From Mayor Ashley Hall on behalf of Edward River Council
I appreciated the opportunity to meet with Federal Water and Environment Minister Murray Watt on behalf of Council in Leeton this week and deliver a clear message: our community needs support, and it needs it now.
I welcomed the opportunity to advocate directly for Deniliquin and ensure the challenges facing our region are understood at the highest levels of government.
While we welcome the Federal Government's $14.5 million investment in SunRice's Leeton operations, I made it clear that it does little to address the loss of 68 jobs in Deniliquin and the impact that has had on local families and our broader community.
Those job losses are not just numbers. They represent livelihoods, families and confidence in the future of our region. Deniliquin cannot be left behind while support flows elsewhere.
The Minister advised he has written to the NSW Government supporting consideration of Deniliquin through the next round of sustainability funding.
That is encouraging, but our community needs to see tangible support and investment that restores confidence for local businesses, creates new employment opportunities and reinforces that regional communities like Deniliquin have a strong future.
I also used the meeting to reiterate Council's opposition to further water buybacks. Our region has already contributed significantly to water recovery under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, and further buybacks would place additional pressure on local producers, businesses and jobs at a time when our community can least afford it.
I raised concerns about the remaining shortfall under the Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism and made it clear that recovering this water through buybacks would be damaging for communities like ours. I appreciate that the Minister listened to these concerns and acknowledged the strength of feeling across our region.
We also discussed the Murray-Darling Basin Plan Review and the need for greater flexibility in water management. I believe there are opportunities to better balance environmental objectives with the long-term economic sustainability of Basin communities, including exploring ways productive water can be returned to the system in favourable seasons.
I left the Minister in no doubt about the challenges facing Deniliquin, nor about our determination to keep fighting for our community.
On behalf of Edward River Council and the Edward River region, I will continue advocating at every opportunity for the support, investment and policy decisions needed to protect jobs, sustain our irrigation industries and secure a strong future for our region.
We also acknowledge and greatly appreciate the continued advocacy of the RAMJO member councils, whose united voice on these issues demonstrates the strength of regional collaboration and our shared commitment to protecting the communities, industries and livelihoods that depend on the Murray-Darling Basin.
Mayor Ashley Hall
Edward River Council
