A better way to secure the Upper Murrumbidgee’s future
The Upper Murrumbidgee River has long been at the heart of cultural, environmental, and agricultural life for communities across the region. Today, more than ever, its future depends on how water is managed in the face of climate variability, competing demands, and the need to balance economic, environmental, and cultural outcomes.
Watertrust Australia has been engaging with stakeholders in the Upper Murrumbidgee region to understand their perspectives on how best to move forward with water management challenges. As part of this effort, two workshops were held last year to explore a structured deliberative process that has been successfully used overseas to resolve complex water governance issues. These sessions provided insights into how such an approach could be adapted for the region – there was broad consensus that this method could provide the pathway needed.
At the centre of this effort is the push to initiate a review of the Snowy Water Inquiry Outcomes Implementation Deed (SWIOID). This review is yet to begin, but it presents a rare opportunity to shape the future of water management in the region – one that reflects the deep interconnections between people, place, and policy. Rather than a traditional top-down approach, deliberative processes offer a means of structured, inclusive dialogue where all voices are heard, and solutions are tested against real-world implications.
Key to this work is ensuring that those most affected by water decisions – farmers, Traditional Custodians, local communities, businesses, and environmental groups – have a genuine role in shaping the outcomes. By bringing diverse perspectives into a shared conversation, we can break down silos and build trust. This is not about short-term fixes; it’s about creating a governance model that delivers enduring benefits for people and ecosystems alike. International experience has demonstrated the power of collaborative decision-making. Participants find common ground where once there was division, and new pathways emerge that balance economic productivity with ecological health.
Watertrust continues to advocate for key decision-makers to act on the opportunity the SWIOID review presents and to make it happen using these new collaborative approaches. Without action, the opportunity to establish a more inclusive, transparent, and effective water governance system could be lost.
The Upper Murrumbidgee River faces complex challenges. With climate pressures intensifying and communities calling for a more inclusive approach to water governance, this is a moment to rethink how decisions are made. Watertrust remains committed to working alongside stakeholders to drive lasting positive change; ensuring water is managed as a shared asset that sustains people, places, and industries for generations to come.
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Key to this work is ensuring that those most affected by water decisions – farmers, Traditional Custodians, local communities, businesses, and environmental groups – have a genuine role in shaping the outcomes.