A renewed agreement between WaterNSW and Murray Irrigation Limited (MIL) will help to move water around the Barmah Choke for the 2024-25 water year.
Murray-Darling Basin Authority senior director river modernisation Joe Davis said the arrangement with MIL would ensure water delivery to downstream users whilst protecting the river environment and community values.
“Renewal of this arrangement and building a close working relationship with MIL is an important first step for the MDBA in partnership with the joint governments to explore the options to address channel capacity identified in the Barmah-Millewa Feasibility Study,” Mr Davis said.
“Other options will take time, and we are progressing work with First Nations, basin states and local communities on environmental impact assessments to fully understand the possible impacts of each of those actions.
“Our aim is to maintain, and where possible reinstate, downstream delivery capacity through the Barmah-Millewa Reach of the River Murray.
“The accumulation of 20 million cubic meters of sand and sediment in the Barmah Choke has formed over many years and is restricting flows through this section of the river. It’s a known constraint and we have always said there is ‘no silver bullet’.
“The Barmah Choke is part of the Barmah-Millewa Forest, an internationally recognised environmental site, and culturally significant place for First Nations People.
“The river in this section of the Basin is the boundary for New South Wales and Victoria. It forms the essential artery supplying water further south to South Australia.
“Enhancing water delivery and improving flows through the choke will take sustained effort and collaboration on a range of fronts.”
WaterNSW general manager water planning and delivery Ashley Webb said the agreement continues a productive partnership between the state’s major dam manager and a key corporate customer.
“This agreement reinforces a long-standing commercial relationship that is critical to helping WaterNSW provide water to customers in the region,” said Mr Webb.
“Critically, utilising MIL infrastructure enables WaterNSW to deliver water to customers in the Edward-Wakool and Billabong Creek systems during periods of high demand.”