Murray plan disappointing: NSW farmers

28 May 2012, 2:37 pm   -   Source: AAP

Farmers in NSW say they are bitterly disappointed by the lack of changes and help for them in the revised draft Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

Farmers in NSW say they are bitterly disappointed by the lack of changes and help for them in the revised draft Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority on Monday released more than 300 proposed changes to its draft plan.

But it doesn't propose any change to a planned water recovery target of 2750 gigalitres per year.

NSW Farmers' Association president Fiona Simson said it was "farcical" to describe the plan as revised.

"Some 12,000 submissions highlighted the need for changes to it and yet here we are, discussing what is essentially a mirror copy of the last version," she said in a statement.

"Every state government has rejected it, including the NSW government."

Ms Simson said farmers had urged federal Environment Minister Tony Burke to recognise the needs of communities and add investment in infrastructure, research and development to the plan.

"If rural communities are not protected, the impacts will be felt by everyone and will include job losses, the closure of family farms and upward pressure on food prices," she said.

The basin plan will remain with the states for six weeks for comment before it goes back to the Commonwealth for consideration.

Murray Darling Basin

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