What does your average day look like?
Whether I’m out and about planning engagement activities, discussing operational plans for the Menindee Lakes or snapping pictures along the Basin – there’s never a dull day here in the lower Darling catchment. My role is to deepen our engagement with Menindee and lower Darling communities. Given the challenges in the region, I always strive to create a welcoming space where landholders and community members can share their opinions, knowledge, and concerns, while feeling heard and respected.
What are the key conversations coming out of the region?
I recently joined community members and representatives from the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH) and Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) for 2-way conversations on recent challenges and stories of success throughout the Murray–Darling Basin.
The key topics we spoke about were:
- 2026 Basin Plan Review
- maintaining water quality in the Menindee weir pool
- prevention of fish death events
- Water Amendment (Restoring Our Rivers) Bill 2023
- keeping northern and southern Basin communities connected.
What’s on the horizon for Menindee and lower Darling communities?
In February, together with the help of NSW Fisheries, Barkindji Rangers and local school students, we’ll be taking part in the Kinchega Billabong fish monitoring project’s third fish survey.
During the 2022 summer floods, water from the Darling (Baaka) filled the billabong for the first time since 2012, providing refuge for the native fish and threatened species that inhabit the Murray–Darling Basin.
The first sampling event recorded native golden perch (yellow belly), native bony bream and spangled perch – so we’ll be checking up on the health of these little guys!
We encourage people to talk to us about their experiences and concerns. We want everyone invested in the Basin to contact the Regional Engagement Team. Our Regional Engagement Officers have an impressive range of skills, experience, and strong community ties. To provide feedback or keep up to date on this program, email engagement@mdba.gov.au.