MDBA ADMITS NORTH EAST FIGURES NEED REVISION
29-October-2010
MDBA ADMITS NORTH EAST FIGURES NEED REVISION
Friday, 29 October 2010
The Murray Darling Basin Authority has reiterated that North East Victoria faces “perverse outcomes” following the recommendations in the Guide to the Draft Murray Darling Basin Plan.
In new revelations, Chairman of the MDBA Mike Taylor and CEO Rob Freeman admitted the plan is a “blunt instrument” and that cuts to some North East river systems are “huge”.
Sophie Mirabella, Federal Member for Indi continued to question the MDBA about its unfair punishment of the North East.
“We already return over 95% of our water to the Murray Darling System, we have the most efficient river systems in the land,” Mrs Mirabella said.
“The MDBA has admitted it needs to revisit the perverse outcomes for the Ovens, Mitta and Kiewa regions.
“This is welcome news, but the authority should have done their homework in the first place. There’s no point producing a 220 page document without having considered the full impact of the recommendations.
“They are supposed to be the experts and it’s very concerning their draft was so poorly and ‘bluntly’ put together.
Mrs Mirabella also expressed concern about the lack of social and economic modelling in the plan.
“Social and economic modelling was a central part of the Water Act, so it’s disappointing the Authority neglected this aspect in the preparation of the draft plan.
“I will continue to pressure the MDBA to make good their undertaking to change their botched calculations for the massive reduction of water use in the North East,” Mrs Mirabella continued.
After significant pressure, the MDBA has agreed to visit North East Victoria and continue discussions with Mrs Mirabella, who will be coordinating concerned local input.