Image Credit: Doug Gimesy
Submission by the Murray-Darling Conservation Alliance: Constraints Relaxation Implemetation Roadmap
Relaxing constraints on river flow is essential. Without these projects, ‘achieving so-called enhanced environmental outcomes will either not happen, or will result in limited outcomes’. These projects are also essential to realise the greatest benefit from water that has been recovered. The failure of state governments to implement these measures has, in the broader water management context, meant that only 7% of the wetland area in targeted river valleys is receiving effective environmental flows.
The Roadmap aims to resolve shared issues by providing a common approach across river systems and jurisdictions to reporting, transparency and public accountability; program implementation and governance including regulatory approvals; supporting the acceleration of constraint measures; and managing impacts on third parties.