Murray–Darling Basin Authority, Murray Bridge Council, Joint Media Release, 26 February 2025
The Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) will hold its fifth annual water conference 29 and 30 July in the city of Murray Bridge in regional South Australia.
MDBA Chief Executive Andrew McConville said it was the first time River Reflections would be held in this part of the southern Basin where community interests and water management challenges differed to those further upstream.
“The Basin spans over one million square kilometres from the Great Dividing Range in Queensland, through New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT, to the Murray Mouth in South Australia,” said Mr McConville.
“You can appreciate how diverse the landscape is from one end to the other, and how varied the needs and interests of people living in the Basin can be.
“The Basin Plan provides the foundation to collaborate across borders, governments and cultures, using science and lived experience, to manage water for the environment and secure water for towns, industry, agriculture and recreation.
“More than a decade on, we’ve learnt a lot from implementing the Basin Plan and from listening to communities.
“In early July we will release the Basin Plan Evaluation which will tell us what’s working, what’s not and where improvement is needed.
“It is another vital input to inform the Basin Plan Review, and one of the topics we’ll take time to explore during the conference.”
The Rural City Murray Bridge Mayor, Wayne Thorley, said he welcomed people from all over to come for the conference and to stay and experience the region.
“The Murray River is the lifeblood of our region and we are proud to host this important conference in Murray Bridge,” Mayor Thorley said.
“Sustainability is at the heart of our community’s future—we rely on a healthy river to support our environment, agriculture, tourism and way of life. This conference is a valuable opportunity to share knowledge, strengthen partnerships and explore innovative approaches to water management that will protect our waterways for future generations.
“I encourage visitors to take the time to experience the natural beauty of the Lower Murray and see firsthand how our community is working towards a sustainable future,” said Mayor Thorley.
River Reflections has been held in different parts of the Basin annually since 2021 as a way of bringing together diverse perspectives and experiences to find common ground for the future of our rivers.
Participants are invited to contribute to the MDBA’s collective purpose of Rivers for generations through interactive workshops, speakers and a conference dinner.
Visit our website to keep up to date with program information and ticket sales www.mdba.gov.au.
