Progress on Menindee Lakes
Julia Gillard,Penny Wong
posted Tuesday, 10 August 2010
One of the most significant challenges in the Murray Darling Basin is one step closer to being resolved, with the Gillard Labor Government signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the New South Wales Government on the future of Menindee Lakes.
The MOU follows detailed, expert studies on the best way to guarantee Broken Hill’s water supply and save water at Menindee Lakes.
It gives the green light to a final feasibility assessment that will be completed in October that is expected to confirm the capacity to:
• Drought proof Broken Hill through the use of newly mapped, high quality groundwater supplies.
• Undertake works at Menindee Lakes to improve their storage efficiency.
• Significantly change operating arrangements at the Lakes.
Subject to this final assessment, the NSW Government would transfer water entitlements to the Australian Government.
This paves the way for up to 200 billion litres to be returned from Menindee Lakes to the Murray each year – benefiting sites like the Lower Lakes without impacting on irrigators.
In return, Federal Labor would provide up to $300 million to help secure urban water supplies across regional NSW.
In nearly 12 years in government, the Coalition failed to take any steps to save water at Menindee Lakes.
Funding for works at Menindee Lakes have already been included in the Budget.
Tags: Gillard, Labor, Murray Darling, Water, Wong