Nationals Senator, Fiona Nash, said Murray communities should demand proper consultation on the draft basin plan which is expected to be released next month.
The Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) said it has no plans to hold community consultations similar to those held when the guide to the plan was released late last year.
The Chief Executive, Rhondda Dickson, told senate estimates this week there would be public meetings if communities wanted them.
“It is the responsibility of the MDBA to arrange proper public consultation, not leaving it up to communities to decide,” Senator Nash said.
“Public meetings across the MDB should be mandatory as part of this process. While there’s been consultation and reports on various figures in the draft plan, we won’t know the final detail until its release. And it should be open to full and proper public scrutiny especially by those communities that will be affected.”
There also appears to be confusion within the community about the consultation process once the draft plan’s been released.
A community member of the MDBA’s Victorian Basin Plan Advisory Group, Rosemary Reilly, told ABC Goulburn Murray: “….you know things will be implemented and then they’re talking about a system of localism which is a word that was bandied around recently which has not really had a definition of how that consultation process will actually be achieved. After the plan and the 20 weeks there is still time for people to make comments and we just don’t know how that’s going to be achieved and I think that’s where everybody is a bit confused.”
“I call on the MDBA to commit to a proper and transparent public consultation process for these communities. After all, the basin plan will affect their future,” Senator Nash said.
“I also urge people to contact the MDBA to ensure this happens. The MDBA can be contacted on 1800 230 067 or 02 6279 0100, or by email engagement@mdba.gov.au.
“It’s crucial that regional communities have their voices heard.”
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