Floodplain Harvesting Regulation disallowed for a fourth time

In what has surely got to be some sort of parliamentary record, the National Party’s floodplain harvesting (FPH) regulation has been disallowed for the fourth time by the NSW Upper House.

Independent Member for Murray Helen Dalton wondered what it is actually going to take for the National Party to understand the impacts of this detrimental regulation on southern basin communities, first nations people, environment and river health.

 “The reason this regulation is continually disallowed is because it contravenes basin legislation and in its current form, is disastrous for the Darling-Baaka River.

 “We all want to see floodplain harvesting licensed, but we just want it to be at the same legislated legal level every other metered and licensed southern irrigator operates under,” Mrs Dalton said.

Basin law currently allows for 46GL of FPH while this regulation supports 350GL plus a 500 per cent carryover; a volume which will severely impact river connectivity which is a key principle of the basin plan.

 “Back in the day I took my children fishing in the Darling River and I hope to be able to take my grandchildren as well, but this regulation will be the death knell for the river and everything that depends on it including the fish if we don’t get some common sense here.”

 The disallowance follows on from an Upper House inquiry which had 263 submissions 78 per cent opposed the current licensing process, and of the 22 per cent in favour- 65 per cent received a direct financial benefit.

 “The communities of the southern basin continue to voice their concern and the coalition continue to ignore it,” Mrs Dalton said.

 The disallowance was supported by Independents Justin Field, Cate Faehrmann, Labor and Reverend Fred Nile and opposed by the coalition, One Nation and Shooters Fishers Farmers party.

“As Justin Field said in his summary, one side was extraordinarily well informed and engaged with stakeholders for a balanced and shared interest in water, while the government sought to mislead, misrepresent views and engage in personal attacks,” Mrs Dalton said