The NSW Farmers Association has welcomed further delays to the Basin Plan’s release and has called for an independent inquiry into South Australia’s Lower Lakes.

The association’s water spokesman John Ward said the inquiry was only fair given the reductions to water entitlements last year’s Basin Plan guide asked of upstream farmers.

“In the Guide there was a considerable requirement to maintain the Lakes in their present forms,” Mr Ward said.

“One of the costs of that to us would have been up to a 40 per cent reduction to our entitlements and when you look at those sorts of figures you start to think we have not asked enough questions about the Lower Lakes.”

Mr Ward, a farmer from NSW’s Riverina region, said the association supported a Windsor Inquiry-style investigation into management options for the lakes, which could include millions of dollars worth of compensation for Lake Albert and Alexandrina farmers and communities if changes were to be made.

He said using the lakes as a barometer for Basin health was not realistic in years of extreme drought, such as those recently experienced.

“The idea that the Lower Lakes can guarantee flows is pie in the sky stuff,” Mr Ward said.

“If there’s a drought then everyone dries up.”

Mr Ward said even if it took another 10 years to formulate the Basin Plan it would be worthwhile if it resulted in effective water reform.

Lower Murray Irrigation Association chairman Richard Reedy said the renewed focus on the Lower Lakes was disappointing.

“It’s just an exercise in nit-picking,” Mr Reedy said.

“It’s obvious that New South Wales and Victoria just want to be as difficult as possible.

“I certainly hope whatever is put forward (by the MDBA) is based on good science and not science that is being manipulated for political reasons.”