Gunnedah to bring three motions to the water conference

People in Gunnedah Shire are all too aware of the importance of water.

While we are lucky enough to have a good supply of quality bore water, the crippling drought of 2017-2020 highlighted just how precious every drop is, and the absolutely critical need to manage this resource.

The 80^th National Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Murray Darling Association is being held in Tamworth this week. Gunnedah Shire is one of 15 local government areas in Region 11 of the Murray Darling Association.

We are putting three motions to the conference to progress the future of water security, and to help support a healthy Murray-Darling Basin – the largest river system in the country. The basin is home to 2.4 million Australians.

The first motion calls on the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) to work with the CSIRO to deliver underground water storage strategies. The CSIRO has found the area beneath the basin has the capacity to store up to eight Sydney Harbours.

We are concerned about the impact the Murray Darling Basin Plan, that is committed to deliver full water recovery by 2024, is having on the basin, and the lack of water storage available in comparison with the volumes held in southern states.

We are also calling on the MDBA to ensure there will be no further water recovery out of the Northern Basin. Less water means people cannot farm and they leave, and population loss threatens the very sustainability of our Basin communities.

Our third motion seeks the investigation of water availability for green hydrogen, a potential industry that could have significant clean energy and employment prospects.

We have been very proud to advocate for water security through the Murray Darling Association and continue to strongly voice our concern with Restoring our Rivers Bill and its consequences.

On a brighter note, our future remains bright through the education and training of our young people. This year, Gunnedah Shire Council will again be holding the Gunnedah Community Scholarship Fund, a wonderful program that partners Council with businesses and the community to help young people pursue their education.

Over the years, we have seen many students go on to become professionals in a huge range of fields. Among them are people who have brought those valuable skills home to live and work in Gunnedah Shire.

If you would like to be part of the Gunnedah Community Scholarship Fund through a donation, please contact Council on (02) 6740 2100 or [email protected]