Public consultation
The department sought community feedback on the draft NSW Murray Regional Water Strategy, which considers current and future water needs and water security risks, from 11 April 2022 until 22 May 2022.
This version of the draft strategy was a set of 3 documents:
A comprehensive engagement and consultation program accompanied the release of the draft strategy. This included:
- face-to-face meetings
- online webinars
- formal submissions.
What we heard
Given the inter-connectedness of the Murrumbidgee and NSW Murray regions, and the significant overlap in communities and stakeholder groups, engagement outcomes have been consolidated. Across the two regions, over 100 stakeholders participated in the engagement program and 41 formal submissions were received. Key themes that emerged during this consultation include;
- Climate data sets and modelling
- Water security, availability and use
- Environmental health, ecosystems and water quality
- Improving water-related opportunities for Aboriginal people
- Land and water management and planning
- Strategy development and implementation.
Submissions
The department has collected community and stakeholder submissions for the region along with cultural and general submissions.
- Submission 1 Ricegrowers Association of Australia (PDF 524.8 KB)
- Submission 2 NSW Irrigators Council (PDF 366.4 KB)
- Submission 3 Snowy Hydro (PDF 381.3 KB)
- Submission 4 National Parks Association of NSW (PDF 186.4 KB)
- Submission 5 Edward River Pumpers and Landholders (PDF 300.7 KB)
- Submission 6 Murray Valley Private Diverters (PDF 518.8 KB)
- Submission 7 South Western Water User Association (PDF 180.1 KB)
- Submission 8 Inland Rivers Network (PDF 192.2 KB)
- Submission 9 (PDF 346.3 KB)
- Submission 10 Nature Conservation Council and Healthy Rivers Dubbo (PDF 316.3 KB)
- Submission 11 (PDF 67.7 KB)
- Submission 12 Murray Irrigation (PDF 351.5 KB)
- Submission 13 Murray Regional Strategy Group (PDF 5.5 MB)
- Submission 14 Southern Riverina Irrigators (PDF 186.1 KB)
- Submission 15 Wakool River Association (PDF 634.3 KB)
Submissions have been used to help refine key water challenges for each region and will also be used to progress the development of the draft NSW Murray Regional Water Strategy. The department intends to seek further community feedback, including on a proposed shortlist of actions to address regional water challenges, in mid-2023.