State Water Minister Susan Close says there’s a long way to go with the Murray Darling Basin Plan water recovery targets, with just 20 of the 450 gigalitres accounted for so far.
While infrastructure projects in the Teringie Wetlands and north of the Riverland in the Chowilla Floodplain to improve environmental outcomes have been recently completed, Close says the chain is being dragged by other governments when it comes to water recovery.
“We had a lot of intransigence, particularly from NSW but also from Victoria, and a real unwillingness over that 450GL above all,” Close said.
“When we came into government there was maybe two or three giga litres that have been recovered. There’s now about 20 that’s been put under contract, but that’s nowhere near 450.”
“The heavy lifting here does need to be undertaken by NSW and Victoria because they’re the ones that have not contributed very much; then we’ll see a further opening up later to allow other water holders to sell some of their licence if they choose to.”
