Plan still falls short: MI

MURRUMBIDGEE Irrigation (MI) has acknowledged the final basin plan is a political compromise and a result of more than two years of engagement and hard work by irrigation and community groups.

"The basin plan is still predicated around a 'number' rather than outcomes for the environment and for the communities of the Murray-Darling Basin," she said.MI chairwoman Gillian Kirkup said after two years, four drafts and countless meetings, the Murray-Darling Basin Authority appears to have addressed some of the concerns raised by regional communities, but said the plan still falls short of good public policy.

"This plan does not outline why 2750 gigalitres per year needs to be taken out of productive use, what the environment actually needs or how the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder will use the water they already own."

Mrs Kirkup said the plan and government policy had come a long way since the release of the guide, but believes it still has the potential to cause social and economic harm.

In total, MI has been awarded around $200 million in government funding through the Private Irrigation Infrastructure Operators Program (PIIOP) to undertake modernisation projects."If water is recovered from the Murrumbidgee Valley through buyback, the impact on our business will be vastly different than if the water is recovered through irrigation infrastructure upgrades and works to deliver environmental water more efficiently," she said.

However, to date, the company has been unable to accept the bulk of this funding due to potential income and capital gains tax implications.