A turning point for the Upper Murrumbidgee
The Upper Murrumbidgee River sits at the heart of a complex challenge – balancing water needs for communities, industry, agriculture, and the environment. The proposed Snowy Water Inquiry Outcomes Implementation Deed (SWIOID) review presents a rare opportunity to rethink how water is managed, to ensure long-term sustainability and resilience.
Watertrust Australia has been working alongside key stakeholders to explore deliberative decision-making approaches that foster collaboration, transparency, and durable solutions. Here, you’ll find key resources - including our booklet and insights from experts and community voices - all designed to inform and support meaningful progress in water management.
Explore the resources below to learn more
A rare window to move forward
A groundswell of support
Like others, I came to the workshop in November as a sceptic. What I thought would be delivered was someone wanting to sell a solution as the latest marketing ploy with a new buzz word. The workshop offered none of that. The fundamentals of these deliberative processes are unshakeable.
Emeritus Prof John Rodger, Chair, Snowy Advisory Committee Hear it straight from John - watch now
The river is the life blood of our Country. Without the river our Country cannot survive. This has been said by my father and his fathers before him.
Uncle Wally Bell, Ngunawal Elder and Traditional Custodian
The Forgotten River campaign has united diverse voices in respectful dialogue about community values, focusing attention on the upper Murrumbidgee. Now, we need a deliberative decision-making process that equally considers all values and ensures decision-makers commit to outcomes informing policy in a consequential way. With ample goodwill, knowledge, and desire at hand, it’s essential that those in power are truly responsive.
Dr Siwan Lovett, Managing Director, Australian River Restoration Centre Hear it straight from Siwan - watch now
SDM was a bold move; a step into many unknowns. Ultimately it increased understanding, uncovered common ground and enhanced transparency. It produced enduring solutions and shifted the operating environment from conflict to calm.
Ms Daryl Fields, Former Board member, BC Hydro (retired) Hear it straight from Daryl - watch now
Water management is complex and difficult to understand from all perspectives. The inclusion of those down stream affected by up stream changes is essential. I have confidence that the deliberative processes showcased by Watertrust create a common understanding and outcome for all.
Mr Brett Jones, Chief Executive Officer, Murrumbidgee Irrigation
The community needs a different approach to engaging with agencies on water management. Past approaches to consultation have left people feeling disappointed and disconnected with the outcomes. A participatory approach offers community members a genuine seat at the table, and if we get it right, it will be nationally significant.
Mr Andy Lowes, Chair, Upper Murrumbidgee Catchment Network Hear it straight from Andy - watch now
For hydropower, water is gold. Diverse and poorly understood expectations of BC Hydro, government, environmental regulators and stakeholders posed a significant financial risk. Adopting a clear scope, a financial cap and alternatives to flow changes, defined the space for change. In the end, the total cost fell below the cap.
Mr Les McLaren, Assist. Deputy Minister, British Columbia Ministry of Energy and Climate Solutions Hear it straight from Les - watch now
I grew up along the upper Murrumbidgee, growing, appreciating and connecting to it in all its different forms. Communities along the river trust it is being managed with the best available science and tools. It is not acceptable that this is not the case, and our communities expect this to be improved.
Ms Antia Brademann, Facilitator, Upper Murrumbidgee Demonstration Reach
This looks like a really rounded process that gets lots of values and ideas on the table. For the process to work it’s critical we have enough time for the iterative learning.
Dr Danswell Starrs, Director, Water Information Services, ACT Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate
ACT farmers along the Murrumbidgee River, and residents of historic Tharwa village, depend on the river for basic water needs. In drought times the River is so shallow, that to fight the catastrophic Orroral fire of 2020, the helicopters sucked out the little water in our farm dams. There has to be a fairer way to manage the river than this.
Anonymous farmer
Real impact happens when the right pieces align— an opportunity for a tangible change, a legal driver, a committed decision-maker, commitment to build and use a strong evidence base, and a willingness to work together across differences to tackle tough trade-offs. Here, that alignment is in place, and that’s rare.
Ms Lee Failing, Principal, Compass Resource Management
There is a strong willingness among the stakeholders to collectively seek the best possible outcome for all via a respectful, inclusive, collaborative and deliberative decision-making process that has the potential to reveal transformative options unlikely to be derived through less cooperative engagement.
Maxine Cooper, Independent Chair ACT and Region Catchment Coordination Group