Proposed Basin Plan consultation report

Localism

155.Issue

Submissions expressed optimism about the role of localism and emphasised the need for localism to be implemented through partnerships with communities dependent on water. Some were unclear about the meaning of localism and how it was included in the proposed Basin Plan.

Some submissions requested greater clarity around how localism would be resourced, including greater support for existing local water networks and groups.

Some submissions specifically welcomed the development of the Northern Basin Advisory Committee.

RESPONSE

Engaging local communities in the management of their part of the Basin is a critical feature of the proposed Basin Plan and is something that will require support from government. Localism is about working with local people to find localised solutions to achieve the objectives of the Basin Plan.

The proposed Basin Plan includes specific requirements for Basin states and MDBA to consult local communities (including Catchment Management Authorities) and have regard to their views when preparing long-term EWPs, water resource plans and Basin annual watering priorities, and to ensure that local knowledge and experience is utilised when undertaking environmental watering.

Opportunities for local input have been built into the proposed Basin Plan to ensure that communities are given the chance to have their say in the ongoing development, implementation and management of environmental water. When possible, localism will be implemented through existing local groups and networks.

To help implement localism, MDBA is intending to establish two overarching advisory committees to facilitate local involvement and provide advice on proposals for the 2015 review of SDLs. These committees, calling upon input from existing regional groups and networks, will help to engage communities and encourage participation in the implementation of the Basin Plan. In the case of the Northern Basin Advisory Committee, it will provide advice on environmental watering, improvements in scientific knowledge and issues specific to the northern Basin.

Additionally, the 2015 review will be an opportunity for locally-driven solutions to be brought forward and considered as part of the further assessment of how much water is needed to meet environmental watering requirements across the Basin.

Engagement

Following criticism of MDBA’s engagement with Basin communities and stakeholders during 2010, MDBA devoted considerable effort to improving its engagement and communication strategies and products in the lead-up to the consultation period for the proposed Basin Plan.

In particular, MDBA followed recommendations by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Australia inquiry into the impact of the Murray–Darling Basin Plan in regional Australia (the Windsor inquiry). The Committee report recommended that MDBA improve its engagement strategies for all Basin communities and stakeholders, including by ensuring that engagement processes were transparent, inclusive and respectful, and draw on the local knowledge and expertise of all Basin stakeholders.

In the 20-week consultation period following release of the proposed Basin Plan on 28 November 2011, MDBA held more than 170 tailored meetings with a broad range of stakeholders at locations across the Basin. These meetings included 10 town hall style public meetings, 14 open-house/drop-in-centre meetings, and meetings with Aboriginal communities in more than 30 towns across the Basin. MDBA also hosted about 60 round-table and technical meetings with community leaders and key stakeholder groups such as peak bodies, environmental NGOs, water user groups, councils and the scientific community, as well as 18 financial institution briefings in nine regions, five water-trade meetings with a range of irrigation infrastructure operators, at least 31 meetings with Basin states, and two joint Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations (MLDRIN) and Northern Murray–Darling Basin Aboriginal Nations (NBAN) meetings.

MDBA also used social media such as Twitter and Facebook and the MDBA website and blog to engage with the broader Australian community. These forums enable individuals or groups to ask questions, make comments or seek further information on the proposed Basin Plan in easily accessible ways. From November 2011 to April 2012 the blog attracted about 6,000 visits and 14,500 views, and MDBA has more than 1,180 followers on Twitter.

MDBA will continue working with communities and other stakeholders to design appropriate engagement as it implements the Basin Plan.

156.Issue

Some submissions commented positively on MDBA’s improved engagement with Basin communities and stakeholders, praising its efforts to be more transparent and inclusive in consultation about the proposed Basin Plan.

Some claimed that MDBA consultation on the proposed Basin Plan and management of public meetings continued to be inadequate.

RESPONSE

MDBA is very appreciative of the constructive role played by many community leaders in assisting with the design and running of consultations in their communities.

MDBA recognises and respects that each community is unique and so adopted a flexible approach to engagement during the consultation period on the proposed Basin Plan. This included meetings seeking substantial local input to meeting formats and arrangements according to the needs and preferences of specific communities. Wherever possible, MDBA sought local community leaders to facilitate and/or open public meetings, and most importantly provided local leaders the opportunity to present prior to broader question-and-answer sessions.

MDBA received positive feedback on the format of public meetings during the consultation process, particularly in regard to the opportunity for local community leaders and key local stakeholder group representatives to present their thoughts on the proposed Basin Plan before general questions and answers from the floor.

Open-house meetings had relatively small attendance but were also well received by attendees who were able to have in-depth discussions with senior MDBA technical staff and managers about concerns, questions, or comments on the proposed Basin Plan.

MDBA looks forward to continuing to work with communities and other stakeholders to design appropriate engagement as it implements the Basin Plan.