Calls for water quality over quantity in Murray-Darling basin plan review

For the Kamilaroi people of southwest Queensland, the Balonne River is more than just a water source; it's the lifeblood of their community and has sustained their connection to the land for millennia. As Australia reviews its controversial Murray-Darling Basin plan, elders like Uncle Sam Saunders and Ron Waters are voicing a deep-seated frustration that a decade of management has yielded little tangible improvement for the health of the Condamine-Balonne catchment.

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10 years of doing nothing — we haven't achieved anything, we haven't gone anywhere, nothing's happened.

Their critique centers on the effectiveness of the water buyback scheme, a key component of the plan designed to recover water for the environment. While the federal government has achieved its target for the catchment through these buybacks, Mr. Waters, chairman of the South West Indigenous Corporation, argues that the specific types of licenses purchased have offered minimal benefit to the local Balonne region. The focus on 'overland flow' licenses, which capture floodwaters before they enter the river, is seen as problematic, potentially diverting water that could otherwise benefit the river system downstream.

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It's just ridiculous.

This perspective from the ground highlights a disconnect between national policy and local realities. The elders' call for a greater emphasis on water quality over quantity reflects a nuanced understanding of river health that goes beyond simply measuring volume. It speaks to a desire for a management plan that genuinely restores ecological balance and respects the long-standing connection Indigenous communities have with these vital waterways, a perspective often overlooked in broader national discussions.

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The buybacks are good for the government, which is no good for us in the Lower Balonne.