Published on 24 March 2026
It has hard to believe that we are almost through March and that Easter is not far away.
There has been quite a bit going on this month.
The Murray Darling Basin Plan Review is well underway and I have attended numerous meetings on the topic. As part of the Review, the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) is required to consult on the Plan. I attended a consultation session in Jerilderie earlier this month with a number of other councils across the area. At that meeting the MDBA claimed that it is ‘trying’ to accommodate
tourism in its water management strategy and that they are getting better at it. I strongly contested that position and note that the water levels over the Victorian Labor Day weekend have borne this out. I had a range of other concerns regarding the manner in which that session was conducted and query whether the MDBA are, indeed genuine. I have since articulated those concerns directly to government. I am informed that the Review is genuine and strongly encourage those interested in water management to make written submissions to the Review.
On International Women’s Day I was pleased to attend our annual Berrigan Shire event at the newly renovated Club Tocumwal. While there are still works to be done, the works that are complete at Club Tocumwal are fantastic. The event was a great success and I would like to congratulate Merran Socha and the library team on again hosting such a wonderful event. I was pleased to be sitting with Merran and the library team at lunch. In particular, we were discussing how the need to purchase tickets for the event had an additional benefit in that it brought new people into our libraries. Wilma, Phoebe and Britney told me about the important role the libraries play in connecting our community. It was great to hear not only about their regulars but also the people who drop by to pick up bin liners, for example, coming in and learning about what is on offer at our libraries.
Finally, you will have no doubt seen on our socials and in other places that I spoke at a public hearing about the potential split of the Murrumbidgee Local Health District in Griffith on 12 March. My testimony has received extensive media coverage on both side of the borders. The committee were genuinely concerned with what I had to say. I am hoping that we will see resulting action. In the meantime, you can do your part by participating in the survey being conducted by Murrumbidgee Local Health District now to develop a Clinical Services Plan (also known as a Health Services Plan) for Tocumwal. Copies of the survey are online and can also be picked up around Tocumwal, including at the library.
Mayor Julia Cornwell McKean