr David Thurley, the tireless work of councils. It is no surprise then that this year the full MDA board and our wonderful staff. has seen a continued focus on supporting our communities to optimise our collective experience of the implementation phase of the David Thurley Murray-Darling Basin Plan, and to challenge National President Basin governments to do better.
Emma Bradbury Chief Executive Officer
4 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 31 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 5 OUR ORGANISATION
OUR BOARD OUR REGIONS
Cr David Thurley Albury City Council Chair Region 1 - President • There are 172 councils that sit within the • Our regions are the essence and strength of Cr Dennis Patterson Shepparton City Council Chair Region 2 Basin and whose communities rely upon the MDA, providing the imprimatur for our Cr Peter Mansfield Moira Shire Council/Retired Chair Region 2 water from within the catchment. The actions and the foundations of our advocacy Cr Jane MacAllister Wentworth Shire Council Chair Region 4 management of water and other Basin Cr Peter Hunter Renmark Paringa Council Chair Region 5 resources is a matter that is of significant • Our members are Cr Melissa Rebecck Alexandrina Shire Council Chair Region 6 interest to local government Cr Andrew Tilley City of Mitcham Chair Region 7 • Currently arranged into 12 regions the MDA the reason we exist Mayor Denis Clark Northern Areas Council Chair Region 8 is the only interjurisdictional association of • Our regions are the platform on which our Cr Paul Maytom Leeton Shire Council Chair Region 9 local government, and is built on strong members find voice and value Cr Craig Davies Narromine Shire Council A/Chair Region 10 foundations of good governance and high standards of accountability and integrity Mayor Phyllis Miller Forbes Shire Council A/Chair Region 10 Cr John Campbell Gunnedah Shire Council Chair Region 11 Mayor Richard Marsh Balonne Shire Council Chair Region 12 Pete George M&S Group Treasurer Emma Bradbury Murray Darling Association Chief Executive and Public Officer REGION TABLE KEY Region meetings play an important role in initiating and facilitating discussion on region and basin ✓ Attendance registered issues. The following table represents region meetings that were held throughout 2018-19: A Apology received July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June P Attendance by Proxy Region 2018 2018 2018 2018 2018 2018 2019 2019 2019 2019 2019 2019 ✗ Non-attendance Meeting 377 Meeting 377 July 23 2018 Meeting 378 28 2018 August Meeting 379 2018 24 September Meeting 380 22 2018 October Meeting 381 26 2018 November Meeting 382 17 2018 December Meeting 383 1 2019 February Meeting 384 25 2019 March Meeting 385 April 29 2019 Meeting 386 20 2019 May Meeting 387 June 19 2019 Region 1 Cr David Thurley ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ A Cr Peter Mansfield ✓ ✓ ✓ ✗ ✓ A ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Region 2 Cr Denis Patterson A ✓ ✓ Region 3 Cr Jane MacAllister ✓ ✓ ✓ A ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Cr Peter Hunter ✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✗✓✓✓ Region 4 Cr Barry Featherston ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Region 5 Cr Melissa Rebecck ✓ ✓ ✓ A Cr David Shetliffe ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Region 6 Cr Andrew Tilley ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ A ✓ Region 7 Mayor Denis Clark ✓ A ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ A ✓ ✓ Cr Paul Maytom ✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓ Region 8 Mayor Phyllis Miller* ✓ ✓ ✓ Region 9 Cr Craig Davies* ✓ ✗ A ✓ Cr John Campbell ✓ ✓ ✓ A ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Region 10 Mayor Richard Marsh ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ A ✗ P ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Region 11 Pete George ✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓ Emma Bradbury ✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓ Region 12
*Acting regional chair – attendance by invitation
6 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 32 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 7 OUR ANNUAL REPORT: REGIONS REGION 1
Region 1 compromises a total of 14 councils MEMBER COUNCILS of which 7 are members of the MDA. We have Albury City Council one life member, Dr Terry Hillman and one individual member. Federation Council Greater Hume Shire Council Chair Indigo Shire Council Cr David Thurley Albury City Snowy Valleys Council Committee Towong Shire Council Cr Bernard Gaffney Indigo Shire Wodonga City Council Cr David Wortmann Towong Shire MEMBERS (INDIVIDUALS/ORGANISATIONS) Secratariat Mr Geoff Lucas REGION 12 CHAIR Balonne Maria Barrett Albury City OTHER ELIGIBLE COUNCILS Shire Council Alpine Shire Council Four meetings were held during the year. Baw Baw Shire Council Date Location Benalla Rural City Council REGION 11 CHAIR 24 August 2018 Albury City Council East Gippsland Shire Council Gunnedah Shire Council 30 November 2019 Albury City Council Mansfield Shire Council 22 February 2019 Albury City Council Snowy Monaro Regional Council 24 May 2019 Albury City Council Rural City of Wangaratta REGION 8 REGION 4 CHAIR REGION 10 CHAIR CHAIR Northern Wentworth Shire Forbes Shire Four speakers addressed members at Region 1 Areas Council of the Tumbarumba also alerted the Chair to Council REGION 5 Council CHAIR meetings. Topics covered were groundwater a blue-green algal bloom in Mannus Lake and Renmark REGION 9 Paringa CHAIR resources, environmental water, Wetlands the outlet stream but no response was received Council Leeton Shire Council current state of health and cultural values and from Office of Environment and Heritage. REGION 6 CHAIR significance of water to the indigenous nations Alexandrina In May this year, the NSW Water Minister REGION 1 together with broader issues relating to the Council REGION 2 CHAIR CHAIR Albury City Murray Darling system itself. Melinda Pavey and the Deputy Premier John REGION 3 Shepparton Council CHAIR Council Barilaro met with water user groups in Albury. Vacant Speakers: The meeting was hosted by Albury City and • Scott Barber, General Manager was also attended by Mr Justin Clancy State REGION 7 CHAIR Goulburn Murray Water member for Albury. City of Mitcham • A nthony Wilson, Local Engagement Officer This year also saw my appointment to the CEWHO Basin Community Committee, along with three • A drian Wells, Board Member other local government representatives. Wetlands Working Group • Re ne Woods, Chair Murray Lower Darling River Indigenous Nations
The Region identified two significant issues that faced the region this year. The first was the matter of feral horses in the Kosciuszko National Park. The NSW Office and Heritage Cr David Thurley did not respond to the contact. Some residents Chair, Region 1
8 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 33 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 9 ANNUAL REPORT: ANNUAL REPORT: REGION 2 REGION 3
Region 2 comprises a total of 12 councils, of MEMBER COUNCILS Region 3 comprises a total of 14 councils, of MEMBER COUNCILS which 4 are members of the MDA. We have which 1 is a member of the MDA. No meetings Berrigan Shire Council Loddon Shire Council 4 life members and 3 individual members. were held during the year. Edwards River Council The committee is: MEMBERS (INDIVIDUALS/ORGANISATIONS) Greater Shepparton City Council The region currently does not have any active Ken Pattison Chair Moira Shire Council member councils and currently has no regional Greater Shepparton MEMBERS (INDIVIDUALS/ORGANISATIONS) chair. Cr Dennis Patterson OTHER ELIGIBLE COUNCILS City Council Murray irrigation Several councils, including Loddon Shire, Ararat Rural City Council Committee Jenny Johnson Swan Hill and Gannawarra Shire attended Ballarat City Council Cr Peter Mansfield Moira Shire Council Geoff Mackenzie and participated in the annual strategic Buloke Shire Council Cr Colin Jones Berrigan Shire Council planning workshop held in Moama in February, OTHER ELIGIBLE COUNCILS Secratariat providing valuable representation of the Central Goldfields Shire Council Campaspe Shire Council Greg McKenzie interests of their respective communities. Gannawarra Shire Council City of Greater Bendigo Hepburn Shire Council Two meetings were held during the year. Macedon Ranges Shire Council The Murray Darling Association would warmly welcome any of the eligible councils to take Horsham Rural City Council Date Location Mitchel Shire Council up membership, as local government can Murrindindi Shire Council Moorabool Shire Council 21 September 2018 Berrigan have a profound role in helping to achieve 31 May 2019 (including Strathbogie Shire Council Mount Alexander Shire Council Shepparton better outcomes for its communities in an AGM & Ordinary Meeting) Whittlesea City Council environment with changing water availabilities Murray River Council Yarra Ranges Shire Council Two speakers addressed members throughout across the entire Murray-Darling Basin. Northern Grampians Shire Council the year. Topics covered include: capacity and witnessed first hand the environmental damage Pyrenees Shire Council demand in the River Murray system, what’s next being caused to the river by unseasonably high Swan Hill Rural City Council for the Basin Plan, understanding the regional inter-valley transfers. issues, the north/south pipeline - the bradfield Emma Bradbury scheme and cane toads together plus broader Minister Neville has since imposed a moratorium Chief Executive Officer. issues relating to the Murray Darling, itself. on developments downstream of the Choke Speakers: as well as an investigation into Inter-Valley Transfers out of the Goulburn river. As the chair • Joseph Davis, Senior Director Operations of Region 2, I have also travelled to Canberra to MDBA meet the Murray Darling Basin Authority on the • Rob Rendell, Senior Fellow issues of water market transparency, inter-valley RMCG Bendigo transfers and the removal of water speculators The MDA acknowledges the hard work of from the market among other things. Cr Peter Mansfield as the outgoing chair of Federal Minister for Water, David Littleproud Region 2. Cr Mansfield warmly endorsed announced in May that the ACCC would Cr Patterson as Shepparton City Council’s investigate the water market and its functions. nomination to chair the region on 31 May 2019. This is good news, which will hopefully address The following report is from Cr Patterson, chair some of Region 2’s concerns of Region 2. about implementation of the The Murray Darling Association portfolio has Plan. been a busy one since becoming chair of Region 2. The price of water has forced many irrigation farmers off the land, especially dairy farmers. During a boat trip down the Goulburn river with Cr Dennis Patterson the Victorian Water Minister Lisa Neville, we Chair, Region 2.
10 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 34 ANNUAL REPORT: REGION 4
Region 4 comprises a total of 8 councils, MEMBER COUNCILS Water security remains a significant issue for sites and the Victorian Government announced of which 5 are members of the MDA. The the region. 2016 was the last time the Darling a freeze on new development approvals. Balranald Shire Council committee, as elected 28 June 2019 is: river was fully connected from Pooncarie to Submissions have been made in relation Broken Hill City Council Bourke. Councils continue to cart potable to the Barwon Darling Unregulated and Chair Central Darling Shire water to stations. Alluvial Water Sources 2012 Water Sharing Mildura Rural City Council Cr Jane MacAllister Wentworth Shire Council A strategic planning meeting held in Plan, Darling Alluvium Water Resource Plan, Committee Wentworth Shire Council December was overshadowed by the first of Menindee Lakes SDL Project, and input four mass fish deaths, as the agenda turned to provided to the Australian Academy Of Cr Marion Browne Broken Hill City Council OTHER ELIGIBLE COUNCILS cleanup and rescue logistics. Science and Vertessy scientific investigation Cr Jason Modica Mildura Rural City Council Hindmarsh Shire Council into fish deaths and other research and Member councils passed motions to support Cr Tim Elstone Wentworth Shire Council West Wimmera Shire Council reportage. RAMSAR listing of Menindee Lakes, then to Yarriamblack Shire Council Cr Steve Heywood Wentworth Shire Council endorse same as a region and seek further Secratariat support at the MDA conference. Terry Litchfield • W ater NSW and State Government There has been a determination from iPart information session on Drought and Water about pricing water for Broken Hill customers, Cr Jane MacAllister Six meetings were held during the year. availability 27 May at Coomealla the Almond Board Of Australia sought a Chair, Region 4. • M enindee SDL Project meeting 28 May moratorium on new development of greenfield Date Location 2019 with Water NSW and regular steering 20 July 2018 Buronga committee meetings in Menindee 27 September 2018 Buronga • M DA National Conference in Leeton 29-31 August 2018 22 November 2018 Buronga • M DA Strategic Planning Meeting held in 20 December 2018 Buronga Echuca 1-3 February 2019 28 June 2019 Buronga • “Menindee to the Mouth” Connecting 28 June 2019 Buronga Catchments and Communities forum in Renmark 22 February 2019 Leadership of the region has been strong, • N ational Carp Control Plan workshop commencing with the election of Mayor Hederics to the Chair, succeeded in September Region 4 submitted an impressive expression by Cr Jane MacAllister, both of Wentworth of interest to host the 2020 conference, Shire Council. gracefully conceded to Shepparton selection by the Board and look forward to attending in This year has seen Region 4 actively May. engaged advocating for improved environmental and water security outcomes A rally for the river in Broken Hill was well for the region. attended. Concerns were raised about the Wentworth to Broken Hill pipeline, pricing In addition to the Region 4 meetings listed, our of the new source of town water and with members have also been engaged with: high salinity readings around Wilcannia • Menindee Lakes Water Saving Project (above World Health Standards), the town briefing held 20 July 2018, attended by switched to bore water. Four Blockbanks representatives of NSW government (earthen weirs) held back the last of the departments including Rachel Connell, water downstream of Menindee, currently Executive Director Department of Primary significantly diminished, as is water around Industries Pooncarie.
12 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 35 Why should your council join? Murray Darling ANNUAL REPORT: A powerful voice. Ensure your Association Be part of a collective voice voice is heard. unity advocating for councils and Inform water policy at omm REGION 5 communities in the Basin. regional, state and federal d c asin sinc level. an ing B e 194 Support nt Darl 4 existing me ay- rn urr Informed decision Shape the alliances. ove M making. future. To advocate on l g he Region 5 comprises a total of 5 councils, of oca n t MEMBER COUNCILS Ensure your expertise and Be a part of creating the regional priorities. Representing l i which all 5 are members of the MDA. We have Berri Barmera Council knowledge plays a part in the future we want for our 1 life member and 1 individual member. The District Council of Karoonda East Murray decisions affecting you. Basin communities. committee is: District Council of Loxton Waikerie Chair Mid Murray Council Renmark Paringa Council Cr Peter Hunter Renmark Paringa Council Working together with Federal Secratariat MEMBERS (INDIVIDUALS/ORGANISATIONS) “If the MDA didn’t Ian and Bobby Mann Ashleigh Baker 3 levels of exist, we’d have Murray Regions Government Darling Five meetings were held during the year. It has been most beneficial to have all region Basin meetings attended by our CEO, Emma to invent it.” to deliver the Basin Plan. Local of the Date Location Bradbury speaking via Video Conference. This Hon Craig Knowles, MDA is the only peak body that provides a State ‘parliament’ of local government on Basin Murray REGION 12 has certainly assisted us in keeping up to date Chairman Murray-Darling Basin QLD 15 July Morgan related issues. MDA works with: Northern with MDA activities, having an opportunity to Authority (2011-2015), Forbes 2014 Basin 10 December Renmark Paringa • Local Government NSW • Local Government SA • Local Government Qld better understand the MDA in its operations, Darling 25 March Berri-Barmera • Municipal Association of Victoria • Australian Local Government Association while being able to consider the challenges we 3 June Waikerie face. Agriculture Association REGION 11 Five speakers addressed members throughout We have been fortunate during this period to Business NSW How Northern the year. Topics covered broader issues have our local Renmark Paringa Mayor, Neil Economic can my council inform public policy? Rivers Development relating to the Murray Darling system itself. Martinson appointed to the Basin Communities Your council has direct influence. Committee of the MDBA and more recently Speakers: Cr Andrew Kassebaum to the Independent Councils • Regions meet quarterly. • Michelle Campbell, Local Engagement Officer Panel appointed by Minister Littleproud to • Region chairs meet monthly sharing REGION 4 understand and Industry REGION 8 REGION 10 CEWO SA Central Lower assess the social and economic conditions in knowledge for a whole of Basin perspective. Darling Greater serve the diverse NSW • Jodie Woof, Engagement Officer the Murray Darling Basin. • Annual national conference. REGION 5 Riverine Recovery needs and interests in The REGION 9 Our biggest challenge is no different to • Peak representation at state and federal Riverlands The • Barb Cowey, Regional Coordinator every community with Murrumbidgee most regions to getting an agreed position parliamentary and agency levels. SA PIRSA – Primary Industries immense local REGION 6 on issues, which seem to be arising ever Coorong Irrigation • 2-way information sharing. and Lower • Tony Herbert, Program Leader more quickly. Our challenge is to settle on knowledge Environmental Lakes REGION 2 REGION 1 Health • Secure council centric voting entitlements Goulburn Snowy River Murray Operations positions which are truly representative of our and technical Murray -Riverina REGION 3 •Miles Fauser, Environmental Officer constituent councils. We will need to do much Western expertise. Region Renmark Irrigation Trust and Renmark Council better over the coming year in determining our Peak body for positions and finding ways to quickly collate an Strength Region 5 encompasses the councils located on Community local government REGION 7 agreed position on new issues. Services Adelaide or near the Murray River, from the SA Border in numbers. across the Murray Resource Metro through to the mid-Murray Regions of South I would like to thank all councilors, staff and Management Darling Basin. Australia. Our meetings rotate between the contributors for their involvement in our region & Sustainability various council areas and we appreciate the and acknowledge the support of Ashleigh Tourism Aboriginal Nations support from each and every council to support Baker’s assistance with our activities. We were pleased to host and meetings. support the first of the Connecting Catchments The MDA relies on the information provided by its member councils. and Communities Sessions 22 February 2019, in Renmark. This focused on the sections from Your council’s contribution is essential to ensure policy is developed in Menindee to the Mouth and we were very has a population councils provides water over consultation with those most affected, providing valuable insights and of over of the across to more than pleased to be able to link with Cr Jane MacAllister Peter Hunter million Australian 4 states & million Aboriginal perspectives before state and federal policy is irreversibly locked in. 2people 14%continent 167the ACT 3people 40 Nations (Region 4) to present these informative sessions. Chair, Region 5. www.mda.asn.au
14 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 36 ANNUAL REPORT: REGION 6
Region 6 comprises a total of 7 councils, of MEMBER COUNCILS • Deana Mildren, Regional Engagement Officer Agriculture Round Table, Fleurieu Farming which 4 are members of the MDA. We have Murray Darling Basin Authority Systems, Fleurieu Beef Group and the SA Alexandrina Council no life members and four individual members. • Monique White, Assistant Director, Livestock Consultants Group. The committee is: Coorong District Council Partnerships, Engagement and Strategic Region 6 is strongly encouraged by State and Rural City of Murray Bridge Policy Chair Federal investment in the Healthy Coorong, Tatiara District Council Murray Darling Basin Authority Healthy Basin Action Plan which aims to Cr Melissa Rebbeck Alexandrina Council MEMBERS (INDIVIDUALS/ORGANISATIONS) • Barb Cowey, Regional Coordinator provide on-ground works, management Committee Keith Loeser Murraylands and Riverland PIRSA/Regions SA tools, research, trials and investigations, and Rural City of Murray • Angus MacGregor, Manager, Healthy infrastructure projects 2019-24 to get the Heather Barclay Julie Barrie Bridge Coorong Healthy Basin Coorong back on track for a healthy future. Tracey Strugnell Coroong District Council Frank Tuckwell Department for Environment and Water We also support the Coorong Environmental Bruce Brooks Cr Vern Leng Coorong District Council The MDA would like to acknowledge the Trust Bill which is the pipeline and aims to support longitudinal monitoring and data Cr Michael Scott Alexandrina Council OTHER ELIGIBLE COUNCILS work of Cr Barry Featherstone, as both the Vice-President for 2 years, and Chair of collection, State of the Estuary reporting and Glenn Rappensberg Alexandrina Council City of Victor Harbor Region 6. Following the South Australian increased stakeholder collaboration in support Secratariat Kingston District Council election, Cr Melissa Rebbeck was elected Chair of a healthy Coorong. Shen Mann Alexandrina Council Southern Mallee District Council of Region 6 in February 2019. I would like to thank Tracey Strugnell and Five ordinary meetings were held during The Murray Darling Basin has revealed more Shen Mann for their executive support to the year plus the AGM and an information wounds as the Basin continues to experience Region 6 during 2018-19, and the members meeting. The executive committee also met A total of 10 speakers addressed members an ongoing period of low rainfall. Just as and executive committee for their advice and separately on 4 occasions. at meetings. Topics covered: Management our region was directly impacted during the patience with me while learning the ropes. of return flows from wetland and floodplain millenium drought, we feel our upstream Region 6 will continue to unite in support of Date Location environmental events, including management cousins’ desperation as the basin continues to a full and timely implementation of the Basin of blackwater and salinity impacts; Role of the Alexandrina Council dry. Plan and look forward to further action at state 3 August 2018 Strathalbyn Basin community committee; Regular updates and national level to support this. from the Murray Darling Basin Authority and In addition to contributing on national issues 17 August 2018 Alexandrina Council Goolwa Commonwealth Environmental Water Office at Board level, Region 6 has asked both Alexandrina Council state and federal ministers to respond in full 5 October 2018 regarding Basin Plan implementation; Coorong Strathalbyn Summit and Goyder Expert Panel Reports; to the SA Murray Darling Basin Plan Royal 19 October 2018 Coorong District Council and Healthy Coorong Healthy Basin. Commission highlighting particular issues 14 December 2018 Rural City of Murray Bridge brought to light by the Royal Commission Speakers: including recovery of the 450GL, climate 15 February 2019 Alexandrina Council Goolwa • Michelle Campbell, Local Engagement Officer change, structural adjustment and regional 15 February 2019 Alexandrina Council Goolwa Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder development. Alexandrina Council • Joanne Pfeiffer, Member 22 March 2019 We have had a response from the Federal Strathalbyn MDBA Basin Community Committee Minister and welcome recent initiatives Cr Melissa Rebbeck 5 April 2019 Coorong District Council • Kate Husband, Regional Engagement Officer to address some of these issues such as Chair, Region 6. 21 June 2019 Rural City of Murray Bridge Murray Darling Basin Authority strengthening compliance and protection of 28 June 2019 Rural City of Murray Bridge • Em ily Jenke, Member environmental flows. Basin Community Committee Region 6 is home to many passionate and • P eter Mettam, Senior Operations Officer proactive community groups. As Chair of Department of Environment and Water the Region 6, I also sit on a number of these • A ndrew Beale, Director of River Murray including the Coorong Lower Lakes and Operations Murray Mallee CAP, the Alexandrina Council Department of Environment and Water Environmental Advisory Panel, Sustainable
16 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 37 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 17 ANNUAL REPORT: REGION 7
Region 7 comprises a total of 21 councils, of MEMBER COUNCILS Following the South Australian elections Murray Water is key to the survival and which 11 are members of the MDA. We have 2 in October, Region 7 came under the prosperity of Adelaide. Our goals continue Adelaide Hills Council life members and 4 individual members. The stewardship of Cr Andrew Tilley of City of to focus on efficient local water use by City of Burnside committee is: Mitcham, succeeding Cr David Shetliffe knowledge sharing amongst member councils Campbelltown City Council who stepped down at the local government and recognising the role of the Basin as a Chair City of Holdfast Bay elections. whole entity and our part in it. Cr Andrew Tilley City of Mitcham City of Mitcham Region 7 has focused on issues such as Waste I am grateful for the support of the board, Secratariat City of Norwood Payneham and St Peters water schemes, storm water recharge, and executive group, our members, and hosting Jamie Barrett City of Onkaparinga water sensitive urban design, and utilisation of councils. We have held meaningful meetings City of Playford the desalination plant to minimise Adelaide’s with the new Water Minister and with nearby Four meetings were held during the year. City of Port Adelaide Enfield reliance on the Murray. regions 5, 6 and 8. City of Tea Tree Gully Date Location Town of Walkerville 23 August 2018 City of Playford MEMBERS (INDIVIDUALS/ORGANISATIONS) 25 October 2018 Tea Tree Gully Council Jim Hullick OAM (Life Member) 28 February 2019 City of Mitcham Pauline Frost (Life Member) 17 May 2019 City of Playford Rex Adams Cr Andrew Tilley Frank Verrall Chair, Region 7. 11 speakers addressed members throughout the year. Topics covered: Waterproofing Ray Najar Playford update, Changing the dynamic in the Gary Goland Murray-Darling Basin, Managing wetlands in a complex environment, Street sweeping and OTHER ELIGIBLE COUNCILS stormwater management at the City of Tea City of Charles Sturt Tree Gully, Smart water Design – capturing Town of Gawler our stormwater where it falls, Roles and Mount Barker District Council responsibilities of the MDBA, Murray Water City of Prospect Basin salinity in SA: past to present. City of Salisbury Speakers: City of Unley • Jonathon Roberts, Senior Manager, Assets District Council of Yankalilla City of Playford City of Marion OUR VISION • Chris Burgess, Water Operations Manager City of Adelaide City of Playford City of West Torrens A more prosperous Australia with a world-class supply chain • Dr Michele, Principal Advisor – Water based on a fast, safe, reliable, connected Inland Rail. Resources and Environment • D eana Mildren, Regional Engagement • D arren Willis, Team Leader, Floodplains and Officer, Lower Murray (SA) We will plan and build this with the support of governments, Wetlands/DEW MDBA in partnership with the private sector and hand-in-hand with • Thornton Harfield,Director, Assets and • Monique White, Assistant Director, Strategic Environment Community Engagement the community. Tea Tree Gully Council MDBA • Russell King, Principal Engineer - Stormwater • Dr Tariq Laattoe BSc (hons) PhD, City of Mitcham Hydrogeologist and Groundwater Modeller 1800 732 761 [email protected] ARTC Inland Rail, GPO Box 2462, Brisbane Qld 4001 • Professor Wayne Meyer, Adjunct Professor of Water Technology Pty Ltd Natural Resource Science • Ray Najar, Private Member inlandrail.com.au
The Australian Government is delivering Inland Rail through the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC), in partnership with the private sector.
18 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 38 IR_1365 ANNUAL REPORT: ANNUAL REPORT: REGION 8 REGION 9
Region 8 comprises a total of 16 councils, MEMBER COUNCILS Region 9 comprises a total of 19 councils, of MEMBER COUNCILS of which 5 are members of the MDA. The which 8 are members of the MDA. We have District Council of Barunga West Griffith City Council committee is: 1 life member and 2 individual members. Hay Shire Council The Regional Council of Goyder The committee is: Leeton Shire Council Chair Light Regional Council Lockhart Shire Council Mayor Dennis Clark Northern Areas Council Chair Northern Areas Council Narrandera Shire Council Mayor Paul Maytom Leeton Shire Council Secratariat The District Council of Peterborough Murrumbidgee Shire Council Simon Millcock LEGATUS Committee Wagga Wagga City Council OTHER ELIGIBLE COUNCILS Brett Stonestreet Griffith City Council Carrathool No meetings were held during the year. Adelaide Plains Council Cr Wesley Hall Narrandera Shire Council MEMBERS (INDIVIDUALS/ORGANISATIONS) No speakers addressed members at each Clare and Gilbert Valleys Council Joe Burns Individual member Riverina Water County Council meeting. Joe Burns Copper Coast Council Bede Spannagle RWCC Michael McCormack MP One of the main achievements of Region 8 District Council of Orroroo Carrieton Cr Paul Funnell Wagga Wagga Council during the past year has been the stimulation Yorke Peninsula Council Secratariat OTHER ELIGIBLE COUNCILS of membership interest and engagement Bega Valley Shire Council Port Augusta Council Melissa Seymour Leeton Shire Council of both member and non-member councils Coolamon Shire Council Port Pirie Regional Council within the region. Two meetings were held during the year. Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council This increasing interest in Region 8 Wakefield Regional Council Eurobodalla Council Date Location demonstrates the hard work by the MDA Whyalla City Council Gundagai Regional Council Board and staff. Barossa Council 23 November 2018 Leeton Hilltops Shire Council 15 February 2019 Leeton Junee Shire Council One of the concerns in Region 8 is the security District Council of Mount Remarkable Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council of water. If we work as a united group, I feel One speaker addressed members at meetings Temora Shire Council we have a much better opportunity to elevate this year. Topics covered: Overview of the Weddin Shire Council the issues of water quality and security for our resource outlook, Menindee and fish deaths, SA region’s councils to the national agenda. Royal Commission, Productivity Commission I attended the Drought outlook and water With support from the Murray Darling Report, 450GL water recovery, Long term availability forum in Griffith NSW. I also attended Association’s CEO Emma Bradbury and Simon extraction limits together with broader issues Water NSW customer advisory group meetings Millcock CEO of our local government Group relating to the Murray Darling system, itself. during the year (3 in total) where we were we have established a framework to continue provided with an update of programs to better Mayor Denis Clark Speakers: to grow this region. Chair, Region 8 manage and monitor water in our region. • C olin Mues, Executive Director Science and Unfortunately, the outlook for rain events is grim Knowledge Division for our Murrumbidgee region. It is important MDBA that we continue to seek transparency and Our region continues to be concerned accountability on SDL water efficiency projects Find out about important regarding ongoing drought conditions and to ensure we achieve the best outcome. the extreme water prices, which are having a I would also like to thank Melissa Seymour for Murray–Darling Basin issues, RIVER REACH detrimental effect on our diversity of irrigated her hard work and support agriculture. Water price continues to be driven as Secretariat in our region. outcomes and priorities. up which has an effect on the ability for our Subscribe to our stakeholder e-newsletter farmers to purchase water for cropping. While inroads have been made on efficiency mdba.gov.au/river-reach programs, this accounts for little at the present time with nil or minimal water allocations. Mayor Paul Maytom Chair, Region 9.
20 39 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 21 ANNUAL REPORT: ANNUAL REPORT: REGION 10 REGION 11
Region 10 comprises a total of 25 councils, of MEMBER COUNCILS Region 11 comprises a total of 15 councils, of MEMBER COUNCILS which 8 are members of the MDA. We have which 7 are members of the MDA. We have Bourke Shire Council Brewarrina Shire Council 2 life members and 1 individual member. The 1 life member and 1 individual member. The committee is: Cobar Shire Council committee is: Coonamble Shire Council Dubbo Regional Council Gunnedah Shire Council Acting Chair Forbes Shire Council Chair Gwydir Shire Council Cr Craig Davies Narromine Shire Council Lachlan Shire Council Cr John Campbell Gunnedah Shire Council Tenterfield Shire Council Committee Mid-Western Regional Council Committee Walgett Shire Council Cr Phyllis Miller Forbes Shire Council Narromine Shire Council Cr Don Forbes Tenterfield Shire Council Liverpool Plains Shire Council Secratariat Warren Shire Council Cr Greg Sauer Tenterfield Shire Council MEMBERS (INDIVIDUALS/ORGANISATIONS) Jane Redden MEMBERS (INDIVIDUALS/ORGANISATIONS) Cr Frances Young Gwydir Shire Council Alex Lucke Jack Bennett Secratariat No meetings were held during the year. OTHER ELIGIBLE COUNCILS Alexandra O’Keefe Adjusting to life after amalgamations in New OTHER ELIGIBLE COUNCILS Armidale Regional Council South Wales continued to challenge the finite Bathurst Regional Council 4 meetings were held during the year. Glen Innes Severn Council resources of the councils of Region 10. Bland Shire Council Inverell Shire Council Date Location Narromine Shire Council stepped up in 2019 Blayney Shire Council Narrabri Shire Council 11 September 2018 Bingara to guide the re-constitution of Region 10 with Bogan Shire Council Tamworth Regional Council the appointment of Mayor Craig Davies to the 9 November 2018 Tenterfield Cabonne Council Uralla Shire Council position of acting chair. Cowra Shire Council 12 March 2019 Gunnedah Walcha Council Gilgandra Shire Council 14 June 2019 Moree Subsequently, active engagement of Forbes Moree Plains Shire Council Shire Council and Mayor Phyllis Miller has Goulburn Mulwarre Council Four speakers addressed members at resulted in Forbes and a number of councils Lithgow City Council meetings throughout the year. Topics covered: The region is, like most of the rest of the emerging to establish a dynamic leadership Muswellbrook Shire Council group, with announcement of the team Northern fish flow event, the Namoi unlimited state, in dire straights with the lack of inflows Oberon Council pending confirmation by the regional AGM. JO water study undertaken, the introduction in our rivers and streams, with many of our Orange City Council of REO MDBA based at Narrabri and general communities facing severe water shortages. The MDA would like to thank Mayors Craig Parkes Shire Council interest topics. Only rain will help and the sooner we get it the Davies and Phyllis Miller for their energy and better. Singleton Council commitment in re-engaging the councils of Speakers: Region 10. Upper Hunter Shire Council • Zara Lorien, Executive Officer I greatly appreciate the work and support of Upper Lachlan Shire Council Gwydir Valley Irrigators our Chief Executive Officer Emma Bradbury, the MDA staff, and our region Secretariat Warrumbungle Shire Council • Annabelle Guest, Regional Engagement Alexandra O’Keefe. Officer Emma Bradbury MDBA Chief Executive Officer.
Cr John Campbell Chair, Region 11.
Cr Craig Davies Cr Phyllis Miller The MDA Executive team wish to apologise for an error in last year’s annual report which failed to note Mayor, Mayor, Liverpool Plains Shire Council as a current member. The MDA values Liverpool Plains Shire Council’s Narromine Shire Forbes Shire Council. continuing membership and participation since 2017.
22 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 40 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 23 ANNUAL REPORT: REGION 12
Region 12 comprises a total of 15 councils, of MEMBER COUNCILS which 4 are members of the MDA. We have Balonne Shire Council 0 life members and 1 individual member. The committee is: Goondiwindi Regional Council Paroo Shire Council Chair Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor Richard Marsh Balonne Shire Council MEMBERS (INDIVIDUALS/ORGANISATIONS) Secratariat David Shiel Julie Davies OTHER ELIGIBLE COUNCILS No meetings were held during the year. Blackall Tambo Regional Council It has been a challenging year for the northern Bulloo Shire Council Basin, with some of the driest conditions ever seen. This has resulted in northern Basin Central Highlands Regional Council water reserves being at critically low levels. Lockyer Valley Regional Council There was some good news for Region 12 with Maranoa Regional Council twelve grants from the federal government Murweh Shire Council coming into the region to bolster economic development in the area. Region 12 has been Quilpie Shire Council working closely with the Murray Darling Scenic Rim Regional Council Association in the lead up to the 75th National South Burnett Regional Council Conference in Toowoomba. We hope the Southern Downs Regional Council conference will be well attended by delegates from all reaches of the Basin and we hope they Western Downs Regional Council are enlightened as to the current conditions in the region. I would also like to thank Julie Davies for her continued support of the region as Secretariat.
Mayor Richard Marsh Chair, Region 12.
24 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 41 Top row – Left: ScottTop Bourn and training provider Suzie Stafford commend AnnetteWaters on completing herCert III in BusinessAdministration. Right: Balloon Glow at the CivicSecond Reception row – Left: - Leeton Cr David 2018. Thurley, Emma Bradbury, Mayor John Dal Broi and Minister Niall Right:Phillip Blair. Glyde, CEO MDBA. Third row – Leeton AGM.. Bottom row – Visit address to Brewarrina Council School. Central meetingGoodooga at OUR PERFORMANCE
The purpose of the MDA is to ensure that local government and the communities we serve are well represented at the state and federal level in issues relating to the management of our shared resources.
We do this by engaging in a range of activities best aligned by our four pillars. The following highlights reflect our performance in 2018-19.
MEMBER SERVICES Develop strength and authority of our regions
• MDA 74th National Conference and • Inaugural Connecting Catchment and AGM held in Leeton Communities event in Renmark
• Facilitated regional and inter-regional • Address Darling Downs and South West meetings Queensland Council of Mayors meeting in EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT Dalby Exchange Information and facilitate informed debate • Representation on National Carp Control Plan Communications Working Group • Met with the newly appointed NSW Water Minister the Hon Melinda Pavey to introduce • Appointed to Productivity Commission • Participate in Rice Industry – Leadership on National Carp Control • Representation the MDA and explore opportunities to stakeholder working group meeting program as a guest panellist Plan Working Group meeting support shared goals and initiatives • Attended Murrayland and Riverlands Local • Deliver interview to ABC Landline in • Met with NSW Farmers Association CEO Government Association, RAMJO and other Barmah Peter Arkle discussing policy perspectives regional LGAs • Annual MDA presentation to Goulburn and shared interests • Met with Dr Jackie Schirmer, University Valley Grammar School Year 12 geography Canberra to discuss regional wellbeing • Regular meetings with NSW Executive class exploring the geographic viability of Director Department of Water to discuss • Met with various senators and MPs to provide the proposed second bridge crossing at relationship between Basin Plan and briefing on Murray Darling Basin issues Echuca/Moama considering social, historical, economic development plans supporting environmental, economic, political and with Shadow Minister for Agriculture increased permanent plantings • Met technological factors and Water resources the Hon Tony Burke in • Discussions with CSIRO to identify Sydney to discuss Labor’s perspectives on • Discussions with Federal Member for opportunities to collaborate on projects the Basin Plan Murray the Hon Damian Drum MP on and enable members to develop better conditions in the Goulburn Murray Irrigation • Attended Goulburn River Management understanding of hydrology and flows District, and Basin perspectives collaboration between MDA, Shepparton • Strengthen existing relationships with City Council, DELWP, GMW and GMWCA • Engagement at Australian Local agency partners, including a new MoU with Government Association National • Attended the peak group briefing hosted Murray-Darling Basin Authority Conference and AGM by the MDBA • Facilitate local government input into • Implement digital meeting technology to • Discussion with Northern Basin Department of Agriculture Murray Darling facilitate remote attendance by CEO and Commissioner to introduce the MDA others to all region meetings. Basin efficiency measures program • Deliver presentation at Riverina and Murray • Provide detailed briefings and Joint Organisation meeting representations to Ministers, Members of Australian Local Government Association National • Continue the Basin Bulletin newsletter, Parliament, and their advisory staff. General Assembly 2019. following on from the River Lander notes
26 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 42 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 27 Region 2 is delighted to invite delegates to the 2020 MDA National Conference hosted by Greater Shepparton City Council LEADERSHIP AND ADVOCACY Inform better government policy Wednesday 12 August to Friday 14 August.
• Presented submission to Murray-Darling • Meetings with Basin Royal Commission Office of Hon Bill Shorten • Met with Minister Littleproud to discuss key Office of Hon Scott Morrison issues facing local Government in the Basin Office of Hon David Littleproud
• Interview with ABC Riverina Breakfast • Engage with National Farmers Federation to discuss 2030 Ag Plan • Met with Jody Swirepik the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder • Member of Murray-Darling Peaks group
• Met with the Productivity Commission • Member of Productivity Commission Stakeholder Working Group Murray Darling Basin Plan: Five-Year Assessment Stakeholder Working Group • Met with Minister Littleproud to reaffirm local government’s commitment to the Basin Plan • Played a key role in the return to bi- and expectation on governments to seek partisanship and stability following attempts ways to improve implementation to disallow the Basin Plan Amendment
• Met with the Hon. David Spiers – South • Appeared at the Murray-Darling Basin Australia Minister for Environment and Water Royal Commission on July 24 to give evidence before the Commission • Facilitate joint discussion on the Health of the Barwon Darling River System in Sydney • Prepared significant submissions on behalf following the Menindee fish kills of member councils, including submissions to the Productivity Commission Murray- • Attended Natural Resource Access Darling Basin Plan, and Murray-Darling Basin Regulator board meeting to provide briefing Water Infrastructure Program. on risks and opportunities to ongoing The MDA would like to thank Toowoomba Regional Council, compliance Balonne Shire Council and Region 12 – our conference partners for the 75th MDA National Conference in 2019.
CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT Ensure a viable, self-sustaining organisation
• Planning commencement for the 2019 • Met with CEO Landcare NSW to National Conference discuss common objectives and project opportunities • Met with CSIRO Business Development Manager Nicole Emara to discuss project • Meetings with Dept Agriculture and Water opportunities Resources to progress Basin Communities
• Hosted 4th annual MDA Strategic Planning • Formed the Murray Darling Association Workshop in Moama Strategic Advisory Group
• Plan for MDA Basin Communities Leadership Program.
28 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 43 OUTCOMES FROM OUR RESOLUTIONS
INFLUENCE GOVERNMENT POLICY AND PRACTICE DECISIONS
2018 Motion 5.9 The purpose of the MDA is to provide leadership and advocacy work for the year MDA calls for a National Water 2019 the Government announced that it would direct the effective representation of local government and years ahead. Registry, to review, monitor and report ACCC to conduct an inquiry into markets for tradeable and communities at state and federal level By writing to and engaging with responsible on trade and ownership of water assets water rights in the Murray-Darling Basin. in the management of Basin resources by governments, agencies and Ministers, pursuing and infrastructure exchanging information; facilitating debate; the objectives through meetings, education, and seeking to influence government policy. 2018 Motion 5.10 leadership and dialogue, we inform better Motions resolved at the National Conference policy and practice. MDA calls for a National Water 2019 Basin governments establish an Inspector- and AGM form the foundations of the MDA’s Ombudsman with federal jurisdiction General Murray-Darling Basin Water Resources to build to inquire into, arbitrate, enforce, community confidence in water management, Basin Plan impose punitive measures, and oversee implementation and compliance across the whole Basin. INFLUENCE GOVERNMENT POLICY AND PRACTICE DECISIONS amendments to state water legislation Mr Mick Keelty AO is appointed Interim Inspector-General of 2018 Motion 5.1 Murray–Darling Basin Water Resources.
MDA calls for consultation on river MDA meets annually with Murray-Darling Basin Authority 2018 Motion 5.11 levels during peak tourism periods and Commonwealth Environment Water Holder taking into account how river levels Increase in dialogue between councils and river operators to MDA calls for an advisory role for local 2017, the MDA writes to the Minister for Agriculture impact on Basin communities during maximise the opportunities for planned flows. government in Murray-Darling Basin and Water Resources requesting consideration of local peak tourism periods Plan decision making via an advisory government representation on the Murray-Darling Basin 2018 Motion 5.4 seat at the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council and/or the Basin Officials Committee. Ministerial Council 2017, the Chair of the Basin Officials Committee Malcolm MDA calls for Basin governments August 2019 Basin Ministers Thompson wrote to the MDA advising that BOC considered and water management agencies to i) agree to appoint an independent panel of experts to the matter and determined they were keen to find a recognise the relationship between the peer review the Murray River Capacity Risks Project. The way to increase local government expertise in the Basin capacity of the Barmah Choke; and experts and terms of reference are to be agreed by the Community Committee which is established under S 202 of the increasing demand for water for Commonwealth, NSW, Victoria, ACT and South Australia the Water Act. irrigation for large scale permanent and report back to the next Ministerial Council meeting. plantings; and for an integrated 2018, appointment of four local government members to the ii) receive a report from the MDBA on the work requested approach to planning provisions Basin Community Committee, including National President by Ministers at their meeting in December 2018 to Cr Thurley, Mayor Neil Martinson of Renmark Paringa address deliverability challenges for both consumptive Council, Cr Samantha O’Toole of Balonne Shire Council, and and environmental water. Mayor Adrian Weston of Campaspe Shire Council. Victorian Water Minister Neville announces decision to assess any applications for new works licences for 2018 Motion 5.12 extraction in the Murray River below the Barmah Choke MDA calls for strengthening the role Northern Basin Commissioner appointed 11 September 2018. in light of the likely cumulative impacts of increasing of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority extractions on the environment and other water users for with regard to enforcement of the next 12 months. compliance downstream for the length Correspondence with the MDBA and the Department of of the Barwon/Darling River Agriculture and Water Resources occurred following the national conference. 2018 Motion 5.13
2018 Motion 5.5 MDA calls for the National Water 2019 Federal budget commits $34.0 million over four Infrastructure Fund to be replenished years to grow stewardship and biodiversity practices in the MDA calls for a review of the definition December 2018, Ministerial Council resolve that a revised with sufficient funds to enable the of socioeconomic neutrality in the and agreed socio-economic criteria and the associated agriculture sector. assessment of feasibility of projects context of the Murray-Darling Basin, assessment be adopted as the basis of the neutrality test for Government announces the establishment of the and to deliver this critical water adoption of a definition consistent with assessing efficiency measures projects. $100million National Water Grid Authority to assess water infrastructure existing Commonwealth standards diversion and storage proposals, and provide a science- and guidelines, and the development based approach to the future requirements of Australia’s of an assessment framework that water infrastructure, with a further commitment of $1.3 incorporates consistent local billion to the National Water Infrastructure Development government participation Fund to pay for the projects.
30 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 44 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 31 INFLUENCE GOVERNMENT POLICY AND PRACTICE DECISIONS INFLUENCE GOVERNMENT POLICY AND PRACTICE DECISIONS
2018 Motion 5.17 2017 Motion 6.3
MDA calls for recognition of the January 2019 The Murray–Darling Basin Economic MDA calls for water management and Natural Resources Access Regulator Act 2017 establishes challenges faced by communities Development Program announced. Up to $24.4 million of compliance in the Basin, including an independent, transparent and effective water regulator with impacted by changing water availability, funding over 4 years for economic development projects independent public inquiry and calls for responsibility for the compliance and enforcement of water and direct support for community- that support communities most impacted by water recovery consistent monitoring and compliance laws in NSW. based solutions for structural under the Basin Plan. rules across all Basin states. The Murray-Darling Basin Royal Commission established by adjustment April 2019 MDA granted $500,000 to deliver Murray Darling His Excellency the Honourable Hieu Van Le AC, Governor Association Basin Communities Leadership Program, with of South Australia on 23 January 2018 to investigate the over 40 other projects also funded. operations and effectiveness of the Murray-Darling Basin 2018 Motion 5.18 system. 2017, the Murray–Darling Basin Authority and an MDA calls for a detailed and wholistic May 2019, Victorian Minister for Water Lisa Neville announced Independent Panel conducted a Basin-wide Compliance review of the environmental impacts of a review of the inter-valley trade rules for the Goulburn River Review at the request of the Australian Government, to commercial flows on the Goulburn river to mitigate environmental impact of prolonged high volumes assess the legislative, policy and practical implementation of of water, and three key actions to reduce the risk to the lower compliance in water management across the Basin. Goulburn environment: 1) An interim operational regime to be implemented before 2016 Motion 5.3 the summer period. MDA calls for a Basin Plan 2019, Federal Minister for Water Resources establishes an 2) From December all trades from the Goulburn system will implementation impacts evaluation independent panel assessing socio-economic conditions in be treated consistently with Victorian rules for inter-valley framework, to measure and assess the the Basin. trade and in line with Basin Plan trading rules. social and economic impacts of the 3) Public consultation in January 2020 about long-term Basin Plan options to change the current Goulburn to Murray trade rules. 2016 Motion 5.8
2017 Motion 6.2 MDA calls for a sustainable Darling 2019, the NSW Natural Resources Commission released River system that ensures the health a draft review of the Water Sharing Plan for the Barwon- MDA calls for meaningful inclusion National President Cr David Thurley nominated and and wellbeing of the communities that Darling and Alluvial Water Sources 2012. of local government in Basin related appointed to the Basin Community Committee 18 July 2018. live along it and enriches the economic, decision making –via nomination Three other local government appointments to the social, environmental and cultural the National President of the Murray committee, 2 from regional chairing councils of the MDA. values that have been part of its long Darling Association on the Basin history Community Committee
32 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 45 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 33 34 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 Report Annual MDA connectivity from Menindee to the Coorong. to Coorong. the Menindee from connectivity and topic of river health the on information and education further enhancing particularly information, exchanging and water literacy enhancing on event focused interregional This February. 22 on Renmark in held was workshop Communities and Catchments MDA Connecting inaugural the aresult, As was critical. discussion and awareness education, community again, happening to from prevent place in them actions put and kills fish these understand to better that recognised members its MDA and The to done. be needed more But Barwon-Darling. of the health the to discuss meetings agency inter- and inter-regional organising role in instrumental played an by concern, this driven and members by our raised concerns to responded Association Darling Murray the kills, fish devasting these Following Barwon-Darling. the in dire weir, situation the reflecting Menindee the around dead were found bream bony and perch golden Murray cod, nativeincluding fish of year, this of thousands Earlier hundreds AND COMMUNITIES CONNECTING CATCHMENTS • • include: year next up coming workshops other success, of aresult its As collaboration. and conversation for platform inclusive an created CCC workshop first the attending, members of community With across-section • •
N M B food management and planning use, waste urban and inflows A and ephemeral wetlands of the interior. of the wetlands ephemeral and SDLs the irrigation, the between relationship the –exploring Marshes Macquarie the obligations The below plantings tofootprint permanent irrigation expanding of the impact Choke, Barmah of the management constraints, plan water sharing Darling Barwon- and Basin Norther the in irrigation – exploring topics of of topics exploring – Hill to Broken alonne – exploring topics of of topics –exploring to Adelaide lbury – Managing –Managing to Nyngan Lake aran – exploring issues of of issues –exploring to Mildura oira
Choke, total capacity and supply supply and total capacity Choke, 46 later this year.later this release for set draft 24, with consultation the 2020- Strategic Plan of the development the for direction valuable provided workshop the renewal, for due 2016-19 Strategic Plan current MDA’s With the priorities. strategic and plans of of arange development the in participating were represented, regions 12 all MDA, the of history 75-year in the time first the For future. and goals association’s the to commitment and of unity demonstration ahistoric for together coming Basin Darling Murray the across from leaders government with local Wales, South New Moama, in 2019 February was held workshop planning annual Association’s Darling Murray The communities. local our for best the ever achieving than more now governments federal with state and and together, to working iscommitted government shows local that attendance Record planning calendar. government local Basin Murray-Darling the event on important isan and 5th year its in isnow workshop MDA planning annual The MDA. of the committees and chairs to regional the event, open the attended Basin the across from councils 28 representing over delegates 50 all, In WORKSHOP ANNUAL PLANNING government to involved outset. be the government from local for need the emphasises and issues with complex dealing government of local strength the highlights again once to learn and to hear willingness and discussions robust The resourcing. better for need the and projects; of SDL delivery and involved assessment the in government local of having imperatives the representatives; local their through with communities better engaging agencies and governments federal of state and importance the highlighting of issues, arange discussed Councils MDA Annual Report 2018-19 Report Annual MDA
Strategic and corporate planning workshops Moama 2019. 35 BUSINESS OUR DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIPS
This year has seen the MDA substantially At the end of 2018, the MDA relocated from The MDA is a unique conduit between community and Basin governments as the authorities develop our financial capacity, operations, and the premises shared with Parks Victoria for responsible for management of our Basin resources. We value the partnerships essential to the governance structures. over four years following the reassignment effective performance of our organisation. of that property. Moving less than a block The MDA Strategic Plan 2016-19 set a goal away, the association is now located at of becoming a strong, viable, self sustaining Level 1 250 Anstruther Street, occupying Our Partners Our intent organisation. A commitment to invest in the half of the first level of the building we are association’s resources and capability has Deliver and exchange high quality information and services in – taking in 4 offices, a collaboration hub, delivered significant returns. that create efficiency and value in navigating the complex an sufficient storage to accommodate the Members environment of inter-jurisdictional resource management and current and historical records and assets of The MDA adopted the Organisation and crafting effective representation. Human Resource Plan 2020 to guide the the organisation for the first time in over 20 development of the team from 1.5 FTE to an years. With the installation of desks, phones Inform the community about the role of local government and estimated 6 FTE by 2020. The plan is adaptive, and data points to accommodate up to a Community the regions, and raise the profile of the MDA. Listen, learn from designed to respond to the evolving needs of total of 10 personnel, the space is ideally and reflect the shared views and values of our communities. the organisation. The second half of the year configured to grow with the business’s Collaborate effectively and respectfully to maximise saw three new positions created (see Our demands. efficiencies for local government and their peak agencies Staff), including: Basin LGAs The development of the MDA in 2019 has by avoiding duplication and providing multi-jurisdictional • C ommunication and Engagement been dynamic, with the association clearly in perspectives. Officer an exciting period of growth, reflecting the Basin Governments • Policy Officer and hard work and commitment of the board. It should be noted that the current growth and Murray Darling Basin Authority • Executive Assistant Fairly and frankly represent the interests and priorities of development of the MDA is absent external All positions are currently part time, with local government at the Basin scale on positions of common grants, funding or projects. National Water Grid Authority the appointed staff making a tremendous interest. contribution to development of the Climate Change Authority Collaborate and exchange information and advice to improve organisation. knowledge and awareness of Basin issues, and of the impacts Australian Energy Market of policy and decisions to create better outcomes for local Authority government and communities. Commonwealth Environmental Water Office
Collaborate effectively and respectfully to maximise Regional LG groups and efficiencies for local government and their peak agencies organisations by avoiding duplication and exchanging inter-regional perspectives.
Consult and work with state and national peak bodies and State and national peak bodies other agencies to foster a stronger relationship to local and other agencies government of sector-specific perspectives and issues.
Partner with universities to enhance water literacy, and Universities provide practical application of academic research for the benefit of local government and community.
Promote the interests and achievements of our Basin Media communities through the media.
Wentworth – where our eponymous rivers meet.
36 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 47 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 37 COMMUNICATIONS AND
ENGAGEMENT The MDA continues to be a two-way conduit of information between our members and governments about Basin issues. As a result, our communication and engagement has grown significantly MEDIA RELEASES & POSITION STATEMENTS We recognise there are: during the past year, with an increase Date Title in both website users and greater 28 June 2019 MDBA and MDA Partnership Strengthens with new MoU Two houses of 4 states, engagement on our social media 172 councils, parliament, a 19 June 2019 MDA welcomes Socio-Economic Impact panel for Murray-Darling the ACT, and the platforms. 7 June 2019 Total water availability for ag a welcome discussion and their Commonwealth, government, an opposition, 28 May 2019 MDA congratulates Senator McKenzie on her return to Cabinet associated and countless minor parties and communities agencies 28 May 2019 MDA congratulates Minister Littleproud on his return to Cabinet cross benchers n 1 Ju 28 May 2019 MDA congratulates Minister Ley on her return to Cabinet ee ly 2 tw 0 e 18 22 May 2019 MDA response to Almond Board of Australia Water Policy Position across the Murray Darling Basin. b – d 3 e 0 6 February 2019 Local government stands together - Basin-wide h s J i Yet, all are united by our l u 5 February 2019 Connecting Catchments and Communities - MDA launches inter-regional forums All have differing needs b n
common commitment to u e
p 2 3 February 2019 Councils meet as governments grapple with progress reports and demands.
a healthy working Basin. s 0 133
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e 31 January 2019 MDA acknowledges outgoing Chair of the MDBA
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w 14 January 2019 Review of environmental watering priorities flagged
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@e 17 December 2018 Socio-economic assessment criteria welcomed 791 7 November 2018 Councils inform and influence Basin decisions - Track the progress Number of on the 11 October 2019 Regeneration for a healthy Basin followers 477 4 September 2018 MDA response to draft report Murray Darling 16 August 2018 Glowing support for drought relief efforts Association’s OUR PLAN OUR FUTURE 16 August 2018 Call for Goulburn River flows assessment social media pages: 15 August 2018 Nod given to local government engagement Number 9 August 2018 Local government’s input growing of users: BASIN BULLETIN 27 July 2018 Motions announced 26 July 2018 Water extraction a hot topic – E NEWSLETTER 19 July 2018 Local government expertise recognised in the Basin Commnunity Committee Number of The MDA’s Basin Bulletin continues to build 19 July 2018 Balancing neutrality, productivity and sustainability page views: 6,775 on the organisation’s previous, historical 18 July 2018 Murray River Council hits the ground running newsletters, including Murray Valley Newsletter 6 July 2018 Glowing reception for visitors 1946, Riverlander 1947-85, Riverlander Notes 28,420 1986-2012 and Basin Bulletin 2012-2014. Significant submissions made on behalf of member councils Distributed at the end of each month, Basin Submission to the Productivity Commission Murray-Darling Basin Plan: Five-year assessment - Bulletin includes updates on events that have Draft Report – expressing broad support for the draft report, and adding further recommendation occurred, coming appointments and reports for amendment in line with motion 2019-5.11: advisory role for local government. Number of from each region. Murray-Darling Basin Water Infrastructure Program – calling for additional socio-economic criteria sessions: for projects, and to apply to whole of program, and an agreed and consistent means to assess Issue Month Issue Month criteria for accountability. Paper submitted to the MDB WIP consultation and presented to the 12 July 2018 18 January 2019 Dept Ag and Water Resources. 10,339 13 August 2018 19 February 2019 Submission to the Review of the Murray-Darling Basin Joint governance arrangements - calling for 14 September 2018 20 March 2019 a role for local government in the decision-making framework at sector, regional and council level. 15 October 2018 21 April 2019 Presented to appointed consultant Greg Claydon in support of a further 2-hour discussion face to face at MDBA in Canberra. 16 November 2018 22 May 2019 17 December 2018 23 June 2019
38 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 48 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 39 OUR PEOPLE
The Murray Darling Association continues to invest in skilled and talented people. Leadership and Scott Bourne – BA (Comms) Hons professionalism drive high performance with a focus on nurturing the next generation of talent. Communications and administration officer Our high performance has this, as in every year, been essential. Scott Bourne finished up with the Murray Darling Association in December With vast areas of topic and geography to cover, maximum use is made of the efficiencies afforded 2018, to pursue his passion for local government through his new role as by modern technologies. the Communications and Events Officer with Gannawarra Shire Council. In total, the MDA undertook its business during the 2017-18 year employing FTE staff of 1.8.
Emma Bradbury B. Soc. Sci, Grad Dip Ed, GAICD Nathan Gillie – Chief Executive Officer Volunteer Joining the Murray Darling Association in May 2014, Emma has extensive One of the Murray Darling Association’s longest serving employees, Nathan experience in business development, strategic planning and organisational finished up in December 2018. Nathan worked one afternoon a week at the reform. With a background in social science and local government, Emma Echuca office scanning media for items relevant to Murray-Darling Basin is committed to the principles and practice of good governance and public issues. Nathan carried out his duties with the support of carer Kerry Bliss. participation. An occupational Health and Safety committee member, Nathan previously addressed the national board and attended the MDA’s 72nd National Conference and Annual General Meeting, held at Dubbo.
Cathy Keegan Membership Services Officer Cathy commenced employment with the Murray Darling Association in May 2019, having recently relocated from the Northern Territory. Cathy has worked for over 10 years within Federal and Local Government albeit in Indigenous Affairs, her experience and life skills brings a level of perspective and understanding from a social and economic background.
Jess Maher Communications and Engagement Officer The Murray Darling Association’s newest employee Jess joined the organisation in June this year. Jess is also completing her PhD part- time with Swinburne University, and brings to the role her passion for storytelling, and experience in not-for-profit organisations both in Australia and overseas.
James Marshall Policy Officer James joined the Murray Darling Association staff in March of 2019. James currently works three days a week as he is also a full-time student studying a Bachelor of Commerce (Economics) at Latrobe University. James has a background in agricultural industries and a keen interest in agri-economics.
40 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 49 COMMITTEE’S REPORT FINANCIAL MURRAY DARLING ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2019
COMMITTEE’S REPORT STATEMENTS Your Committee members submit the financial report of Murray Darling Association Inc. for the financial year ended 30 June 2019.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS The names of committee members throughout the year and at the date of this report are:
Name Position Dates Cr David Thurley National President/Chair Region 1 1 July 2018 - 30 June 2019 Cr Peter Mansfield Chair Region 2 1 July 2018 - 31 May 2019 Cr Denis Patterson Chair Region 2 31 May 2018 - 30 June 2019 Vacant Chair Region 3 Cr Melissa Hedericks Chair Region 4 1 July 2018 - 27 September 2018 Cr Jane MacAllister Chair Region 4 27 September 2018 - 30 June 2019 Cr Peter Hunter Chair Region 5 1 July 2018 - 30 June 2019 Cr Barry Featherston Chair Region 6 1 July 2018 - 19 October 2018 Cr Melissa Rebbeck Chair Region 6 15 February 2019 - 30 June 2019 Cr David Shetliffe Chair Region 7 1 July 2018 - 25 October 2018 Cr Andrew Tilley Chair Region 7 16 March 2019 - 30 June 2019 Cr Denis Clark Chair Region 8 1 July 2018 - 30 June 2019 Cr Paul Maytom Chair Region 9 1 July 2018 - 30 June 2019 Cr Craig Davies A/Chair Region 10 1 February 2019 - 30 June 2019 Cr John Campbell Chair Region 11 1 July 2018 - 30 June 2019 Cr Richard Marsh Chair Region 12 1 July 2018 - 30 June 2019 Peter George Treasurer 1 July 2018 - 30 June 2019 Emma Bradbury Public Officer 1 July 2018 - 30 June 2019
PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES The principal activities of the association during the financial year were: To provide effective representation of local government and communities of the Murray Darling Basin at state and federal level in the management of Basin Resources by providing information, facilitating informed debate, and seeking to influence government policy.
SIGNIFICANT CHANGES No significant change in the nature of these activities occurred during the financial year.
OPERATING RESULT The surplus / (loss) after providing for income tax for the financial year amounted to ($9,475) - [2018 $23,137]
GOING CONCERN This financial report has been prepared on a going concern basis which contemplates continuity of normal business activities and the realisation of assets and settlement of liabilities in the ordinary course of business. The ability of the association to continue to operate as a going concern is dependent upon the ability of the association to generate sufficient cashflows from operations to meet its liabilities. The members of the association believe that the going concern assumption is appropriate.
Signed in accordance with a resolution of the Members of the Committee on
David Thurley – National President Peter George - Treasurer
Date: 7 September 2019
50 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 43 INCOME AND EXPENDITURE STATEMENT ASSETS AND LIABILITIES STATEMENT MURRAY DARLING ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED MURRAY DARLING ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2019 AS AT 30 JUNE 2019
Note 2019 2018 Notes 2019 2018 INCOME Conference Income 98,604 66,499 ASSETS Income - Memberships 2 213,360 200,242 CURRENT ASSETS Income - Projects 2,805 1,867 Cash on Hand 7 53,152 74,966 Income From Fundraising Events 200 100 Interest Income 3 680 1,436 Accounts Receivable and other Debtors 8 23,250 9,684 Other Income 4 74,140 12,523 Other Current Assets 9 1,250 Total Income 389,789 282,667 TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 76,402 85,900
EXPENDITURE DEPRECIATION NON-CURRENT ASSETS Depreciation - Low Value Pool 175 280 Financial Assets 10 289,575 226,225 Depreciation - Motor Vehicle 1,345 4,170 Depreciation - Software 7,228 4,951 Property, plant and equipment 11 21,252 33,738 Depreciation - Office Equipment 1,157 868 Other 12 1,100 Total Depreciation 9,905 10,269 MOTOR VEHICLES TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS 311,927 259,963 Motor Vehicle Insurance 743 865 TOTAL ASSETS 388,329 345,863 Fuel Expenses 2,618 2,935 Motor Vehicle Maintenance 858 1,052 Motor Vehicle Registration 162 686 LIABILITIES Total Motor Vehicles 4,381 5,538 Advertising & Marketing 14,839 9,903 CURRENT LIABILITIES Bank Fees 1,039 1,232 Accounts payable and other payables 13 22,305 10,285 Borrowing Expenses 499 469 Borrowings 14 1,501 Business Insurance 976 408 Computer Expenses 11,673 2,113 Provisions 15 42,098 16,138 Conference Expenses 43,168 25,277 Other 16 63,801 Engagement and Communiations 4,784 4,634 Fringe Benefits Tax - - TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES 64,403 91,725 General Repairs & Maintenance 2,232 1,131 Licences and Subscriptions 2,604 2,312 MDF Project Direct Expenses - - NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES Meeting Expense 405 939 NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES Other Payroll Expenses 5 12,299 11,661 Postage 1,383 1,142 Borrowings 14 1,500 1,500 Premises Rent - Albury - - TOTAL NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES 1,500 1,500 Premises Rent - Echuca 14,614 15,500 TOTAL LIABILITIES 65,903 93,225 Printing 425 1,150 Pro Indemnity Insurance - 812 Professional Fees 6 15,153 250 Public Liability Insurance 700 654 NET ASSETS 322,426 252,638 Staff Amenities 323 141 Staff Training Expenses 99 1,541 Stationery 1,790 687 MEMBER’S FUNDS Storage 860 - CAPITAL RESERVE Superannuation 19,172 15,943 Telephone Expenses 6,023 4,977 Reserves 200,561 121,298 Travel & Accom. Expenses 12,915 11,331 Retained Earnings 121,865 131,340 Uniforms - - Wages & Salaries Expenses 210,015 171,770 Water Expenses 2,829 991 TOTAL MEMBER’S FUNDS 322,426 252,638 Work Cover Premiums 4,159 3,029
Total Expenditure 399,264 305,804
NET OPERATING PROFIT / (LOSS) FOR THE YEAR (9,475) (23,137) The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements. The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements.
44 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 51 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 45 MOVEMENTS IN EQUITY STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS MURRAY DARLING ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED MURRAY DARLING ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2019 FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2019
Asset Notes 2019 2018 Retained Revaluation CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES Earnings Reserve Total $ $ $ Other Receipts 374,454 281,231 Interest Received 680 1,436 BALANCE AT 1 JULY 2017 154,477 64,172 218,649 Payments to Suppliers and Employees (400,763) (302,504) COMPREHENSIVE INCOME Interest Paid (499) (469) PROFIT (LOSS) FOR THE YEAR (23,137) - (23,137) Net Cash Provided by (Used In) Operating Activities 20b (26,128) (20,306)
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (23,137) - (23,137) CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES OTHER Payments for Property, plant and equipment 5,815 (18,830) REVALUATIONS - 57,126 57,126 Net Cash Provided by (Used In) Investing Activities 5,815 (18,830)
TOTAL OTHER - 57,126 57,126 CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
BALANCE AT 30 JUNE 2018 131,340 121,298 252,638 Borrowing Repayments (1,501) (4,202) Net Cash Provided by (Used In) (1,501) (4,202) Financing Activities BALANCE AT 1 JULY 2018 131,340 121,298 252,638 COMPREHENSIVE INCOME PROFIT (LOSS) FOR THE YEAR (9,475) - (9,475) Net increase/(decrease) in cash held (21,814) (43,338) Cash on Hand at beginning of the Financial Year 74,966 118,304
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (9,475) - (9,475) Cash on Hand at End of Financial Year 20a 53,152 74,966 OTHER REVALUATIONS - 79,263 79,263
TOTAL OTHER 79,263 79,263
BALANCE AT 30 JUNE 2019 121,865 200,561 322,426
The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements. The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements.
46 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 52 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 47 NOTES OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS NOTES OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS MURRAY DARLING ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED CONTINUED FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2019
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
This financial report is a special purpose financial report that has been prepared in order to satisfy Provision is made for the association’s liability for employee benefits arising from services rendered the financial reporting requirements of the Associations Incorporation Act (NSW) 2009 and the by employees to the end of the reporting period. Employee benefits have been measured at the Associations Incorporation Regulation (NSW) 2010. The Board has determined that the not-for- nominal amounts expected to be paid when the liability is settled, plus any related on-costs. Both profit Association is not a reporting entity. annual leave and long service leave are recognised within the provisions liability.
The financial report covers Murray Darling Association Inc. as an individual entity. Murray Darling Short-term employee benefits Association Inc. is a not-for-profit association incorporated in New South Wales under the Provision is made for the association’s obligation for short-term employee benefits. Short-term Associations Incorporation Act (NSW) 2009 and the Associations Incorporation Regulation employee benefits are benefits (other than termination benefits) that are expected to be settled (NSW) 2010. wholly before 12 months after the end of the annual reporting period in which the employees render the related service, including wages, salaries and sick leave. Short-term employee benefits The financial report has been prepared on a going concern and accruals basis, and is based on are measured at the (undiscounted) amounts expected to be paid when the obligation is settled. historic costs and does not take into account changing money values, or except where specifically stated, current valuations of non-current assets. The financial statements are presented in The association’s obligations for short-term employee benefits such as wages, salaries and sick Australian dollars, which is also the Association’s functional currency. leave are recognised as a part of current trade and other payables in the statement of financial position. The following significant accounting policies, which are consistent with the previous period unless stated otherwise, have been adopted in the preparation of these financial statements. Other long-term employee benefits Provision is made for employees’ long service leave and annual leave entitlements not expected INCOME TAX to be settled wholly within 12 months after the end of the annual reporting period in which the employees render the related service. Other long-term employee benefits are measured No provision for income tax has been raised as the Association is exempt from income tax at the present value of the expected future payments to be made to employees. Expected pursuant to Division 50, section 50-10 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997. future payments incorporate anticipated future wage and salary levels, durations of service and PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT (PPE) employee departures and are discounted at rates determined by reference to market yields at the end of the reporting period on government bonds that have maturity dates that approximate the Fixed Assets are carried at cost less, where applicable, any accumulated depreciation. terms of the obligations. Upon the re-measurement of obligations for other long-term employee The depreciable amount of all Fixed Assets is depreciated over the useful lives of the assets to benefits, the net change in the obligation is recognised in profit or loss as a part of employee the association commencing from the time the asset is held ready for use. benefits expense.
The carrying amount of plant and equipment is reviewed annually by the committee to ensure The association’s obligations for long-term employee benefits are presented as non-current it is not in excess of the recoverable amount. The recoverable amount is assessed on the basis provisions in its statement of financial position, except where the association does not have an of expected net cash flows that will be received from the asset’s employment and subsequent unconditional right to defer settlement for at least 12 months after the end of the reporting period, disposal. The expected net cash flows have been discounted to present values in determining in which case the obligations are presented as current provisions. recoverable amounts. PROVISIONS Depreciation The depreciable amount of all fixed assets is depreciated on a diminishing-value basis over the Provisions are recognised when the association has a legal or constructive obligation, as a result asset’s useful life to the Association commencing from the time the asset is held ready for use. of past events, for which it is probable that an outflow of economic benefits will result and that The assets’ residual values and useful lives are reviewed, and adjusted if appropriate, at the end of outflow can be reliably measured. Provisions are measured at the best estimate of the amounts each reporting period. An asset’s carrying amount is written down immediately to its recoverable required to settle the obligation at the end of the reporting period. amount if the asset’s carrying amount is greater than its estimated recoverable amount. CASH ON HAND ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE AND OTHER DEBTORS Cash includes cash on hand, deposits held at call with banks, and other short-term highly liquid Contractual receivables include accrued interest and other minor receivables. They are recognised investments with original maturities of three months or less. at fair value.
48 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 53 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 49 NOTES OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS NOTES OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED CONTINUED
2019 2018 REVENUE AND OTHER INCOME 2 MEMBERSHIPS Membership, Grants, Project, Activities & Interest revenue are recognised when received. Memberships 213,360 200,242
Donations and bequests are recognised in accordance with Accounting Standard AASB 1004 Contributions, which occurs when all of the following three conditions are satisfied: - 3 INTEREST INCOME Interest Received 680 1,436 (a) the entity gains control of the contribution or the right to receive the contribution; and (b) it is probable that the economic benefits comprising the contribution will flow to the entity; and 4. OTHER INCOME (c) the amount of the contribution can be measured reliably. Sundry Income - 2,765 All revenue is stated net of the amount of goods and services tax. Profit on Sale of Assets 2,925 - Water Sales - Temporary 23,618 9,758 MURRAY DARLING FOUNDATION Water Sales - Permanent 47,597 - The Murray Darling Foundation was established by the Murray Darling Association Inc. As a “Gift 74,140 12,523 Fund” to receive tax deductible donations. The principal activity of the Foundation is to support the objectives of the Murray Darling Association Inc. The Foundation may receive gifts of money or 5. EMPLOYEE ENTITLEMENTS property which are eligible tax deductible donations under item 6.1.1 of sub-section 30-55(1) of the Annual Leave 12,299 4,161 Income Tax Assessment Act 1997. The Foundation is not currently operational. The Board resolved Accrued Salaries - 7,500 to suspend its activities pending a review of its purpose and the formation of a new committee. 12,299 11,661 LEASES Leases of PPE, where substantially all the risks and benefits incidental to the ownership of the asset 6. PROFESSIONAL FEES (but not the legal ownership) are transferred to the association, are classified as finance leases. Consulting Fees 2,271 - Accounting Fees - - Finance leases are capitalised by recording an asset and a liability at the lower of the amounts Audit Fees 12,882 250 equal to the fair value of the leased property or the present value of the minimum lease payments, including any guaranteed residual values. Lease payments are allocated between the reduction of 15,153 250 the lease liability and the lease interest expense for that period. 7. CASH ON HAND Leased assets are depreciated on a straight-line basis over the shorter of their estimated useful Cash At Bank 53,152 74,966 lives or the lease term. Lease payments for operating leases, where substantially all the risks and benefits remain with the lessor, are charged as expenses in the periods in which they are incurred 53,152 74,966
GOODS AND SERVICES TAX (GST) 8. ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE AND Revenues, expenses and assets are recognised net of the amount of GST, except where the OTHER DEBTORS amount of GST incurred is not recoverable from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). Trade Debtors 2,066 9,624 Sundry Debtor 15,500 - Receivables and payables are stated inclusive of the amount of GST receivable or payable. The Goods and Services Tax 5,684 60 net amount of GST recoverable from, or payable to, the ATO is included with other receivables or payables in the statement of financial position. 23,250 9,684
FINANCIAL ASSETS 9. OTHER CURRENT ASSETS Prepayments - 1,250 Investments in financial assets are initially recognised at cost, which includes transaction costs, and are subsequently measured at fair value, which is equivalent to their market bid price at the end of the reporting period. Movements in fair value are recognised through an equity reserve. 10. FINANCIAL ASSETS Available for sale financial assets (a) 289,575 226,225 ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND OTHER PAYABLES 289,575 226,225 (a) Available for sale financial assets: Contractual payables arise when the association becomes obliged to make future payments in Investments: respect of the purchase of goods and services. They are initially recognised at fair value, and then High Security Water Shares 289,575 226,225 subsequently carried at amortised cost.
50 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 54 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 51 NOTES OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS NOTES OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED CONTINUED
2019 2018 2019 2018 11. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT 15. PROVISIONS Motor Vehicles - 34,718 Current Less Accumulated Depreciation - (22,207) Provision for Annual Leave 30,370 15,072 - 12,511 Provision for Long Service Leave - - Superannuation Liability 11,728 1,066 Office Furniture, Equipment and Computers 8,913 7,078 42,098 16,138 Less Accumulated Depreciation (4,073) (2,917) Provision for Annual Leave 4,840 4,161 Opening Balance 1 July 2018 15,072 Additional Provisions Raised 15,451 Amounts Taken (153) Low Value Pool 1,761 1,761 Balance at 30 June 2019 30,370 Less Accumulated Depreciation (1,469) (1,294) 292 467 Provision for Long Service Leave Opening Balance 1 July 2018 - Software 23,300 16,550 Additional Provisions Raised - Less Accumulated Depreciation (12,180) (4,951) Amounts Taken - 11,120 11,599 Balance at 30 June 2019 -
Artwork 5,000 5,000 Total Provisions Opening Balance 1 July 2018 15,072 10,911 Total Property, Plant and Equipment 21,252 33,738 Additional Provisions Raised 15,451 13,295 Amounts Taken (153) (9,134) 12. OTHER NON-CURRENT ASSETS Superannuation Liability 11,728 1,066 Bond Paid - Office 1,100 - Balance at 30 June 2019 42,098 16,138 1,100 - 13. ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND OTHER PAYABLES 16. OTHER LIABILITIES Trade Creditors 6,642 6,535 Accrued Charges - 7,500 Tax Payable 15,663 3,750 Income in Advance - 56,301 22,305 10,285 - 63,801 14. BORROWINGS Current Hire Purchase Liability - 1,696 17. RESERVES Less Unexpired Hire Purchase Liability - (195) Asset Revaluation Reserve - 1,501 The asset revaluation reserve records revaluations of non-current assets. Under certain Non-Current circumstances dividends can be declared from this reserve. Debenture Loans 1,500 1,500 Hire Purchase Liability - - 18. CAPITAL COMMITMENTS Less Unexpired Hire Purchase Liability - - There are no commitments as at 30 June 2019 (2018: $Nil) 1,500 1,500 1,500 3,001 19. CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND CONTINGENT ASSETS There are no Contingent Liabilities at 30 June 2019 (2018: $Nil). There are no Contingent Assets at 30 June 2019 (2018: $Nil).
52 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 55 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 53 NOTES OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS STATEMENT BY MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE CONTINUED MURRAY DARLING ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2019 20. EVENTS AFTER THE REPORTING PERIOD The committee has determined that the association is not a reporting entity and that this special Since 30 June 2019, there have been no events that would materially affect the Financial purpose report should be prepared in accordance with the accounting policies outlined in Note 1 to Statements at Balance Date. the financial statements.
In accordance with a resolution of the committee of Murray Darling Association Inc. the members 21. CASH FLOW INFORMATION of the committee declare that the financial statements as set out in this report: 2019 2019 1 p resent a true and fair view of the financial position of Murray Darling Association Inc. as at Reconciliation of Cash 30 June 2019 and its performance for the year ended on that date in accordance with the (a) Cash on Hand at the end of the financial year as included in the Statement of Cash Flows is accounting policies described in Note 1 to the financial statements and the requirements reconciled to the related items in the Statement of Financial Position as follows: of the Associations Incorporation Act (NSW) 2009 and Associations Incorporation Cash - - Regulation (NSW) 2010; and Cash at Bank 53,152 74,966 2 a t the date of this statement there are reasonable grounds to believe that Murray Darling 53,152 74,966 Association Inc. will be able to pay its debts as and when they fall due. (b) Reconciliation of cash flows from operating activities with This statement is signed for and on behalf of the committee by: net current year profit Current year profit after income tax (9,475) (23,137) Cash flows excluded from current year profit: Depreciation Expense 9,905 10,269 Impairment Loss / (Gain) on Fixed Assets (55,563) - Changes in assets and liabilities: David Thurley – National President Peter George - Treasurer (Increase) / Decrease in Receivables 1,934 (4,040) (Increase) / Decrease in Prepayments 1,250 (750) Date: 7 September 2019 Increase / (Decrease) in Payables 51,781 (4,931) Increase / (Decrease) in Provisions (25,960) 2,283 Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities (26,128) (20,306)
54 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 56 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 55
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF MURRAY DARLING ASSOCIATION INC Auditor's Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Report
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial report as a whole is Report on the Audit of the Financial Report free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that Opinion an audit conducted in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material We have audited the accompanying financial report of Murray Darling Association Inc, which comprises if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic the balance sheet as at 30 June 2019, and the statement of comprehensive income, statement of decisions of users taken on the basis of the financial report. changes in equity and statement of cash flows for the year then ended, a summary of significant As part of an audit in accordance with the Australian Auditing Standards, we exercise professional accounting policies, other explanatory notes and the certification by members of the committee on the judgement and maintain professional scepticism throughout the audit. We also: annual statements giving a true and fair view of the financial position and performance of the association. Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial report, whether due to In our opinion, the financial report gives a true and fair view of the financial position of Murray Darling fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit Association Inc as of 30 June 2019, and of its financial performance for the year then ended in evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not accordance with the accounting policies described in Note 1 to the financial statements, and the detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from requirements of the Associations Incorporation Act (NSW) 2009. error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control. Basis of Opinion Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit We conducted our audit in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards. Our responsibilities under procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an those standards are further described in the Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial opinion on the effectiveness of the association’s internal control. Report section of our report. We are independent of the association in accordance with the ethical requirements of the Accounting Professional and Ethical Standards Board’s APES 110 Code of Ethics Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by the committee. for Professional Accountants (the Code) that are relevant to our audit of the financial report in Australia. We have also fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with the Code. Conclude on the appropriateness of the committee’s use of the going concern basis of
accounting and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the association’s ability to our audit opinion. continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditor’s report to the related disclosures in the Emphasis of Matter - Basis of Accounting financial report or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor’s report. We draw attention to Note 1 to the financial report, which describes the basis of accounting. The financial However, future events or report has been prepared to assist the association to meet the requirements of the Associations conditions may cause the association to cease to continue as a going concern. Incorporation Act (NSW) 2009. As a result, the financial report may not be suitable for another purpose. Our opinion is not modified in respect of this matter. Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the financial report, including the disclosures, and whether the financial report represents the underlying transactions and Responsibilities of the Committee for the Financial Report events in a manner that achieves fair presentation.
The committee of the Murray Darling Association Inc are responsible for the preparation of the financial We communicate with the committee regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of report that gives a true and fair view in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards and the the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we Associations Incorporation Act (NSW) 2009 and for such internal control as the committee determines identify during our audit. is necessary to enable the preparation of the financial report that gives a true and fair view and is free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial report, committees are responsible for assessing the association’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the committee either intends to liquidate the association or to Warren Pollock cease operations, or has no realistic alternative but to do so. MGR ACCOUNTANTS [email protected]
13 September 2019
57 HONOUR ROLL LOOKING FORWARD OF THE MURRAY VALLEY DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE, THE MURRAY VALLEY LEAGUE, AND THE MURRAY DARLING ASSOCIATION INC LOOKING BACK “HISTORY WILL BE KIND TO ME FOR I INTEND TO WRITE IT.” LIFE MEMBERS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS The importance of recalling our history is so much – WINSTON S. CHURCHILL greater than simply avoiding any repeat of its Cr Stuart Anderson OAM Moama* 1 1945 Albury NSW 39 1983 Echuca Vic mistakes. Actively valuing our history keeps us Mr Graham Camac Meningie 2 1946 Shepparton Vic 40 1984 Adelaide SA Mr David Dalzell Whyalla* 3 1947 Murray Bridge SA 41 1985 Jerilderie focused on the creating the future to which we aspire. Dr Peter Davies Adelaide* 4 1948 Swan Hill Vic 42 1986 Mildura Vic In this, the 75th year of the Murray Darling Association Ms Pauline Frost Adelaide 5 1949 Wentworth NSW 43 1987 Albury NSW we look back on the legacy, the successes, the Mr James Wallace Gemmell Cobram* 6 1950 Berri SA 44 1988 Renmark SA challenges and the tenacity of those who have Cr Les Hill Berri 7 1951 Corowa NSW 45 1989 Barham NSW Mr Brian J Grogan OAM Mildura 8 1952 Victor Harbor 46 1990 Murray Bridge SA come before us – and we cast our vision forward to Mr Bill Gorman Yarrawonga 9 1953 Albury NSW 47 1991 Cobram Vic embrace the one constant since the dawn of time Mr Albert Heslop Swan Hill* 10 1954 Mildura Vic 48 1992 Whyalla SA - change. The MDA is poised to embrace a future Dr Terry Hillman Lavington 11 1955 Kerang Vic 49 1993 Wentworth NSW of changing water availability, changing climate, Mr Jim Hullick OAM Adelaide 12 1956 Melbourne Vic 50 1994 Yarrawonga Vic Mr Ralph Jacobi Adelaide* of drought and disruptive technologies, and of Mr Ian Killmister Nathalia* 13 1957 Barmera SA 51 1995 Broken Hill NSW changing communities. In local government it is Mr Jack James Larkin OAM Kooloonong* 14 1958 Deniliquin NSW 52 1996 Barmera SA our role to prepare, to lead and to support our Mr Gunnar Vernon Lawrence AM Hawthorn* 15 1959 Mt Beauty Vic 53 1997 Swan Hill Vic communities to navigate the complexities of that 16 1960 Renmark SA 54 1998 Strathalbyn SA Mr John Joseph McGuire * change, and to leave a legacy of adaptation, Cr Neil McKinnon OAM Jerilderie* 17 1961 Swan Hill Vic 55 1999 Moama NSW of resilience – and of a vibrant and sustainable Mr J Bede Mecham Wagga Wagga 18 1962 Albury NSW 56 2000 Brewarrina NSW Mr Ken Rogers Dubbo 19 1963 Victor Harbor SA 57 2001 Buronga NSW future for the leaders of tomorrow. Mr T Norm Martin Wodonga* 20 1964 Mildura Vic 58 2002 Whyalla SA Cr Reg Mengler Balranald* 21 1965 Yarrawonga Vic 59 2003 Corowa NSW Dr William Andres Merrylees Carrathool* 22 1966 Adelaide SA 60 2004 Renmark SA Mr Max Moor Barmah 23 1967 Shepparton Vic 61 2005 Dubbo NSW Mr Phillip Moore Melbourne 24 1968 Deniliquin NSW 62 2006 Barham NSW Mr Don Oberin Echuca 25 1969 Waikerie SA 63 2007 Bourke NSW Mr Thomas Ernest Pearsall Albury* 26 1970 Mildura Vic 64 2008 Leeton NSW • The Almond Board of Australia (ABA) is Mr Kevin Pell OAM Nathalia 27 1971 Kerang Vic 65 2009 Elizabeth SA Mr Percival Alfred Yeomans * the peak industry body for Australian 28 1972 Murray Bridge SA 66 2010 Beechworth Vic Mr Wal Perry Port Elliott* almonds 29 1973 Echuca Vic 67 2011 Dalby Qld Mr Phillip Potter Narooma* 30 1974 Corowa NSW 68 2012 Mildura Vic Ms Agnes Isabel Robertson Albury* 31 1975 Loxton SA 69 2013 Goolwa SA • ABA activities cover 99% of Australian Cr Max Schmidt Paringa* almond production Cr Wulf Reichler OAM Brewarrina 32 1976 Wodonga Vic 70 2014 Tumut NSW Mr Robert Starritt Rankin OBE Rochester* 33 1977 Camberwell Vic 71 2015 Berrigan NSW Mr HG Tredinnick Murray Valley* 34 1978 Swan Hill Vic 72 2016 Dubbo NSW • Almonds remain Australia’s most Mr Allen Tume Adelaide* 35 1979 Berri SA 73 2017 Renmark SA valuable horticultural export product Mr Henry Lester Smith MBE Kerang* 36 1980 Deniliquin NSW 74 2018 Leeton NSW Cr Maurice Wilhelm OAM Murray Bridge* 37 1981 Wentworth NSW 75 2019 Toowoomba Qld • In 2018/19 almond exports were worth Mr Percy Weston Eurobin* 38 1982 Murray Bridge SA $552 million * Deceased PRESIDENTS • Almonds account for 62% of Australian DG Padman Albury City Council 1944-5 Jim M Hullick OAM Adelaide City Council 1986-89 tree nut production JG Strangman District Council of Waikerie 1952-56 Graham C Camac Coorong District Council 1989-92 Henry Lester Smith OBE Gannawarra Shire Council 1956-60 Max Moor Moira Shire Council 1992-98 E Verco Whyte Wentworth Shire Council 1960-65 Ray Trestrail Albury City Council 1998-2000 Robert S Rankin OBE Shire of Campaspe 1965-68 Brian Sharp OAM Shire of Murray 2000-03 Tom E Pearsall Albury City Council 1968-71 Brian J Grogan OAM Mildura Rural Council 2003-06 Paul Gerard Schmidt District Council of Mannum 1971-74 Bill Gorman Corowa Shire Council 2006-09 Jim W Gemmell Moira Shire Council 1974-77 Ken Rogers Dubbo City Council 2009-13 Jack J Larkin OAM Swan Hill Shire 1977-82 Cr Greg Toll Shire of Campaspe 2013-15 Don K Oberin Shire of Campaspe 1982-86 Cr David Thurley Albury City Council 2015-
Almond Board of Australia | 1801 Bookpurnong Road, PO Box 1507, Loxton SA 5333 | 08 8584 7053 58 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 58 [email protected] | australianalmonds.com.au | Australian Almonds M N P Q a ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
VALE Phillip McRorie Potter
Phillip Potter lived at Jingellic on upper Murray River and was a councillor for 23 years with the Holbrook Shire Council, and as mayor 1993-94. He was an enthusiastic member of the Murray Valley Development League. Phillip had good financial skills which he applied as chair of the league’s finance committee. Phillip held the position of executive officer of the league’s Albury office 1982- 83.
In 1987, Phillip was awarded life membership of the league for his services as Holbrook Shire’s representative of Region 1, chair of the league’s finance committee and vice-president of the League. In the early 1990s, Phillip retired from council life and moved to coastal NSW. Phillip passed away on October 28, 2018, leaving the MDA and Holbrook shire the richer for his commitment.
CONTACT US
Please contact us with any queries or comments: Murray Darling Association Level 1, 250 Anstruther St Ph 03 5480 3805 Echuca Vic 3564 Email [email protected] Additional copies of this document can be downloaded from www.mda.asn.au.
60 MDA Annual Report 2018-19 59 60 [email protected] Murray Darling Association Inc. www.mda.asn.au T (03) 5480 3805 ABN: 64 636 490 493 463 High Street P.O. Box 1268 Echuca, Vic 3564 MOTIONS on NOTICE
75th Annual General Meeting Wednesday 23rd October 2019
Motions proposed to the Murray Darling Association 75th annual general meeting.
5.1 Board - Murray Darling Association Special Motion- Constitution amendment 5.2 Region 4 RAMSAR listing Menindee Lakes 5.3 All regions - Board Minimum flows Barwon-Darling and Lower Darling River 5.4 Region 10 Drought preparedness 5.5 Region 10 Barwon Darling priorities – safe supply 5.6 Region 9 Integrated delivery SDLAM 5.7 Region 9 Consequences of water trade 5.8 Region 9 Water Resource Plans deadline 5.9 Region 9 Balancing solar and irrigated farming 5.10 Region 6 Regional chair post local government elections 5.11 Region 6 Proxy attendance at MDA Board meetings 5.12 Region 6 Investment in nutrient load research 5.13 Region 6 Agricultural productivity target 5.14 Region 6 Population growth 5.15 Region 5 Support for water trade inquiry 5.16 Region 9 Water Trading Platform 5.17 Region 4 Water storages accounting 5.18 All regions - Board Renewable energies 5.19 Region 4 Traditional owners’ recognition 5.20 Region 12 Western River Diversion 5.21 All regions - Board Productivity Commission Inquiry
61
Special Motion Board - Murray Darling Association
Motion: That the Constitution of the Murray Darling Association be amended at
i) Part 35 (b) such that the financial year of the MDA commences on 1 April and ends on the following 31 March, and ii) Part 6 , s17 (3) such that that the annual general meeting of the MDA must be held between 1 April and 30 September in a particular year.
Objective:
To change the financial year status of the Murray Darling Association. This would assist with the MDA National Conference and AGM clashing with State-based Local Government Association Annual General Meetings and local government elections in future years.
Key Arguments: Up to 2018, the MDA National Conference has been held between early September and late October.
The 74th National Conference, hosted by Region 9 and Leeton Shire Council, occurred in late August 2018 prior to South Australia member councils going into caretaker mode in mid-September.
Changing the MDA’s financial year to 1 January – 31 December will enable the National Conference and AGM to occur during the first half of the year and avoid the very crowded calendar of the reporting/conference season.
NSW Government Fair Trading, under which the MDA is incorporated requires that an association's committee must ensure that an annual general meeting (AGM) is held within 6 months after the association's financial year-end. An association's constitution must specify its financial year.
Part 6 s17 (3) of the MDA constitution requires that the annual general meeting must be held between 1 July and 30 November in a particular year.
To change the financial year would require a change to the constitution, ergo a motion to the National Conference.
NOTE: As this is a special motion it must pass by a vote of 75% to carry.
62 Motion 2 Region 4 – Central Darling Shire Council
Motion: That the MDA calls on Basin Governments to endorse the Menindee Lakes, or a portion of the Lake system to be listed as a Ramsar site, in further consultation with the community.
Objective:
To protect the Menindee Lakes as a wetlands of cultural and ecological significance and to preserve and to conserve, through wise use and management, those areas of the system identified as appropriate for listing.
Key Arguments:
• In 2010-11 there were attempts to have a proportion of the Menindee Lakes recognised as being listed as a Ramsar site. Regional Development Australia Far West NSW (RDAFW) invested resources and efforts into having a proportion of the Lakes listed as a Ramsar Sites on behalf of Central Darling Shire and the Far West region. At this point in time, the State Government recognised the significance of the Menindee Lakes, however they were not able to support the project with the position of the Murray Darling Basin plan at the time. • Ramsar Convention and signing on Wetlands took place on 2 February 1971 at the small Iranian town named Ramsar and came into force on 21 December 1975. Since then, the Convention on Wetlands has been known as the Ramsar Convention. The Ramsar Convention's intentions is to halt the worldwide loss of wetlands and to conserve, through wise use and management, of those that remain. This requires international cooperation, policy making, capacity building and technology transfer. • Under the Ramsar Convention, a wide variety of natural and human-made habitat types ranging from rivers to coral reefs can be classified as wetlands. Wetlands include swamps, marshes, billabongs, lakes, salt marshes, mudflats, mangroves, coral reefs, fens, peat bogs, or bodies of water - whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary. Water within these areas can be static or flowing; fresh, brackish or saline; and can include inland rivers and coastal or marine water to a depth of six metres at low tide. The Ramsar Convention encourages the designation of sites containing representative, rare or unique wetlands, or wetlands that are important for conserving biological diversity. Once designated, these sites are added to the Convention's List of Wetlands of International Importance and become known as “Ramsar” sites. In designating a wetland as a Ramsar site, countries agree to establish and oversee a management framework aimed at conserving the wetland and ensuring its wise use. Wise use under the Convention is broadly defined as “maintaining the ecological character of a wetland”. • There are 66 Ramsar sites in Australia, covering 8.3 million hectares. The Office of Environment and Heritage NSW is responsible for managing the majority of Ramsar wetlands in NSW, including: Blue Lake (in Kosciuszko NP), Gwydir Wetlands (part only - Gwydir Wetlands SCA), Hunter Estuary Wetlands (Kooragang component), Lake Pinaroo (in Sturt NP), Little Llangothlin NR, Macquarie Marshes (Macquarie Marshes NR component), Myall Lakes, Narran Lakes, NSW Central Murray State Forests (Millewa Forests and Werai Forests components), Paroo River Wetlands and Towra Point NR. • The four Councils in the Far South West Joint Organisation (FSWJO) have endorsed the Menindee Lakes to be listed as a Ramsar site. At this stage, it is proposed that the RDAFW will manage the project by preparing and updating existing documentation at a cost; which isn’t clear at this stage what this will be.
63 Motion 3 Murray Darling Association
Motion: That the Murray Darling Association support the call on the NSW Government and Murray-Darling Basin Authority, to ensure that
a) the NSW Water Sharing Plans and Resource Management Plans for the Barwon-Darling, Murray-Lower Darling and Northern Basin Rivers must include minimum river flow and storage levels that will protect the health of the Barwon-Darling and Lower Darling River from the Queensland border to the Murray River.
b) Minimum flows at sites along the Barwon-Darling and Lower Darling River, in particular at Wilcannia, and water storage volumes in the Menindee Lakes must be reached before extraction of water for irrigation is allowed.
Objective:
To develop strength and unity across multiple communities of interest in the restoration, protection and effective management for the long term health of the Barwon-Darling and Lower Darling River from the Queensland border to the Murray River.
Key Arguments:
Development of a similar position statement has lately been complete by a key working group of the Murray Lower Darling SAP, and was subsequently endorsed by a range of community groups and representatives including industry groups and First Nations.
The long term health and effective management of the Barwon and Lower Darling systems are essential to every system across the Murray-Darling Basin.
64 Motion 4 Region 10 – Forbes Shire Council
Motion: That the Murray Darling Association calls on the Federal Government to provide ongoing assistance for drought preparedness in the form of low interest innovation, water infrastructure and drought assistance loans, training and professional development in business management for farmers and continued support for Rural Financial counsellors to work with farmers long term, with the understanding that drought is part of the normal cycle of farming and needs to be planned for.
Objective:
To help “drought proof” the country and in turn reduce the impact drought has on agricultural production, exports, the economy, people’s lifestyle and the assistance needed at times of crisis.
Key Arguments:
• Drought preparedness is a nationwide issue as all areas of Australia face drought at some time and all areas of Australia contribute to vital agricultural production. Federal assistance and planning can help “drought proof” the country and in turn reduce the impact drought has on agricultural production, exports, the economy, people’s lifestyle and the assistance needed at times of crisis. • There is a huge need to expand and foster long term investment by farmers in drought infrastructure. The measures that support drought preparedness will not be taken up during drought due to the hardship faced, however in good times these measures are likely to be adopted and best utilized. These long-term measures must be available all the time not just at times of crisis. • The Farm Household Assistance is the most controversial drought support measure available. It is taxable so doesn’t offer farmers long term assistance and the need to repay this when tax thresholds are reached can impact on their ability to recover from drought. The basis of this assistance is in contradiction to some of the most basic farm management recommendations in drought which highlights destocking as one of the first actions to be taken. The process of destocking boosts income which may result in farmers needing to pay tax or have their FHA cancelled. • Other issues with this type of assistance are in regard to how assets are treated, when assets such as land and livestock are needed for farmers to extract themselves from drought. Only 10% of eligible applicants are receiving this payment due to people not being able to negotiate eligibility criteria and experiencing difficulties with the bureaucratic process. • Currently 99% of NSW is in drought with Australia as a whole experiencing rainfall deficiency and drought conditions in conjunction with record heat over summer months. Rural areas of Australia are under extreme duress, some areas especially in rural Queensland have been experiencing continuous drought for nearly 7 years.
65 Motion 5 Region 10 – Brewarrina Shire Council
Motion: That the Murray Darling Association call on the Federal and State Government to address the urgent need for action on the Darling Barwon river system to ensure that the supply of safe drinking water and flows for stock and domestic use is the priority at all times, including priority over and above the release of water from dams for large scale irrigation, irrespective of the circumstances in which allocations have been pre-purchased or pre-allocated for large scale irrigation.
Objective:
To ensure the supply of safe drinking water and flows for stock and domestic use for water-users and communities on the Darling Barwon River systems.
Key Arguments:
• Water is a scarce resource and in times of drought the value of water increases the dryer it becomes, however it seems that large scale irrigators do not face the same issues as other farmers reliant on water for on farm use and that town water supplies are of less value then the needs of large scale irrigators. • If the Governments both NSW and QLD, had imposed an embargo on irrigation for three weeks, the water released from State owned Dams and local storm events would have easily filled the town weirs along the river and provided a much-needed flush for local stock and domestic use. The fish kills experienced at Menindee and other areas could have been avoided if the priority was changed. • The economic benefits from growing and exporting cotton do not outweigh the benefits from having water for stock and domestic use. It’s time for a rethink on where the priorities are and to make timely, tough decisions in the best interests of the river communities. Just as no one can guarantee rain, Governments should not enter into agreements to provide water for large scale irrigation when there are higher priorities. • We have recently observed the release of pre-allocated irrigation water for large scale irrigation at a time when Walgett, Bourke, Menindee and smaller communities along the Barwon Darling river system were either completely out of water or on severe restrictions and major fish kills were regular events. When questioned on the issue, the NSW Minister for Water responded by saying that there had been no allocation of water and that the 3gl of water a day that was being released was water had been stored in dams from previous storm events. It also seems that recent rain events in QLD were not permitted to flow down the river into NSW despite the desperate need. It seems absurd that the Governments would withhold water that could have been used to provide for stock and domestic use and town water supplies, simply because of the allocation system in place and that water was needed for large scale irrigation.
66 Motion 6 Region 9
Motion: That the Murray Darling Association calls on the Federal and State Governments to immediately and proactively heed the Productivity Commission’s recommendation for better governance and integrated delivery of the Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism Projects as well as more realistic timeframes for delivery of those Projects.
Objective:
Ensure robustness and integrity of sustainable diversion limit adjustment mechanism program including ensuring inferior Projects aren’t rushed through and regretted later.
Key Arguments:
• The 605GL suite of projects is ambitious and in order to prevent large amounts of taxpayer funds being wasted on projects that may not deliver the anticipated environmental outcomes, it is recommended that projects be independently and critically reviewed before they are approved. • Further, realistic implementation timeframes should be applied (and legislation adjusted accordingly) to ensure the Basin benefits from meaningful, sustainable results rather than being left with disappointing outcomes through the reckless rushing through of projects to meet an arbitrary policy deadline. • As an example, the Yanco SDLAM Projects are estimated to cost $85M and deliver between 12 to 28 GL per annum of environmental watering benefits. However, there are grave concerns from credentialed environmentalists and the local Wiradjuri community that the proposed works will effectively compromise rather than enhance biodiversity in the system, most especially the installation of an offtake regulator at the head of the Creek. Governments and communities need confidence through independent review that the environmental outcomes of the Yanco Projects will be genuinely achievable and should feel satisfied that the available funding isn’t being opportunistically leveraged to deliver capital works projects seeking to primarily improve the business cases of Water NSW and various irrigation companies.
67 Motion 7 Region 9
Motion: That the Murray Darling Association calls on Federal and State governments to
i) recognise, value, protect and honour the significant investment by taxpayers over many decades to establish irrigation schemes to feed the nation, and ii) immediately place a moratorium on the development or opening of new irrigation farms downstream of long-established irrigation areas until the Basin Plan objectives are fully met and the full implications (environmental, economic and social) of the further geographic distribution of water entitlements is properly researched and understood. iii) ensure that existing irrigation schemes are optimally utilised and are not subject to ongoing exacerbating swiss cheese effect through poor and / or silo-ed policy decisions and ineffectual land use planning that fails to consider implications for the Basin Plan. iv) engage meaningfully with and have genuine regard to the findings of the ACCC Inquiry into water trading that is underway, and
Objective:
Understand and respond to the unintended consequences of current water trading policies/ rules/ regulations
Key Arguments:
• The current lack of transparency and loose operations surrounding the sale and purchase of water makes it practically impossible for rural communities with water dependent economies to effectively navigate and plan their desired futures. There is also growing awareness that the notion that ‘water will go to the highest value crop’ is not necessarily in the best interest of the nation or Basin communities, be that socially, economically or environmentally. • What must absolutely be avoided in the Basin is a farming and food/fibre processing sector that has all its eggs in one basket. The Basin needs to foster resilience through diversity, which gives appropriate latitude to responsibly harness the wet years and sustainably endure the dry years. • The development of an unregulated water trading market, compounded by loose land use planning and energy strategies whose integration extends only to the location of transmission lines, is undermining the sustainability and true potential of nation building irrigation schemes to deliver optimal farm production in the Basin using the least amount of water. • Formal Irrigation areas or schemes were nation building investments originally funded through significant taxpayer investment from the late 1800s. Their true value needs to be understood and appreciated in today’s dollars, as well as their full potential as vehicles to more efficiently deliver Basin Plan outcomes. Arguably worth multi-billions of dollars, and well capable of providing optimal agricultural production with least loss of water, the Basin’s irrigation areas instead being systematically eroded by a suite of government policies that fail to recognise the value of the whole as opposed to the value of the parts (individual farms).
68 • Water is a lifegiving force and a critical input into Australia’s farming endeavours. Even though it can be bought and sold, water should never be considered a commodity. With Australia being a dry country, every drop of water counts and must be used responsibly, including across the Murray Darling Basin. A responsible citizenry and responsible governments must ensure that a megalitre released from a dam will realise as close to a megalitre on the farm, with minimal losses.
69 Motion 8 Region 9
Motion: That the MDA calls on Basin governments to extend the 2019 deadline for approval of such Water Resource Plans where there are complex changes required and there are material risks to the quality of the plans.
Objective:
To ensure sufficient opportunity for the careful and considered development of Water Resource Plans in which Basin Plan communities can have full confidence
Key Arguments:
• In some WRP Areas, significant rule changes may be needed to meet Basin Plan requirements. Stakeholders are justifiably concerned that if WRPs are rushed to meet the accreditation deadline, changes could affect the reliability of their entitlements or not sufficiently protect environmental water. They are concerned that there is not enough time left to properly examine and test the proposed changes before they become law. • For a few WRP areas, significant changes to local water management arrangements (which are often defined in State legislative instruments) are needed to meet Basin Plan requirements and achieve the outcomes of the Plan. These include: o changing rules that define permitted water take o changing rules that protect environmental flows, including those to shepherd environmental water in connected water resources o implementing PPMs (particularly in New South Wales) o managing water quality and the supply of critical human water needs in extreme events. • It is critical that Basin Governments provide adequate time to conduct the detailed analysis and consultation required to understand local issues, identify and test feasible solutions and make the necessary amendments to rules and supporting documents. There is insufficient time left to do this well.
70 Motion 9 Region 9
Motion: That the Murray Darling Association calls on
i. Basin Governments to revise their state-based planning instruments to have regard to the significant contribution of established irrigation areas to providing food security and generating export earnings for the region, state and commonwealth when state significant development applications are being assessed. Such as the NSW Infrastructure State Environmental Planning Policies that applies to large solar farm applications. ii. Basin Governments, should schemes still be approved, to make compulsory development contributions by solar companies commensurate with the loss of a typical crop to the wider processing and freight economy, for the life of the solar project.
Objective:
To protect prime irrigation land from being sterilised through silo-ed energy policies.
Key Arguments:
• Development Applications for the construction of large-scale solar farms in regional areas have risen in recent years. While the move to renewable energy sources is viewed as a positive for long-term environmental outcomes, it should not come at the cost of productive farmland, particularly those tracts of Basin lands located within nation building irrigation areas that form the food bowls of Australia. • Most importantly, Basin Governments should recognise that irrigation farms should never be viewed in isolation of the whole irrigation area and its associated infrastructure when making decisions about the location of solar farms. • It is the position of the National Farmers Federation to achieve a gaol of Agricultural production reaching $100bn by 2030.
71 Motion 10 Region 6
Motion: That the MDA adopt a policy which facilitates continuity of Region leadership in Local Government election years, with the Region AGM to be held as soon as practicably possible after the outcome of Local Government elections is known.
Objective: Continuity and information flow from one Region Chair to the next during local government election years, should a Region Chair not be re-elected to office as an Elected Member.
Key Arguments:
• Continuity of leadership (and thus succession planning) is important for ensuring the Regions operate effectively and efficiently.
• Convention dictates that Region Chairs are an Elected Member of a Member Council, noting that pursuant to Clause 16(5) of the Constitution, the chair must demonstrate both the initial and ongoing capacity to provide secretariat support for the activities of the Region.
• Regional Chairs are elected (or re-elected) annually. Refer clause 16(4) of the MDA Constitution.
• General local government elections are held every 4 years where the current Regional Chair may, by default, lose their Region Chair position if they are not re- elected to office as an Elected Member. Refer clause 10(1)(b) of the MDA Constitution.
• In these circumstances, the Region Chair vacates and the Region Executive may appoint a temporary chair and a new chair must be appointed at the next Region Meeting. Refer clause 16(5)(b) of the MDA Constitution.
• This created some challenges for Region 6 following the November 2018 local government election, at which two key members of the Region Executive, including the Region Chair were not returned as Elected Members. In the intervening period before the election of a new Region Chair, Region 6 was not represented on the MDA Board and Region 6 momentum was lost. Refer clause 10(3) of the MDA Constitution.
• The motion requests that the Board turn their mind to how continuity of leadership and information flow between outgoing and incoming Region Chairs might best be maintained in such circumstances, within the constraints of the current Constitution.
72 Motion 11 Region 6
Motion: That the MDA consider possible constitutional change which would enable a nominated member of the Region Executive to attend MDA Board meetings as proxy for Region Chair should the Region Chair be unavailable to attend.
Objective: To maximise opportunity for representation from each of the MDA regions at all MDA Board meetings.
Key Arguments:
• Currently if a Region Chair is unable to attend a Board meeting, whether due to illness or some other reason, they are unable to nominate a proxy (i.e. another member of the Region Executive) to attend and vote at the Board meeting on their behalf.
• Refer clause 13(1)(c) of the MDA Constitution which provides as follows: At a meeting of the Board al voting shall be by ordinary resolution of the majority of the Board members present (there will be no proxy voting).
• This motion asks that the Board develop a proposal to be considered at the next AGM for constitutional change, to enable a nominated member of the Region Executive to attend MDA Board meetings as proxy for Region Chair should the Region Chair be unavailable to attend.
• In the interim (i.e. until constitutional change can be enacted) it is suggested that if a Region Chair is unable to attend a Board meeting, another member of the Region Executive (as nominated by the Region Chair and communicated to the CEO prior to the commencement of the Board meeting) be permitted to attend Board meetings to participate in Board discussions but without the benefit of voting rights.
73 Motion 12 Region 6
Motion: That the MDA advocate for increased State and Federal government investment in research that articulates the impact of nutrient load in the Murray Darling Basin as a result of current and forecast increased fertiliser and herbicide usage from agriculture in the run-off zone, reports on findings, and identifies alternatives that will reduce nutrient loads.
Objective: To ensure water quality in the MDB is maintained or improved.
Key Arguments:
Some countries such as America spend billions every year removing nutrients from water ways. Some water ways in NZ are un wade able due to nutrient loads poisoning water.
Use of fertiliser and herbicides are increasing nationally. We risk run off into our water ways and pollution resulting in algal blooms and fish kills.
The Federal Government would like a 40 pc increase in farm gate output by 2030 and there is risk that a further increased reliance on fertilisers and herbicides will result.
Investment needs to be made to ensure we do not risk further polluting the MDB via nutrient run off. We call for this.
Investment in to alternative fertilisers or solutions such as dung beetle burial of dung (also causing nutrient excess) should be called for.
74 Motion 13 Region 6
Motion: That the Murray Darling Association call on Australia’s Government and the National Farmers Federation to ensure that the agricultural productivity target is to be supported by a research program to develop innovative strategies for achieving the target in a water constrained future, including via the use of alternative water sources.
Objective:
To identify such new technologies and innovations such as may generate more production from the existing allocation of water for agricultural uses, and will support sustainable intensification of our agricultural productivity.
Key Arguments:
There are limits to water allocation and arable land within the MDB which constrain further increased agricultural production so opportunities must come from smarter use of these resources.
Other opportunities to meet the target are value added foods, smaller packaged amounts with higher value or more pre-prepared foods. These value added foods will increase value of production using the same amount of food already produced. At the same time we need to meet the demand for high quality, fresh, locally grown foods.
A Future Food CRC is being established with 6 hubs: Darwin, Western Sydney, Peel Region (WA, south of Perth), Coffs Harbour NSW, Armidale NSW, Mildura Vic. However as there is only the Mildura hub for servicing the Murray Darling Basin Region 6 is looking for a greater commitment to investigate all opportunities Basin wide.
Research into developing and exploiting alternative water sources need to be developed if the target is to be met which will need to come from outside the MDB.
Research into commodities that use less water per $ of output or less water per kg of produce are needed . This can inform current enterprises that are water hungry to transition into more profitable and viable enterprises under less water.
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Motion 14 Region 6
Motion: That the Murray Darling Association engage with the Federal Government on how it intends to facilitate population growth whilst maximizing socio-economic benefits for regional communities and mitigating risks to the health of the Murray-Darling Basin system.
Objective:
To understand
• where major growth is predicted to occur • how more water will be available to any increased populations within the MDB • the regional population targets within the MDB • impacts of population growth outside the MDB within the MDB • how services will be maintained to regional centres with population growth, particularly for locations where provision of services are already under pressure • how the health of the River will be maintained when more water will be required to meet human needs under population growth
Key Arguments:
If population growth is to occur within the MDB water resources will be under greater pressure to meet all socio-economic needs, including agricultural production, environmental and developmental needs at the same or better level.
Facilities in most regional centres are already under pressure - medical, social, mental health support to meet demand. Increasing population without addressing the capacity of services and water resources will only add pressure to existing community’s services that are already struggling.
76 Motion 15 Region 5
Motion:
i) That the MDA continues to publicly support the ACCC Investigation ii) That the MDA calls for the continual move toward transparency of all water trading and water trading mechanisms in the Murray-Darling Basin including the access to water trading information.
Objective: To allow local growers to be able to better manage their water portfolios, armed with the knowledge (which is currently only available to those who can fund expensive analysis of water trading) to compete on a level playing field with large corporate conglomerates, who are affecting the market significantly, at the detriment of local growers, who are really good at growing crops but rarely that proficient in managing their water portfolio
Key Arguments: The growers are forced to become Water experts (overnight) and study the water markets to hopefully make the best decisions for their businesses but the reality is, they are really good at growing crops but rarely that proficient in managing their water portfolio as well as managing the remainder of their business. The Irrigators have been forced to compete (due the unbundling of Water from land) with Corporate investors armed with all the analytical information at their fingertips about the right time to trade water. The irrigators do not have access, or the acumen to collate all the information about the amount of water that has been traded from each state so they know when water will become tight or in high demand etc. The SA, NSW and Victorian Water authorities have all the information re the volumes of water used, traded both intra and interstate and the trends associated with how people traditionally trade their water & the growers should be armed with all this information which is freely available but needs someone to collate all the states and put it together in a meaningful format. Water investors are armed with this information and pay analysts to provide that level of information and we think the growers should be allowed access to the same level of information so they can make informed decisions. It would fair & reasonable to see everyone armed with the same information provided by a non-bias provider.
77 Motion 16 Region 9
Motion: That the Murray Darling Association calls on Federal and State governments to
i. Develop a transparent National Water Trading Platform which will serve as a single source of information on water, from recovery targets to allocations, through to sales (whether permanent or temporary) ii. Require routine disclosure statements by larger water holders (such as any person or entity that owns upwards of 2% of available entitlements in an area or any water trading companies), and iii. Require routine disclosure by banks of any debts recovered through forced water sales in irrigation farming areas
Objective:
Provide Australians with easy access to information about water holdings and water trading to ensure an agricultural future that is fair, informed and not prone to manipulation or speculation.
Key Arguments:
- Finding information of water recovery targets, water holdings, and water sales is frustratingly difficult. It should be simple to find and located in one place. - Sometimes information is released too late - it should be available in real time. - Until we understand the full picture, we are less able to respond to the unintended consequences of water trading policies / rules / regulations - There is increasing concern that people with inside knowledge or large water holdings can manipulate markets or hold farmers to ransom - There is some evidence of banks choosing to recover farm debt by forcing farmers to sell their water entitlements, which serves only to make the farmer less productive. Banks view water entitlements as ‘easy money’. - recognise and properly evaluate the compounding effects of an unregulated water trading environment and the implementation of the Murray Darling Basin Plan on the viability and sustainability of established nation building irrigation schemes that would be unaffordable to replicate today and consider how these should be optimised to ensure the most responsible use of available water for agricultural endeavour. In particular, the advantages of a diversified agricultural sector within established irrigation systems to GDP, and its associated local economic and community resilience, should be weighed up against the risk of shifting water to monoculture-based ‘high value’ crops on greenfield (cheaper) lands downstream of the established irrigation schemes.
78 Motion 17 Region 4 – Wentworth Shire Council
Motion: That the MDA request from the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources and the MDBA a complete accounting of all water storages, including open channels, diversions and on-farm storages holding un-metered water in temporary storages, for public release.
Objective:
There is concern that water is being held outside of the river channel, which would better contribute to connectivity, river health and recharge of groundwater.
Key Arguments:
The trope that water travelling along the river systems to the ends of the rivers is wasted water, which could go to the highest value use. What this value ignores is the need for rivers to flow, flush, provide habitat and restore riverine ecosystems, occasionally flood and provide overbank flows and pulse, to promote fish recruitment and movement across the Basin.
79 Motion 18 Murray Darling Association
Motion: That the Murray Darling Association calls on the Australian Government to provide direct funding to assist local government to address the risks of climate change through the development of renewable energy facilities and support related community actions.
Objective: To assist all communities across the Murray-Darling Basin to reduce emissions and to support communities to adapt and respond to the impacts of changing climatic conditions.
Key Arguments:
• Community solar farms and local energy sharing provide environmentally and financially beneficial outcomes by enabling solar bulk buys, supporting local jobs, local suppliers and ultimately more affordable energy. • The economic, social and environmental prosperity of Australia is dependent on stable, competitively priced, supply of low emission energy. • In recent years, there has been very little Australian Government funding available to local government to implement mitigation actions. For many resource-constrained Councils finding funds to reduce their own fossil fuel-based energy profile, through the implementation of building, lighting and fleet upgrades is extremely difficult, with many competing community needs. Significant action is required now, not in the future when the change is irreversible.
80 Motion 19 Region 4 – Wentworth Shire Council
Motion: That the Murray Darling Association calls on the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition and Water Minister, to recognise concerns from Indigenous groups, traditional owners and custodians that:
a) they are unable to continue cultural practices, due to lack of cultural flows;
b) there is an increased financial impost on high Indigenous population towns for drinking water, where same is unavailable, or of poor quality;
c) a lack of genuine, integrated and informed consultation has been the norm in matters of water management and projects which directly affect native title holders, traditional custodians and Land Council groups and individuals, combined with lack of feedback or Minutes from meetings with Government representatives and agencies; and
d) local First Nations people hold knowledge from greater timelines than current records about flows, floods, movement and interplay of the entire riverine ecology, yet there is a resistance to engaging with that knowledge, utilising the skills and management practices used for many centuries (45,000 years in our region), despite clear desire from most groups to assist and play a more active role in water and land management. That the Murray Darling Association…:
Objective:
For the knowledge, experience and expertise of indigenous peoples to be heard in political decisions made about their rights and interests, particularly in regard to the management of Basin resources.
Key Arguments:
There is a sense of continuing colonialism mentality, ignoring or paying only lip service to First Nations engagement, as water is taken away and has been shown to increase crime, decrease health outcomes and reduce opportunities to pass on cultural practices and traditional ceremony.
“There may be Native Title, but they took away our Water Rights” - Badger Bates
81 Motion 20 Region 12
Motion: That the Murray Darling Association call on the National Water Infrastructure Grid Taskforce to inquire into the merits and feasibility of a water river diversion scheme to enhance the sustainability of the Murray Darling Basin.
Objective:
To increase inflows into the river systems to enhance productivity and sustainability of the southern connected basin.
Key Arguments:
• Over the decades, there has been a number of investigations with respect to water diversion into the Murray Darling Basin. A number, which appear to have merit. • There has been little progress with such investigations. • The whole of the Murray Darling Basin has the opportunity to benefit from a diversion scheme. • A properly considered diversion scheme may also provide other tangible benefits such as producing power. • The opportunity cost of not having a river diversion scheme is a sustainable Murray Darling Basin.
82 Motion 21 Murray Darling Association
• Motion: That the Murray Darling Association calls on the Federal Treasurer to establish an independent inquiry to be undertaken by the Productivity Commission to enquire into the relationship between the National Agriculture Plan 2030 and the Murray- Darling Basin Plan, with particular reference to i) the risks to the implementation of either Plan to the extent of any inconsistencies or conflict of policy or priority between the two plans. ii) the risks and opportunities for local communities in the implementation of the Ag Plan. iii) the benefits of having a coordinated social and economic impact analysis underpinning an agreed implementation framework.
Objective
To mitigate the risk of tension or failure between two potentially competing or conflicting Plans.
To maximise the benefits and opportunities for rural and regional communities.
To protect the interests of both the environment and investors in a time of changing water availability.
To protect the investment of the Australian people in the development and implementation of the Murray Darling Basin Plan to date.
To encourage fund and facilitate the sustainable increase of agricultural productivity.
Key Arguments
• The National Agriculture Plan establishes a courageous goal to exceed $100 billion in farm gate output by 2030. • The Federal department of Agriculture has established a task force. • Such a plan will almost certainly have an impact on markets, delivery requirements and total water availability in the Murray-Darling Basin. • An independent inquiry by the Productivity Commission will identify potential risk and opportunities, and will provide information that may inform better policy and support communities to capitalise on the benefits presented.
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