Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board seeking community feedback

Posted 30 September 2020.

The draft plan proposes changes to the way Environmental Land Management Allocations (EMLA) are distributed in the Lower Murray Reclaimed Irrigation Area (LMRIA). These new changes will assist to better manage environmental outcomes in the LMRIA.

The landscape board has completed its review that included a review of the science underpinning the ELMA application rates. The review confirmed ELMA are needed to manage salts, acid sulfate soils, and soil movement and cracking in the LMRIA.

The review also found the environmental objectives for ELMA cannot be met across the LMRIA under the current application rates and recommended the new optimised rates which give all licensees equal ability to manage their land.

The policies in the draft plan assist the transition to the optimised rates.

Other minor changes proposed in the draft plan include:

• updating references to the Landscapes South Australia Act 2019 which has replaced the Natural Resources Management Act 2004
• ensuring consistency with the recently revised River Murray Long Term Environmental Watering Plan
• provisions for water affecting activities related to drilling wells along the length of the River Murray to minimise impacts associated with connected water resources.

The proposed changes to the plan will only affect ELMA water licence holders.

Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board Chair Dianne Davidson is urging the community to provide feedback on the draft plan.

“The landscape board is keen to hear from the community about the proposed changes. It’s important that we consider our communities views about the changes before a revised policy is finalised” Ms Davidson said.

“There are many ways the community can provide feedback, including making a written submission via post or email, or complete the survey form on the landscape board’s website.

Consultation on the draft plan opens on 28 September 2020.

Two community meetings for ELMA licensees will be held on;

• 10 am Tuesday 13 October, Murray Bridge Club, 1 Murray Cods Drive, Murray Bridge or
• 1 pm Tuesday 13 October, Murray Bridge Club, 1 Murray Cods Drive, Murray Bridge

Registration to the community meetings are essential to maintain social distancing in line with COVID-19 guidelines. Telephone consults are also available. To register please contact Rebecca Freshwater, Senior Project Officer, River Murray, on 0439 824 477 or email.

If you are not an EMLA Licensee and would like to find out more, landscape board staff are happy to meet with your stakeholder group or arrange a phone consult. To make arrangements, please contact Rebecca Freshwater.

The Board are inviting submissions. Written submissions can be emailed.

Or posted to: Rebecca Freshwater Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board Upper level, Cnr Mann and Walker Street Mount Barker 5251

Or lodged via an electronic survey form found here.

Submissions close at 5.00 pm on 2 December 2020.

More details on the proposed changes and a copy of the draft plan can be viewed on the landscape board website, along with details of how to make a written submission.