The community wants to see the Upper Murrumbidgee River protected, according to a survey by the Australian River Restoration Centre. Many felt a spiritual fondness for the river but also a sense of loss due to environmental changes.
The ACT Government has committed to addressing community concerns and working toward sustainable water resource management.
Late last year, the Australian River Restoration Centre surveyed more than 1,000 residents of the ACT and greater ACT region about the Upper Murrumbidgee and their relationship with it.
The survey showed that the community holds strong personal connections to the river. They value the Upper Murrumbidgee for cultural, social, environmental, and economic benefits, while many had strong connections relating to childhood and family experiences. They believed that these values need to be better considered in the river’s current and future management.
There was a deep, almost spiritual fondness for the Upper Murrumbidgee, and a profound sadness and sense of loss that some of what gave rise to this fondness was gone. Many felt disenchanted and disempowered – even cynical –about whether anything positive would be done. Some believed that decisions were made behind closed doors and that vested interests ruled.
Respondents believed ecological health was the highest priority for the future management of the river, followed by water quality, water security, and cultural values. They were concerned about environmental degradation, feral animals and plants (in river and in the riparian zone), and the risks the Snowy 2.0 Pumped Storage Power Station posed to the health of the river.
“This survey has shown us that the ACT Community does not want their Upper Murrumbidgee River to be forgotten,” Dr Siwan Lovett, founder of the Australian River Restoration Centre, said. “This will help us continue our work in raising awareness, working with partners, and getting on with the job of restoring the river we all love, care for, and rely on.”
Shane Rattenbury, ACT Minister for Water, Energy and Emissions Reduction, said that the community’s response would inform Murrumbidgee River management practices in the ACT.
“The Murrumbidgee River is an iconic part of the landscape, stretching for kilometres through many different communities,” Mr Rattenbury said.
“It’s no surprise that so many Canberrans and others who live along or near the river feel such a deep connection to it. With that connection comes a respect for the opportunities the river provides, and a desire to help support and protect it.
“We’ve heard loud and clear from the respondents that ecological health of the river is a key priority in the management of the river, with other concerns also relating to water quality, water security and cultural values. The upper Murrumbidgee River has found its voice, and the ACT Government will ensure that this voice is heard.
“The ACT Government is eager to address the concerns we’ve heard from the community. We’re working closely with the Australian and NSW governments to deliver on-ground works that improve water quality, and initiate a major review of the operation of Snowy Hydro to ensure the appropriate balance between hydro-electric power generation and a sustainable future for downstream communities, the environment, and local economies.
“Through the ACT Healthy Waterways program, we’re also trialling new nature-based solutions to improve water quality in our lakes and ponds before the water flows into the Murrumbidgee system.
“The ACT’s future water security is co-dependent on sustainable water resource management across the upper Murrumbidgee region. We will continue to advocate for protecting the health of the upper Murrumbidgee River and increasing river flow to restore the ecological welfare of the area for all that rely on it. I look forward to providing you with more updates.”
