Water

Water

$20 million for research into Murray-Darling Basin rivers

The Federal Government is looking for partners for a $20 million research program to increase knowledge about Murray-Darling Basin rivers. Federal Water Minister Keith Pitt said the program demonstrated the government’s commitment to...

Jamie Salter
Water

Goulburn-Murray Water halfway through Winter Works program

Goulburn-Murray Water is halfway through its $2.5 million Winter Works program, with maintenance and refurbishment work undertaken by local businesses and regional contractors. The works are taking place across the irrigation delivery network...

Jamie Salter
Water

Eureka flags protest water management

The Eureka flag is once again a symbol of rebellion, flying at farming properties from Echuca to Wentworth. The flag represents a united protest against the continuation of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. It originates from the rebellion of...

Jamie Salter
Water

Northern NSW irrigators storing more water than allowed, inquiry hears

Floodplain harvesting in northern NSW is under fire, after evidence given at a state parliamentary inquiry last Thursday found irrigators in the north are unmetered, unlicensed and hold on-farm storages in excess of 4000 Gl, well above the 210 Gl of floodplain harvesting allowed under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

Rodney Woods
Water

VEWH releases watering plan for 2020-21

Many of Victoria’s waterways are set to receive environmental water deliveries over the next year, as the Victorian Environmental Water Holder launches its Seasonal Watering Plan 2020-2021. The watering plan sets out where and when water for the...

Rodney Woods
Water

Ministers accused of not understanding water management

A water advocacy group is claiming food and fibre production is being threatened by state and federal water ministers, following the Ministerial Council meeting on June 19. Wakool Rivers Association chair John Lolicato said discussions on...

Jamie Salter
Water

MDBA announces basin environmental watering priorities

Over the next 12 months, environmental water will be used to protect wetlands, floodplains and river ecosystems across the Murray-Darling Basin from further damage. The Murray-Darling Basin Authority published its annual environmental watering...

Jamie Salter
Water

Seasonal determinations increase in all but one system as new water year begins

Seasonal determinations in Victoria have started higher than they finished last season in all systems except Bullarook, due to flows into the major storages in recent months. Northern Victoria’s resource manager Mark Bailey announced the first...

Rodney Woods
Water

NSW submits final water resource plans to federal minister

A major milestone in the Murray-Darling Basin Plan has been reached, with NSW submitting its final nine water resource plans. Federal Water Minister Keith Pitt welcomed the plans that are an essential part of securing long-term sustainable water...

Rodney Woods
Water

Waranga Basin filled ahead of schedule

Recent rainfall across the Goulburn catchment has allowed Goulburn-Murray Water to fill Waranga Basin ahead of schedule. G-MW diverted additional water into the off-stream storage during April and early May as rainfall lowered irrigation demand and...

Rodney Woods
Water

Water lobby groups frustrated by Sefton report delay

Federal Water Minister Kieth Pitt says the long-awaited Sefton report will be released in “due course” but the wait continues to frustrate industry lobby groups. Mr Pitt said the report, which looked into the social and economic conditions impacting...

Rodney Woods
Water

Basin ministers agree to feasibility study to improve capacity of Barmah Choke

Greater transparency, limits on inter-valley trades, the benefits of investing in off-farm projects and ways to optimise capacity of the Barmah Choke were just some of the topics discussed at the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council meeting on...

Rodney Woods
Water

National Party MPs want 450Gl scrapped and the MDBA split

Victorian National Party MPs at both state and federal level continue to call for the Murray-Darling Basin Authority to be split and for the controversial 450 Gl to be scrapped entirely. Joining Federal Member for Nicholls Damian Drum on the bank of...

Rodney Woods
Water

MINCO meeting a ‘kick in the guts’ says VFF

Friday’s Ministerial Council meeting of Murray-Darling Basin Plan water ministers has been labelled a “kick in the guts” by the VFF as irrigator groups accuse water ministers of ignoring the concerns of regional communities.

Country News
Water

SRI and former senior water bureaucrat involved in ‘ugly’ Twitter exchange

A Twitter exchange about the Murray-Darling Basin between Southern Riverina Irrigators and former Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder David Papps has been labelled “appalling” and “disgraceful” by the irrigator group. The two accounts were...

Country News
Water

Loud calls for royal commission into Murray-Darling Basin Plan

A federal royal commission into the Murray-Darling Basin Plan is the only way to expose the reasons behind its failings, according to local farming and community groups. Calls have been mounting for a royal commission, with NSW Farmers calling for...

Country News
Water

New bill to target water ownership by NSW politicians

A new bill has been introduced into NSW Parliament in a bid to improve transparency around the pecuniary interests register, which outlines politicians’ financial interests, by including water ownership. NSW Water Minister Melinda Pavey...

Country News
Water

New CEO for Goulburn Broken CMA

Chris Cumming has stepped into the role of Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority’s chief executive officer. Goulburn Broken CMA Board chair Helen Reynolds said Ms Cumming had extensive experience and expertise in the natural resource...

Country News

Trending stories

Virus updates

Melbourne and Mitchell Shire to be locked down for six weeks

Melbourne has been ordered back into lockdown after the state recorded 191 new cases of coronavirus. Premier Daniel Andrews on Tuesday confirmed people in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire, north of the city, will only be able to leave their...

Shepparton News
Water

Northern NSW irrigators storing more water than allowed, inquiry hears

Floodplain harvesting in northern NSW is under fire, after evidence given at a state parliamentary inquiry last Thursday found irrigators in the north are unmetered, unlicensed and hold on-farm storages in excess of 4000 Gl, well above the 210 Gl of floodplain harvesting allowed under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

Rodney Woods
Dairy

Freedom Foods stock in trading halt as board members leave

A trading halt has been placed on Freedom Foods stock after it was announced on June 24 that managing director and chief executive officer Rory Macleod is on leave until further notice. It comes on the back of the resignation of chief financial...

Rodney Woods
Dairy

Freedom Foods CEO resigns

Freedom Foods, which operates a dairy processing factory in Shepparton, has lost its chief executive officer, Rory Macleod.

Geoff Adams