In its submission, the council argues future policy should prioritise economic resilience and recovery, rather than further water recovery volumes.
The shire, which has more than 2900 connected irrigation customers, generates an estimated $1.35 billion in manufacturing output and $1.086 billion in agricultural output annually.
Dairy remains a cornerstone of the local economy, underpinning farm employment, processing and regional service centres.
However, the council says the sector has undergone significant structural decline over the past decade.
The number of dairy processors has reportedly fallen from more than 400 to about 50, while locally collected milk volumes have dropped from roughly 4.4 million litres to around 900,000 litres per year.
Employment has also contracted sharply.
Jobs in dairy production fell from 731 in 2016 to 470 in 2021, while dairy manufacturing roles declined from 735 in 2016 to an estimated 330 in 2026.
The closure of Bega’s Strathmerton processing plant, announced in January 2025, was highlighted as an example of how quickly local industries could unravel once critical thresholds were reached.
Council administrator Graeme Emonson said basin‑wide indicators could mask severe local impacts, with economic and social damage often becoming apparent only after it was difficult to reverse.
The submission calls for outcome‑based measures, recognition of delayed impacts, consolidation of water recovery where targets are met, and targeted support for affected communities.
