The plan will outline the water resources for the future after the basin came under stress from past water-allocation decisions, drought and climate change.

The decision to delay the plan was announced on Tuesday.

However, grave fears are held that the plan will favour the environment, leaving food production by the wayside.

Shadow minister for natural resource management Katrina Hodgkinson has slammed the state and federal government, asking for the plan to be released before August 21 to allow the public to know what they are voting for.

The NSW Farmers’ Association has also called for the release of the document, claiming it should have been released as planned.

“The Basin Plan is the most significant federal policy issue affecting rural and regional communities within the Murray Darling Basin,” association president Charles Armstrong said.

“It is unconscionable that an election could extend the doubt and uncertainty of irrigators and farmers within the Murray Darling Basin.

“The present threats we are hearing regarding major cuts to irrigation water have placed a black cloud over our community’s future.”

Goldenfields Water County Council has expressed its concerns over the plan, believing it may significantly alter the way water is managed and is concerned about the possible impacts on local water utilities.

Goldenfields has indicated it will write a submission once the plan is released.

The Murray-Darling Basin produces one third of Australia’s food and 39 per cent of the agricultural income.