SUBMISSIONS

National Water Agreement Phase Three Consultation
20 Sep

The NIC is deeply concerned by the draft principles proposed for the National Water Agreement (NWA) and is of the position, it is not fit-for-purpose to be signed in its current form.

The original National Water Initiative (NWI) set the blueprint for water reform in Australia over the past two decades and is a fundamental underpinning of Australia’s water management. It is a document that needs to be taken seriously by all stakeholders and jurisdictions, and its content upheld to be a first-class and best-practice approach to water management. [...] Read More…

National Water Agreement Submission
10 May

The National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback into the Australian Government’s National Water Agreement Discussion Paper. The opportunity to submit our voice into this critical agreement for ongoing national water planning and management, has been considered with much consternation on the part of our members. We are frustrated at the current urgency to undertake this discussion process, right now. We are frustrated at the opaque and minimalist engagement process now and during the agreement development stages. We are frustrated that 20-years of difficult reforms for many across Australia, are seemingly being disregarded. Read More…

Draft Framework for Delivering the 450GL of additional environmental water
4 Mar

The Murray Darling Basin Plan has been a vital tool in balancing the needs of our communities, our environment and our productive sector. It hasn’t always got it right, but it has achieved a great deal since its inception. Ensuring balance is needed so we can keep our rivers and communities healthy and thriving, while feeding and clothing Australia and the world. Whilst we didn’t agree with all elements of the Restoring our Rivers bill such as the lifting of the cap on buybacks and the ability to use direct water purchases towards the 450 GL efficiency measure program. We remain committed to finalizing the Basin Plan and ensuring all the tools, not just buybacks, are utilized in its implementation to maintain and protect the prosperity of our regional communities and agricultural businesses. [...] Read More…

Review into the National Water Initiative
22 Feb

The National Water Initiative (NWI) has played a crucial role in shaping the future of water management in Australia and supporting the growth of the irrigation industry. In doing so, it has also reshaped many regional communities and irrigation industries, particularly when considering the impacts experienced to achieve sustainable levels of take and establishing the water market. Nonetheless, it is imperative that any updates to the NWI uphold the fundamental principles that are now the backbone of the industry. We must also recognize that the objective to achieve environmentally sustainable level of take has been or is near completion, in all developed water sources and consideration how this objective applies for remaining regions should be a future focus. [...] Read More…