A meeting that could play a significant role in the future of Australias food and fibre production will take place in Canberra this month.

On Friday, June 16 the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council (MINCO) will discuss the suite of projects that could be used to recover additional water under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

Wakool Rivers Association chairman John Lolicato said this could be a ground-breaking meeting for our nation, especially rural communities.

The adverse impact the Basin Plan is having on rural communities is starting to get some recognition, and I expect will be highlighted further in socio-economic reports to be delivered this year, Mr Lolicato said.

To stop any further damage it is imperative that water recovery comes from efficiency and complementary projects.

The MINCO recognised this at its March meeting in Mildura, and it must continue to be the focus at this months meeting.

The June ministerial council meeting will discuss projects, known as sustainable diversion limit adjustment mechanism projects, and make a final determination on these by the end of the year.

Our nation, in particular regional communities that rely on food and fibre production, need all states to approach the SDLs with a commitment and willingness to agree on an implementation schedule that will recover additional water without further social and economic damage, Mr Lolicato said.

At its March meeting the ministerial council agreed to a pathway to implement the Basin Plan that included reaching the water recovery target of 2,750 gigalitres using the SDL adjustment mechanism, and recovering the additional 450GL, referred to as up water with neutral or improved socio-economic outcomes.

We firmly believe the additional 450GL should be taken off the table because there is little scientific proof that it is needed for the environment, Mr Lolicato said.

There is no evidence to show it is needed, so why would we try to recover it? It doesnt make sense.

Mr Lolicato said ministers also need to recognise an indisputable fact attempting to squeeze large volumes of water through the Barmah and Millewa chokes trying to deliver the original 2,750GL will continue to collapse the river banks in the mid-section of the Murray and Edward Rivers, and the suggestion of an additional 450GL would be sheer madness.

The compensation which would have to be paid to landholders under this scenario would be astronomical, let alone the cost to rehabilitate the damage to the river and adjoining environment, Mr Lolicato said.

We trust ministers will accept this reality and take a balanced, common-sense perspective at the June meeting.

We mustnt forget that communities were promised a plan that delivered the so-called triple bottom line, which gave equal prominence to social, environmental and economic outcomes.

Unfortunately to this point the environmental aspect has been the primary consideration, to the detriment of rural communities.

Lets hope this months meeting is another step towards delivering what our communities were promised.

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Important meeting for our nation's future | Deniliquin Pastoral Times - Deniliquin Pastoral Times (registration) (blog)