The Restoring Murray Waterways project has been steaming ahead with recent results showing improvements in the Edward/Kolety‑Wakool river system.
Murray Irrigation has reported early positive results, following a $28.5 million investment in the next stage of its Restoring Murray Waterways project.
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The funding injection forms part of a joint Federal and NSW Government initiative, supporting stage four of the multi‑year project, which is one of the largest environmental watering projects of its kind in Australia.
The project uses Murray Irrigation’s existing gravity‑fed supply network to deliver environmental water to creeks and wetlands that would otherwise only receive flows during periods of high Murray River levels.
Starting in 2022, the Restoring Murray Waterways project prioritises sensitive water systems that have experienced long‑term changes to natural flow regimes.
Stage four targeted the Edward/Kolety‑Wakool river system, acting as a pilot to demonstrate how enhanced environmental watering can improve creek and wetland health.
So far, stage four has improved flow paths in 308km of creeks and 2680 hectares of wetlands.
The Restoring Murray Waterways project has improved 308km of waterways and 2680 hectares of wetlands.
Infrastructure developed successfully delivered water into priority waterways, demonstrating the project’s viability as a model for future Commonwealth environmental water delivery projects.
The project’s success has drawn positive attention from Commonwealth authorities.
Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder Dr Simon Banks said the outcomes could pave the way for future initiatives.
“Water brings life,” Dr Banks said.
“Which is what we are trying to do. We are trying to restore the environment and make it healthier.”
Local landholders have also seen first-hand benefits.
Burraboi farmer Hayley Pattison said the environmental flows were making the waterways on her property healthier.
Hayley Pattison, a farmer from Burraboi, participated in stage four of the project.
Jimaringle Creek, which flows through her property, had rarely carried water prior to environmental flows being introduced.
“We’ve seen the benefits that environmental water flows have played in 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.”
The Restoring Murray Waterways project is using Murray Irrigation’s existing infrastructure to deliver environmental flows.
Murray Irrigation chief executive officer Ron McCalman said delivering environmental water to these creeks was essential for flow connectivity and restoring river system health.
“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,” Mr McCalman said.
“These small, targeted volumes delivered through the Murray Irrigation supply system can also improve water quality by reducing salinity and buffering blackwater events.
Murray Irrigation is now in the final stages of scoping the next phase of the Restoring Murray Waterways project, which will seek to scale up this approach across additional areas of the river system.
The expansion phase is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
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