Action needed to protect northern Basin low water flows

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By Peta Derham - General Manager at Murray-Darling Basin Authority

The latest report on the Barwon-Darling Water Sharing Plan has shed new light on the need to protect northern Basin water during periods of low flow.

With drought hitting hard across the northern Basin and western New South Wales, the draft report by the NSW Natural Resources Commission (NRC) has, understandably, created controversy.

My thoughts go out to all of those who are struggling through the drought conditions.

While the Bureau of Meteorology outlook suggests the dry conditions will continue for the coming months, it is important to remember that wet conditions will return at some stage in future and authorities need to be ready for all scenarios.

A vital characteristic of a healthy and sustainable river system is connectivity — a system in which flow connects rivers upstream and downstream, across catchment and state borders, and, during wetter periods, connects a river to its floodplain.

Water secured for the environment helps to achieve river connectivity. Since the fish deaths in the lower Darling over last summer, all governments have taken significant steps to help secure flows of water for the environment.

Restoring connectivity after a dry period refreshes the river. All states, including NSW, have agreed to do more to protect first flush events – the flows that follow the first decent rainfalls – to help soak the parched rivers so they can be ready when wet conditions return.

NSW also supported the northern fish flow event, where water for the environment was released into the Dumaresq, Macintyire, Mehi and Barwon river systems to replenish water holes and support refuge sites for native fish.

Now the NSW NRC has made a number of recommendations to improve conditions in the Barwon-Darling system.

The MDBA submission to the NRC noted that the social, cultural and environmental condition of the Barwon-Darling is at its most stressed during and immediately after a dry period.

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Our assessment has indicated that, since approximately 2000, there has been a step change in the characteristics of flow through the Barwon-Darling, especially towards the downstream end of the river. Cease-to-flow periods are occurring more often and lasting longer.

Not all of this change can be attributed to Barwon-Darling water management. There have been relevant changes made in upstream tributaries that are affecting inflow to the Barwon-Darling.

However, our work demonstrates that the changes made to A-class access conditions as part of the 2012 water sharing plan has allowed larger volumes of water to be extracted more rapidly, which has contributed to less water passing downstream of Bourke during dry and low flow periods.

The changes to commence-to-pump thresholds and daily extraction limits for A-class entitlements, recommended by the NRC, would address some of these concerns. The MDBA supports these recommendations as a necessary step towards a sustainable Barwon-Darling river.

The MDBA also supports the draft findings regarding Aboriginal engagement and outcomes. In particular, we support engagement for water sharing plans that complements engagement being undertaken in the development of state Water Resource Plans.

We also acknowledge the challenges and further work required to improve access (including physical access) to water resources by Aboriginal people.

The MDBA recognises that it takes time to realise these changes and encourages the New South Wales state government to continue its efforts.

The MDBA's submission to the NRC is available on the NRC submissions page.

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