Thursday, 23 November 2023
Subjects: Murray-Darling Basin Plan, Lachlan Regional Water Strategy.
E&OE…
Jaclyn Underwood: Good to have you Steph, thanks for your company today. A few things to get through, a lot to get through actually. Firstly, we'll start with widespread protests in regards to the Murray-Darling Basin Plan and the plan to increase water buybacks and communities along that river system, very concerned.
Steph Cooke: They're concerned for good reason, Jac. We've seen rallies right down through the Southern Basin this week, involving councils, businesses, farmers, and Basin communities coming together; well over 1,600 people across those rallies. Of course they're railing against this legislation that will give the Federal Government more scope to buy back water and remove that permanently from the consumptive pool, and that impacts communities terribly; that's widely recognised.
There has been report after report produced, demonstrating that buybacks in the past have had a detrimental effect on communities, and yet here we are, seemingly facing a similar circumstance going forward, except it's the cumulative effect of these buybacks. It's not just these ones in isolation, it's on top of everything that's happened previously. Of course we've been through droughts and floods in the interim as well, and this is having a real impact on communities and it's little wonder that they are so upset.
Jaclyn Underwood: This bill, it goes to Federal Parliament. There's been a lot of criticism about the information that's going to be debated on not being available to the communities, but also senators themselves who have to make this vote. Has there been any update about any of that information forthcoming?
Steph Cooke: Well, this is a bill that's currently before the Senate. From a New South Wales perspective we have for months now, been asking to see the details of the revised Murray-Darling Basin Plan that the New South Wales Labor Government has negotiated with the Commonwealth. So there's two layers here; there's what still has to move through the Federal Parliament, but it's also what has New South Wales been signed up to along the way? We simply don't know, because the Labor Government here in New South Wales has refused to come clean on the fine print. In my mind that is politics at its worst. Our communities deserve to know what they will be facing into the future. I've been calling on the minister for months now: please come out and be upfront about the rewritten Basin Plan and secondly, to stand up for our people in New South Wales and categorically reject any attempt by the Commonwealth to buy back water across the Basin.
Jaclyn Underwood: We'll keep a close eye on that one as that bill moves through Parliament. In your area, Wyangala Dam wall raising project: that is not going to go ahead, and you've done a lot about that in recent times.
Steph Cooke: Look, this is of such a concern to people right along the Lachlan Valley. The raising of the wall of Wyangala Dam was seen as a crucial project, delivering water security in times of drought, and we have been here before with respect to very, very bad droughts, and Wyangala Dam being at extremely low levels, and that causing problems right along the Lachlan Valley. The other key benefit, of course, that raising the wall of Wyangala delivers, is that all-important flood mitigation piece.
Pretty much this time last year, on the 14th of November last year, we saw 230,000 megalitres of water go over the wall of Wyangala Dam, and it caused widespread flooding right down through the communities in the Lachlan. So, this project, we know that it has been scrapped by this government and it's deeply disappointing. Of course it goes right to the heart of vision and strategy in the water space.
We've had the Lachlan Regional Water Strategy out on exhibition and for feedback for a third time. It's supposed to set out a 20 to 40 year vision for our area. But unfortunately there's absolutely no major infrastructure projects as far as the eye can see in this supposedly visionary document. This is something that's being played out right across New South Wales with the other regional water strategies. It's really concerning.
Jaclyn Underwood: I really want to get your view on this. We've had ours released, the Macquarie-Castlereagh Water Strategy, of course. It highlights, in the early pages, we've got reduced rainfall, higher evaporation rates. It labels Orange and Bathurst as highly vulnerable in regards to having enough water into the future. But then the other parts of the strategy don't really tell us, except that we need to diversify how we are going to get to a position where we're water secure. Is that what you're seeing with the other strategies across the state?
Steph Cooke: Oh, absolutely. That is consistent. These strategies are alarmingly bereft of any significant long-term plans for water security, whatever region you look at. We need strong leadership, and commitment to funding vital projects. At the end of the day, that's what is going to build that resilience in with respect to water resources in our state.
It has to come from vital major water infrastructure projects, and we are not seeing anything in that respect from this government at present.
Jaclyn Underwood: Politics aside, of course, the Coalition Government were in for 12 years, did a lot of work in this space and had a lot of plans. Is there much bipartisan support for each other working together, advising on certain projects around the state?
Steph Cooke: Oh look, my door is always open. My natural inclination, if you like, is to always try and work with the government of the day to deliver the projects and the outcomes that the people of our communities need and deserve. People that I talk to in my own electorate of Cootamundra, that's what they want to see me do first and foremost.
But they also want me to stand up when they know, when we know, that things aren't quite right, and it's incumbent upon me to make sure that I fight for every dollar that we can possibly get into the regions to make sure that we get our fair share; that we don't fall behind the development and the investment that is occurring in Western Sydney and other parts of Sydney and Newcastle and that Greater Sydney area.
So, I really do have that obligation to call things out when I think things are veering off track, and really, that's what I perceive to be happening. I think there's a fair bit of evidence now that that's what's been happening throughout the course of this year.
Jaclyn Underwood: Water security, a big one for our region and of course yours. We'll keep a close eye on these matters. Thank you so much for joining us.
Steph Cooke: Thank you for having me.
Jaclyn Underwood: See you. Steph Cooke is the Shadow Minister for Water and Crown Lands and the Member for Cootamundra, having a chat about the Murray-Darling Basin Plan and also the regional water security strategies, which have been published in recent weeks.
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