About the program
Water flowing across connected catchments supports essential human and ecological needs. The Barwon-Darling River receives more than 90% of its flows from upstream catchments in northern NSW (Border Rivers, Gwydir, Namoi and Macquarie) and Queensland. This mainly occurs during large flows.
The Northern Basin Connectivity Program is undertaking action to enable water to flow across connected catchments of the northern NSW Murray-Darling Basin and downstream at important times for the following outcomes:
- protect the first flush of water after an extended dry period to protect critical human and environmental needs and support recovery post droughts
- reduce the impact of cease-to-flow periods and improve low-flow connectivity
- support water quality and reduce the risk of algal blooms forming
- support fish migration.
This program builds on the range of connectivity reforms of the NSW Government over recent years including the protection of low flows in the Barwon-Darling, regulating floodplain harvesting, and progressing work on removing unapproved flood works in high priority areas to allow water to flow more easily across the landscape.
Progress update
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August 2023
The Independent Connectivity Expert Panel was established to review the department’s analyses and provide independent expert advice to the Minister on the potential for these updated flow targets to meet critical human and environmental needs.
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April 2024
The panel’s interim findings and recommendations report (PDF. 2,200KB) was released.
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July 2024
The panel's final Connectivity Expert Panel Report (PDF, 5306.24 KB) was released. The report reflects the views of the panel and is not government policy.
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September 2024
The department’s Building the pathway to improved northern Basin connectivity (PDF, 350.44 KB) was released. It outlines what the department will do to consider the Panel’s findings and determine next steps. These will include hydrologic and economic assessments of the panel recommendations, stakeholder consultations, and the implementation of water sharing plan amendments in 2026.
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December 2024
The department has completed upgrades to the latest version of the hydrologic models (PDF, 105.08 KB) which will improve the ability to model the periods of restrictions required to meet the Panel’s proposed flow targets.
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February 2025
An interagency Connectivity Regional Working Group was established. As outlined in the terms of reference (PDF, 238KB), the key function of the group is to provide agency expertise by identifying issues and collaborating to consider options for changes to rules to improve northern Basin Connectivity.
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Now
The department is doing comprehensive hydrologic and economic analyses of the Panel’s recommendations to fully understand the potential benefits and impacts.
Our aim is to see this analysis complete by mid-2025 and the results released after consideration with the Minister for Water and advice to the government. Key stakeholders will be consulted to discuss findings and provide their input on on-ground experience and issues. This analysis and consultation will inform the next steps DCCEEW will take in advising the Minister for Water and the government, including any amendments to water sharing plans.
The economic modelling will use the methodology that was developed to assess the economic impact of the connectivity proposals in the Western Regional Water Strategy. The methodology and results are outlined in the Final Methodology Report: Economic analysis of the influence of timing on the productivity of water (PDF, 1795.23 KB).
The department will follow usual processes to make any water sharing plan amendments in response to the panel’s recommendations. This will be done after public consultation on the proposed amendments.
While the changes to water sharing plan rules to improve connectivity are being finalised, temporary water restrictions may be used to protect the first flows after dry periods to meet critical human and environmental needs. If deemed necessary, these temporary water restrictions would be implemented using Section 324 of the Water Management Act 2000 and may be guided by the critical dry conditions triggers published in the Western Regional Water Strategy.
Connectivity Expert Panel
Providing independent expert advice
The NSW Government is taking action to improve water flowing across the connected catchments of the northern NSW Murray Basin at important times as part of the Northern Basin Connectivity Program. This work is building on the significant analyses and consultation that occurred as part of developing the Western Regional Water Strategy.
In August 2023, the Hon. Rose Jackson, Minister for Water convened the Independent Connectivity Expert Panel to review the analyses the department has undertaken and to provide an independent assessment of its adequacy.
The scope of the panel’s review can be found in the:
Final report
In July 2024, the panel provided their independent report to the Minister. The report outlines its final findings and recommendations.
Download the final Connectivity Expert Panel Report (PDF. 4,800KB)In September 2024, the department released the Building the pathway to improved Northern Basin connectivity document outlines what the department will do to consider the Panel’s findings and recommendations and determine next steps.
Download Building the pathway to improved Northern Basin connectivity (PDF, 350.44 KB)
The panel's findings have been done independently of government. Updates on what the department is doing to analyse the Panel’s proposed flow targets and determine next steps are above.
Interim report
The panel released a report outlining their interim findings and recommendations (PDF. 2,200KB) in April 2024 and presented their interim findings and recommendations at two public webinars.
Webinars
Connectivity Expert Panel interim findings and recommendations
Watch the webinar from 3 May 2024.
Connectivity Expert Panel interim findings and recommendations
Watch the webinar from 1 May 2024.
Frequently asked questions
Some frequently asked questions arose from the webinars.
Download the frequently asked questions (PDF. 186KB)Panel members
Ms Amy Dula
Chair
Director of Programs, Natural Resources Commission
Professor Phil Duncan
First Nations representative, Galambany Professional Fellow, Acting CEO, EPIC CRC
Professor Fran Sheldon
Head of School, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University
Dr Mark Southwell
Principal River Scientist, 2rog Consulting
Dr Phil Townsend
Senior Economic Analyst
Mr Cameron Smith
Principal Water Engineer, Cleah Consulting
Northern Basin valleys
