Local councils call on Senators to oppose Water Amendment bill

Published on 02 November 2023

Narrabri Shire Council, Gunnedah Shire and Moree Plains Shire councils are calling on Senators to oppose the Federal Government’s Water Amendment (Restoring our Rivers) Bill 2023.

The proposed bill seeks to amend the Water Act 2007 (Cth) and Murray Darling Basin Plan 2012 with the view of implementing the Basin Plan in full, including recovering 450 gigalitres of additional environmental water.

Narrabri Shire Mayor Darrell Tiemens said the councils were extremely concerned about the devastating impacts the proposed bill will have on local communities – including around voluntary water buybacks.

“When you start taking water out of communities, you’re taking away the socio-economic lifeblood,” Mayor Tiemens said.

“The devastating impact on farming and irrigation by taking away water, affects all our townships, all our communities.

“What you’re effectively doing is taking jobs out of these towns – you’re pulling out local shops, cafes, banks, post offices – right through to loss of police officers and teachers.

“Our communities have already been gutted by droughts, floods, Covid – our people have been smashed time and time again – enough is enough.

“We’re urging Senators to look at these small communities, to look at what our farming and irrigation groups produce for this country, to look at the families in these communities, and to think about the broader picture.

“We’re asking Senators to think about what you may inflict on communities across small towns, and the social and economic infrastructure you’re pulling out of these people’s lives,” Cr Tiemens added.

“Don’t turn a blind eye to the broader social and economic consequences this will have on our communities.”

Moree Plains Shire Mayor Mark Johnson emphasised the damage to local communities.

“The loss of people as a result of the proposed buybacks remove the heart and soul from regional communities and simply add to their decline, no amount of compensation can make up for that,” Mayor Johnson said.

Gunnedah Shire Mayor Jamie Chaffey said the Bill was concerning on many levels, including the lack of consultation.

“Any hearings for this Bill that will impact so significantly on regional New South Wales have all been held in Canberra,” Cr Chaffey said.

“Where is the meaningful consultation with the people who will bear the brunt of this Bill?

“Water is life in regional New South Wales. Our crops, our animals, ourselves – we all depend on it, and when the water is not available, businesses fail and people move,” Cr Chaffey said.

“People whose livelihoods are at stake need and deserve the opportunity to have input into their future in practical and positive ways. The proposals in this Bill will further divide the city and the bush.”