Construction is currently underway on two major infrastructure projects aimed at enhancing environmental outcomes for critical waterways in Southern NSW while minimizing impacts on private landholders.
The Mid-Murray Anabranches and Koondrook-Perricoota Forest Projects are being delivered under the $446.2 million Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism (SDLAM) program funded by the Federal Government.
“We said we were determined to deliver the Basin Plan, and that’s what we’re doing,” Federal Minister for Water Tanya Plibersek said. “We’re working with Basin states and territories to deliver projects like these that will help increase flows, improve connectivity, and boost the native fish population.
The projects will improve the planned releases of environmental water in Tuppal and Bullatale Creeks near the NSW border and within the iconic Koondrook-Perricoota Forest, removing constraints and reducing landholder impacts from high flows.
“The New South Wales Government has advocated strongly for more time and money to complete crucial infrastructure projects in the Murray-Darling Basin,” NSW Minister for Water Rose Jackson said. “These upgrades will return more water to the system, reducing the need for buybacks and revitalising the stunning Koondrook-Perricoota Forest and its wetlands, providing better breeding opportunities for thousands of species of our precious native flora and fauna.”
New clear-span bridges will be installed along Tuppal Creek to improve connectivity between the Murray and Edward Rivers. Meanwhile, works at Shear Paddock west of Moama will deliver 5.9km of earthen levee to better protect private properties while enhancing native habitat in the internationally recognised forest.
“The new clear span bridges at Tuppal Creek will create more efficient water passage while the new levee at Shear Paddock will allow higher flows through the system without inundating adjacent private land, enabling better connection of the Barbers and Thule Creeks,” Plibersek said.
Deniliquin-based Murray Constructions Pty Ltd recently completed precast concrete fabrication to pave the way for the $4 million Tuppal Creek bridges to get under. Northern Construction Group has commenced earthworks on the $3.3 million Shear Paddock Levee.
The levee will support higher environmental flows while minimising impacts to private landholders. It will revitalise the iconic river red gum woodlands and create breeding opportunities for native Australian plants, fish, birds, reptiles, marsupials, and the endangered Southern Bell frog.
“The longer-term benefits of these works include benefits for tourism and recreation in the region, as well as protecting private landholders from impacts caused by higher flows,” Jackson said.
These are just two of five accelerated SDLAM projects in New South Wales under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. Altogether, these projects will directly contribute 45 gigalitres (GL) towards the Plan’s 605 GL environmental water target, reducing the need for water purchase.
To learn more, visit SDLAM.
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