Murray Irrigation says it is tracking early positive results from the latest stage of its Restoring Murray Waterways (RMW) environmental watering project.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
This landmark $28.5 million initiative, funded by the Australian Government and delivered in partnership with the NSW Government, is improving water connectivity throughout the Edward/Kolety-Wakool (EKW) River system – a unique landscape of high-value environmental assets.
Stage 4 works of RMW, completed and commissioned over the past year, involved the construction and upgrade of 263 structures - such as escapes and outlets, creek crossings, floating fences and on-farm channels - focusing on creeks and wetlands throughout the Yallakool-Wakool and Colligen-Niemur River systems and floodplains.
Stage 4 was carried out as a pilot to demonstrate that enhanced watering can work at a creek and wetland scale to restore the local environment.
Using infrastructure constructed during Stage 4, Commonwealth environmental water has been delivered into the Jimaringle-Cockran Creek system, Yarrein Creek and wetland sites to re-establish flows and restore wetlands.
This infrastructure will enable future delivery of Commonwealth environmental water to reconnect valuable creeks and wetlands in the region.
The Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder Dr Simon Banks says multiple outcomes can be achieved through the use of our environmental water.
“Water brings life, which is what we are trying to do” Dr Banks said.
“We are trying to restore the environment and make it healthier.
“Working in partnership with Murray Irrigation Limited, we were able to use their infrastructure to parts of the system that we just wouldn’t be able to get to if we didn’t have the infrastructure available.”
Burraboi farmer and Stage 4 participant, Hayley Pattison, is overjoyed at seeing water flowing in the Jimaringle Creek, which crosses through her property.
For her, this would normally be a rare sight.
"We've seen the benefits that environmental water flows have played to this creek," Ms Pattison said
"The birdlife, the insect life, the frog life .. the landscape is just healthier.
"It really does add value to our operation and to the landscape."
Murray Irrigation CEO Ron McCalman said supplying environmental water to these significant creeks is critical to maintaining flow connectivity and restoring the environments in the broader Yallakool-Wakool and Colligen-Niemur River systems.
"Low within bank flows provide opportunities for fish movement and vegetation seed dispersal, as well as maintain critical habitat for turtles, frogs, local waterbird populations and other native wildlife to thrive," he said.
"These small targeted volumes delivered through the Murray Irrigation supply system can also benefit water quality by reducing salinity and buffering black water events.
"These waterflows can also enhance river productivity by providing food for bugs and fish, and support native vegetation including River Red Gums and Black Box woodlands."
While Murray Irrigation has praised results to date, concerns about the next stages of the RMW project have been raised by residents along Aljoes Creek at Deniliquin.
They say plans to run water intermittently through the normally dry creek - which runs behind Deniliquin Golf Club and the Deniliqun Regional Park in Deni’s east - will sever access to the forest and increase the risk of mosquito breeding and associated disease from pooling water.
An MIL spokesperson said the frequency and volume of flows into Aljoes Creek would ultimately be determined by federal and state environmental water managers each year, based on environmental conditions.
The Stage 4 Pilot of RMW has been implemented using $28.5 million in funding provided by the Australian Government.
Critically, the project has been recognised for its capacity to contribute to the Murray-Darling Basin Plan's environmental outcomes, having secured notification by all Basin Governments as a Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism (SDLAM) supply measure.
SDLAM measures aim to achieve tangible environmental outcomes for rivers and wetlands by using less water more efficiently.
Murray Irrigation is now in the final stages of scoping for the next phase of the project to upscale this initiative to target more areas of the local river system.
Ms Pattison says she is keen to see more small creeks become part of future stages of the program.
“It is no secret that a big drawcard to our area is the natural water features,” she said.
“Adding more areas for recreational fishing and camping would be a great boon for our town and businesses.
“I wholeheartedly support Murray Irrigation and this project. It will provide exceptional benefits to our environment, community, and economy.”
This Expansion Phase of Restoring Murray Waterways is due to be complete by the end of 2026.
For more information on Restoring Murray Waterways visit https://www.murrayirrigation.com.au/project/restoring-murray-waterways.