NATIONAL IRRIGATORS’ COUNCIL
Advocating for the Australian irrigated agriculture industry
The MDBA has now provided an update following the SDLAM draft determination (following a meeting with NIC), which compares the supply contribution amounts assumed in the 2017 determination with the proposed supply contribution amounts assessed through the 2026 reconciliation.
The current draft agenda and associated meeting papers are now available for our General Meeting, over the afternoon of 13th October and the
morning of 14th October 2026.
Gusts confirmed include the Hon. Murray Watt, Minister for the Environment and Water, David Farley,MP the Member for Farrer and One Nation
spokesperson for water and agriculture, and the Hon. Micahel McCormack, MP Member for Riverina and Shadow Minister for Water.
Please do not forget to RSVP in person or online via the event link.
The updated Agenda and Meeting Papers are now available for the NIC Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 13th October 2026.
These can be accessed via the Members Area of the website under Meeting Document/Annual General Meeting information. Reminder you will need to log in to access this area.
Please do not forget to RSVP - in person or online.
The MDBA has released the draft determination for the SDLAM reconcilation. The NIC team have prepared a briefing note, on the implications of this determination as a first response, with a few key messages. We have asked the MDBA to provide this as part of the consultation materials.
A session at the General Meeting has been scheduled to discuss project alternatives to provide a solution to the SDLAM
shortfall.
The MDBA release the draft Determination for the SDLAM Reconcilation and has now opened consultation period until 1 November 2026.
The Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism (SDLAM) reconciliation is a statutory requirement under the Basin Plan (2012) (the
Basin Plan). The MDBA are asking for feedback on the draft determination and the Authority’s proposed Sustainable Diversion Limit (SDL)
adjustments.
Southern Basin communities risk losing a further 265 GL of water according to a new Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) report, unless the
Federal Government changes course and puts today’s evidence ahead of past politics.
“These communities have endured 30 years of reform, already losing 1 in 3 litres of water from farming, who are now hearing they risk a
further 265 GL, on top of the 450 GL the Federal Government is already out purchasing,” NIC CEO Zara Lowien said. “It’s time to move beyond ‘just adding water’ to the environment, today’s environmental challenges need the right tools, and farmers and communities need stability.” [...]
Wednesday, 30th September between 10-11am MDBA presenters will bring together evidence, stakeholder feedback and emerging policy directions across a range of topics being examined through the review, including:
The Australian Government is seeking feedback on the future of artificial intelligence (AI) training and large data centres in
Australia.
The consultation topics speciically include sustainable water use.
Consitlation commences today, with submissions due by Friday 9 October 2026.
NIC have been working on a Water Security and Climate report which is now available to review titled 'Certainly uncertain: A report on water
security in a variable and changing climate in the MDB'.
This report aims to provide evidence of the existing climate mechanisms, to avoid needing further change and puts a number of key
recommendations on the Basin Plan, Water Act and within drafted NIC Policy Position Statements in one document. The report also raises a
clear case about the role of water policy and other levers, in helping to achieve water security as a policy objective - walking the line of
why international definitions are not appropriate.
We welcome feedback and comment on this report by 5th October to allow time to incorporate and release in and around our General Meeting if needed.
The MDBA have released consultation materials ahead of the upcoming Roundtable in Sydney - NIC will be attending.
This purpose of this pack outlines the emerging policy directions for the Basin Plan Review. It is intended to support further
engagement and does not represent settled positions or decisions. There will be six Rountable discussions on:
Please see the updated Menindee Statement for FINAL review. This Position Statement are the key Menindee specific elements from our
Menindee Principles used for our Submission earlier this year.
The engagement principles, we are working into a Guideline for more general use.
We intend to present this as a Special Resolution at the General Meeting, which has a deadline for communication next week. Final comments are due ASAP.
Following our Water Act Submission and in support of our previously drafted Climate Uncertainty Position Statement, we prepared a draft
Water Security and Climate Change report. To stregthen this report, we are proposing some minor amendments to the draft NIC Climate
Ressilience and Water Security Position Statement (previously Climate Uncertainty) to be discussed at the General Meeting. We would
like to here FINAL feedback ASAP, as we will decide to finalise this as a Special Resolution for approval that has a deadline next week.
Please see the updated version here which has the amended text in red (new or removed).
Key is the new position on "Australia’s unique climate and highly variable water availability requires a uniquely Australian approach
to water security...
DCCEEW has released an updated 2026-27
Trading Strategy Addendum for the Bridging the Gap program. It lists the catchments with a remaining gap to be bridged and includes key dates for upcoming tenders.
As of 30 June 2026, 9.0 GL/y remains to bridge the gap in full across five catchments: surface water in the NSW Border Rivers, NSW Murray,
Lower Darling and Lachlan, and groundwater in the Queensland Condamine-Balonne. Gaps in the NSW Murray, Lower Darling and Lachlan have only
occurred due to changes in NSW LTDLEs.
Australian Water Association is calling for Abstracts for OzWater 2027.
You can submit an abstract, case study, video pitch, workshop or panel idea across 13
diverse sub-themes.
Whether you have new research to share, lessons from a project, an innovative approach or a conversation you think the sector needs to have,
now is the time to get your submission in.
A great opportunity to showcase the wonder work of the industry, your programs and irrigation effeciency. Reach out to Zara or
Christine, if interested to discuss.
Due 18 September 2026
NIC provided their final submission into the Indepedant Reviewer for the Statutory Review of the Water Act.
Key points included ensuring the Water Act reflects the constitutional arrangements for water, reshaping the Act to reflect the changed roles of the Murray Darling Basin Plan from a plan of recovery to management and ensuring the froundations of water management framework, agreed in 2004 are reflected in legislation.
Following the two feedback sessions, an updated Final Draft is available for Members on the Water Act Review Submission.
A massive efffort today by the team to pull this together.
Feedback is welcome but must be early Monday to allow the submission to be lodged. There are no extensions.
Minor checking and AI analysis of messaging will occur Monday before lodging, so there maybe minor changes.
The NIC Team have prepared a brief two-pager pro-forma that can be used to highlght key points relating to the current preapration of the Water Act Submission. We hope this is helpful to send your own Members or to highlight key areas to support our own.
Either use this as a letter template or use the key headings as the core key messages to convey.
An updated draft of our full submission is due today.
The National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) sent a clear message at the National Bush Summit: ‘enough is enough’ of taking water away
from farmers.
“Communities are at tipping point right around the Basin,” said Zara Lowien, CEO of NIC, after 1 in 3 litres of water has been removed from
farming over more than 30 years of reform. [...]
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