Murray-Darling basin: scientists warn end to water buybacks will be a disaster for the river

Water minister Keith Pitt says decision to rule out farm buybacks is not in contradiction of the basin plan and will not be legislated

Environmental groups and scientists have warned that ending buybacks of water in the Murray-Darling basin will be a disaster for the river and will deprive the government of its most effective way of retrieving water.

The federal water minister, Keith Pitt, said the government planned to formally end buybacks and would instead rely on water efficiency projects as the way to retrieve the last 700 gigalitres of water needed to meet the plan's targets for reclaiming water for the environment.