River Murray Operations receives tick of approval

Two important reports have found the MDBA is using innovation and adaptation to meet the challenges of delivering water for the environment.

Published: 26 February 2023

The River Murray System Annual Summary of River Operations and the Independent River Operations Review Group’s (IRORG) Review of Performance Against the Objectives and Outcomes 2021-22 have both been publicly released recently.

Releasing the reports underpins the MDBA’s commitment to transparency and rigour in the Authority’s management of the River Murray system.

The MDBA releases an annual summary of river operations, describing the operating conditions experienced and river operations undertaken during the previous water year. An independent advisory group then reviews the MDBA’s performance in managing the river, and the MDBA’s compliance with the Objectives and Outcomes. The findings are then reported to the Basin Officials Committee.

The Objectives and Outcomes for River Murray operations are set by the Basin Officials Committee, and are based around 5 themes:

Water storage, delivery and accounting 

  • River Murray Operations (RMO) assets 
  • People and communities 
  • Environment 
  • Information and communication. 

This year, the Committee found that the MDBA’s River Management Division – through innovation and adaptation – is meeting the challenges of the merging demand patterns of environmental water with the changing timing and location of consumptive demands, all within increasing constraints on delivery capacity.

Image
Hume Dam: the major operating water storage of the River Murray system
Hume Dam: the major operating water storage of the River Murray system.