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Basin Inquiry Public Hearings open this week
17-January-2011
The House of Representatives Parliamentary Committee inquiring into the
Murray Darling Basin Authority’s ‘Basin Plan’ is back on the road from Tuesday.
Visiting the Sunraysia, Murray and Riverina regions, the Inquiry will hold 15 public
hearings including sessions at Mildura, Swan Hill & Deniliquin in the next two weeks.
Sussan Ley, Federal Member for Farrer and one of the 12 member all-party Committee, believes the Inquiry’s opening visit to Far West NSW during December was telling.
“What was obvious for the Committee was the intelligent way farmers are already using
their water whether the Basin is in drought, flood or anywhere in between.”
The Inquiry’s terms of reference require it to specifically focus on the socio‐economic impact of the ‘Guide to the Proposed Basin Plan’ and other measures available to increase water efficiency and reduce consumption in each local area.
Ms Ley says “balancing the needs of the river and its people is already a given in my electorate. I want good strong voices from my community going straight to Canberra letting them know exactly how they feel” Ms Ley said.
“This is a Committee of the Parliament, It represents Labor, Liberal, National and independent, whatever we come up with is going to be pretty difficult for the Parliament and the Prime Minister to ignore”.
Relevant hearing locations for residents in the Farrer electorate include;
Wed 19th Jan
Mildura Function Centre, Twelfth Street, Mildura
8.45am - 1.30pm
Thur 20th Jan
The Grain Shed, King Street, Swan Hill
8.45am - 1.30pm
Mon 24th Jan
Deniliquin RSL, End Street, Deniliquin
8.45am - 1.30pm
Tue 25th Jan
Yoogali Club, Mackay Avenue, Griffith
8.45am - 3.00pm
The Committee is required to report back to Federal Parliament by end of May.