The Murray-Darling Association 2025 National Conference saw its new Strategic Plan unveiled, building on the direction of Vision 2025.

Narrandera Shire Council was represented by Cr Jenny Clarke, who presented a report to the Council recently.

Targeted and direct, strategic objectives are to:

• Advocate for Sustainable Water Management

• Strengthen Community and Stakeholder Engagement

• Promote Indigenous Water Rights and Participation

• Enhance Policy and Research Capacity

• Advocate for Climate-Resilient Water Infrastructure.

To implement and monitor progress of the new Strategic Plan, the MDA will:

• Annually develop detailed Action Plans,

• Measuring of Performance indicators, and

• Measuring and evaluating feedback, strategies, reviews, as well as Basin community impacts.

Cr Clarke said by focusing on these strategic objectives, the MDA felt it could play a pivotal role in shaping water policy and advocacy in the Murray-Darling Basin.

“This plan aligns with the MDA’s Vision and provides a roadmap for achieving sustainable and equitable water management across the region,” she said.

The Murray Darling Association (MDA) is the peak body representing Local Government across the Murray Darling Basin, with its membership base divided into 12 separate regions in which councils have common interests.

Its purpose it to provide effective representation of local government and communities at state and federal level in the management of Basin resources by providing Information, facilitating debate and seeking to influence government policy.

Members discussed and reviewed 14 motions ranging from water storage and weir management, meaningful Federal engagement with Basin communities, the long-term impacts of growth on river resources, sustainable water resource planning, as well as broader Basin representation.

The MDA has already begun engaging with state and federal governments and entities and are exploring further engagement opportunities for the year ahead.

Delegates enjoyed a study tour of the Riverina, focussing on the local industries, innovative farming, irrigation, as well as the value of water to the Riverina region.

Attendees also met with staff at the Murrumbidgee Irrigation (MI) Griffith headquarters, where staff presented on, and showcased their irrigation infrastructure in the region, as well as the technology and surge reservoirs used to manage water during high flow periods.

Future planning for the irrigation entity includes the exploration of technology to make their processes more autonomous and to better integrate on-farm, and off-farm.

Following the meeting with MI, attendees met with researchers from the One Basin CRC Griffith Hub, who provided a brief overview of the Griffith Hub’s goals, research and benefit to the Riverina region.

The study tour’s next port of call was the expansive Kooba Station, where station representatives joined the study tour as attendees drove through Kooba Station’s vast fields of syphon irrigated plantations.

Attendees were welcomed by the Whitton Malt House general manager, Kaitlin Leonard, at a lunch that showcased local produce, and delved into the history of the Malt House, its location, development, use of local produce and promotion of local industry and community.

Continuing the focus on sustainably sourced local produce, the study tour took attendees to one of the region’s Aquina Sustainable Murray Cod fish farms, where Aquina’s immense fish farm infrastructure was showcased.

Representatives from Aquina outlined their efforts to ensure minimum water loss, consistent water quality, fish breeding, as well as how (with using a land-based aquaculture model) Aquina’s approach provided one of the lowest environmental footprints in the industry.

Study tour attendees toured the Leeton Rice Mill and explored the efforts of Rice Breeding Australia to future-proof the rice industry in Australia.

Rice Breeding Australia indicated to attendees that they were currently breeding a variety of rice that would be less susceptible to cold weather elements, a potential game changer in water usage in the industry. Rice Breeding Australia estimated that they could take six to 10 years to breed a variety of rice for commercial sale.

Held at the Yoogali Club the MDA’s Conference proper heard from, and engaged with a great selection of guest speakers, including:

• Matthew Dadswell (DCCEEW, division head)

• Janet Anstee (CSIRO head of Aquawatch Australia)

• Dr David Post (CSIRO, research scientist)

• Prof. Mike Stewardson (One Basin,

CRC, CEO)

• Hon Rose Jackson MLC (NSW Water Minister)

• Ms Jacqui Hickey (MDBA, A/g CEO)

• Hon Troy Grant (Inspector-General of Water Compliance), and

• Dr Simon Banks (Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder).

Guest speakers addressed the overarching theme of Basin Collaboration in communities and environment via:

• Six presentations focussing on the Basin Plan implementation and the future of the Plan, water quality in the Basin, governance at the State level and the usage and management of environmental water.

• Two recordings from State and Federal Ministers, and

• Two dedicated Panel Sessions addressing Water Quality and Management in the Basin, and the Future of Basin Policy.

Fourteen motions were raised at the MDA’s AGM ranging from water storage and weir management, meaningful federal engagement with Basin communities, the long-term impacts of growth on river resources, sustainable water resource planning, as well as broader Basin representation.

At the gala dinner sponsor Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s A/g CEO Ms Jacqui Hickey, outlined a collaborative, inclusive, and combined approach to the future of the Basin, drawing focus on the importance of the MDBA and the MDA’s partnership and the benefits that have come from, and would come in future, of the collaboration of the Authority and Association on Basin matters, and the representation of Local Government, communities and industries across the Basin.

The second day of conference had another significant line up of guest speakers, including:

• Federal Shadow Water Minister, Sen. Ross Cadell

• NSW Shadow Water Minister, Steph Cooke MP

• Member for Murray, Mrs Helen Dalton MP

• Elizabeth Stott (Cotton Australia, Chair)

• Nathan Crowley (Rice Growers Association).

Dr Bertie Hennecke, Australia’s Chief Biosecurity Officer, presented on Biocontrol in the Basin. He drew on the MDA’s recent advocacy regarding the management of the European Carp in the Basin’s waterways, focussing their presentation on the Carp Biological Control Program and Biosecurity in Australia’s Waterways.

Presentations and a combined panel session of Shadow Ministers Ms Steph Cooke MP and Hon Nicola Centofanti MLC, as well as Member for Murray Mrs Helen Dalton MP brought focus on the opportunities and challenges faced in the Basin states and regions in future-proofing communities and the environment.

Prof Mike Stewardson raised the Basin’s water challenges, water sharing, the declining trust in institutions across Australia, the outline of the One Basin CRC’s partnership and project management as a broader network, sidelining the traditional silo approach, as well as an outline of the CRC’s current projects and demonstration sites.

The conference’s final Panel Session addressed Food and Fibre in the Basin.

Engaging with Elizabeth Stott, Cotton Australia Chair, CEO Jeremy Cass, Riverina Winegrape Growers, and Nathan Crowley, Rice Growers Association, attendees and presenters discussed the challenges in their respective industries, including market demand, water availability, erratic climate, as well as success stories and opportunities such as technological advancements, practice and policy improvements, resilience through breeding lessons and practices learnt that could be taught and exported to the world.