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Basin Plan inquiry underway this week
14-December-2010
The House of Representatives Parliamentary Committee inquiring into the
Murray Darling Basin Authority’s ‘Basin Plan’ begins visiting Basin communities
from this Thursday (16th Dec).
The opening two day familiarisation tour of locations in Far West, NSW will include a
visit to the local Lakes area and meetings to gauge the view of regional representatives.
Visiting the Sunraysia, Murray and Riverina region next month, the Inquiry has
scheduled six extensive open public hearings including Mildura, Swan Hill & Deniliquin.
Federal Member for Farrer, Sussan Ley, one of the 12 all-party Committee members
says “there have been lots of questions and not many satisfactory answers with this Plan so far. The Committee’s task is to come up with solutions to balance the needs of the rivers and its people with equal regard. I have no doubt we’ll be able to do just that.”
The Inquiry’s terms of reference require the MP’s to specifically focus on the socio‐economic impact of the ‘Guide to the Proposed Basin Plan’ with particular reference to the impact
on regional communities.
The Committee will also consider views on other measures available to increase water efficiency and reduce consumption in each local area.
When announcing the Inquiry, Committee Chair Tony Windsor MP said “the need to
return water to the Murray‐Darling is an accepted fact but this does not need to occur at the expense of regional communities”.
The Committee is expected to report back to Federal Parliament by end of May 2011.