The MDBA Chair, Sir Angus Houston, has welcomed the announcement on 4 September by the Minister for Water Keith Pitt that the government will bring greater focus to Basin communities, as the Basin Plan moves towards its final stages of the implementation. The initiatives address some of the issues the MDBA has been hearing about from communities for some time. The government’s new investment package has three themes—to support communities, build trust and transparency, and improve the roll out of the Basin Plan.
Several measures announced directly involve the MDBA.
- A smooth transfer of the Authority’s compliance function to the Inspector General of Water Compliance.
- Additional $7.5 million for monitoring the economic, social and environmental health of the Basin – we look forward to working collaboratively to ensure it is based on the best information available.
- The proposed investment by the government to update the 20-year-old hydrology models used by the MDBA, state governments and the science community.
In response to the Sefton report, the MDBA will be improving the way it engages with the community—more on that in upcoming Member Updates..