This meeting came after a field trip along the Murray River. The trip was hosted by the Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action. The field trip included stops at the Barmah Narrows and Broken River, and a tour of the Simplot food processing facility. BOC met with representatives from the Yorta Yorta Nation, the Goulburn Murray Water Corporation and Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority and Local Council.
Regional members of the Basin Community Committee (BCC) attended the field trip and provided an update to BOC on community views. This included a discussion on ways to boost transparency, engagement, constraints and rule changes.
Troy Grant, the Inspector General of Water Compliance (IGWC), provided an update on his work in the Basin.
The BOC were also provided an overview of the Moving Forward Conversation event in December 2024, hosted by the Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA). There was also an update on work to realise First Nations Peoples’ water aspirations.
The BOC received updates on:
- The Integrated River Modelling Uplift Program, which is on track to be completed by 30 June 2025 and will transition to six-year sustainment funding from 1 July 2025.
- Water resource availability in the Basin, and key water management activities along the River Murray System.
All members provided an update on steps being undertaken to implement the Basin Plan.
The BOC agreed to support further investigation of the Murray Valley Connected Creeks and Wetlands project (the project) under the Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism (SDLAM) program for further assessment. It was noted that the project may face challenges to be adopted as a SDLAM project once these investigations are completed. The BOC noted an update on the structural and operational changes at the Menindee project which is being progressed under SDLAM.
The BOC noted the Joint Programs multi-year work program and budget for Quarter 2 2024-25, which will be provided to the Murray–Darling Basin Ministerial Council for noting. BOC discussed progression towards the Joint Venture Program multi-year budget noting the significant challenging timeframes for approval. This is particularly in light of the NSW Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal determination. The BOC noted residual risks which Basin states are seeking to address through the funding process.
The BOC noted an implementation update on Water Market Reforms under the Restoring Our Rivers (Water Amendment) Act 2023, which are progressing on track.
BOC will next meet in Canberra and surrounding regions on 14 May 2025.