Northern Basin Update - September 2015
September 2015
MDBA meets in Moree
The Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) spent a busy two days in Moree last week talking about the northern Basin with community members and the Northern Basin Advisory Committee.
This meeting follows the recent successful trips to the northern Basin by the MDBA Chair Neil Andrew and Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment, Mr Bob Baldwin. Mr Andrew and some MDBA staff stayed on in the northern Basin after Moree, continuing the important discussions with local communities, irrigators and industry representatives about issues of concern in the Namoi, Border Rivers and Gwydir regions.
The Authority heard updates on the Northern Basin Review including projects to improve knowledge about the likely impacts of alternative SDL settings and the environmental water requirements for the Condamine−Balonne and the Barwon−Darling.
Engaging with local representatives
The Authority also met with the Northern Basin Advisory Committee (NBAC) in Moree. The advice, views and local knowledge provided by NBAC in turn complement the work of MDBA on the Northern Basin Review. Northern Basin communities can feel confident that their views are heard by the MDBA, through this northern Basin representative committee.
The Authority members were pleased to meet with members of the irrigation industry from the Gwydir, Macquarie, Namoi and Border Rivers valleys. The meeting discussed the industry’s concerns, particularly about the modelling that informs water recovery in each of their valleys, and understanding more about what the desired environmental outcomes are for each valley. MDBA will hold a workshop with irrigators to further discuss these issues.
A visit to Gomeroi (Kamilaroi) country
The Authority was welcomed by Alf Priestley from the Gomeroipeople with a warm welcome to country.
The Authority members were also taken on a journey of discovery by Alf and Jason Wilson, with a walk through Gomeroi country. Alf and Jason enthusiastically explained the sites, flora and fauna that are important to their people.
The Authority attended the opening of the new Northern Basin Aboriginal Nations (NBAN) office in Moree. This office will enable better connection between NBAN and the Northern Basin community.
Members of the Authority and agency staff are very grateful for the hospitality of the Moree community and would particularly like to thank the Moree Plains Shire Council Mayor, Katrina Humphries for her help in arranging the Authority’s visit to the black soil plains of Moree.
MDBA chief to take up a new role
Murray–Darling Basin Authority chief executive Rhondda Dickson has announced that she will be taking up a Deputy Secretary role at the Department of the Environment when her term finishes later this month.
Dr Dickson said her four years at the MDBA had been highly rewarding and it was a pleasure to support successive governments to deliver important water reforms that would bring long-term benefits to the Australian community.
Read more
The Northern Basin Review
The MDBA is leading a northern Basin review to improve the knowledge and understanding of the science and social and economic impacts of Sustainable Diversion Limits in the north.
The review is examining the 143 GL northern Basin zone shared reduction and the 100 GL Condamine-Balonne local reduction.There are three components to the review and a series of projects for each. The three components are:
- Social & economic
- Hydrological modelling
- Environmental science
The projects are on track to being completed by the end of 2015, with the results being integrated into water recovery scenarios through to early 2016.
We continue to work with the states and the Northern Basin Advisory Committee. If the review results in proposed changes to the Basin Plan, an amendment (to the Basin Plan) would be initiated in mid-late 2016 and finalised in 2017.
A summary update of the review’s progress follows(status @ 30 July 2015).
Social & economic component
Project:Floodplain graziers’ benefits
Description:We are developing an economic model to test the impacts of different water recovery options on output and profitability of floodplain grazing systems, in the lower Balonne region.
Status: Consultants have gathered information from landholders in the lower Balonne area to relate flood inundation to farm production. A recent meeting of experts (that included community representatives) has discussed this information and suggested that further information is needed to assess the benefits of environmental flows to floodplains in the lower Balonne.
Project: Social and economic assessment of impacts
Description: Our aim is to develop an economic model that is capable of assessing the social and economic outcomes for different water recovery scenarios. Land use, the regional economy and communities are all considerations in the modelling.
Status:We have visited 21 communities across the northern Basin to gather information from farmers, businesses and councils that will inform the development of the economic modelling. In turn, the modelling will be used to consider the social and economic impacts for different water recovery scenarios.
Hydrological modelling component
Project:‘Northern Standard’ Scenario
Description:This benchmark scenario represents a fully implemented Basin Plan. We will use it to test different water recovery scenarios.
Project:Phase 1 water recovery scenarios
Description: This is a ‘range finding’ phase to test the sensitivity of environmental outcomes to different water recovery options in the Condamine-Balonne.
Project:Phase 2 water recovery scenarios
Description:We are looking atour hydrological modelling based on revised environmental water requirements. This phaseis also informed by the results of Phase 1. We are also modelling alternative Sustainable Diversion Limits (SDL) options during this phase.
Status for the above three projects: We have completed the Northern Standard and Phase 1 modelling.
We have found that the recoveryof some water upstream of Beardmore Dam is feasible - a detailed analysis isbeing included in Phase 2. The environmental outcomes for the Narran Lakes are highly dependent on the location of water recovery−the Balonne Minor and Narran River are upstream of the lakes.
We have found that the environmental outcomes in the Barwon−Darling have some dependency on the apportionment of the northern zone shared reduction. We are exploring this further as part of Phase 2.
Environmental science component
Project:NSW floodplain and wetland vegetation mapping and classification
Description:We are mapping the floodplain and wetland vegetation communities in select regions of northern NSW. This will improve our understanding of the extent of floodplain vegetation in key areas.
Status:The Field work and mapping is well underway in both the Barwon−Darling and thelower Balonne. We are on track to complete draft digital maps by the end of October 2015.
Project:Floodplain inundation mapping
Description: We are developing a model to accurately map floodplain inundation under a range of different flows and conditions. This will allow us to define the type and frequency of flows required to inundate different floodplain vegetation communities in the Darling and Balonne systems.
Status:We will complete all modelling by the end of October 2015. The modelling will contribute to the review of environmental water requirements.
Project:Waterhole refuges
Description:We are reviewingour knowledge and collectingmore data to define the flows that are required to fill waterholes after prolonged dry periods.
Status:We have mapped the physical attributes and models are now being finalised for the targeted waterholes – this should be completedin September.
Barwon River waterhole
Project:Fish responses to changes to flows
Description:We are mapping the location of key fish habitat along the Barwon−Darling (a 1,100 km stretch between Walgett and Wilcannia). This will help to improve our understanding of the type of flows needed to support fish and to define the flows required to inundate theirhabitat.
Status:We have documented fish communities and created conceptual flow models at the valley and reach-scale.A more detailed reach-scale assessment has focused on the Barwon−Darling and this will be available soon.
Project:Review of waterbird breeding in response to flows at Narran Lakes
Description:TheNarran Lakes model that considers waterbirds breeding in response to flows, is being reviewed and updated. This will allow us to better predict the flows required to support large scale bird breeding.
Status:We have completed the first stage of this workwith the remainder due to be completed in September 2015.
Project:Water requirements for floodplain vegetation in the lower Balonne in Queensland
Description:We aim to better understand the relationship between flows and floodplain vegetation for the lower Balonne floodplain.
Status:The QueenslandDepartment of Science, Information Technology and Innovation is delivering this project and will provide interim results in December 2015, with the project to be completed by 2017.
Project:Basin-wide vegetation extent and condition mapping
Description:Monash University and its project partners have mapped the extent and condition of selectvegetation types using remote sensing technology.
Status:The initial mapping has been completed and it will give us the capability to monitor the distribution and condition of this vegetation.
Our websitehas more information about the Northern Basin Review: ()
Need to know more or contact us?
Visit the MDBA web sitewhere you can now find more northern Basin information.
You can also get more information on the MDBA’s northern basin program by emailing Frank Walker, Director, Northern Basin at or call Frank on 07 4637 8847.
Email:
Phone: 1800 230067