Riverina councils fear the prospect of water buybacks, following NSW water minister Melinda Pavey's decision to boycott discussions with the other states.
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Ms Pavey labelled the Murray Darling Basin Ministerial Council meetings as a "talk fest", declaring she would not attending any future meetings for the foreseeable future.
Her declaration has raised fresh fears of water buybacks within the Murray Darling Association, which represents councils across the basin.
On Monday Wagga City Council will elect a new delegate to rejoin the association, however there are concerns that council's lobbying power will be significantly reduced with Ms Pavey out of the picture.
The region's chairman and Leeton Mayor Paul Maytom said he could sympathise with Ms Pavey's frustration, but warned that NSW's absence from the bargaining table would hurt the Riverina.
Councillor Maytom said if these infrastructure projects do end up being scrapped it would mean water buybacks would most likely follow to make up for the losses.
"We have to have round table discussions, we have to be able to get together to determine the way forward, because all this is going to do is become a stalemate and place a threat over our region of buybacks."
"It's absolutely important we find a way forward, otherwise it becomes a squabble and we'll go nowhere."
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The "squabble" arose when Ms Pavey demanded an extension for the Basin Plan's 2024 deadline, which would render several NSW projects unfeasible according to the 2018 Productivity Commission.
South Australia, Queensland and the ACT opposed the motion, which prompted Ms Pavey to quit future MinCo meetings until they are willing to have "an honest conversation".
"There is $2.8 billion set aside for projects in the Plan. Even before COVID-19 it was clear that the 2024 timeframe was not achievable," Mrs Pavey said.
"We are sick of the talk fest; we cannot deliver the 450GL to South Australia without major social and economic impacts. This meeting was designed to ensure our states are working together for all basin communities - it is clear it is failing."
Despite the revelations, Wagga mayor Greg Conkey said they were still keen to have a delegate to represent the Wagga region, saying it was important to have a voice at the table.
Councillor Paul Funnell had been the previous representative, but he attended almost no meetings over three years on the grounds it was full of "lefties" who put environmentalism above farmers.
"It is important we have representation," Cr Conkey said.
Cr Conkey will be temporarily stepping in as a Wagga delegate on Friday, when the Murray Darling Association holds its annual general meeting.
Wagga council will then decide on a replacement for Cr Funnell on Monday, when a vote will be held by the councillors.