The murray darling basinPlan

The plan

• The basin plan is a coordinated plan across the four states this basin crosses– Queensland– New South Wales– Victoria– South Australia

• This plan has been implemented, in the hope that this would improve the environment.

• However this plan has become highly controversial due to irrigators losing large amounts of water that they “own” effecting the economy and their livelihood.

The plan details

• Designed to set environmentally sustainable limits on the amount of water that can be taken from the basin.

• It sets limits on the amount of surface water and ground water that can be taken

• The Authority has determined 10,873 gigalitres per year (GL/y) to be the volume of surface water that reflects an environmentally sustainable level

• For groundwater, this volume is 3324 GL/yr.• The plan is to be rolled out over a number of years

Controversy?

• The plan has become highly controversial.• This is because this plan has taken back water that has been

bought by private irrigators.• They will be payed for their losses however they do not believe

this is the right solution.• These private stakeholders believe the economy and industry is

far more important that ensuring a environmentally healthy river.

• Many rural families believe that this plan will ruin their community.

• Leading to migration to the major cities, therefor increasing the stress upon infrastructure.

Todays activity

• Today you are to log onto the learning portal, this site will be available 24/7 and you can find the PowerPoint's and any other material used in class on this page.

• john-therry-hsie.wikispaces.com• There are three newspaper articles here for you to

read and then answer the corresponding questions.• The last question is a reflective question.• We will discuss the answers at the end of the lesson.