Communities in south west Queensland are reeling from the Senate’s disallowance of a Government move to lessen the impact on irrigators as it seeks to increase environmental river flows in the Murray Darling Basin.
Balonne Shire Council has demanded that the Federal Government find ways to ensure long term funding for the region.
The Greens and Labor combined in the Senate to block a regulation that would have seen 320 GL of water recovered from the Northern Basin, instead ensuring that 390 GL be recovered.
The action was described as a “king hit” by Balonne Shire Mayor Richard Marsh.
“We have already seen the devastating effect the water recovery in the Northern Basin has had on Dirranbandi and St George, but this move will have a greater impact on our communities and the future of our Shire.”