The Commonwealth Environmental Water Office Environmental Activities Framework (CEAF), previously known as the Investment Framework, outlines arrangements relating to the use by the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH) of the proceeds from the sale of annual water allocations to fund environmental activities. It describes the general approach taken by the CEWH to identify environmental activities, such as infrastructure works, to help improve the delivery of Commonwealth environmental water, that could potentially be funded under the CEAF.
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Funded activities
CEAF Funding has been awarded to:
- NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, $300,000 (exc GST) of funding on a 50:50 cost sharing arrangement to fund the removal of blockbanks along Ross Billabong. This work, under the larger Toorale program of infrastructure works, will increase flows to the Darling, improve fish passage connectivity between the Warrego and Darling Rivers, and help improve the ecological values and processes for the Warrego and Darlings rivers
- Renmark Irrigation Trust (RIT), $222,000 (exc GST) to contribute to the earthworks and the modification and extension of RIT infrastructure to enable the delivery of environmental water to four new floodplain sites within the Renmark area.
- NSW Department of Planning and Environment (National Parks and Wildlife Service), $1,353,640.00 (Ex GST) to address barriers to fish passage and stabilise erosion risks at priority sites along the Breakaway channel in the southern section of the Macquarie Marshes Nature Reserve. This will improve outcomes from the delivery of water for the environment in the Macquarie Marshes.
- Murray Irrigation Limited, $440,275 (incl. GST) for works along the Cockrans Creek to install two open box culverts and one floating fence, to enable increased flows down the creek. This will improve the longitudinal movement of fish through Cockrans Creek and downstream, to help maintain and improve the resident native fish population by improving habitat and the dispersal of native fish through provision of higher flow rates and improved fish passage. The works complement an upgrade to the Mascotte Escape funded by NSW EHG.
- North East Catchment Management Authority, $800,000 (excl. GST) to address the barrier to native fish passage by the Installation of a rock-ramp fishway at Tea Gardens Weir on the Ovens River in Victoria. The works will have a significant positive impact on the overall population and resilience of threatened fish species and support ongoing native fish restoration efforts. The works is co-funded with the Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action.
- North Central Catchment Management Authority, $1,600,000 (Excl. GST) to address the barrier to native fish passage through the construction of a vertical fishway at Taylors Creek Weir to enable upstream native fish movement and connectivity from the Loddon River through to the Gunbower system, improving upstream and downstream fish migration. The project is co-funded with the Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action.
Summaries
Ross Billabong Block Bank Removal Project
| Catchment: | Warrego and Darling rivers, NSW |
| Objective: | To restore natural connection along existing flow paths between the Warrego and Darling rivers |
| Timing: | Currently scheduled for completion June 2023 (subject to favourable weather conditions) |
| Project proponent: | NSW Department of Planning and Environment |
| CEWH contribution: | $300,000 |
The project involves the removal of a levee bank at the western end of Ross Billabong, on the Warrego-Darling floodplain, between Bourke and Louth in north-western NSW.
The project draws on First Nations knowledge collected during the Toorale Water Infrastructure project. The project has been designed to minimise impacts to Aboriginal cultural heritage and supports the recognition and maintenance of Aboriginal cultural values at the site. On-ground cultural surveys have been completed, and the Toorale Kurnu Baakandji Joint Management Committee and other register Aboriginal parties consulted as part of the Aboriginal Heritage Impact Permit application.
The project complements other works to improve the operation and maintenance of water infrastructure at Toorale National Park and State Conservation Area. The project directly aligns with the expected ecological outcomes of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
Project benefits
Removal of this levee bank will restore natural connection along existing flow paths between the Warrego and Darling rivers. This will help to restore natural flows to the billabong. It will also increase flows to the Darling River, improve connectivity and fish passage between the Warrego and Darling Rivers.
Project timelines
The project was approved in June 2021 and is scheduled to be completed by June 2023. NSW Department of Planning and Environment – Environment and Heritage Group and the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder are contributing equally to the project.
For more information please contact:
CEWO Local Engagement Officer
Jason Wilson (Walgett, NSW)
Email: jason.wilson@dcceew.gov.au
Phone: 0418 210 389
Northern Basin Delivery Director
Mike Peat
Email: michael.peat@dcceew.gov.au
Other Links
Email: ewater@dcceew.gov.au
Twitter: @theCEWH
Facebook: @theCEWH
Renmark Wetland Works
| Catchment: | Murray River, SA |
| Objective: | To enable the delivery of Commonwealth water for the environment to wetland sites in the Renmark district |
| Timing: | 2021 – 2023 |
| Project proponent: | Renmark Irrigation Trust |
| CEWH contribution: | $220,000 |
The Renmark Wetland Works project involves infrastructure installations and modifications, as well as earthworks to facilitate the delivery of water for the environment to four wetland sites in the Renmark district on land managed by the Renmark Paringa Council.
Works are to be undertaken at Bookmark Creek Wetlands Main Basin and Northeast Basin, Twenty First Street Bridge North wetland and Pony Club wetland. The sites are all on the Bookmark Creek floodplain, an anabranch of the River Murray and will be complementary to the Commonwealth environmental watering that already takes place in Bookmark Creek, the Renmark district, and the Riverland region more broadly.
Bookmark Creek has also recently been awarded Commonwealth funding through the Murray-Darling Communities Investment Package to help reinstate natural habitat conditions within the creek. Works under this CEWH-supported project will complement these Commonwealth funded works. Wetlands adjacent to the creek will be able to be watered with the potential to provide return flows and connection between the floodplain and the creek.
The area has high social and recreational value to the regional community and is the traditional home of the First Peoples of the River Murray and Mallee Region.
Project benefits
The project and subsequent delivery of Commonwealth water for the environment to these sites will generate significant environmental activity including:
- improved abundance and condition of floodplain and wetland vegetation;
- enhanced habitat for native birds and frogs;
- support of nationally threatened species in the area such as southern bell frog;
- improved cycling of carbon and nutrients through increased connectivity between floodplains and wetlands with Bookmark Creek and ultimately the River Murray channel; and
- support of a landscape-scale recovery of the wetlands and floodplains in the South Australian Riverland region.
Project timelines
The agreement with Renmark Irrigation Trust was signed in June 2021 and the project is due to be completed in 2023. As of November 2022, the planning and design works are completed pending approval, high flows in the area may result in delays to completion.
For more information please contact:
CEWO Local Engagement Officer
Richard Mintern
Email: richard.mintern@dcceew.gov.au
Phone: 0437 218 649
Southern Basin Delivery Officer
Lucy Carlile
Email: lucy.carlile@dcceew.gov.au
Other Links
Email: ewater@dcceew.gov.au
Twitter: @theCEWH
Facebook: @theCEWH
Macquarie Marshes Fish Passage Project
| Catchment: | Macquarie River, NSW |
| Objective: | To improve fish passage, connectivity and stabilise erosion at the internationally significant Macquarie Marshes |
| Timing: | 2022 – 2024 |
| Project proponent: | NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service |
| CEWH contribution: | $1.35 million |
The Macquarie Marshes are one of the largest remaining inland semi-permanent wetlands with a diverse range threatened species and endangered ecological communities. The Marshes are home to a variety of frog, fish, waterbirds, reptiles, and vegetation communities. They contain nationally significant waterbird breeding sites and provide an important refuge for wildlife during dry times.
The Macquarie Marshes Fish Passage Project will address barriers to fish passage and stabilise erosion at six priority sites in the southern section of the Macquarie Marshes Nature Reserve. The work will help reinstate connectivity through parts of the Marshes and enable native fish to access important wetland habitat while maintaining flows through the Nature Reserve.
The Macquarie Marshes provide important habitat for native fish at critical life stages as well as providing a movement corridor between the Barwon and the Wambuul/Macquarie River. There are numerous structures and barriers that restrict native fish movement and access to habitat in the Marshes. The structural integrity and erosion issues at several structures within the Southern Nature Reserve risk altering flows through the Macquarie Marshes which may impact on these important wetland ecosystems.
Works will be undertaken at priority sites along the Breakaway Channel in the southern section of the Macquarie Marshes Nature Reserve, which is in central north-west NSW, north of Warren and west of Quambone.
Project benefits
The works will generate significant environmental benefits including:
- improved fish passage at 6 priority sites in the Ramsar-listed Southern Nature Reserve;
- enhanced access to around 186km of aquatic habitat in the Macquarie Marshes and Wambuul/Macquarie River;
- stabilisation of stream bed erosion;
- increased longitudinal river connectivity through the Southern Marshes; and
- enhanced environmental outcomes for native fish from delivery of water for the environment in the Macquarie Valley.
The project will enhance the benefits of actions under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan and build on fish passage outcomes from related projects planned in the Barwon-Darling. It will also complement related works in the Macquarie Marshes enhanced water project | Water (nsw.gov.au)
Project timelines
The grant agreement with NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service was signed in October 2022 and the project is due to be completed in 2024.
As of December 2022, the planning and design works are well underway with the team working out the best designs to address erosion and fish passage while maintaining flow distribution.
For more information please contact:
CEWO Local Engagement Officer
Jason Wilson (Walgett, NSW)
Email: jason.wilson@dcceew.gov.au
Phone: 0418 210 389
Northern Basin Delivery Officer
Nerida Sloane
Email: nerida.sloane@dcceew.gov.au
Other Links
Email: ewater@dcceew.gov.au
Twitter: @theCEWH
Facebook: @theCEWH
Cockran Creek River Connectivity Project
| Catchment: | Edward Kolety -Wakool, NSW |
| Objective: | To improve connectivity, fish passage and delivery of water for the environment through the Cockran and Jimaringle Creek systems |
| Timing: | 2022 – 2024 |
| Project proponent: | Murray Irrigation Limited |
| CEWH contribution: | $440,275 |
The Cockran and Jimaringle creeks are ephemeral waterways that form part of the wider Edward Kolety-Wakool system in southern NSW. These creeks support a high proportion of native fish including threatened species such as the Murray cod, trout cod, silver perch and Murray crayfish at all stages of their lifecycles. These creeks also provide important refuge habitat during periods of drought.
The Cockran Creek Connectivity project will improve the longitudinal movement of native fish through Cockran Creek and further downstream, helping protect and support resident native fish populations. The project will increase the ability of environmental water managers to deliver flows through the creeks, which in turn provides greater opportunities to support refuge pool habitat.
The works along Cockran Creek include the installation of two open box culverts to enable increased flows down the creek and a flood tolerant fence crossing. The works complement a recent upgrade to the Mascotte Escape funded by NSW Department of Planning and Environment, and grant funding under the Commonwealth Healthy Rivers Program to Murray Irrigation Limited to improve and restore the Cockran and Jimaringle Creek system.
The proposed works also contribute to the objectives of NSW Murray-Lower Darling Long-term Water Plan. This includes in its list of funding opportunities to improve environmental outcomes, the need to "Remove block-banks, modify restrictive culverts and install new escape outlets throughout the Jimaringle Cockran Creeks system to enable more efficient and effective delivery of environmental water".
Works will be undertaken at a site north-east of the township of Wakool on Cockran Creek, which is part of the Murray Irrigation Limited delivery network.
Project benefits
The works will generate significant environmental benefits including:
- increased river connectivity from the Cockran and Jimaringle Creeks, which forms important refuge habitat for threatened native fish species;
- improved fish passage connectivity through the Cockrans/Jimaringle Creek systems;
- enhanced flow capacity through the system, up to 200 megalitres per day without affecting crossings; and
- the ability to provide flows to maintain refuge pools.
Project timelines
This project was approved in August 2022. The Cockran Creek Connectivity project is due to be completed in 2023. Infrastructure works are scheduled to commence in May 2023.
For more information please contact:
CEWO Local Engagement Officer
Anthony Wilson (Albury, NSW)
Email: anthony.wilson@dcceew.gov.au
Phone: 0419 188 430
Central Basin Delivery Officer
Kate Reid
Email: katherine.reid@dcceew.gov.au
Other Links
Email: ewater@dcceew.gov.au
Twitter: @theCEWH
Facebook: @theCEWH
Tea Gardens Fishway Project
| Catchment: | Ovens River, Victoria |
| Objective: | To improve fish passage and enhance aquatic habitat connectivity in the Ovens River |
| Timing: | Currently scheduled for completion June 2024 (subject to favourable weather conditions) |
| Project proponent: | North East Catchment Management Authority |
| CEWH contribution: | $800,000 |
The Ovens River is a Victorian heritage river. It is one of the few major rivers in the Murray-Darling Basin that are not affected by dams. Restoration efforts over the last two decades have seen considerable enhancements to aquatic and riparian habitat, bank stabilisation, and recovery of threatened native fish species including Murray cod and the Macquarie perch.
Tea Garden Weir is one of the few remaining barriers to native fish movement within the Ovens River system. Installation of a rock-ramp fishway at Tea Gardens Weir will allow the movement of native fish from the Murray River upstream into the Ovens River and its tributaries. This will provide an additional 270 km of aquatic habitat for native fish. Improved habitat connectivity and fish passage will have a significant positive impact on the overall population and resilience of threatened fish species in the Ovens River and support ongoing native fish restoration efforts.
The project is co-funded with the Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action under the Victorian Building Works stimulus package.
Works will be undertaken at Tea Garden Weir, located in the Ovens River near the regional town of Wangaratta, north-east Victoria.
Project benefits
The works will generate significant environmental benefits including:
- improved fish passage through the lower Ovens River for nationally important native fish species including silver perch, trout cod, Macquarie perch and Murray cod;
- enhanced access to around 270 km of aquatic habitat in the Ovens River and its tributaries from the Murray River to Porepunkah Weir;
- increased longitudinal river connectivity enabling greater physical and genetic linkages between native fish populations; and
- improved environmental outcomes for native fish from delivery of Commonwealth water for the environment in the Ovens River.
The project will support ongoing programs to re-establish threatened fish populations in north east Victoria and builds on state-led aquatic habitat restoration programs to restore the Ovens River.
Project timelines
The Tea Gardens Fishway Project was completed in May 2023. Long-term evaluation of the fishway will be carried out to determine the hydraulic and ecological performance of the fishway and the benefit to native fish population.
For more information please contact:
CEWO Local Engagement Officer
Anthony Wilson (Albury, NSW)
Email: anthony.wilson@dcceew.gov.au
Phone: 0419 188 430
Other Links
Email: ewater@dcceew.gov.au
Twitter: @theCEWH
Facebook: @theCEWH
Taylors Weir Fishway Project
| Catchment: | Murray - Loddon River, Victoria |
| Objective: | To improve fish passage and enhance aquatic habitat connectivity in the Murray - Loddon River |
| Timing: | Currently scheduled for completion by June 2024 (subject to favourable weather conditions) |
| Project proponent: | North Central Catchment Management Authority |
| CEWH contribution: | $1,600,000 |
Taylors Creek Weir is the last of 11 major structures inhibiting native fish migration and population recovery in the Gunbower and lower Loddon system. The Taylors Weir fish passage project involves the construction of a vertical fishway at Taylors Creek Weir to enable upstream native fish movement and connectivity between the Murray River, Gunbower Creek system and through to the Loddon River. The project will connect approximately 400km of waterways of the Gunbower Creek and Loddon River systems to 500km of the Murray River. The project will significantly expand habitat access for a number of native fish populations and link them genetically by allowing upstream fish migration and downstream dispersal.
Taylors Weir fishway project is part North Central CMA’s Native Fish Recovery Plan in the Gunbower and lower Loddon systems which aims to restore river native fish populations and improve waterway health.
The project is co-funded with the Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action under the Victorian Building Works stimulus package.
Works will be undertaken at Taylors Weir on Taylors Creek, located in the north-central region of Victoria.
Project benefits
The works will generate significant environmental benefits including:
- improved fish passage between the Murray River and the Loddon River systems;
- safe upstream migration and downstream dispersal of native fish populations in the Loddon and Gunbower systems;
- expanded aquatic habitat range by linking approximately 400km of streams and waterways in the Gunbower and Loddon systems to 500km of the Murray River
- enhanced environmental outcomes for native fish from delivery of water for the environment in the Loddon and Gunbower systems.
The project will enhance the benefits of actions under the Basin Plan and complement broader native fishery across the mid-Murray by enabling northern Victorian fish to better access the Murray River.
Project timelines
The grant agreement with North Central CMA was signed in January 2023 and the project is due to be completed in 2024. North Central CMA is working with Traditional Owners, represented by the Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation, to finalise arrangements to deliver the project.
As of January 2023, detailed design works are complete, and the team is preparing to begin project construction pending favourable weather conditions. Construction will be carried out in three stages and an ecological evaluation will be undertaken once the project is complete.
For more information please contact:
CEWO Local Engagement Officer
Anthony Wilson (Albury, NSW)
Email: anthony.wilson@dcceew.gov.au
Phone: 0419 188 430
Other Links
Email: ewater@dcceew.gov.au
Twitter: @theCEWH
Facebook: @theCEWH