Talking Water - Tuesday 3 March 2026
This week's contents
Operations
- Talking Water Data
Business
- Murray Irrigation Strategy Session & Board Meeting
- External Water Policy update
- 2025 AGM questions on notice
- Australian Dairy Conference
Industry
- Resilient Sheep, Resilient Systems - tonight at Moulamein
- REMINDER - Round two of LWMP funding now open
- Latest NSW DCCEEW Water Allocation Statement
Community
- Mid-Murray Citizen Science Project
Operational Update
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 Choke 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 Strategy Session & Board Meeting
Murray Irrigation held our annual strategy session at Yarrawonga last Tuesday 24 and Wednesday 25 February.
A major focus of this session was on a review the company is undertaking of our structural fees and pricing mechanisms.
A key theme to emerge from this discussion was the importance of engaging with customers prior to the Board making a decision on any possible change to the company’s fees and pricing structure.
In this regard, Murray Irrigation is planning to host various engagement opportunities in the coming months. Customers can expect more information shortly on how they can participate in this engagement process.
The two-day strategy session was followed by the first official Board meeting for 2026, on Thursday 26 February.
Items discussed during this meeting included Murray Irrigation's strong year to date financial performance and the company's response to the Basin Plan Review Discussion Paper.
More information on both the February Board meeting and the annual strategy session, including the fees and pricing review, can be found in the below update from Murray Irrigation Chair Phil Snowden.
External Water Policy update
We're now into week four of the 12-week Basin Plan Review consultation process.
In week one, Murray Irrigation's Water Policy Coordinator met with shareholders to talk about the key risks and opportunities for our footprint. Thank you to shareholders who participated in these sessions.
The company's CEO and Water Policy Coordinator have also attended an MDBA-hosted Roundtable with our industry partners.
This industry Roundtable confirmed we are all on the same page with regard to prioritising solutions that don't need more water, and that do look after our communities.
This approach has been communicated clearly to the MDBA's CEO and senior executives. This approach will also guide the company's further research, and submission writing, which will begin this week.
You can access more detail about the Basin Plan Review here.
Alongside the Basin Plan Review, the MDBA is also seeking feedback on the management and operation of the Menindee Lakes.
Menindee management and operational decisions are important for General Security allocations in our footprint. The future management of Menindee also has implications for the next version of the Basin Plan. You can find out more here.
Any feedback you may have on Menindee management and operations is due with the MDBA by 5.00pm Friday 1 May.
2025 AGM questions on notice
During the 2025 AGM proceedings, Murray Irrigation's Chair Phil Snowden offered shareholders in attendance the opportunity to email further questions for the company to answer on notice.
In the interest of transparency, the questions and answers to these questions have been published on our website
(click on the button below) for the benefit of all shareholders.
Australian Dairy Conference
Murray Irrigation's Glenn McCalman, Lauren Noonan and Tom Kindred attending the recent Australian Dairy Conference.
Members of Murray Irrigation's Customer Experience team were among a record 950 people to attend the recent 2026 Australian Dairy Conference in Melbourne.
It was great to see several Murray Irrigation dairy customers also present.
This year's conference program revolved around the theme: ‘More than milk: Building trust, value and legacy’.
With dairy farming a key industry within the local footprint, the conference enabled our team to learn about the emerging challenges and opportunities that are shaping the future dairy landscape.
It also offered a great opportunity for Murray Irrigation staff to network with farmers, other service providers and industry leaders, and highlight the work we are doing to support the local dairy industry.
Industry News
Resilient Sheep, Resilient Systems - tonight at Moulamein
Learn how to build resilience to drought using genetics, strategic feeding, and condition score management at this free BestWool/BestLamb (BWBL) workshop this evening.
When: Tuesday 3 March
Where: Moulamein Bowling Club
Time: 6.30pm - 9.30pm
Meals will be provided.
This workshop will be presented by industry expert Dr Mark Ferguson.
Topics covered will include:
- Selecting sheep that hold condition when feed is tight
- Cereal grazing, containment feeding, and feedlotting lambs
- Using condition scores to trigger management decisions
- SHIELD genetics: breeding for biological resilience
- Preparing your flock for the net drought.
To register, contact Rick Ellis, Central Murray BWBL Coordinator, on 0428 372 357 or email rick.ellis@wmlig.org
This event is supported by BWBL, Agriculture Victoria, Riverina Sustainable LWMP and the Western Murray Land Improvement Group.
Round two of LWMP funding now open
A reminder that Expressions of interest (EOI) for round two project funding of the Land Water Management Plan (LWMP) are now open, and will run through until March 27.
For the first time, a scholarship will be offered to any student located within the footprint (including towns) studying an agricultural related tertiary course.
EOI must be submitted via one of the five landholder associations (LHA): Denimein, Deniboota, Wakool, West Berriquin or Berrigan Irrigators Council (BIC).
EOI forms are available on the LWMP website, which you can find by clicking on the button below.
Alternatively, you can email office@lwmp for more information.
Latest NSW DCCEEW Water Allocation Statement
The NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) announced yesterday (2 March) that there will be no change in allocations to General Security entitlements for the NSW Murray.
The total cumulative allocation to General Security entitlements remains at 20% for the 2025/26 water year.
You can read the full announcement below.
You can subscribe to DCCEEW's updates by email and download its announcements here.
Community News
Mid-Murray Citizen Science Project
Learn how you can get involved in this Mid-Murray Citizen Science Project and contribute to monitoring our waterways.
