Proposed Basin Plan consultation report

More efficient irrigation infrastructure

179.Issue

Submitters referred to the need to increase efficiency in irrigation to ensure maximum effectiveness of irrigation water. Views expressed ranged from general comment about irrigation methods and age and/or repair of infrastructure to specific local examples of improvements that could be made. Submissions also referred to the efficiencies that had already been achieved in irrigation, often referring to the improvements that had been made in a particular region to ensure efficient use of water.

RESPONSE

Significant work has already been done in many communities to increase efficiency in the use of water for irrigation. Infrastructure works for on-farm and off-farm efficiencies are a major part of the Australian Government’s Water for the future program.

Community adjustment

180.Issue

Submissions raised the need for a whole of Government approach to identifying and implementing community structural adjustment assistance. Some submissions stated that adjustment assistance should go beyond acquiring water entitlements or investment in water infrastructure and include resources to address wider economic and social impacts on communities. Other submissions said Regional Development funding should be reviewed and be more targeted to ensure Basin Communities affected by the Basin Plan can access the funding.

RESPONSE

MDBA agrees that there needs to be a concentrated effort by governments to enhance the economic capacity of communities (both water and non-water related) as well as a clear demonstration of an investment bias toward water recovery that supports infrastructure, both on and off farm, as well as environmental works and measures.

The Australian Government is taking steps to gain a better understanding of potential impacts of the proposed Basin Plan and consider possible responses. For example, Regional Development Australia (RDA) has, through its regional committees, been consulting to better understand local Basin community needs and to encourage and seek community solutions to build industry productivity and strengthen economic resilience.

The Australian Government has previously committed to ‘bridge the gap’ through water-saving infrastructure and water purchases.

The Australian Government is also investing in other programs to assist in bolstering economic activity and addressing social pressures in regional areas, including in the Basin. For example:

• 
  $1 billion for infrastructure projects and initiatives that contribute to the long-term growth for communities through the Regional development Fund
  
• 
  $13.3 million in 2011-12 to fund the Rural Financial Counselling Service
  
• 
  $144 million over four years to expand the provision of short term psychological strategies services under the Access to Allied Psychological Services program
  
• 
  Development of Education, Skills and Jobs Plans by Regional Education, Skills and Jobs Coordinators in consultation with local stakeholders, including RDAs, to improve participation, education and training outcomes in communities
  
• 
  The introduction of Small Business Support Line to provide small business owners with a single point of contact to access information and referral services to improve their business sustainability and help better manage their business.
  

MDBA will continue to monitor the social and economic effects of the Basin Plan and Basin governments will need to continue to work with communities and be responsive to any significant pressures.

Land management

181.Issue

Submissions emphasised the importance of integrating water planning with wider natural resource management issues at the regional level, and the need to ensure that catchment management authorities and other regional NRM bodies are properly engaged in implementing the Basin Plan, in particular with developing and implementing EWPs.

Other land management issues raised in submissions included the view that highly water-dependent crops should not be grown in a dry continent such as Australia, or should be grown only in areas where water was more abundant such as Northern Australia. Some mentioned that growing crops requiring intensive irrigation such as rice and cotton in the Basin should be discouraged or prohibited.

Some submissions called for a restoration program for drought-affected and degraded areas.

RESPONSE

Achieving a healthy working Basin requires a broader focus than just water management. Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs) and other Natural Resource Management (NRM) bodies have had a long and successful role working with communities and governments to ensure water management and natural resource management activities are integrated There are many examples of CMAs and other NRM bodies working with industry and communities to improve natural resource management outcomes in their catchments. We have heard there is much support for the CMAs and other NRM bodies to continue playing this role as we implement the Basin Plan. The MDBA will work closely with CMAs, as well as other NRM bodies and existing committees, in particular with planning and management of environmental water. We encourage other holders of environmental water, such as the CEWH to do the same.

In addition to CMAs and other NRM bodies, local, state and the Australian governments work together to ensure water resource management, including environmental water management, is considered in the broader context of natural resource management, including through weed and pest management, planting native trees and many other projects funded under programs, such as Caring for our Country and State government-funded projects. The MDBA strongly encourages governments to continue investing in this important area. The MDBA and Basin states have a long history in broader NRM issues in the Basin including river operations, the Basin Salinity Management Strategy and the Native Fish Strategy, and will continue to invest in these programs to complement the objectives and outcomes being sought for water resource management in the Basin Plan.

Crop suitability is an issue beyond the scope of the Basin Plan. Governments are investing heavily to support irrigators to use water more efficiently rather than dictating what crops should be grown, where and when.

Australian and state government agencies are responsible for determining funding priorities for programs related to restoring drought-affected and degraded areas.