Murray River declaration risks tying up irrigation developments in green tape

Water Minister Tanya Plibersek is rushing to declare the Lower Murray a “critically endangered” ecosystem, before the federal election.

The Albanese Government’s rush to list the Murray River, from the Darling River junction (above) to the sea, is seen as a bid to win over South Australian votes in the lead-up to next year’s election.

Irrigators fear a federal government bid to declare the Murray River from Wentworth to the sea as a “critically endangered ecosystem” will tie them up in green tape and stifle development.

National Irrigators Council chief executive Zara Lowien said “the proposal risks perverse impacts for our industry and communities, but also the environment, by rushing through reforms that are tokenistic and haven’t properly considered the implications nor based on the best science”.

The bid is widely seen as an attempt to win over South Australian voters in the lead-up to the federal election, due early next year, given the Murray declaration relates only to the river downstream of the Darling River junction at Wentworth.

“The former Labor government sneakily attempted this prior to the 2013 election by gazetting these areas within the EPBC Act, the day before caretaker period,” Ms Lowien said.

The Coalition vetoed the declaration after winning power. Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek’s department declined to answer questions on why the declaration related to the Murray River only downstream of the Darling junction and said the latest bid “does not alter land tenure and it does not prevent continuing use of land or water”.

But irrigators argue the declaration’s impact was about future development, given it could lead to more project referrals under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act, which affect the Lower Murray River, both upstream and downstream of the Darling River junction.

Ms Lowien said “we know such proposals will add additional layers of complexity and green tape in an already highly regulated system, yet from what we see, for no additional environmental benefits.

“It is clear this is being rushed through prior to the election,” she said, given the public consultation on the proposed declaration closed on October 15.

Federal Opposition water spokeswoman Perin Davey said if the listing were adopted “any project that may impact water quality or flow rates such as sustainable diversion limit adjustment mechanism projects would need to run a new green tape gauntlet.”

NIC chairman Jeremy Morton asked whether “they want to tie us up in green tape so that nothing happens”.

The declaration also has the potential to stifle Victoria’s Murray River flood plain restoration works, which have been opposed by environmental groups. Victoria Water Minister Harriet Shing said “these projects deliver proven environmental outcomes and restore cultural values along the Murray River and we will continue . to deliver them”.