UPDATE: The Murray-Darling Basin is in a critical state as urgent concerns rise over water management practices. Residents and environmental advocates are expressing outrage at the government’s approach to the river system, which is rapidly deteriorating.
Daily observations reveal alarming changes in the river’s health, impacting the local ecosystem and agricultural viability. Authorities report that the Murray-Darling Basin Authority continues to treat the river primarily as a channel for irrigation, a practice that is increasingly unsustainable.
Officials have confirmed that the lower lakes at the mouth of the Murray, historically a tidal estuary, are now brackish due to artificial barrages built in the late 1930s. These structures were originally intended for irrigation but have now led to significant water evaporation—over 900 billion litres annually—wasting a precious resource during a time of increasing drought.
The current water situation is dire: the federal government owns more than 600 GL of water in Eildon, which is a staggering volume equating to nearly a third of the current reservoir capacity. Comparatively, this amount exceeds that of a full Sydney Harbour, which holds 500 GL.
In a troubling development, the federal minister has proposed purchasing an additional 130 GL of water from farmers in the southern basin. This would mean a total of nearly one-and-a-half Sydney Harbours’ worth of water flowing through the Lower Goulburn each year, exacerbating the environmental strain on the river.
“The government cannot retrieve the environmental water it owns without inflicting serious damage to the river,” stated experts from the catchment management authority.
Last week, the federal government announced support from the Murray-Darling Basin Authority and the Federal Environmental Water Holder for the proposed buyback to meet basin plan objectives. However, skepticism remains as reports indicate there is no funding available for necessary land purchases to facilitate environmental flows.
Environmental advocates are alarmed as the Basin Plan is set to end in 2026, still falling short of its target by approximately 300 GL. The initial goal was to recover 2750 GL for environmental needs, but with projects now on hold due to a lack of federal support, the future of the Goulburn River looks bleak.
The implications for local communities, wildlife, and agriculture are severe. With environmental “freshes” requiring around 350 GL every few years, the river system cannot sustain the current demands without significant intervention.
As the situation develops, stakeholders and residents alike are calling for immediate action to rectify the management of this vital resource. The conversation around the health of the Murray-Darling Basin is more critical than ever, and the time to act is NOW.
Stay tuned for more updates as this urgent story unfolds, and consider sharing this information to raise awareness about the plight of the Murray-Darling Basin.
