Talking Water - Tuesday 22 September 2026
This week's contents
Operations
- Daylight savings and Water Orders
- Apply to remove Deemed Usage
- Automated invoicing
- Talking Water Data
Business
- Public auction announced
- Women in Water Luncheon
- Winter Works Wrap Up
- Season Outlook Briefings
Industry
- New Basin Plan Review Discussion Materials Released
- Elmore Field Days
Operational Update
Daylight Savings and Water Orders
Daylight savings begins Sunday, 4 October 2026.
If you are placing an order to end after this date, the water ordering system will automatically increase the order by an hour to the normal finish time to enable lodgement.
Our team will manually adjust all operating orders ending after 4 October to the correct operating time for the channel system.
For more information, please ring our Customer Experience Team on 1300 138 265 or email:
customersupport@murrayirrigation.com.au
Apply to remove Deemed Usage – Applications due by 5.00pm Friday 25 September 2026
A reminder that if you are not planning to use your Stock & Domestic pipe outlet this season, you can apply to reverse the 2ML of usage.
The fee is $77.68 per pipe, and applications are due by 5.00pm Friday 25 September 2026.
Please note that Murray Irrigation conducts an audit during the season to confirm the pipe is not used.
Click on the button below to download an application form.
Automated Invoicing
As part of Murray Irrigation’s ICT Transformation project, Project Streamline, Customers have begun to receive automated invoices, statements and notifications from our new finance system Workday.
These notifications will initially be received from
murrayirrigation@workday.com.
If you are concerned that an email, invoice or statement you have received from Murray Irrigation may not be legitimate, please contact the Customer Experience team on 1300 138 265 or
customersupport@murrayirrigation.com.au.
Further information on this update can be found via the Customer Update below.
Talking Water live data
Live data for Murray Irrigation water delivery, channel flow, Water Exchange temporary trade and DCCEEW water allocations is available on our Talking Water
Data webpage below.
To see the latest data for Murray system storages and rivers, including dam heights, visit the Murray Darling Basin Authority's River data page.
Additional resources
MDBA weekly report
NSW Water allocation statements
Rainfall and evaporation
Barmah Narrows trade balance
The information and data provided in Talking Water is for general reference purposes only. We take best endeavours to ensure accuracy.
Business News
Sustainability Product Round 2 Complete.
33,470ML available for public auction
As announced in last week’s
Talking Water and again by Customer Update earlier today, Expressions of Interest for Murray Irrigation’s second round of Sustainability Product closed at 5.00pm on Tuesday 8 September. This round was oversubscribed by 3,428ML. Not all offers were accepted, which has left a total of
33,470ML available for public auction exclusive to Murray Irrigation customers.
Murray Irrigation will partner with Ruralco Water to deliver a public auction of the remaining temporary water,
commencing from 28 September 2026.
Further information on the auction process and parcel sizes can be found in the Customer Update below.
Women in Water Luncheon
Women working across irrigated agriculture are invited to come together for a special Women’s Lunch at The Bend in Tocumwal on Thursday, 15 October, facilitated by Murray Irrigation and Southern Growers.
Running between 10am and 2pm, the morning will feature three information sessions, including a panel discussion, followed by a lunch and networking opportunities.
Tickets are $22.50 per person, which includes a two course lunch and a drink on arrival. All ticket proceeds, less the $2.50 ticket administration fee, will be donated to local Can Assist charities, helping support the important work they undertake in communities across the region.
Winter Works Wrap Up
Murray Irrigation has wrapped up the majority of its 2026 Winter Works program, completing approximately $10 million in maintenance and capital works to enhance its water delivery network and increase the life of its irrigation assets.
Murray Irrigation's annual Winter Works program is critical to ensuring its irrigation network, which is made up of more than $1 billion worth of assets, continues to deliver water reliably and efficiently for generations to come.
Murray Irrigation's 2026 Winter Works Program at a glance:
- Work orders - approximately 3500
- Structural Inspections - 76
- Concrete remedial works on regulators and offtakes - 122
- Erosion control sites - 130
- Channel reconstruction - 6.9km
- Civil upgrades - 24
- Desilting works - 289km
- Slip meter outlets serviced - 192
- Regulators/offtakes serviced - 1334
- Aquatic weeds treatment - 64km
A big thank you goes to all our staff and contracting partners on a job well done. We also extend our appreciation to our customers for their patience and support during the delivery of this essential infrastructure program.
You can read more about this year's program in the below Media Release.
2026 Season Outlook Briefings
Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Season Outlook Briefings last week in Deniliquin, Finley and Wakool. We were fortunate to welcome a fantastic lineup of speakers, including Marianne Graham, Eric Snodgrass, Priyantha Jayakody and Patrick Carolan, who provided expert insights into the water market, seasonal weather outlook and allocation modelling.
More than 50 guest attended the events with the Water Allocation Outlook being of particular interest to attendees. Water availability and input cost were identified by attendees as being key factors influencing their business decision making for this season, making this a timely event.
All presentations will be available on our website in the coming weeks.
Industry News
New Basin Plan Review (BPR) Discussion Materials Released
The MDBA is hosting a series of exclusive roundtable discussions on the Basin Plan Review (BPR) in Sydney this week.
Ahead of the roundtable discussions, the MDBA has released the following materials which will inform the activities taking place in Sydney:
MDBA publishes Basin Plan Review discussion materials | Murray–Darling Basin Authority
The MDBA has advised these materials are intended to capture emerging policy directions, and do not represent settled positions or decisions.
Murray Irrigation staff have reviewed the materials and identified a few areas where the Company will seek further detail including:
- Proposal to introduce end-of-system flow objectives and outcomes. (i) what is specifically being considered for the NSW Murray; (ii) how it would be enabled under the NSW water management framework; and (iii) what it might mean for licence-holders in terms of future water availability and access.
- Proposal to limit annual Sustainable Diversion Limit (SDL) credits. (i) what is specifically being proposed for the NSW Murray; (ii) how it may change existing SDL compliance arrangements; and (iii) why the MDBA has not investigated the cause of substantial SDL credit accumulation over the past seven years.
- Proposal to strengthen the water quality management obligations that are imposed on states. How does the MDBA intend to do this, and what will be needed to meet the new requirements.
- The Edward-Wakool (Kolety), and River Murray floodplain/anabranches have been identified as priorities for action on native fish. What specifically will be required.
- Social and economic considerations. Proposals aimed at ensuring the long-term resilience and well-being of irrigation-dependent communities are missing from the MDBA's discussion materials.
Company staff will engage directly with the MDBA in order to better understand any potential implications for Murray Irrigation, its shareholders and customers, and communities within our footprint.
For those who missed out on an invite to Sydney, the MDBA will be hosting an online public webinar on 30 September, between 10am and 11am.
With regard to next steps, it is unlikely the MDBA will consult any further on the BPR. Instead, the Authority is scheduled to provide its final advice to the Federal Water Minister, Murray Watt, in December 2026.
Elmore Field Days
The Elmore Field Days are just around the corner. With more than 700 exhibitors attending, this event offers the opportunity to explore everything from tools and hardware through to the latest advances in agricultural machinery and technology, kids activities and more.
When: 06-08 October 2026
Where: 48 Rosaia Rd Elmore Vic 3558
Cost: Adults $25, Children 13-17 $15, Children under 12 FREE
