Distribution improvements
Location
Barmah-Millewa, Victoria and
NSW
Cost
$3 million
Project status
completed
Funding
The project was funded by the Australian Government ($3 million). Australian Government funding was provided through the National Water Grid Fund.
Barmah Murray River bend, Barmah Victoria.
Project overview
The aim of the Barmah–Millewa Feasibility Study was to identify options to:
- improve the movement and efficiency of water delivery through the Barmah–Millewa Reach
- protect the health and cultural integrity of the river.
The Barmah-Millewa Reach is the name given to an area of the Murray River which narrows from wider upstream portions of the river. This narrowing is also known as the Barmah Choke.
The study explored 6 potential options:
- Option 1: Targeted River works to stabilise banks and avoid new breakaways into the surrounding forest
- Option 2: Selectively removing sand from the riverbed
- Option 3: Changing the timing of transfers of water to Tar-Ru (Lake Victoria)
- Option 4: Optimising use of the Murray Irrigation Limited system to bypass the reach
- Option 5: Using existing or new infrastructure in Victoria to bypass the reach and mitigate the risk of delivery shortfalls
- Option 6: Transferring River Murray releases from the Snowy-Hydro Scheme to the Murrumbidgee River for delivery to water users downstream of the Barmah–Millewa Reach
The project was completed in December 2022.
Learn more
- Find out more about water in Australia.
- Discover our Science program.
- Read our latest news.
- Read more about the Barmah-Millewa Feasibility Study on the Murray Darling Basin Authority’s website.