NATIONAL IRRIGATORS’ COUNCIL
Advocating for the Australian irrigated agriculture industry
Part 3 of our Submission to the MDBA's Basin Plan Review Discussion paper is the full list of MDBA options, our NIC response and our own options. This is available as a stand alone document.
The first draft of our NIC Submission to the MDBA's Basin Plan Review Discussion Paper is now available. Attached is the one document,
which includes a brief one-pager on the review. The one-pager is designed as a stand alone document for decision makers, and hence its
language is tailored accordingly. The options table is also available separately on the Members Page.
Feedback is welcomed, and I note we haven't specifically discussed northern connectivity or Menindee yet as a Membership group which will
further shape this submission (although we anticipate a separate submission for Menindee Review). We will have a Specific Member Drop
in session scheduled for this in coming weeks, to give you time to read through the submission. The submission has been written to
provide an overarching key recommendations, with a number of specific recommendations within the report - the key list is the option table
in Part 3. We aimed to have it structured to allow, local views and regional examples, to be provided.
The NIC team have uploaded and embedded a "live document" to help inform our submission development. This includes overview of issues, SDL assessment and technical issues, options analysis.
The approach aims to be transparent with the key issues for the BP Review, proposed solutions and actions. The document will be updated as
we progress through our analysis adn thinking.
The MDBA options from the discussion paper, are also presented with draft comments outlining our potential responses for the submission. In
the options tab, we have also included previously recommended NIC positions for reference.
This week, the statutory review of the Water Act 2007 (Cth) commenced. You can read the Terms of Reference and an Introductory Paper on the DCCEEW website. Consultation is now underway until July. We will discuss more at our next member drop-in session.
Following the Member policy discussion on 25 February, please see the slides from this meeting. Key discussion points were reaffirming our positions, providing insights into our work program including our journal article on evidence to priorisation for the Basin Plan next steps a follow on from our triple crown framework, as well as our engagement and communications planing -internal and external.
The NIC provided a written, public submission into the Review into the Inspector General Water Compliance saying: "Reviewing how the role is functioning towards these key principles is paramount as the new role matures over time, to ensure that these principles are being met, but also that this is occurring in an effective, efficient, fit-for-purpose and proportional manner. Nothing in this submission is to question or belittle the importance of these principles – rather – to examine how they can be most effectively and efficiently served."
The NIC General Meeting is rescheduled to be on 23 April 2026, replacing the planned trip to the SA Riverland. This regional visit will be scheduled next year.
A working draft of our proposed submission to the Independent Review of the Inspector General of Water Compliance, is available here. During
this weeks Policy Discussion, feedback was received but not yet fully incorporated. This is at the end of the submission and will be
incorporated next week.
Please review the working draft and provide any feedback to Christine by the end of next week, a further draft will then be circulated prior
to finalising for submission on 25 February 2026.
NIC team have prepared an updated briefing note for Members on the MDBA Discussion Paper and provided some guidance on key areas to question
from the MDBA during consultation roundtables next week.
Consideration of additional messages is underway, pending feedback following the consultation sessions.
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