CATEGORY
Inland waterways
NSW Nature Conservation Council v NSW Water and Environment Ministers discontinued
In relation to the discontinuation of the case brought by the Nature Conservation Council (NCC) of New South Wales (NSW) against the NSW Water Minister and NSW Environment Minister in 2021 to challenge the validity of the Border Rivers Water Sharing Plan, media releases have been issued by the Ministers and the NCC.
The power and accountability in the Murray Darling Basin: Agribusiness Australia
Restoring our Rivers Bill debated at Agribusiness Australia event. The profound implications of the Commonwealth’s Restoring Our Rivers Bill was unpacked in a wide-ranging discussion about the Murray Darling Basin Plan at an Agribusiness Australia event in Melbourne last week in front of nearly 150 guests.
Dalton fishes for river quality
Member for Murray Helen Dalton says carp are a threat to the Murray Darling Basin that has been ignored by the NSW Government ... “This week's release of the government's Alternatives to Buybacks Plan completely ignores one of the greatest environmental threats to our river systems - invasive and destructive Carp,” Mrs Dalton said.
Recent fish deaths reignite management frustration – Part 2
For six generations, the Lunghusen family have farmed on Gunbower Creek. The recent fish deaths have Jason Lunghusen questioning the current management of the creek and how much say the community actually has in these top-down government-run projects.
Recent fish deaths reignite management frustration
A recent fish kill in Gunbower Creek has reignited frustrations over managing the waterways ... “The fish kill in January two weeks ago, that was because of the record January rains, farmers had to drain water into the creek and the creek was stagnant because no irrigation took place,” said Jason Lunghusen.
Creating certainty around water usage: Worden
The Surface Water Intake – Wet Season Flows Policy ... sets clear guidance to industry about access to wet season flows, and a pathway for responsible and sustainable economic development. The policy is highly precautionary, reducing the volume of water otherwise available under existing policy from 20 per cent to less than 5 per cent of wet season flows in Top End rivers.
Murray–Darling Basin Authority communique, February 2024
The Authority met with the Hon Tanya Plibersek Minister for the Environment and Water, to discuss Basin issues. The Authority noted the Minister’s announcement of 30 January 2024 launching new programs to deliver the Basin Plan in full. Members were further briefed by representatives of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
Stop the sale, stop the spread of invasive weeds
All Victorians can help protect our food growing communities, our biodiversity, gardens, lakes and places of cultural significance by helping to stop the sale of two of the world’s most invasive aquatic weeds ... the ongoing illegal trade of water hyacinth and salvinia is putting the state at risk.
Endangered Mary River cod releases help freshwater apex predator fight back after floods: Neumann
More than 21,000 Mary River cod have been released into South East Queensland waterways to help the species recover from severe floods in 2022.
Water security high on council agenda
Last week, Toowoomba Regional Council resolved to investigate two key water security measures for the region. At Tuesday’s Ordinary Meeting, Council resolved to investigate the possibility of increasing water capacity of Cressbrook Dam as part of the critical Dam Safety Improvement Project as well as supporting a comprehensive investigation of the potential Emu Creek Dam by the Queensland State Government.
Mildura Weir named best maintained and managed asset along River Murray: MDBA
The 2023 JS Collings Trophy for excellence in maintaining major water management infrastructure on the River Murray has been awarded to Mildura Weir by the Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) ... "Mildura Weir comprises 24 steel trestles, each weighing approximately 11 tonnes, that can be winched from the river to allow maintenance, or to allow the safe passage of flood waters": MDBA’s Executive Director River Management, Andrew Reynolds.
Where have all the mussels gone?
Margrit Beemster. Research has been conducted in the Yallakool Creek and upper Wakool River near Deniliquin to find an easier way to detect adult freshwater mussels and to better understand why mussels are no longer as plentiful as they once were.
The jury’s in: Fresh lakes a death sentence for Murray-Darling Basin
Goolwa South Australian resident, Ken Jury, sees a better way forward for the basin and believes that governments are risking the viability of the whole basin. Ken, an investigative journalist with a passion for marine and aquatic ecology ... is an expert on the South Australian Lower Lakes and Coorong ...
Community advocates tour with Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder
Currently, 4,622 gigalitres of entitlements is held by government as environmental water, and Australia’s largest irrigator, Dr Simon Banks, Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder, was joined by Central Murray Environmental Floodplain Group, community representatives and Paul Madden OAM of Arbuthnot Sawmills for a tour of local farms and forests. John Toll farms at Gunbower ...
Mighty Murray
The Murray River holds a special place in many hearts and minds of locals. The river brings life to the landscape and the people who live and rely on her. After a trip down the Murray River from Barham to Wellington in South Australia and back, retired land surveyor David Laughlin was left with reflections of natural beauty, lessons from the past and current management by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority.
Happy 20th to The Living Murray program: MDBA
Basin states and the Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) are jointly celebrating 20 years since the historic ‘first step’ decision to establish The Living Murray program. A forerunner of the 2012 Basin Plan, The Living Murray (TLM) program was initiated in response to compelling evidence of severe and long-term decline in the health of the Murray River system.
Weather for November
Highest temperature was 43.8C on Saturday 11th compared to the record of 45.4C on the 29th in 2012 ... November rain was 28.4mm ... Highest November rain was 95.4mm in 1992 ... The river has remained reasonably steady a with current level of 0.85 metres and a flow of 769 ML/day, exactly the same as reported last month.
Draining red tape
Government red tape had to be addressed before Naracoorte Lucindale mayor Patrick Ross could take up his position as a local government representative on the SE Water Conservation and Drainage Board (SEWCDB). Operating under special legislation, the SEWCD Act mainly provides for the conservation and management of water and the prevention of flooding of rural land, among other things.
Amendment to federal environment laws trigger good news for Barkly’s future
The new laws update the ‘water trigger’ under Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act) (the most important legislation that protects the environment in Australia), so new unconventional gas projects, like shale gas fracking, will be assessed by the Independent Expert Scientific Committee for their impact on water resources.
CMA on the lookout for natural drought refuges
The North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) is on the lookout for drought refuge pools – natural bodies of water that stay full, even during dry times.
Schools left high and dry by water buybacks
Water buybacks have taken a toll on education in the southern NSW Murray-Darling Basin, with school principals linking falling enrolments and subject choices to the lasting socioeconomic impacts of past Government purchases. A NSW Irrigators’ Council (NSWIC) analysis of enrolment data, supported by interviews with school principals, shows how water buybacks are contributing to a loss of population and jobs and therefore fewer enrolments, subject choice and resources for regional schools.
Protect us from Plibersek!
Southern Riverina communities are being called on to ‘fight for our future’ at a rally next week. It aims to highlight the community concern at the social and economic damage that will be caused if water buybacks are introduced, as proposed by the Albanese Government.
