Talking Water - Tuesday 20 October 2026

This week's contents

Operations

• Important update - Quarter 1 invoices
• Talking Water Data

Business

• Women in Water Luncheon
• Reminder - Customer outlet usage survey
  

Industry

• Upcoming Landholder Association AGMs
• Basin Plan - Adjustment to Sustainable Diversion Limits
• Water Sharing Plan Webinar 
• Long-term average annual extraction limit consultation 

Operational Update

Important update - Quarter 1 invoices

As communicated via email yesterday morning, Murray Irrigation is asking customers to please ignore the Q1 1 Jul 2026 – 30 Sept 2026 invoices that were distributed yesterday (19 October 2026), with the due date of 18 December 2026.
 
These invoices have been cancelled, due to a system error which resulted in customers receiving the same invoice twice, but with different invoice numbers. 
 
We wish to advise that there has been a slight delay in distributing the new Q1 invoices today, as originally planned.
 
Please note, the new Q1 invoices will be generated and released to customers by the end of this week. 
 
We apologise for any confusion or inconvenience this may have caused, and appreciate your patience while we resolve this issue.
 
If customers have any questions, please contact the Customer Experience Team on 1300 138 265 or customersupport@murrayirrigation.com.au 

Business News

Women in Water Luncheon a smash hit

Murray Irrigation and Southern Growers welcomed more than 50 guests to our joint Women in Water Luncheon at Tocumwal's Bend Restaurant last week. 
 
The aim of this International Day of Rural Women event was to bring together women across irrigated agriculture to connect, learn and look to the future. 
 
There was a broad mix of age groups in the room, which contributed to what was a successful, inclusive and engaging occasion.
 
The program included a lively and interesting four-person panel discussion, together with a practical presentation on how AI can be used to reduce email overload and promote office efficiency, and information from Murray Irrigation on how we can support customers on farm. 
 
The questions that came from the floor over the course of the program were thoughtful, adding quality and depth to the discussion.   
 
The information sessions were followed by a fantastic lunch and networking.
 
The atmosphere was welcoming and comfortable, with attendees saying they left the event feeling positive and connected to a strong community.

Enjoy some of the vision from the day below. 

The Women in Water Lunch raised more than $1,000, which is being donated to local Can Assist charities to help support the important work they undertake assisting cancer patients across the region. 

Reminder - Customer outlet usage survey

Thank you to customers who have responded to Murray Irrigation's outlet usage survey.
 
Those who are yet to complete the survey have another 10 days to do so, with closing date set for next Friday 30 October 2026. 

Further information, including frequently asked questions, can be found on the Company's website here. 

Industry News

Upcoming Landholder Association AGMs

The West Berriquin Irrigators and Deniboota LHA are hosting their Annual General Meetings next week as follows:

West Berriquin Irrigators AGM 
Date: Tuesday 27 October 2026)
Time: 6.00pm
Where: Deniliquin Sportsman's Arms Hotel 

Contact details and a copy of the AGM agenda are available here. 

Deniboota LHA AGM
Date: Wednesday 28 October 2026
Time: 6.00pm
Where: Caldwell Hall, 181 Yallakool Road 

Please contact Alistair Starritt at denibootalha@gmail.com or 0429 965 357 for further information. 

Basin Plan - Adjustment to Sustainable Diversion Limits (SDLs) 

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) has released its draft Sustainable Diversion Limits Adjustment Mechanism (SDLAM) findings for public comment. 

Submissions will be accepted until 12.00am (AEDT) 1 November 2026.

You can find out more, including how to make a submission here.

The MDBA's draft findings confirm that some SDLAM projects have not been delivered as initially agreed. Basin governments will now need to decide how to respond.

Further environmental water recovery is one mechanism that they can choose to adopt; however a final decision on how to respond has not yet been made.

Murray Irrigation staff will be drafting the Company's submission this week. The primary focus of our submission will be to provide viable alternative options to governments, so they don't target further environmental water recovery in the NSW Murray.

Water Sharing Plan Webinar 

The NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) is hosting a webinar tomorrow, Wednesday, 21 October to provide an overview of its review and remake of the NSW Murray and Lower Darling Regulated Rivers Water Sharing Plan.

This session will explain DCCEEW's proposed changes, provide an update on progress, and outline the next steps in the process. A question and answer session will follow the presentations.

Date: Wednesday, 21 October 2026
Time: 11.00am - 12.00pm 

Long-term average annual extraction limits consultation 

The DCCEEW Water Group is holding public information sessions for licence holders to find out more about long-term average annual extraction limits (LTAAEL) in unregulated inland systems, and how they can help inform the method for LTAAEL compliance assessment.

Click on the button below to register for a consultation session in your area. 

For more information, please contact the DCCEEW Water Enquiries team on 1300 081 047 or water.enquiries@dcceew.nsw.gov.au