THE Federal Government wants to channel the region’s anger to find a solution to the Murray Darling Basin Plan, according to Minister for Regional Australia Simon Crean.
Mr Crean’s Mildura visit is part of a tour through communities impacted by the basin plan, including Wagga Wagga, Albury-Wodonga, Griffith and Murray Bridge.
The Minister met Mildura Rural City Council after discussing the plan with the Regional Development Australia committee (RDA), which he said had an important role in reaching a solution.
Mr Crean said he was convinced the government could use the community’s passion and anger over the basin plan to reach a solution.
“I think there’s a serious challenge here that has to be met,” he said.
“People know there’s no simple solution, and simply saying ‘We don’t have to return water flows’ is not going to solve the problem, because the health of the river system will be in jeopardy.
“I’m convinced we can find a solution to this.
“Despite the anger portrayed a few weeks ago in response to the guide, there is a genuine preparedness to engage in finding constructive solutions.
“I want to tap that; I want to channel the anger to find constructive solutions.
“Throwing books on bonfires and throwing them in the river might help with anger management but it won’t help solve the problem.
“A city like Mildura has strong population and economic growth, despite the fact it’s been heavily impacted by the drought – that’s what we want to continue to underpin.
“Obviously even with the adjustments, if you continue the economic diversification model going there will be opportunities, not just for the people here to stay here, but drawing people in.”
The Minister said an economic and environmental balance would be found and alternative solutions were already being explored by the Federal Government with help from river community RDAs.
“I’m a great believer in localism as a serious input into the decision-making process.
“RDAs are important because they’re the locals; the eyes and ears for Canberra.
“I’ve seen it work in the past; I believe we have to entrench it in the way in which we approach regional development going forward.
“There is a meeting on November 24 of the four RDAs, two on the NSW side, two on the Victorian side, to coordinate the response in terms of the alternative solutions.
“We’ll continue to engage the dialogue over the coming months – we want to get the balance right.”
After a day of meetings with Mildura’s RDA and council, Mr Crean said he had been assuring leaders the government was aware of its responsibility to the community and the Murray Darling Basin.
“I’m still hearing the anger and frustration associated with the way the guide was announced.
“There’s still concern if the guide goes out that it would be the ruination of many communities.
“That’s something we couldn’t ignore, but I’ve given the guarantee... we are genuine on our commitment to ensure we balance the question of the environmental flows with economic and social sustainability.
“We’re not walking away from that responsibility, but the whole purpose of this engagement and the parliamentary enquiry is to ensure we get that balance right.”
This story appeared in Friday's Sunraysia Daily 12-11-2010.
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