Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to search

Queensland and NSW floods 2022

Visit recovery.gov.au to see what help is available.

Close
Home

Top navigation main

  • News & media
  • Jobs
  • Ministers
  • Contact us
Main menu

AWE Main

  • Climate change
    Climate change Driving climate action, science and innovation so we are ready for the future.
    • Climate science and adaptation
    • Australia's climate change strategies
    • Emissions reduction
    • Emissions reporting
    • International commitments
    • Climate Active
    • Climate change publications and data
    • Australia’s National Greenhouse Accounts (Emissions Data)
    Stronger action on climate change

    Stronger action on climate change

    See how the Australian Government is committed to taking more ambitious action on climate change.

    Find out more

  • Energy
    Energy Building a secure and sustainable energy system for all Australians.
    • Energy policy in Australia
    • Energy and Climate Change Ministerial Council
    • Renewable energy
    • Energy publications
    • energy.gov.au
    • Energy Rating
    • Commercial Building Disclosure Program
    • Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS)
    • Your Home
    • Reducing transport emissions
    Photo of commercial laundry focused on a washer and dryer

    Energy Ratings labels

    Helping consumers choose energy-efficient appliances

    Helping consumers choose energy-efficient appliances

  • Environment
    Environment Improving stewardship and sustainable management of Australia’s environment.
    • Bushfire recovery
    • Climate change and the environment
    • Biodiversity
    • EPBC Act
    • Environmental information and data
    • International activities
    • Invasive species
    • Land
    • Marine
    • Partnerships
    • Protection
    • Report a breach of environment law
    • Threatened species & ecological communities
    • Waste and recycling
    • Wildlife trade
    Decorative image

    Read our Nature Positive Plan

    Our plan sets out the Australian Government’s commitment to environmental law reform

    Find out more

  • Water
    Water Improving the sustainable management of Australia’s water supply for industry, the environment and communities.
    • Coal, Coal seam gas (CSG) and water
    • Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder
    • Water policy and resources
    • Wetlands
    Water matters

    Water Matters

    Keep up with the latest news on the department's work in managing Australia's water resources.

    Read the latest edition here

  • Parks and heritage
    Parks and heritage Managing Australia’s iconic national parks, historic places and living landscapes.
    • Australian Marine Parks
    • Australian National Botanic Gardens
    • Booderee National Park
    • Kakadu National Park
    • Christmas Island National Park
    • National parks
    • Norfolk Island National Park
    • Heritage
    • Pulu Keeling National Park
    • The Great Barrier Reef
    • Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park
    The reef

    Great Barrier Reef

    Australia is protecting and conserving this World Heritage Area.

    Find out more

  • Science and research
    Science and research Undertaking research and collecting data to support informed decisions and policies.
    • Climate change
    • Australia's biological resources
    • National Environmental Science Program (NESP)
    • Office of the Science Convenor
    • Australian Biological Resource Study (ABRS)
    • State of the Environment (SoE) reporting
    • Bird and bat banding
    • Supervising Scientist
    Our climate is changing

    Our climate is changing

    Find out more about how climate science helps Australians with the impacts of climate change.

    Find out more

  • About us
    About us We lead Australia’s response to climate change and sustainable energy use, and protect our environment, heritage and water.
    • Accountability and reporting
    • Assistance, grants and tenders
    • Fees and charges
    • News and media
    • Our commitment to you
    • People and jobs
    • What we do
    • Who we are
    2023-24 May Budget

    2023-24 Budget

    The 2023-24 Budget has been delivered. Find out what's been announced.

    Find out what's been announced

  • Online services
    Online services We do business with you using online platforms. This makes it easier for you to meet your legal requirements.
Department of Climate Change, Energy, Enviroment and Water

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Water
  3. Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder
  4. Northern Basin Environmental Watering Group

Sidebar first - EN - Water

  • Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder
    • Managing water for the environment
      • Planning
      • Carryover
      • Water holdings
    • Water use in catchments
      • Border Rivers
      • Gwydir
      • Lachlan
      • Lower Murray-Darling
      • Macquarie
      • Mid-Murray
      • Murrumbidgee
      • Namoi
      • Northern Unregulated Rivers
      • Victorian Rivers
      • Lower Darling-Baaka and Great Darling Anabranch water updates 2021-2023
      • Low-Oxygen Blackwater Mitigation 2022-23
      • Murray Wetland Flow 2021
      • 2022-23 Macquarie River Valley Updates
    • Trade
      • Trade intentions
      • Trade rules and legislation
      • Past trades
    • CEWO Environmental Activities Framework
    • Local engagement
      • Delivery partners
    • Making a difference
    • Working with First Nations
    • Monitoring and evaluation
      • Monitoring Evaluation and Research Program
      • Future Flow-MER
      • Recent highlights Flow-MER Program
      • Aquatic ecosystems toolkit
    • About wetlands
    • Northern Basin Environmental Watering Group
    • Publications and resources
      • Events
        • Fish, Feathers and Flows
        • Webinar: A conversation with the CEWH
      • Freedom of Information
    • Multimedia gallery
      • Audio
      • Photographs
      • Videos
    • News and media
    • Contact us
    • Subscribe

Northern Basin Environmental Watering Group

The Northern Basin Environmental Watering Group was established in 2019 to coordinate the planning and delivery of water for the environment in the northern Murray-Darling Basin to enhance connectivity and improve environmental outcomes.

Membership

Representatives of:

  • Commonwealth Environmental Water Office (Chair)
  • Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
  • Murray–Darling Basin Authority
  • New South Wales Department of Planning and Environment
  • Queensland Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water
  • Northern Basin First Nations Peoples – advisory role

Observers:

  • South Australian Department for Environment and Water
  • Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

Roles and responsibilities

The Northern Basin Environmental Watering Group provides advice and guidance on the planning and delivery of coordinated inter-valley and cross-border water for the environment across the northern Basin, including:

  • water allocations held by environmental water holders
  • planned environmental water managed under relevant state water plans
  • other water allocations that may be voluntarily used for environmental benefit from time to time.

This includes:

  • providing a forum to discuss opportunities to enhance connectivity by co-ordinating water for the environment with natural flows and other water deliveries
  • supporting event-based delivery of water for the environment which includes options such as paying grants to water holders to forgo pumping grants paid to water allocation holders to forgo pumping rights.
  • improving consistency of communication and reporting about the benefits of water for the environment
  • strategies to support community engagement, including with First Nations, irrigators and other stakeholders
  • an annual planning meeting for environmental water holders and river operators
  • ensuring First Nations’ values are consistently considered in water for the environment planning
  • providing a link to the Environmental Water Committee for the north, including seeking their advice on water for the environment policy issues.

Northern Basin Environmental Watering Group’s role is limited to inter-valley and cross-border water for the environmental coordination. It does not have a role in catchment-scale operational matters and decisions which are a state responsibility.

The Northern Basin Environmental Watering Group respects the independence of each member jurisdiction and environmental water holders. The Northern Basin Environmental Watering Group seeks to make decisions by consensus. Where consensus can’t be reached, issues can be elevated to the Environmental Water Committee for resolution, but in all cases, ultimate decision-making on the use of water is retained by the relevant environmental water holder or agency.

Communiques

Northern Basin Environmental Watering Group Field Trip and Meeting – April 2022 (PDF 5.49 MB)
Northern Basin Environmental Watering Group Field Trip and Meeting – April 2022 (DOCX 365 KB)

NBEWG delegates looking at cultural artifacts at Dharriwaa. Photo: CEWO.
NBEWG delegates looking at cultural artifacts at Dharriwaa. Photo: CEWO.
NBEWG Meeting in lightning ridge. Photo: CEWO.
NBEWG Meeting in lightning ridge. Photo: CEWO.
Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks! Your feedback has been submitted.

We aren't able to respond to your individual comments or questions.
To contact us directly phone us or submit an online inquiry

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Please verify that you are not a robot.

Skip

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI
Last updated: 08 November 2022

© Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.