Additionally, farmers on the NSW side of the river could face compulsory acquisition of their land to create easements that will accommodate these increased flows, which as a consequence will exacerbate the flood risk.
These frightening scenarios are being highlighted by numerous community and farming groups, including the Murray Regional Strategy Group, which is asking: “What has happened to the Team New South Wales approach to water issues?”.
Chair Geoff Moar said it is an issue that should be of extreme concern to all river communities, as elevated flooding risk will impact private property, tourism, towns, roads and infrastructure.
“Our communities have documented warnings for 15 years to the federal and New South Wales governments that their flow targets under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan will elevate regional flooding risks,” he said.
“Unfortunately, these real and serious risks are being covered up and ignored.”
The concerns have reached a new level since NSW Water Minister Rose Jackson recently set a 12 month deadline to negotiate flood easements with over 4000 landholders across the Murray and Murrumbidgee regions, after which she has threatened to compulsorily acquire land through the Landholder Negotiation Scheme Regulation.
This can occur if a landholder does not accept the government’s one-off compensation offer.
Mr Moar said governments want the flood easements so they can release high volumes of water, potentially every third year, from Hume Dam into the Murray River during spring.
He said it was unconscionable that governments are proceeding along these lines despite community warnings after the 2016 and 2022 floods.
“Despite the potential for massive damage, there is no government proposal to provide compensation for elevated flooding risks, and authorities have signalled there will be no meaningful flood risk management,” Mr Moar said.
“Murray Valley rural communities and farmers all support environmental flows, which is why rules based environmental flows have been supported in previous Southern Basin water reforms in Victoria and the New South Wales Murray Valley.
“But we cannot support a blatant attempt to acquire land and greatly increase flood risks.”
Mr Moar added it was especially disappointing because members of MRSG have put in a lot of voluntary work to develop the NSW Murray Valley Road Map, which sets out principles to work together with governments that achieve environmental outcomes without unacceptable adverse impacts to food production, flooding and regional prosperity.
But he said there has been little effort to work with communities on the road map.
MRSG has also expressed concern around the consultation process for what the government terms its Landholder Negotiation Scheme Regulation.
Mr Moar described it as “top down, with the aim to divide and conquer … it appears to be remote decision-making that will impose unacceptable risks to people and our communities”.
“With the current approach, too many questions remain unanswered,” Mr Moar said.
“We are also unsure why the New South Wales Government would be pursuing this avenue when its Victorian counterpart has ruled out compulsory acquisition of flood easements because it knows the devastation that could result.
“Governments are still paying for infrastructure damage from the 2022 floods, yet in New South Wales and at federal level they are proceeding recklessly and unnecessarily, when alternative community supported solutions could be achieved.
“We want to work with governments on effective solutions; not be dictated to by those who live in capital cities and appear to have little understanding of how their decisions can impact livelihoods.”
The NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water developed draft LNS is a first for NSW.
The department says it will deliver a “clearer, more consistent and transparent approach to negotiating agreements for those affected by any proposed changes to future environmental water release arrangements”.
It is expected to be used by the Murray-Darling Basin Plan environmental water initiatives including the Gwydir Reconnecting Watercourse Country Program and the Reconnecting River Country Program in the Murrumbidgee.
It is intended to establish a negotiation framework that can be applied to any future programs across the state that propose making enduring changes to environmental flows that could improve the health of wetlands and floodplains.
More information about the draft LNS and details of community consultation, go to water.dpie.nsw.gov.au/about-us/legislation-and-policies/acts-and-regulations/landholder-negotiation-scheme-regulation.
You can also make submissions on the scheme via the website, with feedback closing on November 24.
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