Basin submissions flow in

The Murray Darling Basin Authority believes it has received more than 12,000 submissions to its controversial draft plan. The plan which includes diverting 2750 billion litres of irrigation water to the environment has been rejected by three out of four states within the basin, reports Weekly Times Now. Victoria’s Agriculture Minister Peter Walsh yesterday said taking more water from Victoria would hurt communities and industries. “Our modelling shows northern Victoria’s dairy industry would decline by 12 per cent or $54 million. Grape production would fall by 11 per cent or 38 million and mixed grazing would take a hit of 31 per cent or $38 million,” Mr Walsh said.