Protests have erupted over water buybacks in the Murray-Darling basin. 

Irrigation communities are divided over the federal government's plan to continue water buybacks, with protests erupting in Griffith, Leeton, and Deniliquin in southern New South Wales in recent days. 

While some argue that buybacks are the most cost-effective method to recover water for the environment, others, including irrigators, councils, and business groups, vehemently oppose the strategy.

Professor Sarah Wheeler, an expert in water economics at the University of Adelaide, defended water buybacks in a recent submission to a Senate inquiry. 

She highlighted the cost-effectiveness of the approach, saying; “The average price we pay per megalitre through buybacks is just over $2,000 whereas the money we've spent on irrigation infrastructure, both on-farm programs and off-farm programs, is over $6,500 per megalitre”.

Amid the controversy, two off-farm water efficiency projects have been proposed in the western Riverina in NSW. 

These projects, predicted to save over 750ML of water for the environment, face a cost of more than $25,000 per ML. 

The proposed legislation to extend the Basin Plan deadline must pass the Senate for these projects to be considered.

Despite protests from key irrigation groups, some farmers support the Commonwealth's water buybacks.