AN inquiry into the impacts of the Water Amendment (Restoring Our Rivers) Act 2023 on communities throughout regional New South Wales is being conducted by the Committee on Investment, Industry and Regional Development.
The reintroduction of water buybacks, risk to achieving legislative outcomes, impact of environmental water rules and options to improve programs aimed at offsetting the impact of buybacks are being considered as part of the inquiry.
The committee is calling for submissions from regional communities in how they will be affected by buybacks, floodplain harvesting, and are being asked to submit their thoughts on how the government can better provide funding to communities who rely on the Murray-Darling basin.
Committee Chair Roy Butler said they are inviting submissions from industry, business, academics, community organisation, government agencies and the public to assist them in better understanding how new federal water legislation affects local community.
“Changes to water use, such as buybacks and rules-based changes affect regional communities that rely on water allocation for business, tourism, town water supplies and the environment,” Mr Butler said.
“It’s important to understand how changes will impact regional communities and identify any risks posed by the legislation.
“The sustainability of communities who rely on the Murray-Darling Basin is vital to NSW. That’s why we are asking local communities to tell us what worked and what didn’t in the past.
“Community feedback will help us design better policies such as next rounds of the Sustainable Communities Program while considering water policy.”
Submissions close on 14 April, 2025.
Information on how to submit to the inquiry can be found here: https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/committees/inquiries/Pages/inquiry-details.aspx?pk=3089
