Brewarrina Shire Council has called on the Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) for long overdue change to the way water is managed in the northern Basin to deliver stronger, more practical outcomes for communities that continue to face unreliable river flows, declining water quality and long-term water security challenges in its submission to the 2026 Murray–Darling Basin Plan Review.

The ten‑year review, required under the Water Act 2007, is one of the most important opportunities for inland communities to have a say in how water is shared, protected and delivered across the Basin. For the Brewarrina Shire, where the river is the backbone of daily life, culture, health and economic survival, the stakes could not be higher.

Council prepared submissions on behalf of the Brewarrina Shire and alongside surrounding Councils as part of the Alliance of Western Councils ensuring the unique challenges faced by communities that rely on this river system are properly represented.

Brewarrina Shire Council General Manager David Kirby said the review is a critical opportunity for inland communities like Brewarrina to have their voices heard and their lived experience properly understood.

“Water is the most critical issue facing our community. For us, water security is not an abstract policy issue. It’s a daily reality that affects our health, our economy and our future,” Mr Kirby said.

“We rely almost entirely on the Barwon–Darling system and the Brewarrina weir pool. When the river stops flowing or water quality declines, our community feels it immediately. This review must recognise the real‑world challenges faced by end‑of‑system towns like ours.”

Council’s submission highlights several priority issues:

Critical human water needs and water security

With no groundwater resources across large parts of the Shire, Brewarrina relies almost entirely on the Barwon–Darling and the Brewarrina weir pool. When the river stops flowing, the town’s water supply becomes dangerously uncertain. This is not a theoretical risk; it is a lived experience that has shaped the community’s resilience and its fears. Council has called for Basin settings that guarantee reliable access to water for essential community needs.

Water quality and treatment pressures

Algal blooms, salinity and stagnation have become familiar and deeply worrying features of low‑flow periods. These conditions strain ageing treatment systems, increase costs and undermine community trust in the water coming out of the tap.

Northern Basin connectivity

Despite significant water recovery upstream, flows are not consistently reaching downstream communities in a meaningful way. Council argues that policy intent is not translating into on‑ground outcomes and that the review must address the persistent lack of connectivity in the Barwon–Darling system.

Infrastructure investment

Council has identified several practical, place‑based infrastructure solutions, including:

• increased local storage and regulation along the Barwon–Darling
• investigation of an environmental regulator at Cato Creek
• development of an off‑river storage at Gongolgon to capture flood flows
• improved treatment and contingency infrastructure to manage poor water quality events

These investments are essential to building long‑term resilience in a changing climate.

A call for honesty, clarity and respect

Council’s submission stresses that communities cannot engage with a system they do not understand. The complexity of Basin science and fragmented communication have eroded trust. Brewarrina Shire is calling for clearer, more transparent communication that respects local knowledge and acknowledges the real benefits environmental water has delivered during dry times.

Stronger local involvement in decision‑making

Council is advocating for governance reforms that give local government and communities who are living the realities everyday a more meaningful role in environmental water planning and river operations.

Mr Kirby said the submission reflects both the challenges and the opportunities for the Brewarrina Shire and the wider northern Basin.

“We’re not asking for special treatment. We’re asking for fair, practical and place‑based solutions that reflect the realities of life on the Barwon–Darling,” he said.

“Our community deserves a system that recognises our reality, values our knowledge and protects our future. Water is life in our Shire. This review is a chance to get it right and ensure the Basin Plan works for everyone; environment, industry and communities alike.”

Brewarrina Shire Council will continue to work with neighbouring councils, regional partners and the MDBA throughout the review process to advocate for long‑term, sustainable outcomes for water security, and ensure the voices of northern Basin communities are not overlooked.