Murrumbidgee Environmental Water Allowance Reference Group
The Murrumbidgee Environmental Water Allowance Reference Group (EWARG) provides advice on managing environmental water in the Murrumbidgee catchment. Sources of environmental water include three allowances established under the Water Sharing Plan for the Murrumbidgee Regulated River Water Source 2003, adaptive environmental water held by the Office of Environment and Heritage and allocations made available from entitlements held by the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office.
The main Murrumbidgee Water Sharing Plan environmental allowance is for 50,000ML which is credited in full when general security accounts have 60% available water (including any carryover from the previous year). The allowances are intended to be used to benefit waterbird breeding, wetland inundation, fish migration and breeding, and water quality.
Who are the members of the EWARG?
Membership includes representatives from the:
- Aboriginal community
- Department of Primary Industries
- Lowbidgee League
- Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority
- Murrumbidgee Customer Service Committee
- Murrumbidgee Field Naturalists
- Nature Conservation Council
- NSW Office of Water
- Office of Environment and Heritage
- State Water Corporation
- Commonwealth Environmental Water Office (observer status).
The Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority chairs the EWARG.
Contacting the EWARG
Lisa Thurtell
Office of Environment and Heritage
PO Box 733, Queanbeyan NSW 2620
Telephone: (02) 6229 7142
Email: Lisa.Thurtell@environment.nsw.gov.au
Page last updated: 05 March 2013
