Murray Irrigation Year in Review
9 November 2026
A year of progress, investment and positive outcomes:
Looking back on 2025/26
With Murray Irrigation's Annual General Meeting just around the corner, it is a great opportunity to reflect on what has been a significant year of progress for the Company.
The 2025/26 financial year saw Murray Irrigation continue to deliver on our commitment to customers and shareholders, with a strong focus on retaining productive water within the region, investing in critical infrastructure, improving operational efficiency and supporting the communities in which we operate.
Here's a look back at some of the highlights.
Keeping productive water in our region
One of the most significant milestones during the year was the launch of Murray Irrigation's Water Solutions Pilot, an initiative designed to retain productive water within the Company's footprint and support the long-term sustainability of local irrigation.
During 2025/26, Murray Irrigation secured 28,220 water entitlements, including 2,573 entitlements purchased outside the footprint and brought into Murray Irrigation's area of operations.
Importantly, the initiative also received strong support from retiring farmers, with approximately 10% of the general security entitlements purchased within the footprint coming from farmers who chose to sell to Murray Irrigation at market rates to ensure their water remained available for productive use locally.
Better information, smarter infrastructure management
February 2026 marked the completion of Murray Irrigation's Foundational Asset Condition Assessment Project (FACAP), the largest one-off condition assessment the Company has ever undertaken.
Delivered in collaboration with engineering consultancy Beca Australia, the project uses high-resolution aerial imagery, LiDAR, bathymetry and machine learning technology to provide a detailed picture of the condition of the Company's extensive infrastructure network.
Covering approximately 4,000 kilometres of earthen channels and drains and 17,000 water delivery structures, the data from this project is already helping staff make more informed decisions about maintenance and asset management.
The technology is improving the ability to identify potential issues, prioritise works based on condition and risk, reduce unnecessary travel and accelerate our proactive asset management approach to infrastructure maintenance.
Combined with the Company's ongoing investment strategy, FACAP is an important step towards ensuring critical infrastructure can be maintained and renewed efficiently into the future.
On completion of the FACAP, Beca Australia also took the time to review the Company’s assets and long-term infrastructure investment strategy, including the Company’s focus on growing the Murray Irrigation Investment Fund to provision for future maintenance, life extension and replacement. Beca Australia agrees with the approach that the Company is taking to ensure infrastructure can be maintained and replaced as needed for future generations. A copy of their assessment can be found here.
Getting the important maintenance work done
Alongside our annual Winter Works and regular maintenance activities, the team also progressed important trials aimed at improving the long-term performance of the network.
At Sandhills Crossing on the Mulwala Canal, a six-month erosion protection trial demonstrated positive results, with the tested products proving suitable for reducing erosion, extending asset life and improving water delivery.
Further aquatic weed treatment trials were also undertaken in the Deniboota Main Canal, with the aim of improving water flow capacity and reducing the need for mechanical weed removal.
Murray Irrigation will continue exploring practical and cost-effective ways to improve the reliability and efficiency of the network.
Investing in our communities
This year Murray Irrigation has continued to play an active role in supporting the people, industries, organisations and communities that make this region such a great place to live and work.
Through our annual sponsorship program, Murray Irrigation contributed $25,000 to eight local community and school initiatives. Recognising the growing demand for support within the education sector, the program was expanded in 2025/26 to include a dedicated education stream, helping fund initiatives that support student learning, development and wellbeing.
Our Learn to Swim Program was another standout, with more than 1,300 students from across the footprint participating.
Outside these annual sponsorship programs, the Company also supported a number of industry and wellbeing events, including RGA’s Rice Connect conference, the Irrigation Research & Extension Committee’s first Women in Irrigated Agriculture conference, the local Can Assist High Tea fundraiser and Deniliquin Mental Health Awareness Group’s community wellbeing event, Brave Enough.
Murray Irrigation staff at the RGA conference held in Leeton last year.
Jelena Dokic receives a standing ovation following her ‘Brave Enough’ address.
Building a stronger financial foundation
Behind much of the work delivered during the year is Murray Irrigation's ongoing commitment to strengthening our financial position and ensuring the Company is well placed to meet our future infrastructure maintenance and replacement requirements.
The Murray Irrigation Investment Fund generated more than $5.8 million in investment income during 2025/26, with the Fund growing by more than $32 million since the investment strategy commenced in 2022/23. Total Investment Fund returns for the four financial years 2022/23 to 2025/26 amounted to $27 million, an average of $6.8 million per annum, all reinvested to fund the long-term maintenance, life extension and replacement of the Company’s infrastructure. It is important to note here that these increases to the Investment Fund are not coming from customer fees.
Reducing reliance on fixed customer fees
Further embedding this commitment to customers, following extensive consultation, the Board approved the implementation of a new fee structure to take effect from 1 July 2026. This new fee structure, developed through a comprehensive review process, reduces the average portion of fixed costs to customers from 81% down to 53%, reduces or maintains average annual costs for 80% of customers and better aligns water delivery fees with customer water use, while continuing to reward customers with a minimum 5% Water Users Credit.
Looking ahead
The 2025/26 financial year has been one of significant activity across Murray Irrigation, with important milestones achieved in water security, infrastructure management, customer and shareholder engagement and community support.
None of these achievements happen in isolation. They reflect the commitment of Murray Irrigation's employees, the ongoing engagement of customers and shareholders, and the strong partnerships developed with government, industry and the broader community.
As we look ahead to the AGM and the year to come, we thank everyone who has contributed to Murray Irrigation's progress throughout 2025/26.
Shareholders are encouraged to participate in the upcoming AGM by either voting online prior to the AGM, or attending in person or online on 19 November 2026.
Further details on the Company’s performance during the 2025/26 financial year, and how to participate in the AGM can be found on the Company’s website murrayirrigation.com.au/AGM2026.
