The Living Murray

The Living Murray is Australia’s most significant river restoration program. It aims to achieve a healthy working River Murray system for the benefit of all Australians. This includes returning water to the river’s environment.

The Living Murray program was established in 2002 in response to evidence showing the declining health of the River Murray system. It is a partnership of the Australian, NSW, Victorian, South Australian and ACT governments.

The program’s ‘first step’ started in 2004, and finishes in 2009. It focuses on recovering 500 gigalitres of water for the River Murray specifically for the benefit of plants, animals and the millions of Australians it supports, along with improving the environment at six icon sites.

The icon sites, chosen for their high ecological, cultural, recreational, heritage and economic value, are:

• Barmah–Millewa Forest
• Gunbower–Koondrook–Perricoota Forest
• Hattah Lakes
• Chowilla Floodplain and Lindsay–Wallpolla Islands
• Lower Lakes, Coorong and Murray Mouth
• River Murray Channel

The River Murray is currently experiencing its lowest in-flows on record and periods of drought need to be considered in delivering The Living Murray program.

For archived information on the history of The Living Murray, see ‘Towards a healthy, working river’.

Further information

Water recovery progress report December 2009

Audit of The Living Murray Implementation 2007-2008

Programs to deliver The Living Murray

Icon sites

Water purchase project

TLM fact sheet

The Living Murray Progress Report March 2009