Agriculture
18 February, 2026
Basin review needs local knowledge
A REVIEW of the Murray Darling Basin Plan must have an insight into how water worked in local communities, according to a key northern Victorian local government lobby group.
Murray River Group of Councils, which includes Loddon Shire, was the plan’s next version to be practical and fair.
Chairperson Stuart King said the review marked a critical moment for the future of the Murray-Darling Basin.
He said the bason system “underpins our environment, agriculture, towns and regional economies”.
“The decisions made through this process will shape water management across the Basin for decades to come,” Cr King said.
“The Murray River Group of Council’s recognises the importance of achieving a balanced approach that protects the health of the river while also sustaining vibrant communities and productive industries that rely on it every day.
“We are strongly encouraging everyone with an interest in the Basin - from irrigators and environmental groups to tourism operators and residents - to read the review and lodge a submission.
“Local knowledge matters. The lived experience of Basin communities provides essential insight into how water policy works on the ground and helps ensure future decisions are practical, fair and sustainable.”
Cr King said the review was a vital opportunity for communities to influence the next version of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan and improve the management of rivers for the future.
“The Murray River Group of Councils will continue advocating for outcomes that support healthy rivers and strong regional communities.
Meanwhile, the Nationa; Farmers’ Federation said the review discussion paper makes it clear that a healthy Basin will not be achieved by water recovery alone, reinforcing the need for a more balanced approach to environmental management.
Water committee chair Malcolm Holm said the Discussion Paper acknowledges that environmental outcomes were influenced by a range of non-flow factors, many of which need a targeted response, not more water.
“The discussion paper reinforces what farmers have been saying for many years, that environmental outcomes are nuanced and depend on more than just the volume of water,” Mr Holm said.
“The science is telling us that where environmental problems persist, they are typically driven by invasive species such as carp, physical or rules-based constraints, and connectivity issues, not a lack of water,.”
The Review outlines four priority challenges, those being river connectivity in the Northern Basin, addressing barriers to native fish recovery, protecting end-of-system outcomes, and restoring habitats.
The basin environment now is materially different from when the Plan commenced in 2012, said the NFF.