Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder MDA conference 2019
Healthy rivers – healthy communities – healthy industries
The role of the CEWH (3) The functions of the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder are to be performed for the purpose of protecting or restoring the environmental assets of: (a) The Murray-Darling Basin; ….so as to give effect to relevant international agreements.
Broad priorities in sharing water From the Priority Use NSW Water 1 Critical human water needs Management 2 Basic needs of the environment – e.g. critical Act drought refuges / survival 3 Stock, high security licences Similar priorities in 4 General security licences (irrigation, environment) other states
Water allocation priorities in the Basin Water to accounts (irrigation, environment) Water to run rivers in the future Critical human water needs During extended dry periods, States may take water out Water to run rivers this year of accounts and transfer it to drought reserves
Water allocations: South vs North Wet and dry years Drought Holdings , wetter
Commonwealth Environmental Water 2019-20 (Regulated Systems) Carryover of CEW Alloc in Total CEW in CEW Use in Total CEW CEW into 2019-20 as at 2019-20 as at 2019-20 as at Remaining for 2019-20 30 Sep 19 30 Sep 19 30 Sep 19 use as at (GL) (GL) (GL) (GL) 30 Sep 19 (GL) Northern Basin 37.0 4.5 41.5 0.0 16.1 Lachlan 37.2 0.8 38.0 19.0 3.0 Wimmera- 1.6 0.0 1.6 0.0 1.6 Mallee Ovens 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 Southern 420.2 482.1 902.3 434.7 463.0 Connected Basin Total 496.0 487.6 983.5 453.7 483.8
Landscape-scale restoration • Water holdings in multiple valleys • Adequate volumes to deliver water along the whole river • Enables a large-scale ecosystem focus: • Yanga, Gayini-Nimmie Caira and Lower Lachlan • Toorale • Gingham Watercourse • Connecting northern rivers – Border Rivers, Gwydir and Barwon-Darling • The Living Murray work sites Ginghet Creek on Macquarie River
Three year cycle. Last wet year: 2016
Year 1: 2016 – 17 Narran Lakes Toorale Gwydir Wetlands Macquarie Marshes
Year 2: 2017-18 Border Rivers Barwon-Darling – Northern Connectivity Event Gwydir Wetlands Before After Mallowa wetlands Macquarie Marshes
Gwydir Wetlands Year 3: 2018-19 Toorale Barwon – Northern Fish Flow Mallowa Wetlands Macquarie Marshes Namoi Photo: NSW OEH
Example of connectivity - Northern Fish Flow • 36 GL (half Commonwealth, half NSW), 1,500 km of river • Excellent environmental and community benefits
On connectivity • Connectivity provides the pulse for our rivers providing regeneration • Basin-wide priorities include to increase connectivity • Many aquatic species evolved to opportunistically move around • It seems: downstream people want more connectivity, upstream people want access to the river as it flows past them • NSW and Queensland are committed to improve connectivity (IGA) • Two significant examples: Northern Connectivity Event (2017-18) and Northern Fish Flow (2018-19) • We made a big effort to share these flow events with the community
Year 4: Dry conditions outlook in 2019-20 • Extreme dry conditions in north – 3 year cycle is up • Little water in accounts • Much of water in accounts has been transferred to drought reserves • Limited capacity to address critical events (i.e. fish deaths) • Allocations could be very low next year • Trade opportunities are unlikely
Use of Environmental Water in the Southern Basin 2018-2019 Water used at multiple sites, or ordered directly to the SA border, July 2018 to June Murrumbidgee River Orders direct at 2019 (end of system flow events) SA border 27 GL environmental delivery 222 GL 185 GL 12 GL return flows 116 GL Edward-Wakool Total environmental 27 GL 33 GL environmental delivery water to SA border No return flows 23 GL 2018-19 604 GL 19 GL 12 GL Hume Releases 2017-18 976 GL 134 GL environmental delivery 185 GL 116 GL return flow 2016-17 800 GL 2015-16 797 GL Lower Broken Creek Total 34 GL environmental delivery 27 GL return flow = 604 GL Goulburn River 216 GL of environmental delivery Gunbower Forest/Creek 53 GL environmental delivery 264 GL return flow (inc. some from last year) Campaspe River 42 GL use of return flows 23 GL environmental delivery 19 GL return flows generated 9.3 GL return flow 23 GL return flow
Multi-site Use – Connecting Rivers and Key Floodplain Assets
Working with local councils • States provide water for human use and to account holders • Local councils provide an important link to communities • Advice from councils about water use reflects location in catchment: earlier / later; use more / use less; briefer / for longer. Ultimately the call is made on environmental grounds • We are looking to engage more with local councils • Develop more of a shared understanding of roles and activities – ahead of any issues rather than reacting to any issues • Co- benefits: healthy rivers → healthy communities → healthy industries • Thank you for the opportunity to present today
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