Watershed moment for our mighty River Murray as Murray Darling Basin plan becomes fixed Close to 100 children from the Milang and Goolwa primary schools form a love heart in the sand at the Murray Mouth, mimicking The Advertiser's I Love Murray campaign. THE final hurdle in the 100-year fight for a national plan to save the River Murray will be overcome today when the disallowance period for the plan expires. Federal Water Minister Tony Burke will tell his colleagues that, when Parliament rises today, the implementation of the plan will be irreversible, meaning the Basin will benefit from an extra 3200 billion litres of water a year. "After a century of degradation, what the rivers needed was a moment in time when politicians from around the country decided that the negotiation could only be won by the rivers themselves," Mr Burke will tell Parliament. That moment in time began when the Parliament voted in massive numbers to keep the plan in place. And it concludes today when the disallowance period expires. The Advertiser has fought doggedly for a better plan through its I Love Murray campaign, something Prime Minister Julia Gillard acknowledged when announcing $1.7 billion to deliver a further 450 billion litres for the environment on top of the 2750 billion litres already promised. The Murray Mouth, as seen from the air. Picture: Matt Turner Australian Conservation Foundation chief executive Don Henry said today was "a day to raise a glass to all the people up and down the River Murray who worked so hard to make sure enough water was returned to the river." But while Basin communities can finally celebrate a guaranteed plan, the head of the body charged with delivering it has taken a swipe at the South Australian Government for slashing its funding. Murray Darling Basin Authority chairman Craig Knowles, in an exclusive column for The Advertiser, said the State Government was guilty of "unravelling a historical arrangement it fought so strongly to secure." From 2014, the State Government will slash its funding to the MDBA from $26.4 million to $12.1m a year. NSW has also slashed its contribution. "The South Australian Government's decision to cut 50 per cent of its contribution is certainly a strange signal to send," Mr Knowles writes. Sean Parr's image of Murray River at Loveday. Already, the funding cuts have led to key programs being axed. Premier Jay Weatherill said the state was more than paying its share of the costs of the MDBA. "In 2013-14, we will be contributing 29.3 per cent of the total costs while NSW contributes just 13.8 per cent," he said. Even after our Budget savings take effect, in 2014-15 South Australia will be contributing 18.2 per cent of the costs and NSW only 11.3 per cent. Mr Knowles can't criticise South Australia's commitment to the River Murray. A new plan for the Murray-Darling Basin is now law after being signed off by Environment Minister Tony Burke The Murray River plan will restore more water for irrigators. Picture: Nadine Williams The sun sets over the Murray River at Mildura on the weekend. A houseboat takes a leisurely cruise down the River Murray. Picture: Ian Greenwood