Achievements of the past year and plans for the future will be discussed when the Speak Up Campaign holds its annual general meeting this month.
The AGM will be at the Deniliquin Golf Club at 2pm on Friday November 13.
“We’ve heard numerous times from many organisations that it has been a challenging year, and of course that has also been the case for Speak Up,” chair Shelley Scoullar said.
“In some areas we have made progress and appear to be seeing improvements in water management and policy, then we seem to take a step or two backwards. But one thing which has not waned over the past 12 months has been our determination to continue fighting until our communities get a fair go.
“The Basin Plan has not delivered the ‘triple bottom line’ outcomes that we were promised. It has caused economic damage far beyond any predictions and has had a greater impact on farming in southern New South Wales and northern Victoria than anyone anticipated.
“The greatest challenge is getting politicians and their highly-paid bureaucrats to admit we’ve got parts of the Basin Plan wrong, and take active steps to fix it. I hope our resolve to ensure this happens can continue.”
Mrs Scoullar said members and anyone else interested in the activities of Speak Up is welcome to attend the AGM.
To make it easier for people to get there, transport can be arranged by contacting Speak Up.
“The service will be available for $5 (return trip) in the Deniliquin town boundary and $10 for those up to 30 kilometres away. Anyone outside the 30 kilometre zone can request transport and we will see if arrangements can be made,” Mrs Scoullar said.
She said Speak Up appreciates the widespread community support which it continues to receive.
“People know our farmers and communities are getting a rough deal with the Basin Plan and water policy in general, and they want to help. This was especially evident with our recent lifeline appeal, when Speak Up desperately needed funds to help us continue our advocacy work. We were delighted with the response,” Mrs Scoullar said.
“I encourage anyone interested in Speak Up and the future of our region to attend the meeting.”
To RSVP or organise transport please email speakup4water@gmail.com or phone Sue on 0409 314 174.
