Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner foreshadowed legal action to snatch power over water back from the Federal government as one option if the plan, to be finally released on Monday, is not up to scratch.

“Unless the draft plan gives equal weight to economic and social factors, as well as environmental factors, we will not play ball with the Feds,” Mr Stoner told The Land.

The NSW government wants to see a triple bottom line outcome, reductions allocated equitably across the State, and, most importantly a rollout of promised infrastructure funding for technology efficiencies, before water cuts take effect.

“If these concerns are addressed, I guess we may be in a position to co-operate. But if the draft doesn’t tick any of those boxes, we won’t sit idly by and see the regional NSW irrigation community get trashed,” Mr Stoner (pictured) said.

“There are a number of things we could do if the outcome is not satisfactory; we could withdraw our contribution to the authority, we could challenge aspects of the plan or seek legal advice to change legislation that gave the feds a lot of say into water.”

Mr Stoner said there had been “tacit acceptance” by the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) and Federal government to put water efficiency infrastructure projects – and Federal funding for these – first, but recent events meant the NSW government was less than confident this would occur.

“Everybody is a little tense – this process has been unfolding for some time now and after good initial efforts, recent events have put a dampener on and we have no cause to be optimistic. We thought it got back on the rails initially but now it is all getting a bit wobbly.”

Mr Stoner said while MDBA chairman Craig Knowles had done a good job of rebuilding trust in the plan after the release of the guide, confidence in the MDBA process was now crumbling.

Mr Stoner foreshadowed the Victorian government would likely fall in with the NSW government and unite in opposition to the draft if it was not considered up to scratch.

NSW Farmers has also expressed concern with the draft plan which it says it cannot accept based on what it has seen so far.

MDBA boss Craig Knowles this week acknowledged the draft plan would generate obvious disagreement from State governments, irrigators and environmental groups.