The Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water provided an update on the steps being undertaken to implement the Australian Government’s commitment to increase First Nation Peoples’ ownership and access to water throughout the Murray–Darling Basin.
The BOC discussed the work being undertaken by the Commonwealth to strengthen trust and transparency of Basin water management.
The BOC discussed the Joint Programs 2024–25 Annual Workplan and recommended the Murray–Darling Basin Ministerial Council approve the budget, noting the risks associated with constrained budgets. The BOC also discussed the Joint Programs Improvement Project for a multiyear budget framework, with the preparation for the first multi-year budget build to commence this year.
The BOC approved the withdrawal of the New South Wales (NSW) Yanco Creek Offtake Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism (SDLAM) project after a review found the project rescoped by NSW as part of the Better Bidgee Program would deliver minimal benefits towards water recovery targets under the Murray–Darling Basin Plan. The BOC noted an alternative Menindee Lakes Water Savings SDLAM project continues to be scoped. The Yanco Offtake – SDLAM Benefits Study that considered the potential benefits of the rescoped project will be published on the NSW Government website.
The BOC noted the continuing deterioration of conditions of the Menindee Lakes System, and directed the Water Liaison Working Group to prioritise work which will bring forward the Murray–Darling Basin Authority’s trial to protect environmental water from the northern to the southern Basin.
The Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) provided the BOC with an update on the MDBA Basin Salinity Management 2030 reporting and discussed a draft paper for Ministers to note prior to the publication of the Report of the Independent Audit Group for Salinity 2021–23 and the Basin Salinity Management 2030 Comprehensive Report 2022–23 on the MDBA website.
The BOC discussed the modelling reference scenarios the MDBA will be developing in collaboration with Basin Officials and hydrological modelling leads as part of the Basin Plan Review.
The BOC supported the MDBA’s business case for the refurbishment of the Koondrook–Perricoota Inlet Regulator and the BOC agreed to recommend the refurbishment to Ministers.
The BOC discussed the River Murray Flood Review draft report and the MDBA provided an update on how they will work with the BOC to address the findings and recommendations from the report.
The BOC will meet next in June 2024.
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