MDA Annual General Meeting and National Conference, 2019 Andrew - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

MDA Annual General Meeting and National Conference, 2019

Andrew Kassebaum

Contents

• Project overview and Terms of Reference
• Statement from the Chair
• Pathway to impact and timeline
• Update on consultation

Project overview

Panel established to review social and economic conditions in the Murray- Darling Basin, the relationship with water and water reform, and potential

• pportunities and solutions to improve social and economic conditions

Panel:

• Robbie Sefton (chair)
• Andrew Kassebaum
• David McKenzie
• Deborah Peterson
• Michelle Ramsay
• Bruce Simpson
• Rene Woods

Terms of reference

A. The review will provide an independent assessment of social and economic conditions in rural and regional communities across the Murray-Darling Basin. B. The review will assess impacts (positive and negative) of water reforms including the Basin Plan on the vulnerability, resilience and adaptive capacity of Murray-Darling Basin communities and their development potential. This will include consideration of social and economic impacts of the environmental effects of water reforms. C. The review will consider ongoing structural changes influencing different communities in the Murray-Darling Basin, and seek to separate the effects of these trends, and events such as drought, from the effects of water reform, including the Basin Plan. D. The review will support longer-term efforts to monitor and understand social and economic conditions in the Basin, and the impact (positive and negative) of water reform on different communities in the Murray-Darling Basin. This will be used by governments and leaders to help understand the outcomes of water reform, including the Basin Plan. However, this is not a review of the Basin Plan. E. The work of the Panel will explore a range of options that stimulate, support and promote healthy and sustainable rural and regional communities in the Basin.

Statement from Chair

• Our aims and objectives
• Our values
• Our principles

Pathway to impact

Impact to drive outcomes:

• improved understanding of conditions,

drivers, trends and objectives

• better monitoring and review of these

conditions over time

• influencing improved decision-making in

response Synthesis of technical work, and input from Basin communities informs:

• Interim and Final Reports
• Recommendations and findings

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Ter erms of

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Terms of reference provided for public comment and refined based on submissions and input from stakeholders. Agreed by the Panel and endorsed by the Minister in September 2019. Revie iew of

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the Basi Basin Ter erms of

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Timeline and process

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eng engagement Ter erms of

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Revie iew of

• f existin

ing literature pl plus us ne new rese search and nd analy lysi sis s Interim im Rep epor

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(D (December 2019) Foll

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eng engagement Furt Further rese esearch and and ana analy lysis Fi Fina nal Repo eport (Apr (April il 2020) 2020)

August September - October

• Nov. – Dec.

Jan - March April Now

Stakeholder engagement

The Panel has recently completed consultation across the following locations:

Northern region Western region Southern region Goondiwindi Mildura Griffith Dirranbandi Menindee Coleambally Mungindi Wentworth Deniliquin Moree Barmera Hay Wee Waa Loxton Balranald Walgett Murray Bridge Swan Hill Bourke Strathalbyn Wakool Warren Finley Quambone Shepparton Cobram Cohuna

What we are asking stakeholders

1 How would you describe the current health and prosperity of your community? 2 What are the major strengths and opportunities, or challenges in your community or region? 3 Looking back, what have been the major trends and drivers impacting your community, and how do you view these looking forward? 4 Do you believe water management and reform has changed your community? If so, can you describe how? 5 What do you see as the main inhibitors or facilitators of positive change and why? 6 What does a sustainable and prosperous community look like to you? 7 What roles can governments, industry, non-profit groups, First Nations, communities and individuals play in supporting prosperous and sustainable Basin communities?

What we are hearing so far

• Many communities are doing it tough, while others are thriving – there are very different

stories depending on where you are in the Basin.

• Some communities are really struggling and consider themselves ‘in crisis’. In these

communities there is a lack of hope and vision that is concerning

• Water reform, particularly the Basin Plan, is often viewed as the main driver of change –

and many believe current water shortages are man-made rather than drought.

• There is a common theme of misunderstanding and misinformation across water

availability and allocation, water reform and water management

• Many communities have noted they would like to see more vision and leadership from

government for regional Australia, and irrigated agriculture.

Next steps

The Panel will be concluding stakeholder engagement and our

• nline survey at the end of this week

We will then be focused on delivering an interim report by December Online survey can be found on our website: https://www.basin- socio-economic.com.au/