SA regional communities warn of dangers of Murray-Darling Basin Plan buybacks flagged by state government

Regional leaders have warned a measure flagged to achieve the 450GL goal for the Murray would “kill” communities – but the state government says it’s a myth.

Using controversial water buybacks to achieve environmental targets for the Murray-Darling Basin would “kill” regional communities with job losses and population decline, regional leaders and citrus farmers have warned.

But some irrigators argue the measure is a “necessary evil” to undo a decade of inaction to ensure an extra 450GL of freshwater is returned to the river system by June 2024.

Labor is at odds over the target, as SA Environment and Water Minister Susan Close rejects her federal counterpart’s view that it’s “next to impossible” to achieve. Dr Close is urging Tanya Plibersek to immediately lift the cap on buybacks – a method where the federal government purchases water entitlements from irrigators and farmers and uses it for environmental purposes.

Despite the latest State of the Environment Report finding the Murray-Darling Basin was largely in “poor condition”, Citrus SA chairman Mark Doecke argued more water should be allocated for irrigation to boost farming productivity.

“You take water of the community, the community goes backwards … fewer people would be employed and it flows right down the line,” Mr Doecke said.

Citrus SA chairman Mark Doecke warned buybacks would hurt regional communities. Picture: Dean Martin

Barker MP Tony Pasin said buybacks would shift water from productive agriculture to “passive environmental projects” and “kill communities”.

“(It) effectively hollows out irrigation communities like those in the Riverland … which leads to less employment … and ultimately population decline,” he said.

Dr Close said the Murray-Darling Basin Royal Commission dispelled the “myth perpetuated by the Coalition”.

“Buybacks are the cheapest and most efficient way to return water to the system and the vast majority of those who previously sold entitlements retained their water delivery rights,” she said.

SA Murray Irrigators chair Caren Martin said the method would become a “necessary evil” with extensive consultation.

“There needs to be close communication to work out how to structure such a thing so that buyback is part of an overall package that does address those dangers like social annihilation,” Ms Martin said.

Environment and Water Minister Susan Close threw her support behind water buybacks. Picture NCA NewsWire / Emma Brasier.

Dr Close said: “If there was any real evidence that a particular region or industry was being adversely affected by buybacks, the Commonwealth can use its investment dollars to support a structural adjustment for these groups”.

The royal commission report found the funds irrigators received from selling entitlements were often spent locally, and there were additional economic benefits from government debt reduction.

“There is no proper justification for the massive additional expenditure on efficiency measures to recover water,” the report stated.

[e-mail]