This followed a field trip on Wednesday 21 August 2024 at the Lower Lakes region of South Australia, hosted by the South Australian Department of Environment and Water.
During the field trip the BOC visited the Murray Mouth and Barrages where members of the Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Corporation and experts on the ecology of the Coorong and Lower Lakes shared their knowledge on the cultural and ecological importance of the area.
Previously, the BOC noted the potential for future meetings to include a field trip and the opportunity to invite Basin Community Committee (BCC) members as part of increased engagement between the two forums. Whilst in Victor Harbor, the BOC met with one of the South Australian BCC representatives who attended the field trip.
The Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) provided an update on the steps being undertaken to achieve the Australian Government’s commitment to implement the Basin Plan in full. The BOC approved the jurisdictions working together on jurisdictional Restoring our Rivers Implementation Plans, to increase visibility and accountability.
The BOC discussed the request from Ministerial Council to develop actions to implement a coordinated approach to deliver on existing and any new commitments to improve connectivity including through Menindee Lakes, and will consider a draft report to be prepared by BOC Alternates at the next meeting before reporting back to Ministerial Council.
The BOC noted an update on the Integrated River Modelling Uplift Program (IRMUP) and approved in principle the Data Sharing and IP Deed, intended to facilitate model and data sharing activities between the parties to support collaboration and effective management of the Basin’s water resources.
The Murray–Darling Basin Ministerial Council in June 2024 agreed to the progression of the Joint Programs Multi-year Budget Framework and the Joint Programs Vision and Purpose, which aims to address administrative barriers to the effective and efficient management of River Murray assets and support prudency in asset investments. In response, the BOC discussed the pathway to shift to a 4-year budget framework and the importance of this shift to support effective and prudent investments in the River Murray assets.
The BOC noted the update on the trial to protect environmental water from the northern Basin to the southern Basin conducted by the MDBA on behalf of the Joint Program governments to deliver environmental water from the northern Basin to the southern Basin, noting the positive outcomes in the Lower Darling to date. The MDBA and NSW released approximately 42 GL (excluding the minimum release requirement) of water from Menindee Lakes between 30 May and 18 June to deliver the initial action of the connectivity trial. Additionally, the BOC tasked the River Murray Operation Committee (RMOC) to support the MDBA with the continued protection of environmental water should another opportunity present under the trial until June 2025.
The BOC noted the steps being taken to increase First Nation Peoples’ ownership and access to water throughout the Murray–Darling Basin.
The BOC noted that as part of the Basin Plan Review the MDBA will undertake an assessment of the effectiveness of Sustainable Division Limits (SDLs), which will be conducted using modelling as one line of evidence. The BOC agreed to collaborate on modelling to inform the 2026 Basin Plan Review and commence development of Basin Plan Review reference scenario models.
The BOC noted the key operational activities in the northern and southern Basins and the current state of water resource availability and climate outlook for the River Murray system.
The BOC noted the update on progress in appointing members for the Independent River Operations Review Group (IRORG).
The BOC met Out of Session virtually on Tuesday 28 May 2024. At this meeting the BOC discussed a connectivity trial where water for the environment from the northern Basin is protected through the Menindee Lakes and downstream. BOC noted significant further work is required by the Murray–Darling Basin Authority, New South Wales and the Water Liaison Working Group to implement the trial. The BOC agreed for the trial to commence to enable environmental flows currently arriving at Menindee Lakes to be passed through to the southern Basin, up until 30 June 2025.
BOC will meet next on 18 November 2024.