But Ms Neville is becoming increasingly vocal with concerns that a 2024 timeline for implementation is too rushed,and will create resistance in communities.
Ms Neville will demand more modelling to more-accurately predict how elements of the plan will affect different Victorian communities,with some likely to experience intentional flooding to force more water downstream.
‘‘What we’re talking about here is creating a man-made flood to achieve environmental benefits – yet what we’ve found is that under the current modelling,neither the community nor the environment will get a good outcome,’’ Ms Neville said.
‘‘We need to go back and make sure the modelling is real-life and can accurately explain to landholders,infrastructure managers and local government what water will go where and the impact this will have on properties and homes – and also demonstrate what environmental outcomes will actually be achieved by doing all this.’’
She will urge for a new timeline for implementation,as well as a new approach to the community engagement program,to make sure that communities are willing to participate in the plan.
She reiterated that Victoria will not compulsorily buy or flood private land without consent.
‘‘As the Productivity Commission has already flagged,there is little prospect of securing agreements with landholders to flood their land and complete the constraints projects by 2024 as currently required by the basin plan,’’ Ms Neville said.
‘‘These things take time to get right and it’s simply not possible to get community-agreed outcomes by sticking to the 2024 timeline.’’
The review investigated whether the Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s modelling would allow higher environmental flows to be delivered.