Irrigators, graziers, Aboriginal groups, conservation groups and concerned community members spoke about water allocations and the Basin Plan, and how it will affect different groups.

Chief executive of the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA), Phillip Glyde, said the meeting was a chance to talk about the amendments. 

“We have a two month consultation period. This amendment is your opportunity to make a change. If a change is not made the 390GL (to the environment) stays,” he said. 

In the amendments, the MDBA, has suggested reallocating 20GL of water to agriculture, giving more water to farmers and saving jobs along the valley. 

“Seventy gigalitres less saves 200 jobs with more or less the same environmental outcomes,” Mr Glyde said. “Increased quantity from the Barwon-Darling, decreased other rivers, 320GL plus the tool kit (for towns), we think it’s a better triple line plan.”

Not everyone in the room agreed with Mr Glyde however. 

Trangie’s Tony Quigley expressed concern about the Macquarie River wasting water. 

“Seems like Macquarie will do the heavy lifting, despite the poor connectivity to the Barwon Darling,” he pointed out.

Another Macquarie Valley resident, Jack Ryan from Warren suggested better infrastructure. 

“Why can’t we build a weir and have an artificial flow?

“Make it beneficial to the environment, make it beneficial to the Marshes, beneficial to the graziers?

“Is there a smarter way to use water?” he asked.

Narromine mayor, Craig Davies sat in on the meeting.

Afterwards he commented there is a possibility water will be returned to  agriculture.