SDLAM project withdrawals
Seven SDLAM projects led solely or jointly by NSW have been withdrawn from the package of SDLAM measures to be delivered by 31 December 2026.
Construction update
Billabong Creek Regulators
Construction has begun to replace 2 ageing weirs along Billabong Creek at Hartwood and Wanganella with new regulators incorporating vertical slot fishways.
Work will continue throughout the year with practical completion scheduled for December 2026. Commissioning and handover of the regulators is scheduled for early 2027.
Visit Billabong Creek Regulators
Work underway to replace regulators on Merribit and Bookit creeks
Work has started to replace ageing regulators along Merribit and Bookit creeks near Barham.
Visit the Koondrook-Perricoota Forest Project
Changed traffic conditions in place near Wanganella and Conargo
Changed traffic conditions are in place along some roads in the Wanganella and Conargo areas as part of works to replace or upgrade infrastructure along the Yanco Creek system.
About SDLAM measures
Part of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, the Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism (SDLAM) is a program designed to achieve similar or improved environmental outcomes for rivers, wetlands and wildlife using less water.
SDLAM can be achieved through supply, including constraints, or efficiency measures. Supply measures involve improvements to the way rivers are managed, while efficiency measures involve activities to change water use practices, to save water for the environment. For more information about how the measures work, visit the Murray-Darling Basin Authority's website.
In 2017, the Basin states and the Australian Government agreed on a package of 36 SDLAM projects across the southern connected Murray-Darling Basin, with the aim of recovering 605 GL of water each year for the river system.
An additional 3 SDLAM projects were agreed to by Basin States and the Australian Government in 2025, including 2 projects put forward by NSW.
The NSW Government has been solely or jointly responsible for 22 active SDLAM projects, of which 9 projects have already been completed and are delivering Basin Plan outcomes, enabling up to 250 GL of water each year to remain available for productive use while improving environmental outcomes.
NSW is focused on delivering as many of our projects or elements of projects that we can by 31 December 2026, working in collaboration with local communities, key stakeholders and other Basin states, with funding from the Australian Government.
The SDLAM Acceleration Program
The NSW Government is moving forward with 5 accelerated SDLAM projects across the Murray and Murrumbidgee rivers in southern NSW by 31 December 2026.
The 5 accelerated SDLAM projects will deliver up to 45 GL of the outstanding amount needed to reach the 605 GL target required by the Basin Plan each year, delivering strong ecological outcomes for the Murray-Darling Basin.
These projects will also play a key role in creating jobs in regional areas and will provide a much-needed boost to the regional economies where the projects are being delivered.
Program update
The NSW Government is making strong progress on delivering water infrastructure works across the Murray and Murrumbidgee regions of southern NSW under the SDLAM Acceleration program. We’re working with 15 construction contractors and suppliers across more than 30 sites, including more than 20 new sites since the start of 2026. Several pieces of infrastructure on private land are now close to handover to landholders and are already helping to improve water quality and river health.
See the project pages below for updates on how each project is progressing.
The NSW Government is replacing 2 ageing weirs along Billabong Creek at Hartwood and Wanganella with new regulators incorporating vertical slot fishways. These works are being delivered as part of the Yanco Creek Modernisation Project
Restoring and enhancing the river habitat across the interconnected Frenchmans Creek and Carrs, Capitts and Bunberoo systems.
Modernising infrastructure to enable smarter use of water in the Yanco Creek system.
Reducing impacts of water releases on landholders adjacent to the forest.
Improving connectivity between the Murray River, its main anabranch, the Edward-Kolety river system, and other surrounding creeks.
Improving the delivery of environmental water in the Yanga and Murray Valley (Millewa) National Parks.
SDLAM project withdrawals
The Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) Basin Officials Committee has approved the withdrawal of SDLAM measures that cannot be delivered by 31 December 2026, including 7 projects that are solely or jointly led by NSW.
The withdrawn NSW projects are:
- 3 Reconnecting River Country Program constraints measures projects (2 NSW projects, 1 NSW/VIC project)
- the Menindee Lakes Water Savings Project (NSW)
- the Enhanced Environmental Water Delivery Project (EEWD) (NSW/VIC/SA)
- the Improved Regulation of the River Murray Project (IRoRM) (NSW/VIC)
- the Murrumbidgee Airspace Management Project (NSW).
The 3 constraints measures projects being delivered through the Reconnecting River Country Program are being withdrawn from SDLAM because of their large scale, complexity and long-term delivery timeframe. The NSW Government remains committed to delivering these projects in full provided timely funding is made available and is working to secure arrangements that support delivery beyond 2026.
The 4 other projects are being withdrawn due to timeframes, complexity and funding – not because they aren’t worthwhile to continue pursuing or capable of delivering environmental benefits.
Amendments to other SDLAM projects
The Basin Oversights Committee has also approved amendments to 7 other NSW SDLAM projects to accurately reflect what will be built and operational by December 2026.
The amendments reflect changes from what was originally notified in 2017, based on the outcomes of detailed designs, impact assessments and extensive community consultation.
Changes have been made to the:
- Yanco Creek Modernisation Project
- Murray and Murrumbidgee National Parks Project
- Lower Murray: Locks 8 and 9 Project
- Nimmie-Caira Infrastructure Modifications Project
- River Murray Increased Flows Project
- Restoring Murray Waterways Project
- Computer Aided River Management Project.
Project modelling has also been updated to reflect the achievable environmental benefits, scope revisions, removal of components that will not be operational by the end of 2026, operating rule changes and strategy updates to finalise projects.
The amendments include removing the Lake Victoria Inlet Regulator component of the Lower Murray: Locks 8 and 9 Project, which will now focus on delivering the weir pool manipulation and Carrs, Cappitts and Bunberoo Creeks system connectivity components of the project.
Amendments to The Living Murray Koondrook-Perricoota project were also considered by the MDBA’s Basin Officials Committee, however consensus on what should be included at SDLAM reconciliation was not reached. This is because the inlet regulator is undergoing repair works which has paused environmental watering until after 31 December 2026.
The MDBA will finalise the SDLAM reconciliation in late 2026 to determine the final supply contribution from the completed projects.
Further information about the project withdrawals is available in the Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s Basin Officials Committee June 2026 communique.
Other SDLAM projects
A $180 million significant water saving project for NSW, and particularly for the Murrumbidgee region.
Withdrawn projects
Menindee Lakes Water Saving Project
The Water Group will not be proceeding with the Menindee Lakes Water Savings Project. For more information on the withdrawal of the project, see the Menindee Lakes Project webpage.
Yanco Creek Offtake Project
The Basin Officials Committee approved the withdrawal of the Yanco Creek Offtake Project from the SDLAM program in February 2024 given studies found minimal water savings would be achieved. For more information on the withdrawal of the project, see the Yanco Creek Offtake Project webpage.
Reconnecting River Country Program
The Reconnecting River Country Program has been withdrawn from SDLAM but will continue under the current Federation Funding Agreement outside of the SDLAM framework. For more information, see the program webpage.
Business information
The Water Group hosted sessions in Deniliquin and Moama in February 2025 to provide businesses with information about upcoming tenders and the range of goods and services needed for delivery of the SDLAM Acceleration program. Download a copy of the presentation and sign up for the Water Group’s water infrastructure business register via the links below.
Register to be notified about business opportunities to do with the SDLAM Acceleration program.
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Contact us
For more information call us on 1300 081 047 or email us at water.enquiries@dcceew.nsw.gov.au