Frequently asked questions

The Reconnecting River Country Program is in development and is a key Murray-Darling Basin initiative.

The goal of the program is to increase the frequency and extent rivers connect to wetlands and floodplains, to improve the health of Country in the Murray and Murrumbidgee River valleys and make the best use of water for the environment.

If the program proceeds, water for the environment releases would be delivered into environmental flow corridors to connect the rivers to these critical areas of the floodplain.

The program is proposing to remove constraints to enable the flexible use of water for the environment. Removing constraints is critical to achieving the Murray-Darling Basin’s Plan’s improved environmental outcomes.

For more information about the program and the Murray-Darling Basin Plan

The program’s flow corridors are the area of land that would be inundated by the program’s environmental flows up to the selected flow option limit. This includes the riverbank, wetlands and low-level floodplain areas. If the program proceeds to delivery, these flow corridors would be inundated more frequently with environmental water to mimic the natural cycle of the river corridor.

The flow options are still under consideration to ensure the selected option provides the best outcomes for the environment and community.

The environmental flow corridor would provide landholders with certainty on the maximum inundation extent from releases for environmental flow purposes.

Mapping of the flow corridors of each flow options being assessed can be viewed via the program’s inundation mapping.

Find out more about the proposed flow options and view inundation mapping.

The Reconnecting River Country Program is in development. The program area occurs within the Murray and Murrumbidgee valleys, along the following river systems:

• Murrumbidgee River, including Yanco-Billabong creek system
• Murray River - Hume Dam to Wakool Junction.

Reconnecting River Country Program overview map.

The program is in the development phase. We are currently working with landholders, First Nations people, public land managers and local communities to:

• provide an update on program progress
• seek feedback on flow options and their frequency, timing, and duration
• continue conversations about property-scale inundation mapping, program impacts and benefits and potential program measures
• highlight tools to help stakeholders find out more about the program and provide input into program development.

While the program is in development, no decisions will be made to increase environmental flows.

Find out more about the program

You can find out whether your property is potentially affected by the proposed flow corridors if the program proceeds using the program’s inundation mapping.

These interactive maps show the estimated upper limits of inundation being considered by the program.

Find out more about the proposed flow options and view inundation mapping.

You can also contact the program by:

• calling 1300 081 047
• emailing admin.rrcp@dpie.nsw.gov.au

Strategic business cases (SBCs) are NSW Treasury documents and are Commercial and Cabinet-in-Confidence. As such, they are not proposed for release. They contain commercially sensitive information that could potentially influence the market if released prior to completion of the program’s procurement activities (if the program proceeds).

Information contributing to the program’s development is released on the program’s information hub.

A summary of the SBCs is in development and when finalised will be made publicly available on the program’s website.

Should it proceed to delivery, the program has the potential to create healthier river systems providing generational benefits for local communities and the broader Murray-Darling Basin community.

Greater flexibility to manage dam releases for environmental purposes would provide a range of benefits for native vegetation, native fish, waterbirds, turtles, frogs and other wildlife.

Implementation of the program has the potential to deliver a range of outcomes benefitting First Nations communities, such as improved connection between healthy Country and a healthy, vibrant and sustainable First Nations culture and community.

The program also has the potential to deliver benefits to regional economies in southern NSW.  Landholders, land managers and communities would benefit through investment in infrastructure, the potential for improved agricultural productivity for graziers, as well as benefits to recreational fishing and tourism.

In the Murray and Murrumbidgee valleys, there are currently a range of constraints or barriers restricting the effective use of water for the environment. As a result, rivers connect to their floodplains less often than is needed to maintain healthy river, wetland and floodplain ecosystems.

Relaxing these constraints would allow higher dam releases for environmental purposes, providing improvements for river habitats, native vegetation, native fish and other fauna.

Like natural flow pulses, these flows would move along the river system connecting successive wetland and floodplain areas as they move downstream over days and weeks. The areas benefiting from the flows would be distributed along the rivers.

For more information on the environmental benefits of the program view the Introduction to environmental outcomes (PDF, 4019.45 KB) information sheet and Environmental benefits and risks overview documents (Murray and Murrumbidgee) on the program’s information hub.

The program’s environmental benefit and risk analysis considered several potential environmental and ecological risks, including for water delivery, geomorphic processes (erosion), invasive weeds and carp.

Technical reports and summaries of the findings are publicly available on the program’s information hub.

The program is currently refining and extending some environmental analyses to new areas in the Murrumbidgee (for example Yanco Creek) and investigating possible program outcomes under a range of future climate scenarios.

Yes. The detailed native fish technical report is available on the program’s information hub. The program has also commissioned work investigating the potential impacts on carp populations. This report is expected to be published in March 2024.

Should the program proceed to delivery, the environment and private and public land would benefit from the increased environmental flows, however some private and public landholders may require assistance for impacts from low-level overbank inundation.

The NSW Government is developing program measures to assist landholders, First Nations people and local government agencies with managing impacts from the proposed higher environmental flow releases. Program measures may also include works and actions increasing First Nations people’s connection and access to Country.

The program is continuing to discuss measures with stakeholders seeking feedback to inform program development.

Proposed program measures being considered by the program include:

• Flow easements within the environmental flow corridors – establishment of flow easements on private property within the flow corridors allowing river operators to periodically deliver higher flows for environmental purposes.  Compensation would be negotiated for any impacts to land affected within the flow corridor as per the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991.
• Funding works – critical and necessary infrastructure may be required to deliver the program. This may be due to access or safety issues resulting from the increased frequency of water within the environmental flow corridor.
• Measures to realise benefits for First Nations – the program is committed to working with First Nations people in the program area to understand how the program can improve connection and access to Country and to support the health of Nations.

If the program is funded for delivery, program measures will be assessed on a property-by-property basis and will be tailored to individual

If the program proceeds, program measures would be assessed on a property-by-property basis and would be tailored to individual circumstances. Negotiation assistance would be available to landholders during negotiations in line with the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991.

Find out more on the program measures.

The NSW Government proposes to establish a state-wide Landholder Negotiation Scheme (LNS) embedded in legislation, providing an assurance of a defined, transparent, equitable, fair, and consistent negotiation process. This will apply to negotiations to mitigate the potential impacts of changes to environmental flows above existing managed environmental flows. The LNS will align with the requirements of the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991.

A draft Landholder Negotiation Scheme regulation will be placed on public exhibition for stakeholder feedback. Stakeholders will be notified of the public exhibition dates when these are available.

The program’s inundation mapping, released in 2022, provides a clear indication of the extent of different flow options being considered by the program.

The flow rates under investigation are intended to be a range. Flows of different sizes and duration will achieve a range of outcomes for river and wetland health, connectivity and wildlife.

The program is currently in development and assessing a range of flows with stakeholders to investigate benefits, costs and risks to ensure evidence-based decisions are made on preferred flow limits across the program areas.

The flow options being investigated would be used as the basis for:

• modelling inundation footprints
• assessing community benefits and impacts
• assessing environmental benefits and risks
• measuring outcomes for First Nations people
• identifying opportunities and program measures.

Additionally, for any given flow limit option, environmental water deliveries would target different flows year-on-year (up to the limit) depending on water availability, system conditions and ecological requirements.

Find out more about flow options.

Should the program proceed, the NSW Government is proposing the delivery of higher environmental flows across the program area because, at the current limit, they do not sufficiently connect wetlands and low-level floodplain ecosystems to rivers.

Variability of river flows and levels trigger native fish movement and breeding and supports other life cycle requirements of aquatic plants and animals.

The flexibility to manage water for the environment at higher levels provides a range of benefits for native fish, waterbirds, turtles, frogs, and other wildlife.

Healthier habitat means more food to support our native wildlife, while improved flow patterns, restoring some of the natural cues, provide more opportunities for plants and animals to reproduce.

Find out more about flow options.

The program is in development and currently exploring the following range of flows in the Murray and Murrumbidgee valleys:

• Murray – Hume to Yarrawonga– flows between 30,000 and 40,000 ML/d (measured at Doctors Point)
• Murray - Yarrawonga to Wakool Junction – flows between 25,000 and 45,000 ML/d (measured downstream of Yarrawonga weir, with a maximum buffer for mitigation of up to 50,000 ML/d)
• Murrumbidgee River– flows between 32,000 and 40,000 ML/d (measured at Wagga Wagga, with a maximum buffer for mitigation of up to 45,000 ML/d).

No decision has been made about preferred flow limits. The costs and benefits of the proposed flow limits in the Murrumbidgee will be assessed in the final business case and presented to Basin State and Australian Government Ministers for an investment decision.

Read more about the flow options being considered in the Murray and Murrumbidgee program areas.

Throughout 2023 and 2024, the program is working with private landholders to understand the property-scale benefits and impacts of each flow option, the accuracy of inundation mapping and the suitability of program measures.

An awareness campaign in early 2024 reached out to more landholders in the Murrumbidgee program area. The campaign invites them to find out more about the program, check our inundation mapping and, connect with us , if they may be affected by proposed the proposed flow corridor.

Engagement in 2024 will continue to help identify additional program measures. Landholders within the program area are asked to register to take part in the program’s ongoing engagement.

In 2021/22 the program worked extensively to identify the potentially affected private landholdings and First Nations communities to be engaged by the program. As a result, the program has identified up to 4,000 properties that may be affected across the Murray and Murrumbidgee program areas.

The program is currently in development. Since it began we have directly engaged with landholders, First Nations communities and other stakeholders and community groups. There has been more than 7000 interactions with the community to inform program development.

The NSW Government will continue to work with stakeholders on the design of the program, to ensure issues are identified, benefits clarified and a suite of program measures developed to address potential effects. This work will be undertaken before making changes to existing rules, policies or infrastructure.

In 2023, the program established landholder and First Nations reference groups to inform program development on behalf of a declared group of potentially affected private landholders or on behalf of First Nations people.

The purpose of these groups is to support transparent, equitable, fair and consistent engagement with a broader range of affected stakeholders across the program area. The reference groups advise on key aspects of the program including program measures, negotiation assistance and landholder agreements.

Find out more about the program’s reference groups and our landholder and First Nations engagement.

In this phase of program development, we are seeking to understand the property-scale benefits and impacts of each flow option, the accuracy of inundation mapping and the suitability of program measures.

Landholders within the Murrumbidgee program area are invited to connect with us, to view the inundation mapping, find out if they may be affected by the program’s proposed flow corridor and have a conversation about what this means for their property.

We are working with First Nations people across the program area using a Nation-by-Nation approach, with a focus on face-to-face talks and on-Country workshops. This enables First Nations people to continue their role as custodians and contribute to water management decisions within their cultural boundaries.

In 2023, the program established a First Nations reference group to help inform the program development. Additionally, on-Country assessments and ongoing feedback is helping to develop the program.

Find out more about the First Nations Reference Group.

First Nations people with a connection to the program area are invited to register to become involved in the program.

The program is shifting focus to the Murrumbidgee program area to align with the Australian Government’s Basin Plan agreement announcement and the Victorian Government’s current position on the Basin Plan.

The program will develop an Options Evaluation Framework (OEF) for the Australian Government by 31 May 2024. This framework will assist with informing the flow options assessment in the cost benefits analysis of the Murrumbidgee final business case (subject to funding).

The program will continue working with the Murrumbidgee landholder reference group, the First Nations reference group and the Advisory Committee to help inform this final business case (subject to funding).

We are also scoping a package of early works. Early works refers to program measures that can deliver wetlands and floodplain outcomes and be in operation by December 2026, should the program proceed to delivery.

The recommended early works measures will be provided to Australian Government in May 2024 for consideration.

We are also seeking to expand our engagement to new landholders across the Murrumbidgee program area to gain a better understanding of the benefits and impacts on individual properties and to seek feedback on proposed flow options.

Landholders with properties potentially affected by the flow corridors, are encouraged to register with the program.

Our focus will be the scoping of early works downstream of Yarrawonga.

Early works refers to program measures that can deliver wetlands and floodplain outcomes and be in operation by December 2026, should the program proceed to delivery.

The recommended early works measures will be provided to Australian Government in May 2024 for consideration.

The program welcomes the Australian Government’s extension of the 30 June 2024 delivery deadline for some of the department’s water infrastructure projects under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, including the Reconnecting River Country Program.

Now the legislative changes have been made, the NSW Government will have more time and flexibility to continue progressing the program, subject to an extension of funding from the Australian Government beyond 31 May 2024.