General News
12 May, 2026
Push to recognise Basin impacts
STRONGER socio-economic assessment to ensure community impacts are fully considered in policy decisions should come from the Murray Darling Basin review.
STRONGER socio-economic assessment to ensure community impacts are fully considered in policy decisions should come from the Murray Darling Basin review.
That’s one of seven recommendations Loddon Shire Council will make the basin plan review.
The council also wants a stop to water recovery and buybacks, until the effectiveness of existing environmental water holdings is demonstrably improved and transition to an outcomes-based framework for measuring success, supported by clear, evidence-based indicators.
The submission, approved by councillors at their monthly meeting last week, calls for infrastructure investment and constraint measures to enable more effective delivery of environmental water and a targeted and adequately funded adjustment package to support impacted communities and address irrigation network fragmentation.
The submission will mirror fellow Murray River Group of Councils members in calling for clarification and strengthened the role of First Nations participation in Murray Darling Basin decisions “ensuring practical implementation and measurable outcomes”.
Loddon Shire Council contributed $1689 towards the preparation of the group’s submission.
That submission saw input from member councils Campaspe, Gannawarra, Mildura, Moira, Loddon and Swan Hill and collaboration with Greater Shepparton Council and the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District Water Leadership Group and Committee for Greater Shepparton.
Loddon CEO Lincoln Fitzgerald said the submission was to ensure local impacts were not overlooked in Basin-wide assessments.
“Loddon Shire Council’s submission reflects its long-standing advocacy in relation to Basin Plan implementation and outlines council’s position on key issues affecting the municipality,” he said.
Read More: Loddon Shire