1.Consultation on the draft Constraints Management Strategy 12
2.Introduction to the Constraints Management Strategy 16
3.Understanding constraints to water delivery across the Basin 24
4.Differences in the system between the north and the south 24
5.Development of the Constraints Management Strategy 30
6.Modelling of relaxing constraints during Basin Plan development 30
7.Basin-wide review of physical constraints 31
8.Consultation in key focus areas leading to the final Strategy 32
9.Identifying operational and management constraints 35
10.Overview of the Constraints Management Strategy 42
11.Overarching principles 44
12.Roles and responsibilities 46
13.A phased approach to addressing constraints 48
15.Pre-feasibility phase I: 2013 to 2014 49
16.Phase 2: Feasibility assessment – business case development and
Basin-scale prioritisation 2015 to mid-2016 50
17.Phase 3: Planning and implementation 2016 to 2024 50
18.Key steps in phase 1 52
19.Understanding the changes arising from the different flow events such as: area inundated, when, how often and for how long? 52
20.Assessing impacts and identifying benefits. 52
21.Identifying options to mitigate negative impacts, including preliminary assessment of project costs and any benefits of mitigation options. 52
22.Undertaking a Basin-scale analysis and prioritisation. 52
23.Benefits from addressing constraints 57
24.Interdependence of constraints 57
25.Costs of addressing constraints 57
26.Trade-offs between constraints 58
27.Funding available to address constraints 58
28.Key focus areas: pre-feasibility findings to date and priority actions for 2014 60
29.Hume Dam to Yarrawonga Weir 60
the need for specific modelling on the extent, frequency, timing and duration of proposed flows 61
the need to better understand potential impacts on council infrastructure and associated funding arrangements to address these impacts 61
business and economic impacts arising from reduced tourism, leisure and commercial activities that may result from limiting river access 61
reduced access to private properties or isolation of sections of farm land 61
how emergency response capability, communication and water safety will be assessed 61
process for timely, transparent and complete compensation for damage 61
how groups will financially represent themselves and whether there will be compensation for this 61
how to determine the potential costs and benefits to the Barmah–Millewa Forest and Koondrook–Perricoota forests, particularly in relation to reducing low flows and increasing medium to large flows. 61
30.Priority actions for 2014 61
Develop capacity to conduct opportunistic field monitoring of events which occur at the range of flows proposed: 61
Undertake a survey to measure the impact of flows at an individual property level, including the impact on access routes. 61
Investigate opportunities for stakeholders, including MRAG, to be equitably represented in future negotiations with governments, in a way that minimises the burden on them. 62
Form a steering committee through the existing Advisory Group for Hume to Yarrawonga Waterway Management representing concerned parties who would provide recommendations about the most appropriate way to assess and mitigate impacts. 62
Commence a feasibility study into access works and erosion mitigation. 62
31.Yarrawonga to Wakool Junction 63
reduced access to land preventing livestock management, harvesting and other associated land management activities 64
impacts on low-lying causeways and roads (particularly dirt) preventing the movement of heavy vehicles (including grain and livestock transportation) 64
impacts on the extensive network of timber bridges in the Wakool Shire 64
damage to fencing and the need to raise pumps 64
examining flows of up to 80,000 ML/day through Tocumwal 64
‘remote effects’ such as isolation of properties which do not directly front rivers 64
unknown effects of flows on the existing private and public levee infrastructure network 64
potential environmental risks including river red gum infestation and carp breeding etc. 64
environmental flows should be trialled incrementally to see what effects flows have on the ground 64
increased impacts to recreational infrastructure: foreshore parks, boating facilities, low-lying campgrounds and associated access tracks 64
additional higher flows may affect saline groundwater systems in the Wakool/Yallakool 64
risk of uncontrolled flood events and knowledge of the interactions of floodrunners and creeks with regard to overland flows 64
recognition that a ‘wet’ catchment will result in considerably different flow patterns to a ‘dry’ catchment 64
competing demand for channel share. 64
32.Priority actions for 2014 64
modelling of flows and associated inundation mapping of proposed flows 64
desk top assessment, field validation and liaison with potentially affected landholders and local government agencies to identify third party impacts at a range of flow rates 64
identification and description of potential mitigation strategies 65
investigating opportunities for stakeholders to be equitably represented in future negotiations with governments in a way that minimises the burden on them. 65
33.Goulburn 68
they don't want to see the Goulburn environment (e.g. bank erosion) or communities impacted solely to provide larger flows further downstream 69
40,000 ML/day at McCoys Bridge may be too risky as if a local rainfall event occurs as well, it could become a damaging flood (there may be a risk of unintended adverse consequences) 69
40,000 ML/day at McCoys Bridge is too close to triggering the statutory release formula for the Loch Garry flood protection scheme 69
increases in water levels don't have to be large to start affecting landholders in the mid-Goulburn, downstream of Lake Eildon. It should be acknowledged that Goulburn-Murray Water specifically constrains releases from Lake Eildon because of the risks of inundating private land in this reach 69
higher flows create access issues including road closures, these would occur in the Lower Goulburn floodplain at the range of flows being considered (25,000–40,000 ML/day) 69
the load on storm water drainage infrastructure during high river flows is a significant concern 69
risks to irrigation pumps 69
assessing the adequacy of the rainfall and river height gauging network to be able to trigger and manage environmental releases at a time of high river flows 69
how levee bank ownership and management will be considered 69
the backing up effects of high flows on tributaries means that it’s not just mainstem landholders that could be affected; there is the potential for new ‘breakaways’ to form if tributaries cannot freely drain. 69
want to see scenarios of what these high flows could look like (the sorts of river heights and rainfall conditions) and how they would be managed (i.e. not just a flow target) 69
need a better understanding of the role and unpredictability of tributaries in order to piggy-back environmental water on top of flow pulses. 69
34.Priority actions for 2014 69
continued commitment to active community involvement 70
improved understanding of the opportunities to supplement tributary flows 70
enabling environmental watering coordination between catchments 70
enhanced ability to forecast tributary inflows 70
improving the accuracy and confidence in flow inundation maps 70
identifying mitigation options for private and public assets 70
ensuring levee banks are to a standard strong enough to contain environmental flows 70
quantifying the broad range of impacts of delivering higher flows including issues and mitigation options 70
exploring opportunities to make policy changes to river operations 70
scoping out a regional flood warning and notification system. 70
35.Murrumbidgee 71
36.Priority actions for 2014 72
working with environmental water managers and ecologists to better define and refine the optimal flow height, frequency, duration and seasonality of environmental deliveries 72
verifying modelling and mapping of inundation areas already undertaken for the Murrumbidgee mainstem 72
development of modelling and mapping of potentially affected watercourses not previously undertaken; particularly for Old Man/Beavers Creek and the Upper Yanco Creek system 72
working with landholders to validate the above mapping and identify the types and scale of any potential impacts 72
identifying and undertaking a preliminary assessment (through literature review and community input) of potential mitigation measures, including a regulator at the Yanco Creek offtake. 72
38.Lower Darling 73
39.Priority actions for 2014 75
further development of inundation mapping for a range of flow scenarios 75
continued liaison with the Lower Darling community: to increase the understanding of flow pathways under the mapped flow scenarios and identify potential third party impacts and benefits that would result from higher flows 75
identify and describe potential mitigation strategies to address third party impacts that may result from higher flows. 75
40.Gwydir 76
potential impacts to the water market if there are significant rule changes proposed 77
significant concerns with the application of shepherding 77
water access licences within the same category should be treated with equal merit. 77
41.Priority actions for 2014 77
further development of inundation maps and increasing the understanding of flow pathways 77
analysing proposed inundation and flow pathways to identify potential impacts and benefits; including potentially affected land and infrastructure (land tenure, land use, infrastructure etc.) 77
identify and describe potential mitigation strategies of addressing constraints in the future. 77
42.The River Murray in South Australia 79
timing of flows, particularly with regard to impacts of higher flows on recreation and tourism activities 80
limitations to environmental flow delivery as a result of current river infrastructure (e.g. weirs) 80
avoiding low flows or the drying out of wetlands because of the impacts on water quality 80
ensuring any higher flows do not impact on infrastructure such as council roads, ferries, shacks and new environmental watering infrastructure. 80
43.Priority actions for 2014 80
44.Operational and management constraints explained 82
1.using environmental water in response to natural cues, and restoring natural variability including seasonality 82
45.that environmental water remains in-stream to target a range of sites and ecosystem functions in and between rivers 82
46.promoting the management of all water in the system to contribute environmental benefit. 82
1.Use environmental water in response to natural cues, and restore natural variability including seasonality 82
47.Environmental water remains in-stream to target a range of sites and ecosystem functions in and between rivers 84
48.Promote the management of all water in the system to contribute environmental benefit 87
49.Phase 1 actions 88
50.Key actions 89
protection of environmental water on an event basis, in particular, the Barwon–Darling 89
coordination of environmental water between valleys in the northern Basin. 89
51.Section 7.08 Constraints Management Strategy requirements 90