Restoring Murray Waterways

The ‘Restoring Murray Waterways’ project (RMW) is a notified Sustainable Diversion Limited Adjustment Mechanism (SDLAM) project.

RMW is enabling targeted environmental watering of approximately 600 km of ephemeral creeks and 12,500 hectares of private wetlands by developing infrastructure on Murray Irrigation Limited’s (MIL) irrigation channel network and private land.

The works will consist of approximately 740 structures including upgrading environmental outlets, creek crossings and bridges. 

“Professional, energetic, and dependable; Confluence can take complex project problems and find clear pathways to success.”
— Ben Malden, Project Sponsor

Cochran creek - December 2024
Pre-watering event from a project outlet

Cochran creek - March 2025
During the first watering event from a project outlet

Water policy, Murray darling basin, water strategy, water management
Water policy, Murray darling basin, water strategy, water management

  • The project is complex and requires a detailed understanding of state and Commonwealth roles under the Murray Darling Basin Plan’s Restoring our Rivers regulatory Framework.

    • Facilitate RMW’s SDLAM reconciliation and funding agreement requirements, and 

    • Conduct project reporting to Project Control Group, NSW and Commonwealth Government (incl. Basin Officials Committee)

  • Focus on strategic decision making and client side management, including: 

    • strategic decision making as a Project Control Group and Project Leadership Team member

    • develop project management plans, incl. project governance structures and approvals/decision making processes

    • develop project team resourcing plans

    • establish and manage project budget, resource plans, project governance structures and approval/decision making requirements

    • manage compliance with project policy, process and external regulatory requirements

  • Response for RMW policy and assurance

    • manage compliance with project policy, process and external regulatory requirements,

    • conduct project reporting risk management, progress, budget and schedule performance based reporting

Key People and Capability

  • Water policy, Murray darling basin, water strategy, water management

    Collaborative approach

    Murray Irrigation, Project Team and Environmental Water Managers assessing one of the project's box culvert crossing site

  • Water policy, Murray darling basin, water strategy, water management

    Cochran Creek

    Box culvert crossing designs allowed the flows required for watering events while retaining a level of service and access for the property owner

  • Water policy, Murray darling basin, water strategy, water management

    First watering

    The project team and environmental water manager observe the first watering of Cochran Creek using a project outlet

  • Water policy, Murray darling basin, water strategy, water management

    Environmental outcomes

    A river red gum on the banks of the Cockran Creek bouncing back

  • Water policy, Murray darling basin, water strategy, water management

    Aljoes Creek

    Aljoes Creek - a key creek currently being scoped as part of the Expansion Stage for RMW and a ecological candidate for more environmental watering events

  • Water policy, Murray darling basin, water strategy, water management

    Precision Water Delivery 1

    RMW outlet connecting the MIL channel network to the ephemeral creeks and wetlands, facilitating watering

  • Water policy, Murray darling basin, water strategy, water management

    Precision Water Delivery 2

    MIL outlet providing water to the Cochran Creek as part of a spring flush watering event