The Living Murray

The Living Murray is one of Australia's most significant river restoration programs. It aims to achieve a healthy working Murray River 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 Murray River system. It is a partnership of the NSW, Victorian, South Australian, ACT and Australian governments, coordinated by the Murray–Darling Basin Authority.

The Living Murray is implemented through the following programs:

• communication and community consultation
• environmental delivery
• environmental monitoring
• environmental works and measures
• Indigenous partnerships
• water recovery.

The Living Murray has recovered almost 500 gigalitres (billion litres) of water to help improve the health of 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 (including Mulcra)
• Lower Lakes, Coorong and Murray Mouth
• River Murray Channel.

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