The Australian Government is driving the delivery of the Murray–Darling Basin Plan by providing a payment of $310,500 to New South Wales to support the implementation of environmental projects that will create jobs in Basin communities and improve the health of northern rivers.
Minister for Resources and Water Keith Pitt said this final payment is part of a $4.6 million investment granted to New South Wales under the Northern Basin Toolkit Package to undertake feasibility studies for environmental projects that will improve environmental outcomes in the northern Basin.
“To ensure money is reaching communities faster, the Government has made over $90 million of the $180 million Toolkit package available to New South Wales and Queensland to fast-track the delivery of these projects,” Minister Pitt said.
“Delivery of three NSW projects should commence this year and provide much-needed economic stimulus to regional communities and improve environmental outcomes in the northern Basin.
“The projects will enable delivery of flows to connect the river to key areas of the floodplain in the Macquarie Marshes, improve native fish access to aquatic habitat in the Barwon-Darling river system and Border Rivers region, and roll out modern fish screens to stop fish from being sucked into pumps and diverted into channels.
“This is about getting on with delivering the Coalition Government’s $180 million Toolkit measures to 2024 in partnership with the New South Wales and Queensland governments.”
The Northern Basin Toolkit is designed to provide genuine complementary measures to improve the health of northern rivers. This supports keeping an additional 70 GL of water in productive use under the Murray–Darling Basin Plan in New South Wales and Queensland.
“The Australian Government will continue to work collaboratively with state and territory colleagues to achieve a healthy river system that supports thriving agriculture and communities,” Minister Pitt said.
For more information visit the Northern Basin Toolkit page on the DAWE website or the Northern Basin Projects page on MDBA’s website.