River Murray from Yarrawonga Weir to Wakool Junction reach report Constraints Management Strategy Final Report - July 2015 Yarrawonga Weir to Wakool Junction reach report, Constraints Management Strategy Published by the Murray‒Darling Basin Authority Postal Address: GPO Box 1801, Canberra ACT 2601 Telephone: (02) 6279 0100 international + 61 2 6279 0100 Facsimile: (02) 6248 8053 international + 61 2 6248 8053 Email: [email protected] Internet: www.mdba.gov.au ISBN (online): 978-1-925221-11-4 All material and work produced by the Murray‒Darling Basin Authority constitutes Commonwealth copyright. MDBA reserves the right to set out the terms and conditions for the use of such material. 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The Murray‒Darling Basin Authority has made all reasonable efforts to ensure that this material has been reproduced in this publication with the full consent of the copyright owners. Inquiries regarding the licence and any use of this publication are welcome by contacting the Murray‒ Darling Basin Authority. Cover image: Gwynnes Creek, a significant ephemeral creek in the Edward-Wakool system. (Photo by Emma Wilson) Edited by Biotext, Canberra. Disclaimer To the extent permitted by law, the Murray‒Darling Basin Authority and the Commonwealth excludes all liability to any person for any consequences, including but not limited to all losses, damages, costs, expenses and any other compensation, arising directly or indirectly from using this report (in part or in whole) and any information or material contained within it. Accessibility Australian Government departments and agencies are required by the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cwlth) to ensure that information and services can be accessed by people with disabilities. If you encounter accessibility difficulties or the information you require is in a format that you cannot access, please contact us. Acknowledgement of the Traditional Owners of the mid-Murray/Mile and Edward/Kolety–Wakool waterways MDBA acknowledges and pays its respects to the Yorta Yorta, Wamba Wamba and Perrepa Perrepa people. MDBA recognises and acknowledges that the Traditional Owners and their Nations have a deep cultural, social, environmental, spiritual and economic connection to their lands and waters. MDBA understands the need for recognition of Traditional Owners’ knowledge and cultural values. Page ii Yarrawonga Weir to Wakool Junction reach report, Constraints Management Strategy Contents Contents .......................................................................................................................................... iii Summary .......................................................................................................................................... 4 The Constraints Management Strategy ........................................................................................... 2 The Yarrawonga Weir to Wakool Junction reach ............................................................................ 2 The community ................................................................................................................................ 4 Benefits, impacts and risks .............................................................................................................. 6 Results of pre-feasibility .................................................................................................................. 8 This document and additional information ..................................................................................... 9 Next steps ........................................................................................................................................ 9 What is the Constraints Management Strategy? ....................................................................... 11 What areas are being looked at .................................................................................................... 11 What could change ........................................................................................................................ 13 Background to the Strategy ........................................................................................................... 14 Why is the Strategy important? ................................................................................................... 15 Rivers before and after river regulation ........................................................................................ 15 In the Murray–Darling Basin .......................................................................................................... 17 Connecting rivers to their floodplains ........................................................................................... 17 Why the Strategy is important in the Yarrawonga Weir to Wakool Junction reach ..................... 19 What is happening in the Yarrawonga Weir to Wakool Junction reach? ............................... 21 Catchment characteristics ............................................................................................................. 21 People and economy ..................................................................................................................... 24 Environment .................................................................................................................................. 24 How the Yarrawonga Weir to Wakool Junction reach has changed ....................................... 27 Changes in hydrology .................................................................................................................... 27 Floodplain development ................................................................................................................ 28 How the Yarrawonga Weir to Wakool Junction reach is managed ............................................... 30 Floodplain planning and management .......................................................................................... 32 Mapping flows and understanding potential effects .................................................................... 36 What flows are being considered for the Yarrawonga Weir to Wakool Junction reach? .... 40 How these flows were chosen ....................................................................................................... 40 When and how often these flows would happen ......................................................................... 41 What is not being considered ........................................................................................................ 41 Options for changing managed river flows in the Yarrawonga Weir to Wakool Junction reach .. 42 Page iii Yarrawonga Weir to Wakool Junction reach report, Constraints Management Strategy What might be the effect of the proposed flows in the Yarrawonga Weir to Wakool Junction reach? ............................................................................................................................. 43 Environmental effects ................................................................................................................... 43 Third party effects ......................................................................................................................... 44 What does the community think? ............................................................................................... 52 Landholders ................................................................................................................................... 53 Local government, regional and state government agencies and corporations ........................... 63 Timelines for the Constraints Management Strategy ............................................................... 69 2014 Phase 1 - Prefeasibility ..................................................................................................... 69 2015-16 Phase 2 – Feasibility and Business Case development ................................................ 70 2016–24 Phase 3 — Planning and implementation ................................................................... 71 Post 2024 Higher managed flows will only be possible when packages of mitigation options are fully implemented ................................................................................................................... 71 Appendix 1 Flow rates being examined for the reach ......................................................... 72 Appendix 2 Potential effects on townships within the reach ............................................