mmg.com.au

The committee would help guide the implementation of the basin plan, according to Riverina and Murray Regional Organisation of Councils chair Terry Hogan.

Cr Hogan, who is also Jerilderie Shire Mayor, said requests have been made to Murray-Darling Basin Authority chair Craig Knowles already.

The potential committee was raised again at a MDBA briefing on the implementation of the plan in Deniliquin last week.

Cr Hogan said the meeting confirmed the lack of a southern basin committee was just one of the many gaps that still exist in the basin plan.

‘‘There is still an enormous way to go,’’ Cr Hogan said.

‘‘A northern basin committee was established early on, made up of people from the region who liaise with and give advice to the authority.

‘‘We have asked that we have a similar committee here.’’

Cr Hogan said it was evident there was still a lot of planning associated with the Murray-Darling Basin Plan missing.

He said councils attending the MDBA briefing meeting in Deniliquin on Friday were particularly concerned about the lack of structured planning for environmental watering.

‘‘There is still a myriad of unknowns, and that doesn’t auger well for investment in our communities.

‘‘There is still a black cloud hanging over our heads — who is going to invest in our towns when our main resource is being whittled away?

‘‘What is grossly disappointing is that there is still no transparent environmental watering plan.

‘‘They (the MDBA) also have not developed a structured plan on socio-economic impacts although we welcome the invitation to be involved in that.’’

While pleased to have been given the opportunity to learn how the basin plan would be implemented, Cr Hogan said the lack of information about aspects important to local communities was a concern.

He said local expertise and knowledge was still being ignored in the MDBA process.

‘‘We’ve had this feeling (that our concerns are not being taken on board) from the Authority since day one,’’ Cr Hogan said.

‘‘All the questions and concerns we’ve had from way back then, four years ago, are still unanswered.

‘‘We live, breathe and eat our environment — we know it. And we know it can change completely in 24 hours.

‘‘We are dealing with nature which doesn’t have a recipe that is the same twice.’’

Leading the briefing meeting for regional councils was MDBA member Diana Gibbs.

Among those who joined her in Deniliquin were MDBA executive director of the river management division David Dreverman and executive director in charge of natural resource management Jody Swirepik.