At an unscheduled Council Meeting held yesterday, Swan Hill Rural City Council formally adopted its submission to the Murray-Darling Basin Plan Review.
Council stands alongside the Murray River Group of Councils in advocating for a shared, collaborative approach to this Review, with a clear and balanced message: the health of our rivers and wetlands, and the social and economic prosperity of the people and businesses who depend on them, are inseparable and must be advanced together through genuine partnership.
Council's Mayor, Cr Stuart King said the Review presented a critical opportunity to refine what has worked, address what has not, and set a confident direction for the future - one that delivers healthy, working rivers alongside sustainable food and fibre production and thriving Basin communities.
"Our priorities are clear: to protect the viability of irrigation-dependent industries and the jobs they sustain across the Mallee and Lower Murray Water region, while delivering stronger environmental outcomes through smarter river operations, constraints relaxation and targeted works. We do not support further non-strategic water recovery, and any constraints or works programs must only proceed where risks to landholders and communities are well managed and value for money is demonstrated.
"We're also calling for greater transparency and accountability in environmental watering and water market settings, alongside long-term investment to support the transition and resilience of communities facing ongoing pressures and change.," Cr King said.
Council's central position is that the Basin Plan must now evolve from a focus on water recovery volumes to an environmental outcomes-based framework.
"Rather than measuring success by the volume of water recovered, the Plan should define clear, measurable ecological and socio-economic objectives and invest in the most effective and efficient pathways to achieve them.
"This position aligns with Council's longstanding advocacy, including its 2019 stance, that Basin management must be optimised to maximise benefits for communities, agriculture and the environment.
"The shift would maximise the value of water already recovered, supporting the industries that underpin the Basin, and enabling locally led, flexible solutions within a clear Basin-wide framework.
"We believe the pathway forward is clear: focus on measurable outcomes, maximise existing water resources, invest in Basin communities and industries, and support practical, place-based solutions.
"A revised Basin Plan that reflects this approach will deliver stronger environmental outcomes, more resilient regional communities, and better value for public investment," Cr King concluded.
