Murray River

Patrick Tucker. Close to 100 people gathered at Murrabit on Sunday to celebrate the Gonn Crossing Bridge's 100th anniversary. Hosted by the Murrabit and District Heritage Group, the ceremony at Miss Keats Picnic Park included speeches, a ribbon-cutting ceremony and the raising of the bridge's historic lift span.

The Albanese Labor Government has quietly abandoned 14 water infrastructure and river management projects across the Murray-Darling Basin, with irrigators and water users fearing more devastating water buybacks are to come.

In 2017, Basin governments agreed to a package of 36 projects in the southern Basin that would deliver environmental benefits equivalent to 605 gigalitres per year (GL/y) of recovered water. This allowed the sustainable diversion limits in the southern Basin to increase by 605 GL/y.

Balranald Shire Council Mayor Cr Louie Zaffina has called on both the Australian and NSW Governments to urgently reform the way grant funding reaches communities affected by water buybacks, saying the current competitive model gives small rural councils no fair chance.

New water trade arrangements under Schedule D of the Murray–Darling Basin Agreement will come into effect from 1 July 2026, following the completion of the Schedule D review and approval by Ministerial Council.

Patrick Tucker. An independent public hearing into two proposed floodplain restoration projects near Gunbower and Koondrook is underway. At the same time, roadside signs displaying the letters "VMFRP" are prompting questions across the district ... The report also states construction would require the removal of up to 604 large and very large trees in Gunbower National Park and up to 727 large and very large trees in the Guttrum and Benwell forests.

A cold winter's morning didn't deter competitors from the 2026 Renmark Rowing Club's Wharf to Woolshed Long Row marathon on Saturday, June 20 ... Just over 300 people made the journey to Renmark for the 2026 Wharf to Woolshed Long Row, up from over 200 in 2025, proving the popularity of the event, and the appeal of the region.

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) says the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) must now reveal what it intends to recommend after their recent release of the 2026 ‘What we heard’ report failed to outline the next steps. VFF Water Council Chair Andrew Leahy said the report accurately reflected the fact that communities hold differing views on issues such as water buybacks, but it fails to answer the most important question.

Labor's announcement of yet another massive Southern Murray-Darling Basin water buyback is a direct attack on Australian families already buckling under the cost of living, according to One Nation Member for Farrer David Farley ... Mr Farley said that if the 2007 Water Act review, the 2026 Basin review and the national food security work were not being set up as foregone conclusions, Labor would have waited for their findings instead of rushing into another buyback that struggling families and farmers will pay for.

Today’s publication of the ‘What we Heard’ Report following public consultation on the Basin Plan Review shows a clear united message: priorities have shifted, move on from “just adding water”.

The MDBA today released the What we heard report, reflecting the key themes and perspectives raised during the public consultation on the 2026 Basin Plan Review. MDBA Chief Executive, Andrew McConville said people have plenty of different views about how water should be managed, but there was a clear message underneath it all: the Basin Plan matters, and people want it to work better.

The Riverina and Murray Joint Organisation (RAMJO) has condemned the Federal Government’s latest Murray-Darling Basin water purchase, saying the reported buyback of almost 86 gigalitres for more than $430 million is another blow to food-producing communities across southern New South Wales.

The Albanese Labor Government’s latest $430m Murray-Darling Basin water buyback will take more productive water out of agriculture and put more pressure on families already struggling with grocery prices, Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster said today. The deal involves the Commonwealth buying almost 86GL of water entitlements for environmental use at a cost of more than $430m.

Nearly 85 per cent of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan’s environmental water target has now been achieved ... over 380GL of water has now been recovered towards the 450GL target, through a combination of federally-funded water-efficiency infrastructure projects and voluntary water purchasing.

Newly elected Member for Farrer David Farley used his debut parliamentary question time to quiz Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles about the nation's water. Rather than directing his opening questions to the Environment or Agriculture ministers, Farley targeted the Defence and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles.

The independent Inspector–General of Water Compliance (IGWC), the Hon. Troy Grant, has released the second Murray–Darling Basin Compliance Activity and Outcomes Report (CAOR). This Basin-wide report covers activities in 2023 to 2025, building on the 2022-23 report, and presents a picture of how Basin State regulators monitor water take, apply compliance tools and report publicly on their work.

Liberal Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell has demanded that the Minister for Water rule out introducing legislation to more easily enable the compulsory acquisition of flood easements, and confirm the previous commitment not to use existing powers to flood private land without consent.

...the trial of the $26.2 m bubble plume project is already making a positive difference by creating warmer temperatures throughout the Severn River’s Pindari Dam storage ... “This project aims to re-establish more natural water temperatures below dams for native fish breeding and growth. The project also ensures that water temperatures from environmental flow releases enhance the health of the river downstream”: Tara Moriarty.

The launch of Caught in the Current, The Dire Consequences of Politics Driving the Murray-Darling Basin Plan in Barham, celebrated a long-awaited, community-driven historical and factual resource on Australian Water Policy ... The book is explicitly designed as a factual counter-narrative and practical tool for inquiries, libraries, and policy debate.