A New South Wales government plan to improve river flows after catastrophic fish deaths in the northern Murray-Darling Basin is in doubt, after the federal government refused a $360 million funding request. Environment advocates and experts say the NSW government must act on its promise to restore the Darling-Baaka river and follow through on recommendations from its own expert panel, with one landholder warning of further fish kills as soon as next summer.
Days after winning the 2023 election, Premier Chris Minns and senior state ministers visited Menindee and committed to investigating the mass fish kills. Since then, Water Minister Rose Jackson said the government had developed a series of "potential rule-based changes to water sharing plans" to improve connectivity and deliver long-term benefits for the Murray-Darling Basin. She wrote to Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt requesting support for the proposal and up to $360 million "for water recovery towards the Basin Plan." The funding request was rejected. On Friday, Jackson said her government "is now considering next steps and other options for improving connectivity."
The proposal followed the establishment of an expert panel under the northern basin connectivity program, which recommended limiting upstream over-extraction during dry periods to help maintain flows in tributaries into the Darling-Baaka river down to Menindee Lakes. This was aimed at reducing the risk of catastrophes like fish kills and large-scale drying. The panel delivered its final report two years ago, but the state government has yet to implement it.
Stuart Le Lievre, a grazier on land between Tilpa and Louth in far-western NSW, expressed concern about the lack of action. He warned that without reasonable flows, "there will be another fish kill" potentially as soon as summer, and believed it was the state government’s responsibility to act regardless of federal funding. "Our communities, our biodiversity – don’t we deserve fresh water?" he said. "Bourke will run out of water. Wilcannia, Tilpa, Louth will run out of water. But also what about our stock and domestic water for those that live on the river like I do?"
Cate Faehrmann, the NSW Greens’ water spokesperson, criticized the government's approach, stating that the northern basin connectivity program was meant to "turn the tide on mass fish kills in the Barwon-Darling and blue-green algae outbreaks across the northern basin." She questioned the government's expectation that the Commonwealth should fund the entire initiative and expressed disbelief that, after years of analysis and expert advice, the government would consider abandoning the program.
Emma Carmody, South Australia’s River Murray commissioner, emphasized the importance of connectivity, stating, "It’s what stands between a healthy river and fish kills, blue-green algae outbreaks, and communities left without safe water." She noted that the NSW government’s decisions would affect other basin jurisdictions, including South Australia. "Water from Menindee Lakes supplies the River Murray, and when it arrives in poor condition, it’s South Australian communities and the South Australian government left to manage the consequences and cover the cost."
A federal government spokesperson stated that they were awaiting the outcome of several reviews, including of the basin plan and the Water Act. They welcomed efforts by the NSW government to deliver genuine environmental outcomes by improving connectivity in the Northern Basin and would continue to work with them to secure long-term sustainability for Basin communities and the environment.