Resources

This page contains an ever-growing list of reports, articles and documents. We recommend checking it for new content each time you visit The Forgotten River.

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Letters and Submissions

Letters and submissions

Videos

Learn more about the Upper Murrumbidgee Catchment Network presentation here.

Media Releases

Reports and resources

Related news articles

Documents relevant to the management of water in the Upper Murrumbidgee River

Document

Why it’s important

The Snowy Hydro Water Inquiry of 1998 was an official investigation conducted by the Australian Government to evaluate the management and use of water resources in the Snowy region. This inquiry was prompted by concerns regarding the environmental, economic, and social impacts of the Snowy Scheme. The inquiry highlighted significant issues with water management practices, including the need for improved environmental flow regimes to restore the health of the Snowy River and other affected waterways.

Opportunity: The Inquiry specified that ...“In addition, it was apparent from the outset that, because of the broad range of communities with an interest in the Inquiry and its investigations, the opportunity for the community to contribute to the Inquiry’s investigations and deliberations should be maximised at every step.”

Establishes Snowy Hydro, its shareholders, and directs the implementation of the outcomes from the Snowy Water Inquiry. It provides an avenue for operation through a NSW water licence. The Act also provided for a public enquiry (the Snowy Water Inquiry) to examine the environmental impacts of the Scheme, and a scientific committee to advise on the pattern of environmental releases.

NSW Water Licence for the Snowy Hydro Scheme.

Issued under Part 5 of the Snowy Hydro Corporatisation Act 1997 (NSW), the Snowy Water Licence confers the rights of Snowy Hydro Limited and imposes obligations on the licensee, particularly with respect of the Snowy Increased Flows and water release requirements.

The Snowy Water Inquiry Outcomes Implementation Deed (SWIOID) 2002 is a legal instrument that the three partner governments entered into to give effect to the outcomes of the public Snowy Water Inquiry in 1998 and the corporatisation of the Snowy Scheme. The deed includes the water recovery targets for the Snowy, Murray and Snowy Montane Rivers Increased Flows programs. 

Opportunity: This document has not been reviewed since 2002 and can be reviewed upon agreement from the NSW, Victorian and Commonwealth ministers. Any review of this document must be public and transparent, and ideally occur before the end of 2023. 

The Statement of Expectations includes the Federal Government’s expectations for energy production and distribution. It does not include any considerations for the environment, downstream water users, Cultural or social flows. 

Opportunity: A new Federal Government (and therefore, new shareholders) may provide an opportunity for the next Statement of Expectations could, as a start, bring a focus onto requirements under the Licence and SWIOID.  

The Water Act 2007 (Cth) aims to ensure water security for all water users, and to protect, restore and provide for the environment. It also sets out requirements for water management under the Murray Darling Basin Plan, including for State Governments to have water resource plans. Currently, the Water Act 2007 explicitly excludes structures operated by the Snowy Hydro scheme (to be managed under the Snowy Licence and SWIOID), which means that the management of the Upper Murrumbidgee sits outside the national framework we have in place for every other river in the Murray-Darling Basin. 

Opportunity: Before the end of 2024, the Federal Water Minister must “cause to be conducted” a review of this Act. A review of the SWIOID by end 2023 would enable outcomes and lessons learned to be considered as part of this review. 

The Basin Plan is “not to be inconsistent with Snowy Water Licence.” This likely means that changes to water management in the Upper Murrumbidgee cannot be influenced via the MDB Plan. Changes will need to occur to the Snowy Operating environment including through the SWIOID, the Snowy Water Licence, the Water Act 2007 (Cth) and the Statement of Expectations from Ministers.

The Water Sharing Plan sets the rules around water use and compliance. The WSP includes environmental, Cultural and social objectives, although currently does not protect environmental water. The WSP which covers the Upper Murrumbidgee is currently being reviewed by the NSW Natural Resources Commission.  

Opportunity: We are hoping that the current review of the WSP will protect environmental water from extraction. 

Water resource plans are an integral part of implementing the Basin Plan. They set new rules on how much water can be taken from the system, ensuring the sustainable diversion limit is not exceeded over time. 

The Murrumbidgee Alluvium Water Resources Plan is still being developed. 

Water Sharing Plans (not WRPs) continue to be the legal instrument for managing water resources in NSW. Water resource plans are put in place to implement the Commonwealth Basin Plan 2012. 

The Murrumbidgee Long-Term Water Plan recognises the diverse range of human values and uses connected to the Murrumbidgee system. 

Managers of water for the environmental will use this long-term water plan to guide and inform their actions to support the ongoing health of rivers and wetlands for the benefit of plants, animals and people. 

The NSW Government is preparing regional water strategies that will bring together the best and latest climate evidence with a wide range of tools and solutions to plan and manage the water needs of NSW over the next 20 to 40 years. 

A long-term Regional Water Strategy is being developed to guide how the NSW Government can best address the water-related challenges to support a liveable and prosperous Murrumbidgee region. 

This document includes a long list of options seeking to address a diverse range of issues and risks for water management in the Murrumbidgee region. It is important to note that the options have not been assessed, prioritised or costed at this stage.