The Issues
Community
According to our research, 80% of people within the Murray Darling region agree that water allocations should change so there will be enough water for the environment. 50% of people believe that this should already be underway.
http://www.basinpulse.com.au/PulseReports/DownloadLatestReport.aspx
The majority of small townships in the Murray-Darling basin experience a lack of accessible facilities enjoyed by larger regional centres, e.g. limited medical services, less choice in legal/financial representation
Aramac job casualties predicted - The Land 1/10/2010
Crean, Joyce conflict on what "regional" is - The Land 30/09/2010
A traditional divide between city and country seems to be getting larger, with the voice of the Murray-Darling foodbowl - the community, feeling increasingly distanced from the opinions of their urban cousins and the politicians handling decisions affecting their region.
Rivers will die of thirst as the arguments get wetter - SMH 11/10/2010
Cities will suffer from Murray-Darling cuts – ABC News 11/10/2010
Environment
CSIRO have released a series of 7 factsheets about the support CSIRO and other research groups have provided to the MDBA’s development of the Plan.
The Murray-Darling Basin (Achievement) - CSIRO
The Murray-Darling basin has experienced an extended period of drought which has lasted throughout the past decade. The rivers and water systems along this region have suffered tremendously, and communities within the Murray-Darling basin recognise that providing greater water allocations to the environment will benefit the community and the environment as a whole.
Video: Frogs prove vital in Murray-Darling recovery – The Midday Report, ABC News 30/09/2010
River plant growth eases with higher flows - ABC News 6/10/2010
Farmers have adopted sustainable farming techniques to increase water retention within soil and are working at creating new processes that see agriculture leaving less of an impact on the surrounding environment
Against the grain with pasture cropping - The Land 2/10/2010
Award-winning biosecurity at Hamilton - The Land 3/10/2010
Economy
Communities in the basin believe that they survive due to a strong agricultural industry, possible loss of business’/population if industry is placed under threat
Buybacks draining towns - The Land 13/09/2010
Increasing urbanisation of Australia taking away resources previously utilised to cultivate agriculture
Transcript of Speech delivered by The Honorary Bruce Scott Federal LNP for Maranoa during Private Members' Business addressing Global Food and Water Security 22/02/2010
Community is wary of environmentally unsound developments in local area, e.g. coal-seam gas extraction in northern QLD portion of basin
Coal-seam gas decision close - Queensland Country Life 24/09/2010
Possible water restrictions directly influences the Murray-Darling basin community, as a large portion believe that the agricultural industry would be adversely affected if water restrictions were implanted, and the community believes that the agricultural sector is the definitive factor which dictates whether communities will flourish, or perish.
Irrigators await Basin Guide - ABC News 5/10/2010
It is widely reported from various interest groups that imposing water restrictions upon business use of water within the Murray-Darling basin will result in everything from mass unemployment within the Murray-Darling community to greater food scarcity within not only Australia but foreign countries which depend on Australian food exports for their survival.
Basin Plan could cause 1 in 3 farmers to quit agriculture - NSW Farmers Association Media Release 5/10/2010