The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP  
Minister for the Environment and Water

        The Hon Tara Moriarty MLC
NSW Minister for Agriculture

Suzanne Orr MLA
ACT Minister for Climate Change, Environment, Energy and Water      

MEDIA RELEASE

Sunday 1 December 2024

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Upper Murrumbidgee gets a new lease on life

Work is set to begin on the $20.26 million Restoring the upper Murrumbidgee River Program as the Albanese Labor Government delivers the Murray–Darling Basin Plan in full.

The Australian, NSW and ACT governments have signed a funding agreement to improve the health and sustainability of this neglected stretch of river for the communities, businesses and environments that rely on it.

This is a significant milestone after years of limited progress under the Federal Liberal National Government.

On average, less than 10 per cent of inflows at Tantangara Dam are released downstream into the upper Murrumbidgee, affecting river health and threatening drinking water supplies to communities including Cooma in NSW and Tharwa in the ACT.

The upper Murrumbidgee is also the ACT’s third source of drinking water.

Reduced inflows and declining river health are placing native species at risk, including the endangered Macquarie Perch.

The program delivers on-ground river restoration, and better science and monitoring, in the upper parts of the Murrumbidgee River between Tantangara Dam and Burrinjuck Dam.

The program delivers more than $15 million over the next three years to improve river health and resilience, while tackling declining water quality and improving habitat for native and endangered species

It also delivers $5 million over the next five years to increase knowledge of water quality, riparian health and the status of the native species of the region.

In total, the Australian Government has committed more than $55 million to a range of measures to improve the health of the upper Murrumbidgee.

With Basin states and territories, the Albanese Government is safeguarding the Basin’s river system.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for the Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek:

“The Albanese Government is pleased to work with states to deliver the Murray−Darling Basin Plan in full, including ensuring the Basin’s rivers are healthy and sustainable.

“Working with the NSW and ACT governments, we want to see more drinkable and swimmable water in the Murrumbidgee. We want to see our native species, like the Macquarie Perch, thrive too.”

Quotes attributable to the NSW Minister for Agriculture, Tara Moriarty:

“The NSW Government is pleased to be working with the Australian and ACT governments to deliver this significant new program that will improve the health of the upper Murrumbidgee River for generations to come.

“This program will provide significant benefits to NSW by investing in on-ground works that will improve water quality and habitat for endangered and native aquatic species, while also support research and monitoring projects.”

Quotes attributable to ACT Minister for Climate Change, Environment, Energy and Water, Suzanne Orr:

"This is a great opportunity to work across the Australian, NSW and ACT governments to restore the health of the river which is such an iconic part of the landscape and important to many communities.

“Water has no borders and it requires a whole of government, community and industry partnership to get the best environmental and social outcomes from our regional waterways. We must all work together to protect the Murrumbidgee River for not only ourselves but future generations."

ENDS