The decision-making process Summary of the proposed amendment and other recommendations 320 GL proposal is based on the consideration of economic, social and environmental outcomes, provided there are commitments from the Australian, Queensland and New South Wales governments to implement a range of specific toolkit measures, including a targeted water recovery strategy. Economic Social Environmental The Authority has listened to This proposed amendment people and conducted Almost any practical volume means different things for ground-breaking research. As of recovery will not return the different communities. a result their proposed northern Basin to full health. amendment is based on a The environmental outcomes The Authority the better understanding of how possible from the reduction in message that taking water is 21 northern Basin the water recovery target will not the only solution. This is communities respond to be slightly reduced compared why the proposed water recovery and its effects with the Basin Plan. The amendment based on – in the context of other Authority is confident that community input includes – changes. through implementation of the measures in addition ‘toolkit’ any reduction in ‘toolkit’ For many irrigation to water recovery to help outcomes would be achieve river health with less communities no further water minimised. needs to be recovered which water. gives them the confidence to For the scenarios considered, Only changing recovery adapt and plan for the future. increasing recovery beyond targets will not make it any For any future recovery the 320 GL did not deliver a easier for people to deal with Authority’s preference is for marked improvement in some of the longer term infrastructure and strategic environmental outcomes for changes impacting rural buyback. many catchments. All water communities. managers need to be smarter Some communities will feel The Authority has identified a with how they use water. The further effects, especially in number of practical measures new information from this the Condamine-Balonne. for governments to consider review will guide future water The Authority recommends which address the serious recovery strategy, in terms of concerns of Aboriginal governments consider what is recovered, where, support for communities to communities and recognise and how. their enduring responsibilities help them adjust, especially Dirranbandi and Warren. with water. To achieve a sustainable balance between water for businesses, communities and the environment, the Basin Plan sets limits on the average amount of water that can be taken from northern Basin rivers. This
The decision-making process Summary of the proposed amendment and other recommendations 320 GL proposal is based on the consideration of economic, social and environmental outcomes, provided there are commitments from the Australian, Queensland and New South Wales governments to implement a range of specific toolkit measures, including a targeted water recovery strategy. Economic The Authority has listened to people and conducted ground-breaking research. As a result their proposed amendment is based on a better understanding of how 21 northern Basin communities respond to water recovery and its effects in the context of other changes. For many irrigation communities no further water needs to be recovered which gives them the confidence to adapt and plan for the future. For any future recovery the Authority’s preference is for infrastructure and strategic buyback. Some communities will feel further effects, especially in the Condamine-Balonne. The Authority recommends governments consider support for communities to help them adjust, especially Dirranbandi and Warren. Social This proposed amendment means different things for different communities. The Authority the message that taking water is not the only solution. This is why the proposed amendment – based on community input – includes ‘toolkit’ measures in addition to water recovery to help achieve river health with less water. Only changing recovery targets will not make it any easier for people to deal with some of the longer term changes impacting rural communities. The Authority has identified a number of practical measures for governments to consider which address the serious concerns of Aboriginal communities and recognise their enduring responsibilities with water. Environmental Almost any practical volume of recovery will not return the northern Basin to full health. The environmental outcomes possible from the reduction in the water recovery target will be slightly reduced compared with the Basin Plan. The Authority is confident that through implementation of the ‘toolkit’ any reduction in outcomes would be minimised. For the scenarios considered, increasing recovery beyond 320 GL did not deliver a marked improvement in environmental outcomes for many catchments. All water managers need to be smarter with how they use water. The new information from this review will guide future water recovery strategy, in terms of what is recovered, where, and how. To achieve a sustainable balance between water for businesses, communities and the environment, the Basin Plan sets limits on the average amount of water that can be taken from northern Basin rivers. This
Northern-basin-review-report-FINAL.docx