Murray Darling Basin Plan - Community Consultation

Publish Date: 22/02/2012

Pictured right:
Murray Darling Basin Authority Chair Craig Knowles and Moira Shire Mayor Cr Alex Monk.

Moira Shire Council hosted a Community Consultation Drop-in Session and Stakeholder Roundtable on the Draft Murray Darling Basin Plan at the Cobram Civic Centre on Tuesday 21 February 2012.

Moira Shire Council Mayor Alex Monk said community representation at the Drop-in Session was pleasing.

"The Drop-in Session formed part of the community consultation process and was an important opportunity for the community to have a voice, ask questions and raise any concerns," Cr Monk said.

About 25 members of the public took the opportunity to meet with Murray Darling Basin Authority officers and discuss the Draft Murray Darling Basin Plan as part of the Community Drop-in Session.

A Stakeholder Roundtable was held simultaneously to the Drop-in Session and was attended by almost 30 invited stakeholders.

Murray Darling Basin Authority Chair Craig Knowles and Murray Darling Basin Authority Chief Executive Officer Rhonda Dickson formed part of the Stakeholder Roundtable discussion.

"We were fortunate to be able to meet with Craig Knowles and Rhonda Dickson and sit down and have a face-to-face dialogue on key elements of the Draft Plan and potential impacts for communities throughout the region," Cr Monk said.

Councillor Monk urged community members to make an individual submission to the Murray Darling Basin Authority before the 16 April 2012 deadline.

Moira Shire Council is uniting with regional municipalities as part of a wider initiative to respond to the Draft Murray Darling Basin Plan. Moira Shire will join with seven other Councils, made up by the Murray River Group of Councils, City of Greater Shepparton and Shire of Strathbogie to create a collective submission.

"We are calling on the community to assist us in the preparation of this regional submission by sharing their collective knowledge to ensure a well informed and balanced response," Cr Monk said.

Members of the public are asked to complete a community feedback form by Friday 2 March 2012 to assist with the compilation of this submission.

The community feedback form is available here or can be picked up from any one of Council’s customer service points.

Further information can be obtained by contacting Moira Shire Manager Environment Sustainability Sally Rice on (03) 58719 222.