The Murray Darling Basin Group of Councils extends from Queensland to South Australia, and includes the Yass Valley, as we are a catchment area for the basin.

Councillor David Needham attended the presentation of the Declaration to the federal government at Parliament House on November 22.

Cr Needham said that YVC was united with the group of councils in its response to the plan.

“The Murray Darling Authority really only looked at the environmental impact, he said.

“The councils maintain they should look at the triple bottom line: environmental, social and economic.”

He also said that the impact of water economising initiatives farmers had put in place had yet to be measured, and could result in significant water saving.

Cr Needham said that councils would like the government to stop the water buyback process completely, but this is unlikely to be endorsed by the minister.

“There are no willing sellers, only desperate sellers,” he said.

The declaration calls on the federal government to:

* Use baseline quantitative data regarding the social and economic impact that the proposed sustainable diversion limits (SDLs) will have on our community is clearly identified and included in the draft Murray Darling Basin Plan.

* Water savings that can be achieved, or have already been achieved, through improved infrastructure, innovation and sustainable farming practices are identified in the draft plan and are included in the calculation of improved environmental flows before any SDLs are set and,

* Any water buyback scheme is conducted in a planned approach so as not to disadvantage remaining farmers.