Water for the Future

Policy and programs

Little Swamp Wetland Photo: D. Markovic

Little Swamp Wetland

Photo D. Markovic

Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder

Australia's water ecosystems - rivers, wetlands, floodplains and the plants, fish and birds they support - are vital to Australia's long term sustainability. Due to the impacts of the on-going drought and climate change, some river systems are under significant stress.

To help address this problem, the Water Act 2007 establishes the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder to manage the water entitlements that the Commonwealth is currently acquiring through the following programs.

The amount of water available for use depends on the volumes acquired and seasonal water allocations. For information on the Commonwealth's environmental water holdings see:

How is the water being used?

The Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder is required to use its holdings to protect or restore environmental assets of the Murray-Darling Basin, and other areas outside the Basin where the Commonwealth holds water so as to give effect to relevant international agreements.

Water that is held in the Murray-Darling Basin is required to be managed in accordance with the environmental watering plan that will be developed by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority. The environmental watering plan will be part of the Basin Plan and will be developed in consultation with state governments and stakeholders.

A panel of scientific experts has been appointed to advise on the use of environmental water.

For more information about the committee see:

Water that is held in the Murray–Darling Basin will be managed in accordance with the environmental watering plan that will be developed by the Murray–Darling Basin Authority. The environmental watering plan will be part of the Basin Plan and will be developed in consultation with state governments and stakeholders.

2009–10 CEWH Business Plan

The 2009–10 Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder Business Plan has been released. The plan builds on the first business plan released by the CEWH in 2008–09. The plan is a dynamic document and activities will change within 2009–10 and for future years.

Chowilla floodplain receiving water Photo: P. Doyle

Chowilla Floodplain watering

Photo: P. Doyle

2009 – 2010 approach

The Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder is working cooperatively with other holders of environmental water to maximise the benefits to the environment.

The use of Commonwealth water in 2009-10 will be aligned with the objectives for an extreme dry period outlined within the CEWH's proposed Prioritisation Framework:

The priority given to individual sites and watering actions during 2009–10 will be based on an evaluation against assessment criteria which were developed after consultation with Basin jurisdictions and agreed by the Environmental Water Scientific Advisory Committee.

More information on the 2009–10 approach can be found in the 2009–10 CEWH Business Plan

Prioritising the use of Commonwealth environmental water - a proposed framework

The Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder is developing a long-term framework for prioritising environmental watering actions. The framework outlines the elements required to achieve optimum outcomes amongst a range of competing environmental uses across the Murray-Darling Basin.

This draft discussion paper has been prepared in consultation with the Environmental Water Scientific Advisory Committee.

2009-2010 watering actions

Mercedes Swamp, 15 hours of flow (30 ML)

Mercedes Swamp, Yanga National Park Photo: J Maguire (DECCW)

The first watering for the 2009-10 watering year is currently taking place with the Commonwealth providing almost two billion litres of water to two sites in the Murrumbidgee Catchment. The primary purpose of this water is to support the threatened Southern Bell Frog during the spring breeding season in Yanga National Park, in southern New South Wales.

To build on watering undertaken in autumn, the Australian Government has also allocated 3,100 ML of Commonwealth water to fill two lakes (Yerang and Mournpall) in the northern section of Hattah Lakes. The Victorian Government is also contributing 2,100 ML to this watering event.

To date a total of 15.9 billion litres has been allocated by the Commonwealth to the environment.

For more information about the latest watering actions see:

2008 - 2009 watering actions

The first use of Commonwealth environmental water occurred on 24 March 2009, at Chowilla floodplain in South Australia.

By 30 June 2009, 2.2 gigalitres of water allocated against the CEWH's holdings had been used, in addition to the 8.7 gigalitres of water that had been sourced from the purchase of Toorale Station. Toorale is on the junction of the Darling and Warrego rivers, and was purchased by the NSW Government in late 2008 with funding assistance from the Australian Government.

In total, 10 sites across three jurisdictions were allocated 10.9 gigalitres of water from Government programs.

The waterings that were undertaken were generally aimed at protecting mature River Red Gum communities, pockets of healthy ecosystems in drought affected floodplains and wetlands, and refuges for threatened species. For example, the Ramsar listed Hattah Lakes and Lindsay Island in Victoria were chosen beause these sites, in addition to having extensive River Red Gum areas, provide habitat for threatened species such as the Southern Bell Frog and the Regent Parrot.

For more information about watering actions, including those that took place in 2008-2009, follow the links below:

Further information on the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder

If your queries are not covered by the above information, you can also call 1800 218 478 or send an email to: cewh@environment.gov.au.

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