Talking Water - Tuesday 25 August 2026
This week's contents
Sustainability Product
- Round 2 announcement
Operations
- Apply to remove Deemed Usage
- Talking Water Data
Business
- Drone Demonstration & Info Session
Industry
- Riverina LWMP Round Two funding projects
- Environmental watering
- Upcoming GRDC events
Community
- Rural Tree Planting Scheme
Sustainability Product - Round 2
Murray Irrigation’s Sustainability Product round 1 closed on Thursday 13 August 2026 at 5.00pm, with the final deadline for customers to accept offers expiring on Thursday 20 August 2026.
The second round of Sustainability Product expressions of interest will open at 9.00am on Wednesday 2 September 2026, with a total volume of 79,672ML on offer. Expressions of interest will close at 5.00pm on Tuesday 8 September 2026.
Further information on price per ML, finance options and the detailed terms and conditions will be sent to customers via email and text message on 1 September 2026.
This date has been chosen to give customers the ability to digest the next allocation announcement that is due to be released by NSW DCCEEW on 1 September 2026 and make informed water purchasing decisions.
As communicated via the Customer Update on 12 August 2026, if the second round of Sustainability Product is undersubscribed, the water remaining will be offered to all Murray Irrigation customers via a public auction.
Further information on how customers can participate if the public auction is required will be communicated once the second round of Sustainability Product offers are complete.
If customers have any further questions, please contact the Customer Experience team on 1300 138 265 or customersupport@murrayirrigation.com.au
Ron McCalman
Murray Irrigation CEO
Operational Update
Apply to remove Deemed Usage
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.
Click on the button below to download an application form.
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.
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
Murray Irrigation Drone Demonstration & Info Session
Thank you to everyone who attended the Murray Irrigation Drone Demonstration and Information Session last Friday.
We were joined by Tex Flack from Rotex Australia and Greg Sefton from Sefton Agronomics on a property near Finley, where they shared insights into the use of drone technology in agriculture.
Topics included the application of herbicides, insecticides and fungicides, as well as crop mapping, monitoring and farm management opportunities.
Pictured: Tex Flack from Rotex Australia demonstrating the benefits of drone technology for spraying, mapping and crop monitoring.
Industry News
Riverina LWMP - Round Two funding projects announced
The Riverina Sustainable LWMP would like to thank all participants who applied this year for Round Two funding of the Land and Water Management Plan.
This round has now been completed and is closed for the remainder of 2026.
The LWMP has approved 11 projects across the Murray irrigation footprint under this funding round. The recipients include:
- The Murray Regional Strategy Group - to support the preparation of a submission into the Murray-Darling Basin Plan Review.
- Southern Growers - to support a corn irrigation project.
- The Irrigation Farmers Network - to support a wheat trial.
- Southern Riverina Irrigators - to support the preparation of a submission into the Murray-Darling Basin Plan Review and other ongoing advocacy activities.
- The five Local Landholder Associations (LHAs) - to provide ongoing support for landholders.
- Funding to support the community-led Basin Basin Plan forum held in Barham earlier this year.
For the first time in the history of the Riverina LWMP, the Committee was also privileged to award $5,000 scholarships to five up and coming university students who are studying a broad range of skills.
The LWMP Committee would like to remind applicants that this funding round is now closed. We look forward to opening the next round of funding in early 2027.
If you have any questions please email office@lwmp.com.au
Upcoming environmental watering
Environmental water is expected to be delivered to Tuppal, Yarrein, Cockrans and Jimaringle creeks, along with several smaller creeks and wetlands across the Murray Irrigation area, starting from 1 September.
This watering will help maintain aquatic habitat, support native fish and wildlife, and improve connectivity across these important creek systems.
Environmental water managers will also be closely monitoring unregulated flows moving through the Murray and Edward-Wakool system during spring.
Watering actions will be coordinated with river conditions to complement natural flow events and maximise environmental outcomes.
Planned deliveries will be regularly reviewed against river levels, weather forecasts and catchment conditions.
Where appropriate, watering actions may be modified, delayed or reduced to minimise risks and avoid exacerbating local flooding.
For more information, please contact the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW):
James Dyer | james.dyer@dcceew.nsw.gov.au
Anthony Wilson | anthony.wilson@dcceew.gov.au
Kelly Marsland | kelly.marsland@dcceew.gov.au
Upcoming GRDC events
Spray Day - Corowa
Craig Day (Spray Safe & Save) will host this workshop on best practice spray application, including nozzle selection, spray quality classifications, tank mix influences on spray quality, spray planning, water quality, weather, decontamination, hormesis and local issues of concern.
When: 1 September
Where: Club Corowa, 30 Betterment Parade, Corowa
Time: 8.45am - 3.00pm
Register here.
Harvest Set Up Workshop – Jerilderie
Hear from industry experts and local growers on the integration of harvest weed seed control (HWSC) options, harvester fire prevention, accurate measurement/management of harvest losses and harvest storage.
When: 4 September
Where: Venue TBC, Jerilderie
Time: 9.00am - 3.00pm
Register here.
Community News
Rural Tree Planting Scheme
RGA Landcare is a proud supporter of the Edward River Council (ERC) Rural Tree Planting Scheme.
This scheme encourages landholders to plant native vegetation to enhance the biodiversity of the region.
Orders are now open for ERC ratepayers to purchase subsidised trees grown by McKindlays Riverine Nursery for delivery in May 2027.
More information, including a species list and order form, can be found by clicking on the button below.
Orders close Friday 18 September 2026.
