Western Murray Land Improvement Group (WMLIG) collaborated with the NSW government's Reconnecting River Country Program (RRCP) to gather feedback from the community about removing barriers that hinder water delivery for the environment in the southern-connected Murray-Darling Basin. Through 7 regional events held over two months, WMLIG engaged landholders and community members, resulting in a detailed 72-page "Data to Actionable Insight" report.
The report covered community opinions on various aspects, including flow options, inundation extent, environmental risks and benefits, mitigation measures, landholder negotiation, and community co-design. It contained valuable information gleaned from workshops, surveys, meetings, and conversations, along with 130 geo-located constraints suggestions within more than 200 comments from participants.
Constraints, referring to obstacles in water flow, were identified as barriers to maintaining healthy river, wetland, and floodplain ecosystems. The RRCP aimed to address these impediments, which had been persistently problematic despite previous government efforts. In response, the program underwent a relaunch after community consultation, with selected community organizations leading local feedback projects for improved engagement.
WMLIG orchestrated an extensive engagement campaign encompassing workshops, an online survey, meetings, and media outreach. Workshops held across the Murray inland delta involved ecologists and experts who facilitated discussions and collected data on proposed flow options and inundation maps. A working dinner and surveys further captured insights on negotiation frameworks, mitigation measures, and potential impacts.
The outcome was a distinct contribution to the ongoing struggle to remove constraints in environmental water management. The community-led process was lauded for its effectiveness compared to previous government-led efforts. The report highlighted the abundance of local knowledge and commitment to addressing environmental issues associated with RRCP's flow scenarios. However, it also noted skepticism about governments' ability to access and utilize this valuable knowledge effectively.
WMLIG's experience revealed that deeper engagement led by local experts can yield valuable information for programs that previously faced engagement challenges. The positive feedback centered on the combination of government information and local knowledge, though concerns remained due to the lack of complete government data for environmental risk assessments. The report concludes that the community's recommendations are a step toward progress, but their adoption by RRCP leaders remains uncertain.
Full report can be viewed below.
This project was funded by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment.
The report covered community opinions on various aspects, including flow options, inundation extent, environmental risks and benefits, mitigation measures, landholder negotiation, and community co-design. It contained valuable information gleaned from workshops, surveys, meetings, and conversations, along with 130 geo-located constraints suggestions within more than 200 comments from participants.
Constraints, referring to obstacles in water flow, were identified as barriers to maintaining healthy river, wetland, and floodplain ecosystems. The RRCP aimed to address these impediments, which had been persistently problematic despite previous government efforts. In response, the program underwent a relaunch after community consultation, with selected community organizations leading local feedback projects for improved engagement.
WMLIG orchestrated an extensive engagement campaign encompassing workshops, an online survey, meetings, and media outreach. Workshops held across the Murray inland delta involved ecologists and experts who facilitated discussions and collected data on proposed flow options and inundation maps. A working dinner and surveys further captured insights on negotiation frameworks, mitigation measures, and potential impacts.
The outcome was a distinct contribution to the ongoing struggle to remove constraints in environmental water management. The community-led process was lauded for its effectiveness compared to previous government-led efforts. The report highlighted the abundance of local knowledge and commitment to addressing environmental issues associated with RRCP's flow scenarios. However, it also noted skepticism about governments' ability to access and utilize this valuable knowledge effectively.
WMLIG's experience revealed that deeper engagement led by local experts can yield valuable information for programs that previously faced engagement challenges. The positive feedback centered on the combination of government information and local knowledge, though concerns remained due to the lack of complete government data for environmental risk assessments. The report concludes that the community's recommendations are a step toward progress, but their adoption by RRCP leaders remains uncertain.
Full report can be viewed below.
This project was funded by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment.