The imminent threat of water buy-backs from northern Victoria will be taken up with Canberra politicians in a Shepparton delegation on Thursday.
Federal Water Minister Tanya Plibersek is proposing to meet shortfalls in the Murray-Darling Basin Plan by buying up irrigation entitlements, which the Victorian Government and irrigation groups oppose.
City of Greater Shepparton Mayor Shane Sali is leading a delegation to Canberra on the back of the Water Amendment Bill 2023, introduced to parliament late last week.
The proposed bill would see legislative changes to the basin plan, including buybacks, which could take 450Gl of water from local irrigators, harming regional communities.
“Regional communities rely on water,” Cr Sali said.
“Water is the backbone of this community and it drives our economy, on both a domestic and export level, and the flow-on effect from this new legislation would be devastating.”
The delegation, including Cr Geoff Dobson and Tallygaroopna farmer and water advocate Natalie Akers, will be at Parliament House on Thursday morning.
Cr Sali said the region was one of the largest producers of fruit and vegetables in Australia, and farmers relied on irrigation water to ensure they were growing quality produce that was consumed domestically and exported worldwide.
“If the government was to take an additional 450Gl from irrigators, our local growers will be severely impacted. This legislation would impact people’s jobs and livelihoods, leaving rural communities decimated,” he said.
If the legislation was passed, Cr Sali said the price of fruit and vegetables would rise, hitting the hip pockets of residents already doing it tough.