Chapter 9
Conclusions
Introduction
9.1
This chapter reviews the committee’s conclusions on the first part of
the inquiry into water management in the Coorong and Lower Lakes and outlines
the committee’s conclusions for its inquiry into the long term sustainable
management of the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB or Basin). It is appropriate to
reiterate the committee’s views on water management in the Coorong and Lower
Lakes, given that evidence and submissions from the first part of the inquiry
formed the basis of the second part of the inquiry.
Coorong and Lower Lakes
9.2
The committee restates those Coalition recommendations from the Water
Management in the Coorong and Lower Lakes (including consideration of the
Emergency Water (Murray-Darling Basin Rescue) Bill 2008) Report, which are
relevant to this inquiry, and are extracted below. The committee refers to
appropriate parts of the aforementioned report, for the committee's basis for
making each of these recommendations.
9.3
That the Government immediately develop and release an economic and
social impact statement and evidence of a strategy to guide water buybacks,
infrastructure spending and other measures to be undertaken so as to provide
certainty and transparency for all stakeholders in the system (Recommendation
8).
9.4
That the Government hasten both on-farm and off-farm infrastructure
spending where it delivers water savings and increased environmental flows
while enhancing both food security and the viability of regional communities
(Recommendation 9).
9.5
That a full and unconditional referral of powers to the Australian
Government over management of the Basin be undertaken by all relevant state and
territory jurisdictions to deliver a river and basin system able to be governed
nationally, consistently, transparently and equitably (Recommendation 10).
9.6
That the Federal and New South Wales Governments immediately assess new
ways to secure the water supply for Broken Hill and, where environmentally
appropriate, re-engineer the Menindee Lakes to reduce evaporative losses
(Recommendation 11).
9.7
That the Australian and South Australian Governments commit to self
sufficiency independent of the Murray for Adelaide as a key objective of their
water policy plans through increased efficiency in water usage and greater
efforts in areas such as stormwater capture, desalination and water recycling
(Recommendation 12).
9.8
That construction of the North-South Pipeline to extract water for
Melbourne not proceed (Recommendation 13).
9.9
The committee also reiterates the following observation from its earlier
report:
The committee notes the unsatisfactory timeframes which
currently exist for the transfer of water which arise out of existing barriers
to trade and inefficient water registers.[1]
The long term sustainable management of the Murray-Darling Basin
9.10
The long-term sustainable management of the MDB presents significant
challenges for the Australian Government and the governments of the Basin
States and Territory.
9.11
The most critical challenge is the on-going scarcity of water in the
MDB.
9.12
There are no quick fixes for bringing more water into the MDB. However,
what is required is a policy designed to ensure that the water which is
available in a manner that is consistent with the long-term viability and
sustainability of the MDB.
9.13
The committee commends the work of governments, farmers, scientists,
conservationists and the community in general to address this issue.
9.14
The committee supports the governance structure that the Australian
Government has put in place for the MDB, through the Intergovernmental
Agreement on Murray-Darling Basin Reform (IGA) and the Water Act 2007,
which the role of the Commonwealth and the States and Territory in the
management of the Basin.
9.15
The committee recognises that there is significant support in the
community for a Commonwealth take-over of the MDB. The committee's view is that
a Commonwealth take-over of the management of the MDB is not appropriate. The
committee reiterates its view that what is required right now is cooperation
between the Commonwealth and the Basin States and Territory to ensure the
long-term sustainability of the MDB.
9.16
The committee also supports the development and the implementation of
the Basin Plan in the timeframes set out in the IGA.
9.17
The committee appreciates that the timeframes in place for the
development and implementation of the Basin Plan are seen by some in the
community as taking too long to fix this urgent problem. However, the
committee's view is that the quality of the Basin Plan should not be
compromised through the truncation of the development and implementation
process.
9.18
There are significant environmental assets in the Basin. The committee
is aware that many of these are under significant ecological stress. The
committee believes that the reforms put in place under the Australian
Government's Water for the Future policy and the development of the
Environmental Watering Plan as part of the Basin Plan appear to address many of
the concerns raised in the course of this inquiry.
9.19
However, the committee is concerned that the rate of deterioration of
some significant environmental assets in the MDB is occurring at a pace which
means that they will have undergone irreparable damage by the time the
Environmental Watering Plan is completed and implemented. For this reason, the
committee has made recommendations as to processes that the Murray-Darling
Basin Authority should put in place to ensure the protection of key
environmental assets in the MBD prior to the implementation of the Basin Plan.
9.20
The committee is concerned about the long-term management of Ramsar
wetlands in the MDB. The committee has therefore recommended improving the
management of Ramsar wetlands through better coordination and cooperation
between the government bodies responsible for these sites.
9.21
Climate change presents new challenges to the MDB, in addition to the current
scarcity of water. The committee commends the CSIRO on the work of the Sustainable
Yields Report. The committee notes that the Australian Government intends
to use this information to inform policy development in the future.
9.22
The committee also recognises that climate change is one of only a
number of risks to the water resources of the MDB. Unregulated harvesting of
overland flows and water theft are two risks which the committee considered in
the course of this inquiry.
9.23
The committee notes the work of the New South Wales and Queensland
governments on the regulation of harvesting of overland water flows. The
committee urges all governments to ensure that regulatory regimes for the
management of overland flows are supported by adequate resources for compliance
and monitoring.
Senator Fiona Nash
Committee Chair
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