Murrumbidgee Project - Reconnecting River Country Program

About the Murrumbidgee Project

The Reconnecting River Country Program is an Australian Government funded initiative under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. The Australian Government has committed $274 million to fund the program until December 2026.

In the Murrumbidgee project area, funding to December 2026 allows the program to:

• finalise and submit a Final Business Case in February 2025
• progress actions to provide river operators with the authorising environment to deliver higher environmental flows
• negotiate with affected landholders located within the Phase 1 Murrumbidgee Project area in accordance with the Landholder Negotiation Scheme contained in [Schedule 9 of the Water Management (General) Regulation 2025] partial delivery of the flow corridor to facilitate environmental flows in line with the Murrumbidgee Regulated Water Sharing Plan (after December 2026)
• deliver infrastructure projects removing and replacing critical low-lying public infrastructure, including the construction of the new Mundarlo Bridge near Gundagai and the raising of Mundowy Lane near Collingullie (Murrumbidgee)
• scope public mitigation infrastructure by December 2026 (for delivery after 2026 subject to funding and Basin Plan continuation)
• design and deliver First Nations enabling measures
• develop an improved flow notification system.

The Australian Government historically made significant investment in recovering water from community for the environment. Realising the full benefits of this recovered water is not possible without delivery of the Murrumbidgee Project.

The Final Business Case summary  for the Murrumbidgee project outlines the recommended upper environmental flow limit of 40,000ML/day at Wagga Wagga and a phased delivery approach to maximise progress within the current Basin Plan timeframe.

It is important to note, the upper flow limit is significantly below the 2022 flood level and below minor flood level in most areas.

The Australian Government supports the project’s delivery to December 2026, following consideration of the Final Business Case.

About the upper flow limit

The upper flow limit of 40,000ML/day at Wagga Wagga was recommended because it offers the greatest environmental and cultural benefits, while aligning with the goals of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

This upper flow limit also performed better than other options considered across other key indicators and maximises the Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism offset potential, reducing the need for further water recovery (water buybacks) and minimising the impacts on NSW communities.

To view the program’s inundation mapping and to find out more about the Murrumbidgee Project’s upper flow limit visit inundation mapping.

Project timing

The Murrumbidgee Project is proposed to be delivered in 2 phases:

• Phase 1 (2025 – 2026) focuses on reaching agreements with the majority of the most affected landholders, scoping public works, delivering First Nations measures and an improvedf low notification system. This phase aligns with current Basin Plan timeframes and may support higher environmental flows, up to current Water Sharing Plan limits, after 2026, but only if all necessary agreements are in place
• Phase 2 (2027 to 2031) will work to secure the full flow corridor, negotiate with the remaining affected landholders located within the Phase 2 area of the project program area, infrastructure works, and First Nations enabling measures. This phase is subject to additional Australian Government funding and continuation of the Basin Plan.

No higher environmental flows will occur before December 2026.

Environmental flows above the current water sharing plan limits to the upper flow limit of 40,000 ML/day cannot commence until the NSW Minister for Water declares that all negotiations under the LNS are complete. This will not occur until after 2031.

Establishing a flow corridor in the Murrumbidgee

The program seeks voluntary negotiations to secure the flow corridor by establishing flow easements to the upper flow limit (40,000ML/day at Wagga Wagga). A flow buffer of 5,000ML/day at Wagga Wagga is included as a risk mitigation measure. This buffer is not a target for flow delivery but is used to define the extent of the flow corridor and associated compensation determined during negotiations. It provides a safeguard for landholders in the rare event that flow targets are exceeded due to exceptional circumstances or inherent uncertainties in weather and flow forecasting, and unexpected tributary inflows.

Properties most affected by potential environmental flow inundation in the Phase 1 area (between Darlington Point and Balranald) have been prioritised for flow corridor negotiations by December 2026.

Negotiations with landholders outside the Phase 1 delivery area are expected to commence after December 2026, subject to a Basin Plan continuation and additional funding.

The level of inundation will vary between properties. For landholders with minimal inundation impacts, the program is exploring alternative approaches. While the preferred approach is to secure flow easements, there may be circumstances where a Deed of Release is more suitable. Once finalised and approved, the program will communicate these options to stakeholders with minimal inundation impacts.

When the full flow corridor is secured, future environmental flows to the upper flow limit of 40,000ML/day will connect with over twice the area of wetlands and nearly triple the extent of river red gum forests and woodlands compared to current conditions. Once commenced, over the long-term, environmental flows above 32,000 ML/day and up to 40,000 ML/day at the Wagga Wagga gauge are expected to occur on average about 3 to 5 years out of every 10 years. Smaller releases contributing to flows up to 32,000 ML/day at Wagga Wagga may be more frequent. Find out more about the likely frequency, timing and duration of the Proposed environmental water releases in the Murrumbidgee (PDF. 1.1MB).

Engagement with landholders outside of Phase 1

Negotiations with landholders outside of the Murrumbidgee Project’s Phase 1 delivery area are proposed to begin after December 2026, once Basin Plan continuation and funding commitments are confirmed.

Until then, the program will continue to engage with landholders in partnership with Local Land Services outside of the Phase 1 delivery area to:

• raise awareness of the program
• understand potential benefits and impacts
• discuss and validate inundation mapping.

The program’s interactive inundation mapping allows landholders to view the extent of inundation on their land associated with the upper flow limit. Private landholders who may be affected by the flow corridor are encouraged to register with the program to find out what this means for their property.

To view the program’s inundation mapping and to find out more about the project’s upper flow limit visit inundation mapping.

Ongoing engagement across the Murrumbidgee project area

The program will continue engagement with public authorities and First Nations communities to raise awareness of the program, scope public mitigation works, develop and deliver First Nations enabling measures and progress an improved flow notification system by December 2026. Delivery of infrastructure works will occur after December 2026 (subject to funding and continuation of the Basin Plan).

How to find out if you are a potentially affected landholder

Do you own or lease land along the Murrumbidgee River system?

If so, your land may be affected by the Reconnecting River Country Program’s proposed flow corridor designed to increase the number of times rivers connect to wetlands and floodplains in the Murrumbidgee Valley.

We are currently asking landholders to identify if they may potentially be affected by the program’s proposed flow corridor along the Murrumbidgee River.

Below you will find two easy steps to help identify if your land may be affected, and if so, how to have a conversation with us about what this could mean for your property.