Basin Community Committee Meeting Summary
1 December 2011
The Basin Community Committee (BCC) held its 23rd meeting in Canberra, ACT on 1 December 2011.
Meeting 23 of the BCC provided members with an opportunity to hear presentations and discuss with MDBA staff modelling scenarios, and the current thinking on Baseline Diversion Limits. They were briefed on the results of the CSIRO Science Review, and an example of local involvement in managing water for the environment. BCC members were also provided with an update from MDBA staff on engagement activities during 20‐week consultation period.
MDBA staff thanked BCC members for their contribution to the preparation of the draft Basin Plan, in particular their involvement in discussions that lead to improvements being made to the draft Plan, and for facilitating meetings with a range of community groups in the lead up to the release.
Modelling Case Studies and Baseline Diversion Limits
MDBA staff presented modelling scenarios for various regions. This included using an example of 30‐year flow sequences correlated with bird breeding to determine what flow conditions support bird nesting. There was discussion about the different inundation patterns, the frequency of events, the duration of events and the volume of water involved.
MDBA staff outlined the methods used for calculating Baseline Diversion Limits (BDLs). BDLs define a baseline from which to measure reductions in diversions. It was pointed out that BDLs are not a number but rather the description of circumstances that result in an estimated volume. It was noted that BDLs are significant because in addition to describing the amount of water diverted from a catchment over the long term under 2009 arrangements, they also include the history of effort made in each catchment made to recover water for the environment.
CSIRO Science Review
Bill Young from the CSIRO gave BCC members an overview of the Science Review of the Hydrologic and Environmental methods informing the estimation of an Environmentally Sustainable Level of Take (ESLT).
The review focused on examining the robustness of the scientific methodology used, in
particular whether there was sufficient information to begin the process of adaptive management advocated in the draft Basin Plan. The report outlined recommendations for future work.
Presentation on local involvement in managing water for the environment
A group of landholders presented to the BCC an example of how local farmers can be involved in managing water for the environment. The landholders have been working in collaboration with national parks in their region to facilitate environmental watering. In late 2010 they allowed the delivery infrastructure on their properties to flood redgum forests in the sections of the park where the physical constraints of the river channel would otherwise prevent flood waters reaching the forest.
The landholders have also been involved in the monitoring of water birds and have assisted in creating the appropriate conditions for the nesting of colonial water birds on their farms by actively managing the water levels during the inundation using their irrigation infrastructure to ensure that they did not drop and cause birds to prematurely abandon their nests.
Engagement Activities
MDBA staff from the engagement team updated the BCC members on activities being planned to consult with communities during the 20‐week public consultation period on the draft Basin Plan. In particular, MDBA staff sought the involvement of BCC member in planned community meetings and invited BCC members to participate in meetings across the Basin, and especially in their local areas.
A Basin Plan Info Line has been set up to answer enquiries from the public. This info line will operate from 8am–6pm Monday–Friday.
Basin Plan Info Line number: 1800 230 067
The public can also email questions to .
Members of the community are encouraged to give their views on the draft Basin Plan by making a submission. Public submissions can be made via the following methods:
• Through the MDBA website www.mdba.gov.au
• Email:
• Fax: 02 6279 0558
• Post: Proposed Basin Plan Submission The Murray–Darling Basin Authority GPO Box 3001
Canberra City ACT 2601
All submission will be published unless confidentiality is requested. The next BCC meeting is scheduled for 28 29 February 2012.
BCC contact details:
Telephone (02) 6279 0100 Email
Website
http://www.mdba.gov.au/about-mdba/governance/committees/bcc
http://twitter.com/MD_Basin_Auth
For a copy of the Water Act, please visit the Commonwealth of Australia Law website:
http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Series/C2007A00137