Water Buybacks For Murray-Darling Basin Will Cost Government $3 Billion - SMH

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IN AN attempt to restore the health of Australia's major river system, the Rudd Government will set aside more than $3 billion to buy back water from irrigators in the Murray-Darling basin and use it for the environment.

The money represents almost a quarter of the government investment in water over the next decade. Today, the Climate Change Minister, Penny Wong, will announce the final breakdown of $12.9 billion - including about $1.5 billion in new funding - to be spent on the Water for the Future plan.

Senator Wong will tell the Australian Water Summit in Sydney: "For too long we have treated our rivers and groundwater systems as 'magic puddings', as limitless supplies of water."

Apart from buying back water, other spending will include upgrading irrigation works, $1 billion for urban water and desalination plants, $250 million for a national water security plan and $250 million for rainwater and greywater recycling.

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http://www.smh.com.au/news/water-issues/3-billion-to-make-rivers-run-again/2008/04/28/1209234761895.html