The Northern Basin Environmental Watering Group (NBEWG) helps coordinate the planning and delivery of water for the environment in the northern Murray–Darling Basin.
Established in 2019, it aims to enhance connectivity and improve environmental outcomes.
Membership
The NBEWG includes representatives from:
- Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (Chair)
- Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
- Murray–Darling Basin Authority
- New South Wales Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
- Queensland Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers
- Northern Basin First Nations peoples.
It also includes observers from the South Australian Department for Environment and Water and the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning.
The role of the NBEWG
The NBEWG provides advice and guidance on the planning and delivery of water for the environment across the northern Basin.
It focuses on the coordination of inter-valley and cross-border water, including:
- water allocations held by environmental water holders
- planned environmental water managed under relevant state water plans
- water allocations that may be voluntarily used for environmental benefit.
Catchment-scale operations and decision-making remain the responsibility of the states.
Activities and initiatives
The NBEWG aims to:
- provide a platform to discuss and enhance river connectivity
- support event-based delivery of water for the environment
- improve communication and reporting
- put in place strategies to foster community engagement
- hold an annual planning meeting for environmental water holders and river operators
- ensure planning considers the values of First Nations peoples
- establish and maintain a connection to the Environmental Water Committee.
Decision making
The NBEWG respects the independence of each member jurisdiction and environmental water holders.
The NBEWG seeks to make decisions by consensus. If the NBEWG can't reach a consensus, they can escalate issues to the Environmental Water Committee. However, the relevant environmental water holder or agency will have the final decision over water use.