Lazy river times
A boat, a BBQ, a swag and the mighty Murray to Murrabit were the order of the day. With a meagre 5,700 megalitres a day flowing past Barham, we set off for Murrabit.
$20.9m funding for Murray-Darling Basin water savings – Where’s the benefit?
Hugh Schuitemaker. Senior Riverland politicians have questioned the potential benefits of a multi-million dollar environmental plan to use treated wastewater – rather than Murray River water – to water public areas and “to supply some industries”. The Federal and State Governments last month announced $20.9m in funding to build infrastructure allowing local governments to substitute Murray River water with storm water, treated wastewater or other alterna-tive water sources.
NIC welcomes MDBA’s refreshed approach on constraints, calls for firm Government commitments: NIC
National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) has welcomed the refreshed approach proposed by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) to relax delivery constraints in the Murray-Darling Basin to value add environmental benefits for rivers and floodplains but warns that firm commitments from Basin governments are critical to ensure the program’s momentum is not lost.
Funding taking Canoe the Riverland to next level
A new grant is set to enable a Riverland tourism business showcase the region’s environmental sites to increased numbers of visitors ... Canoe the Riverland operator Brenton Carle said the grant would enable the purchase of a 12-seater pontoon boat to conduct tours with larger groups.
Think, question
Ian Penno. Getting around lately and in general discussions mainly with locals, it is satisfying that they are still thinking for themselves and in their own minds questioning the management and direction of our great region, state and country. Courage must be to ask the questions out loud and demand answers ... Water ... Fair go for horticulture transition ... Energy ...
Riverina communities successful in saving Southern bell frog from extinction
Dr Fleur Stelling. Riverina communities have been successful in recovering the Southern bell frog from the brink of extinction ... Last week, the monitoring team from Charles Sturt University working on the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder’s science program in the Murrumbidgee, were thrilled to hear the unmistakable calls of the frogs and observe large numbers of tadpoles in the Lowbidgee wetlands – a clear sign that their population is recovering well.
Use local knowledge, not misleading academic reports
The credibility of a group that has prepared a report on Murray-Darling Basin Plan progress is under question, after claims it contains numerous flaws. The Wentworth Group comprises academics who say they are “dedicated to water and land policy reform”, and have been especially vocal on issues around the Murray-Darling Basin Plan which has attracted billions of dollars in government funding ... “It is disheartening when Sydney and Canberra based academics, without local knowledge, make broad-based statements which paint a false picture": Murray Regional Strategy Group Chair Geoff Moar.
River Murray system well-prepared for summer water demands: MDBA
The Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) has reassured communities the storages and weirs are well positioned to meet irrigation, community, and environmental needs this summer. MDBA Executive Director of River Management, Jacqui Hickey, said managing the system adaptively to respond to the changing conditions is key for ensuring the River Murray System operates smoothly during the peak demand period.
$13B spent on the Murray Darling Basin Plan but Dalton calls it “lazy politics”
Helen Dalton MP, Member for Murray, says the truth about what she describes as $13 billion of wasted taxpayer money needs to be told. The independent member is referring to a new four-year study into the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) Plan reveals mixed results. The four-year study released last involved 12 scientists from Australia’s leading universities, and drew on data from 1980 to 2023.
Karlene’s hindsight and insight invaluable at RIT AGM
Hugh Schuitemaker. Advocacy for South Australian irrigators in an upcoming Murray- Darling Basin Plan review will be crucial, according to a Riverland politician and regarded figure on water management issues. Former Chaffey MP Karlene Maywald was a guest speaker at the Renmark Irrigation Trust (RIT) annual general meeting, held last month at Hotel Renmark, with the topic being Our Murray River: Hindsight and Insights.
Solutions offered as Basin Plan fails
If the plan was to accelerate environmental degradation, wipe out family farms, increase costs, and dramatically reduce water availability, then the Murray-Darling Basin Authority would have achieved top marks ... While the Wentworth Group has been advocating for more water buybacks, which will no doubt aid the water trading industry returns, while doing very little to address the fundamental failings of the Basin Plan, local Independent Member for Murray, Helen Dalton, has released a 13-step plan to aid in getting the current trainwreck back on the rails.
Christmas Grinch
This is why we can’t have nice things! It wasn’t the notorious Dr Seuss character, but two young gentlemen who tipped the town’s Christmas tree in the Murray River last Saturday night. The shiny beacon of Christmas joy had already delighted hundreds of people who stopped for a photo with the tremendous tree.
Massive Murray Paddle concludes
The 55th Massive Murray Paddle finished on Friday in Koondrook having started four days earlier in Yarrawonga on Monday, November 18. Top athletes from all over Australia, New Zealand and the USA competed, along with at risk Indigenous youth paddling in teams following the Dungalayin Mileka Team model.
The Queen’s Loxton arrival
Sebastian Calderon. Loxton has become the Murray River Queen's (MRQ) new home after the boat’s successful voyage from Renmark ... The Paringa Bridge crossing was one of the highlights during her trip, as cars and people gathered to see the bridge go up and give way to Donna Neale and her team steaming the MRQ.
Wow for the wharf
Hugh Schuitemaker. A significant milestone in Renmark’s recovery from the 2022/23 flood event has been marked with the opening of the town’s new wharf. A large crowd of local residents, plus local and state government representatives, gathered at the Renmark riverfront last Wednesday to mark the opening of the town’s redeveloped wharf.
Riverina landholders hear legal perspective on river flows and easements
Helen Castles. Landholders are voicing their concerns about proposed environmental easements on properties along the Murrumbidgee River under the NSW Government’s Reconnecting Rivers and Landholder Negotiation Scheme (LNS). The draft LNS Regulation and negotiation guidelines outline the approach the NSW Government will take when negotiating voluntary agreements with landholders affected by future environmental water deliveries at higher flow levels, or under different regimes, than current operating practice.
NSW Water Minister abandons state’s farmers
It’s not only media requests that get dodged by NSW Water Minister Rose Jackson, but the plight of NSW family farmers is just as inconsequential. Independent Member for Murray Helen Dalton has called on NSW Water Minister Rose Jackson to stand down unless she can fix the water crisis facing rural NSW. “The role of Water Minister is one of the few ministerial positions where, if you get it wrong, people’s lives can be ruined immediately,” Helen said.
Moulamein Men’s Shed: Sustaining fish numbers
The Moulamein Men’s Shed is helping to keep the small village alive. The oldest town in the Riverina, members of the shed work hard to do whatever they can to keep various aspects of the town afloat ... Moulamein’s main drawcard is to fishermen and bird watchers.
Basin announcement big on spin, leaves critical questions unanswered: NFF
The National Farmers’ Federation has raised its eyebrows at today’s announcement the Federal Government has received 1000 responses to the southern Murray-Darling Basin open tender process. NFF Water Committee Chair Malcolm Holm said the announcement by Minister for Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek raised significant questions for farmers in Australia’s food bowl.
More than 1,000 willing sellers respond to Basin tender towards 450: Plibersek
The Albanese Labor Government’s voluntary water purchase open tender has received more than 1,000 responses across the southern Murray-Darling Basin, far exceeding the volume of water required ... About 27.5 gigalitres, or 11,000 Olympic swimming pools of water, have already been recovered – up from just two gigalitres in May 2022.
WaterNSW pricing proposal to double cost of rural water
Rural water users in NSW could see their costs more than double over the next five years if IPART accepts the WaterNSW new pricing proposal. NSW Irrigators’ Council CEO Claire Miller said the pricing proposal recommends hiking water bills by 21-24 per cent every year for five years, adding up to $40,000 to a ‘typical’ farmer’s water bill by 2030.
Work underway on Bookmark Creek upgrades
Hugh Schuitemaker. Upgrade works taking place at infrastructure along a major local creek is set to benefit native fish species and Riverland outdoor enthusiasts. The Department of Environment and Water (DEW) recently commenced upgrade works on Bookmark Creek infrastructure.
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