mmg.com.au

Moira Shire Council is uniting with regional municipalities as part of a wider initiative to respond to the draft Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

The Murray River Group of Councils, Greater Shepparton City Council and Strathbogie Shire Council — a partnership of eight councils all with water-dependent communities — are preparing a collective submission to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority.

Yesterday, a basin authority feedback meeting was at Cobram Civic Centre, but attendance was reportedly limited due to a lack of information about dates and times provided to the community.

The partnership of councils is seeking to understand the views that local communities might have about key aspects of the plan, including impacts of reduced irrigation entitlements, proposed outcomes for environmental water, and new ideas such as the shared-pool of water allocation reductions.

‘‘We are calling on the community to assist us in the preparation of the regional submission by sharing their collective knowledge with us,’’ Moira Shire Mayor Alex Monk said.

‘‘We require a wide range of local views to allow the regional submission to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority to be comprehensive and well considered, enabling council to advocate for the best outcome for its communities. It is vital that the wider community is engaged in this process. This is not just a farming or environmental issue.

The Basin Plan will affect everyone — manufacturing, business, community and volunteer groups, and schools.

‘‘While council hopes that many people will make their own submissions to the authority, we are coming together to represent those who might not necessarily have the time or resources to do so but still have something important to contribute,’’ Cr Monk said.

A feedback form is available on the council’s website www.moira.vic.gov.au or can be picked up from any of the council’s customer service points.

People who want to make a submission directly to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority can get additional information on the Murray-Darling Basin Authority website, www.mdbp.gov.au

More information can be obtained from Moira Shire Council’s environment sustainability manager Sally Rice on 58719222 or Campaspe Shire Council’s strategic initiatives manager Daniel Strachan on 54812824.