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Peak environment body urges full adoption of connectivity report recommendations

MEDIA RELEASE
29th July, 2024  

The Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales (NCC), the state’s leading environmental advocacy organisation, has today welcomed the release of the final report from the NSW Connectivity Expert Panel aimed at securing more water for the Darling/Baaka River, and urged Minister Jackson to accept its recommendations in full.   

The report steps out what the bare minimum flow requirements are for the Darling/Baaka River to survive. 

Statements attributable to NCC Water Campaigner Mel Gray: 

“Implementing rules that don’t provide the minimum water that the river needs will doom the Darling/Baaka River to more massive fish kills and inevitable ecological collapse.   

“The Darling/Baaka is a critical lifeline and cultural place for traditional water custodians, who’s sovereign rights under the United Nations Declaration for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples are embedded in Law.   

“Failing to implement these recommendations would sacrifice dozens of towns and local economies along the river from Bourke to Wentworth, just to maintain the inflated profits of a few industrial cotton operations upstream.” 

Statement ends 

Media contact: Anna Greer 
E: [email protected] M: 0493 733 529 PH: (02) 7208 9482  


Protect the Macquarie Marshes

The iconic Macquarie Marshes are teeming with life. Unique, rare and endangered water birds find abundant nesting spots and fertile foraging grounds in the intricate patchwork of ecosystems that make up this complex, interconnected landscape.  

The Marshes are home to the Wayilwan People, who know the wetlands as Wammerawa.

Recognised for its importance as a breeding site for migratory birds who fly from Alaska and Siberia to breed here, almost 20,000 ha of the 200,000 ha Marsh area is designated as Ramsar Wetland of International Significance.   

But there is something shiny under the heavy clay Marsh soil that mining companies want – gold.  

Mining exploration licences were issued by the NSW Government in the heart of the fragile wetland. Thankfully, after we put the pressure on the decision maker, the Regulator overturned their decision to allow exploratory drilling. However, they have invited the company, Australian Consolidated Gold Holdings, to apply again with more information. 

This will not do.

It is unthinkable mining could even be considered in this critically important site.

5,000 signatures

We call on the NSW Government to:  

  • Cancel all current mining exploration licences within the 200,000 ha designated as the Macquarie Marshes. 
  • Ban the granting of mining exploration licences in this area in the future. 
  • Improve public notifications to ensure communities are informed and aware of exploration applications in their communities and what their rights are.
  • the existing data and maps of wetlands is 30 years old. It is time to update wetlands mapping to provide a more accurate picture of current day wetlands extent.
Add signature

Resources Regulator overturns Macquarie Marshes mining exploration decision

MEDIA RELEASE
25th July, 2024 

The Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales (NCC), the state’s leading environmental advocacy organisation, has today expressed relief that the Resources Regulator overturned their decision to allow copper and gold mining exploration by Australian Consolidated Gold Holdings in the Macquarie Marshes. 

The Macquarie Marshes, in central-west NSW, is one of the largest remaining inland semi-permanent wetlands in South-Eastern Australia. It encompasses a massive 200,000 hectares, including almost 20,000 hectares listed as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar convention.  

This is one of the most biologically diverse wetlands in the Murray Darling Basin that can support hundreds of thousands of water birds when the conditions are right. 

In a letter to the landholders of the proposed drill sites, the Resources Regulator said:  

...the decision maker when making the decision was not provided with all relevant and accurate information therefore the decisions were not validly made. As such, both decisions to grant the APOs were not decisions at law and have no legal effect.”  

However, the door has been left open for considering the applications again if further information is provided. 

Statements attributable to NCC Chief Executive Officer Jacqui Mumford: 

“The Regulator has thankfully realised that the decision to allow copper and gold prospecting in the Marshes, without any environmental assessment, was the wrong call and we are grateful it has been overturned,” said Jacqui Mumford, Chief Executive Officer of Nature Conservation Council NSW. 

“It is disturbing that any mining activity could be considered for this environmentally sensitive critical habitat and so we urge the Regulator to decline any further applications for exploration in the Macquarie Marshes.”  

“The risks of mining activity in the Macquarie Marshes are too high – it could cause irreparable harm to the entire wetland system. 

“There shouldn’t be drilling here because there shouldn’t be mining here.  

“The proposed drilling area is right next door to the protected nature reserve and is a nesting and breeding site for threatened, vulnerable and endangered species. 

“Can you imagine a gold mine sitting directly next to a protected internationally-significant, Ramsar-listed nature reserve? It’s unthinkable.” 

Statements attributable to NCC Water Campaigner Mel Gray: 

"The Macquarie Marshes are a spectacular and special place. They provide critical habitat for an amazing array of wildlife, from frogs to Murray Cod and Purple Spotted Gudgeon. 

“Australian Consolidated Gold Holdings wants to drill in Mole Marsh, which is currently under water. It is home to vulnerable, threatened and endangered bird species, such as brolga, magpie goose, Australasian bittern and Australian painted snipe. 

“We have serious concerns about the impact drilling and industrial activity would have on the entire wetland system. 

“This highly sensitive and critical ecology is not an appropriate area for any mining activity.” 

Statement ends 

Media contact: Anna Greer 
E: [email protected] M: 0493 733 529 PH: (02) 7208 9482  

Note: NCC CEO Jacqui Mumford is available for comment on request 


Ramsar listed Macquarie Marshes under threat from mining

MEDIA RELEASE
15 July, 2024 

The Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales (NCC), the state’s leading environmental advocacy organisation, has today expressed outrage at news of gold and copper mining exploration occurring in the Macquarie Marshes. 

The Resources Regulator has approved the exploration for copper and gold by Australian Consolidated Gold Holdings after taking at face value the company’s statement that: “There are no areas of critical habitat or areas of outstanding biodiversity value within the proposed drilling area.”

The Macquarie Marshes is a Ramsar listed wetland, one of the largest remaining semi-permanent wetlands in Southern Australia, and a critically important site for water bird breeding in Australia.   

Macquarie Marshes Graziers, Garry and Leanne Hall are landholders of the area that includes Mole Marsh – one of the proposed drill sites. Mole Marsh is part of the Macquarie Marshes and connects to the protected nature reserve.

With less than a week left to challenge the Regulator's decision, they say, they need more time to try to get this mining activity stopped in its tracks.

“As landholders around the Macquarie Marshes Nature Reserve, we abide by strict guidelines before doing so much as constructing a fence, and yet a gold miner can start drilling without any proper assessment of the land’s cultural values and biodiversity,” said Macquarie Marshes grazier, Garry Hall.

“This approval from a desktop study is a classic example of apathetic box ticking by a disconnected bureaucrat without any knowledge of the land.

“This is an area full of life and home to many endangered, threatened and vulnerable species.

“Brolgas, magpie geese, painted snipe and countless other endangered and vulnerable listed birds, breed and nest right where they want to drill.

“Most of the sites where they want to drill are currently under water – this makes no sense.”

Statements attributable to NCC Water Campaigner Mel Gray:

“It’s obscene to hear that a mining exploration license has been granted in one of the most biologically diverse wetlands in the Murray-Darling Basin,” said NCC Water Campaigner Mel Gray.

“The Macquarie Marshes is an awe-inspiring patchwork of interconnected miniature habitats, all of them bursting with life. 

“The impact of this drilling would have unforeseeable consequences for the whole wetland system and the myriad of life it supports. 

“The area is home to an incredible diversity of native birds and fish and it is beyond belief that the Regulator would allow mining exploration here.” 

Statement ends 

Media contact: Anna Greer
E:
[email protected] M: 0493 733 529 PH: (02) 7208 9482  

Note: Mel Gray and Garry and Leanne Hall are available for comment on request  

Wildlife photos taken in Mole Marsh, included in the Accessible Prospecting Operations (APO) area, are available here and are attributable to Leanne Hall.

Photos include:

Australasian bittern Botaurus poiciloptilus E E V 

Magpie goose Anseranas semipalmata LC V

Brolga Grus rubicundus LC V

Australian painted snipe Rostratula australis LC V V


After one year in government, peak environment body asks how the Minns government stack up on environment.

MEDIA RELEASE
28th March 2024 

The Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales (NCC), the state’s leading environmental advocacy organisation, has today released a scorecard assessing the Minns government's performance on the protection of nature and climate action.  

Overall: Positive environmental reform is again underway in NSW, after a decade of weakened environmental protections that led to devastating, widespread ecological destruction.  However, in order to address the urgent threats facing nature and the climate, we need to lift our game. 

Statements attributable to Jacqui Mumford, NCC CEO: 

“The government has made good progress on delivering on many of their election commitments, particularly when it comes to restoring our rivers and legislating ambitious emissions reduction targets.  

“There has also been a marked shift in tone, with the Labor government seeking to listen to and work with members of the environmental movement.  

"However, habitat clearing, and native forest logging are still occurring at a devastating scale in NSW, and until our broken land clearing laws are fixed we will continue to see the fragmentation and destruction of our ecosystems, and subsequent extinction and ecological collapse."  

"Years of delay have left massive challenges and roadblocks for our energy transition that need to be overcome. Meanwhile, John Barilario’s 'let's dig up as much as we can’ views on coal and gas mining have still not been reviewed, risking widespread environmental devastation that dramatically undermines clean energy investment."  

"The silence on marine protections is extremely disappointing. We’re eager to see progress and detail on how the commitments to improve First Nations access to water and will be achieved. And more action to enhance Indigenous management and ownership of protected areas." 

"We urge the Minns government to recognise that the community cares deeply about the nature that makes this state so special, and is crying out for leadership and ambition in this space."

Ranking System: Good Progress being made / Need to lift our game / Little progress    

Taking action on climate change 

  • Passage of a Climate Change Act with legislated emissions reduction targets. 
  • Establishment of a powerful and nation-leading Net-Zero Commission.  
  • Legislated ban on offshore petroleum exploration and production. 
  • Codified the EPA’s powers to introduce guidelines and regulate greenhouse emissions and climate action.  

Transition our energy system to renewables 

  • Approval of new renewables projects that will power over 1.5m homes and delivery of multiple Capacity Investment Scheme auctions. 
  • The proposed Consumer Energy Strategy is welcome - it needs to include ambitious targets for household electrification and battery storage.  
  • Flagged changes to renewables planning approvals are welcomed, but it is not yet clear how this will be delivered, clear actions and accountability mechanisms are needed. 
  • Energy Security Corporation and offshore wind strategy - we haven’t yet seen any progress to deliver these commitments.  
  • The discussion about delaying the closure of Eraring is worrying and unnecessary. NSW can and should replace coal with renewables and battery projects. 

Protect forests and end native forest logging 

  • Progress is being made to establish the GKNP, and interim protections for key Koala hubs. 
  • Development of a new Koala Strategy is underway and new protections for key Koala habitat in South West Sydney are welcome. 
  • Logging is still continuing in critical habitats for both Koalas and Greater Gliders.  
  • The government’s commitment to a more sustainable forestry sector through a Forestry Industry Action Plan is welcome. But this will only be genuine with a plan to shift to 100% plantations and end native forest logging.  
  • No action taken to protect critical habitats from logging on private land.  

Nature protection and restoration 

  • Evidence-based management of invasive species in Kosciuszko National Park is a significant and welcome step forward. 
  • Landcare funding increased, with a commitment to double funding over four years.  
  • We are confident that the government will soon address some of the most pressing issues with the biodiversity offset scheme – we look forward to the details 
  • Progress is being made on a new National Parks establishment plan, but it’s not yet clear if funding will be adequate to achieve our ‘30 by 30’ goals. 
  • Runaway land remains out of control in NSW, and huge swathes of critical habitat have been lost since the government was elected. They have so far not taken action to remove the self-assessment loophole and deliver their commitment to ‘stop runaway land clearing’.  
  • Little progress has been made towards expanded joint management of National Parks, Indigenous ranger programs, or to assist Indigenous groups to purchase and manage land for conservation.  

Restore rivers and wetlands 

  • New and strengthened commitments to considering the future impacts of climate change on water flows, including extraction limits and allocations in the MDB and on the coast.  
  • Canceled destructive dam projects including Dungowan, Wyangala Dam and the Warragamba Dam wall raising.   
  • Productive work with the Commonwealth to deliver the Murray Darling Basin Plan in full. 
  • Returned harvestable rights limit in coastal catchments to 10 per cent.  
  • Established the expert panel on connectivity, tasked the Chief Scientist to report on fish kills.  
  • NSW should drop its opposition to voluntary water recovery by the Commonwealth, and stop proposing untested, dubious projects as alternatives to voluntary water purchases.   
  • Substantial progress needs to be made to improve First Nations ownership and control of fresh water. 
  • All of the legally required Dam Safety Upgrade fishway projects required since 2009 must be completed as agreed.  
  • Accelerate regulation reform to streamline coastal wetland restoration projects. 

Protect our Oceans 

  • The EPA’s next steps plastics plan is a welcome strategy to extend the ban on single use and problematic plastics, we look forward to its full delivery.  
  • New protections for the Blue Groper are welcome.  
  • Protections for marine sanctuary zones that were eroded by the Nationals are yet to be restored.  
  • There are no clear plans to expand the marine protected network or deliver the long overdue Sydney Marine Park.  
  • Outdated shark nets continue to snare turtles and dolphins off our beaches. 

Fossil Fuels 

  • The government continues to allow environmentally destructive, poorly regulated and heavily polluting coal and gas mining to occur in NSW.
  • The government has recommended approval for one coal mine (Boggabri) and has failed to ensure new coal approvals are “subject to an independent approval process” as expansions continue to be assessed as ‘modifications.
  • Despite admitting they are potentially not fit for purpose, they have taken no action to update John Barilaro’s outdated ‘Strategic Statement on Coal’.  
  • Stronger regulation is needed to protect Sydney’s drinking water catchment and threatened habitats, including upland swamps from mining activities. 
  • The Vales Point power station should stop receiving nitrous oxide pollution limits exemptions, and pollution standards should be strengthened for remaining coal fired power plants. 

Water & Climate Court Case

On Wednesday 13th March 2024, just days before the matter was due to be heard in the Land & Environment Court, the Nature Conservation Council NSW settled by agreement their water and climate change court case against NSW Minister for Water Rose Jackson and Minister for Climate Change and Environment Penny Sharpe.  

The world-first legal action to protect rivers and wetlands had been brought against then Water Minister Melinda Pavey and Environment Minister Matt Kean in October 2021, and sought to ensure future climate change projections would be considered when decisions about water sharing plans are being made.  

This has been the first time in the world a catchment-wide water sharing instrument has been challenged on the grounds that it fails to address the future impacts of climate change. 

As a result of the settlement agreement, the NSW Government has made the following commitments: 

There will be a review of the way limits to water extraction are calculated.  

The review will consider the ecological needs of the rivers and wetlands, and the expected future impact of climate change on each catchment. The commitment is that this work will be done in time for the start of the next phase of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan in 2027/28.  

The way water is allocated will be reviewed.  

By June 2026, the government will have finished reviewing how water is allocated from public dams. The review will ensure that all inflow data and projected climate change impacts have been appropriately considered when water allocations are made.   

The review will also consider how much water should be set aside in public dams for the environment and people in dry times.  

Since 2015, the rules have stated that only data from last century can be used to work out water allocations, a crazy rule that allowed dams to empty at blistering speed, spelling disaster across NSW in the 2019 drought.      

Independent reviews. 

Importantly, all the processes, methodology and work plans committed to by the Ministers will be independently assessed by the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer and the Natural Resources Commission.  

These commitments represent a pathway to significant, generational improvements in water management in NSW.  

Extraction limits are currently worked out based on how much water has been taken from rivers and aquifers in the past, not how much water can be taken before the environment suffers. A review of extraction limits as described above will consider how much water must stay in rivers and aquifers to ensure there is a healthy water supply for nature and people.  

Since 2015, water allocations have been worked out based on how much water flowed into dams last century, ignoring the most severe droughts that have occurred in recent years. Making decisions on water allocations this way results in too much water being given to irrigators and too little being left for the environment and communities. Dams are being emptied too fast, dangerously depleting vital drought reserves. 

NCC will work closely with the NSW government to ensure these commitments are fully realised.  

Learn more about what the settlement of this case out of court means by watching our webinar:

Media:

Read NCC's Media Release (14/3/24) 

Read the NSW Government's Media Release (14/3/24)

Read the media release from the Environmental Defenders Office (6/10/21)

Read the Guardian story about the court case (6/10/21)

Watch this video as a reminder of why we felt it necessary to bring these world-first proceedings back in 2021 

 

 


NSW Government commits to consider climate change in water rules, ending long-standing legal dispute

March 14, 2024 

The Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales (NCC), the state’s leading environmental advocacy organisation, has today settled their court case against the NSW Minister for Water Rose Jackson and Minister for Climate Change and Environment Penny Sharpe.   

Just days before the matter was due to be heard before the NSW Land and Environment Court, the current ministers have committed to considering the future impacts of climate change on water flows, including extraction limits and allocations. Importantly, the Ministers have committed to obtaining independent reviews of this work. 

“This is a big win for the rivers and people of NSW. As the extremes of climate change loom large, water-sharing arrangements will have to align with the reality on the ground,” said Nature Conservation Council NSW water campaigner, Mel Gray. 

“With more severe droughts and extreme flooding expected, on top of an already sick Murray-Darling Basin, this win signifies a turning point for the rivers and wetlands of NSW.” 

NCC brought the world first case against the previous NSW Water and Environment Ministers in 2021, alleging that then Ministers Melinda Pavey & Matt Kean breached the law by failing to take future climate change impacts into consideration when making water sharing arrangements in the Border Rivers. 

NCC has been represented by the Environmental Defenders Office.  

Statements attributable to NCC Water Campaigner Mel Gray: 

“With this agreement the NSW Government has made a strong commitment to improve the way rivers are managed, and NCC will work with the ministers to ensure it is delivered. The health of the rivers depends on it. 

“This case was the first time a catchment-wide water sharing instrument has been challenged on the grounds that it fails to address the future impacts of climate change. 

Making decisions about water without taking future climate change into account has been a recipe for disaster. It is game-changing that the Ministers for Climate Change and Environment and Water have accepted the importance of considering climate change projections in future water extraction limits.  

“NCC looks forward to working with the NSW Government to ensure there is more water for fragile ecosystems across the Murray-Darling Basin, healthier river systems and greater water security for all inland communities.” 

Statement ends  

Read the NSW Government's media release here

Media contact: Anna Greer 
E: [email protected] M: 0493 733 529 PH: (02) 7208 9482 

Note: NCC Water Campaigner, Mel Gray, is available for comment on request 

Background  

In 2021 the Nature Conservation Council NSW (NCC) took then Minister for Water, Melinda Pavey, to court arguing the Minister breached the Water Management Act 2000 by failing to take climate change impacts into account in relation to the Border Rivers Water Sharing Plan. 

NCC also argued then Environment Minister, Matt Kean, breached the Act by giving his concurrence to that plan. 

Upon the change of government in 2023, the case transferred to current Ministers Jackson and Sharpe. 

More information here


Wetlands Quiz


Good news for communities and environment: NCC welcomes decision to rein in unregulated water harvesting.

7th December 2023 

The Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales (NCC), the state’s leading environmental advocacy organisation, has today congratulated the Minns Government, and commended Minister for Water Rose Jackson on the decision to reign in floodplain harvesting in the Namoi Valley. 

The Minister announced today that floodplain harvesting licences to be issued in the Namoi Valley will reduce the volume of water currently taken by up to 40 percent.  

Floodplain harvesting is the practice of using levee banks to divert water from the floodplain into private dams.  

This practice captures natural flowing water that would otherwise have become a public asset supporting community recreation, fishing and the environment, it has increased by 2.4 times in the Darling-Baaka since the 1990s. 

“After listening to the community and the evidence, Minister Jackson has thrown a lifeline to the people of downstream river towns like Narrabri, Walgett, Wilcannia and Menindee” Mel Gray, NCC Water Campaigner said today.  

“The evidence is overwhelming that floodplain harvesting needs to be scaled right back to sustainable levels. The NSW Parliamentary inquiry into floodplain harvesting found that ‘floodplain harvesting significantly impacts on downstream flows and river health, with economic, social, cultural and environmental consequences’. 

“Namoi Valley is the only valley where floodplain harvesting licences are not yet issued. This has allowed the Minister to ensure the huge, multinational irrigator consortiums who have constructed extensive earthworks and helped themselves to this water for decades can no longer simply take as much of this floodwater as they can capture.  

“This is also a win for communities and the  many farmers who are opposed to the building of hundred kilometre long dams walls to capture floods, or who rely on flood water to replenish the rich floodplains they graze stock on.  

 “Wetlands are shrinking faster than any other ecosystem in the world. As we enter another period of extended drought, it’s critical that we continue to reverse the many egregious examples of policy without evidence that is the legacy of the former government.  

“Floodplain harvesting strangles our rivers and starves our wetlands – the floodplains are still crossed with miles of illegally constructed levee banks.  

“The Inspector General of Water Compliance received more powers last week when the Restoring Our Rivers Bill was passed in the Federal parliament to address these scars on the landscape.   

“Governments right now have a choice to make. We can deliver enough water to the Murray-Darling Basin, or people will run out of drinking water and our ecosystems will die. 

If the Murray Darlin Basin collapses 70% of NSW and 2 million people’s home becomes uninhabitable 

Statement ends 

Media contact: Clancy Barnard 
E: [email protected]  Ph: 0438 869 332 

Note: NCC Water Campaigner Mel Gray is available for comment on request 


Breakthrough for Murray-Darling – new legislation throws rivers a lifeline after decade of neglect

MEDIA RELEASE

Breakthrough for Murray-Darling – new legislation throws rivers a lifeline after decade of neglect

The successful passage of the Restoring our Rivers Bill through the Senate heralds a breakthrough in efforts to revive Australia’s largest river system to health, leading environment organisations from Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland said today.

The Murray-Darling Conservation Alliance, which represents close to half a million supporters across all Basin states, today said this strengthened Bill delivers for the environment, providing a crucial lifeline for the river system on the brink of the next drought.

The Alliance congratulated Water Minister Tanya Plibersek, the Australian Greens and crossbenchers on this historic outcome and welcomed the Albanese Government’s commitment to urgently recover more environmental water.

The legislation comes after years of grassroots action by Murray-Darling communities including dryland farmers, irrigators, First Nations and conservationists, and creates a pathway for a healthy river and First Nations water justice, the groups said. 

Conservation Council of South Australia Chief Executive Craig Wilkins said: 

“As the state at the end of Australia’s greatest river system, South Australia is set to be a big winner from the passing of the Restoring our Rivers Bill.

“For the last decade it’s been incredibly frustrating having to justify and defend the inclusion of the 450 gigalitre component of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

“We always knew it was essential, and it’s exciting to see this Bill finally guarantee its delivery.

“Back at the start of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, scientists said the full delivery of the Plan – including the 450 gigalitres – was the absolute bare minimum required to give the Murray a decent chance of survival.

“Even now, dredging of the river mouth is about to re-start at the Coorong. This is a clear sign more water is needed to ensure the basic health of the river. We don’t have a moment to lose with dry summers ahead.

“We thank and applaud Minister Plibersek and Australian Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young for working hard to create a circuit breaker in the challenging politics of the river, and for the many Senate crossbenchers for supporting a strengthened Bill. 

Nature Conservation Council of NSW CEO Jacqui Mumford said:

“Communities of Western NSW have been relentless in their fight for inland rivers, wetlands and the Menindee Lakes. Today they can be proud of what has been achieved. 

“The pressure on inland rivers of NSW has been immense, mainly because of long-term mismanagement under previous governments. Through the last drought we saw rivers dry up, wetlands on fire, communities without drinking water and mass fish kills all over the Basin.

“The Nature Conservation Council of NSW applauds the Federal Government, the Australian Greens and Independent members of the Senate crossbench for working cooperatively and getting the Restoring Our Rivers Bill across the line. 

“We still have many questions about how more water will be returned to the Darling/Baaka, we’ve learnt the hard way that the devil is in the details when it comes to water management.”

Environment Victoria CEO Jono La Nauze said:

“This new legislation offers the Murray-Darling a lifeline, giving rivers, wetlands and wildlife a fighting chance of survival ahead of looming drought.

“Dodgy deals and delays have seen the Basin Plan grind to a halt this past decade, and our rivers have paid the price. This legislation allows the Albanese Government to start voluntary water buybacks again, a vital solution for river health that is supported by 63% of regional Australians.

“The legislation also creates a pathway for First Nations to have a much greater say over how their waterways are managed, an important acknowledgement of the crucial role they have always played in caring for country.

“This Bill now has the support of federal politicians of very different political stripes and every state and territory government in the Basin, with the exception of Victoria. The fact that the Victorian Government remains opposed to restoring our rivers will disappoint millions of Victorians.”

Queensland Conservation Council Director Dave Copeman said:

“The Basin Plan has been plagued by mismanagement, alleged water theft and political interference, so we’re pleased to see the changes include an independent audit of water recovery by the Inspector-General.

“Now that the bill has passed the Senate, Minister Plibersek must focus on implementing the power she has to return water to the environment to ensure wetlands, rivers, communities and industries survive the next drought.”

Statement ends

Media contact: Anna Greer 
E: [email protected]
Ph: (02) 7208 9482
 

NCC Water Campaigner, Mel Gray is available for interviews on request.