The Living Murray is a joint initiative of the Australian Government and the governments of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. The program is coordinated by the Murray–Darling Basin Authority.
The Living Murray focuses on activities at key ‘icon sites’ along the River Murray including:
Delivery of water for the environment.
Operation of environmental infrastructure, known as ‘works’.
Monitoring of environmental outcomes.
The Living Murray forms a significant and integrated part of water for the environment management in the southern Murray–Darling Basin. The program is coordinated alongside other environmental water holders and is aligned to Basin Plan outcomes.
Decisions on the use of The Living Murray water are made by the Southern Connected Basin Environmental Watering Committee.
We recently recognised the 20-year anniversary of The Living Murray. Over this time the program has achieved significant outcomes, however there is still work to be done to restore and protect the river system.
The Living Murray icon sites
The Living Murray icon sites are important locations along the River Murray selected for their ecological and cultural significance.
The sites encompass areas of high conservation value – the floodplains, wetlands and forests along the Murray, the Murray’s estuary and the river itself.
All the icon sites are nationally significant, with most also recognised under international agreements such as the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
They are:
The Living Murray history and timeline
- The Living Murray discussion paper is released and initiates discussion about restoring the River Murray
- The Murray–Darling Basin Ministerial Council announces The Living Murray First Step Decision
- First delivery of water for the environment through temporary pumping in South Australia
- First monitoring activities are funded
- The Living Murray Indigenous Partnerships Program is established
- During the Millennium drought only small volumes of TLM water available (approximately 120 GL) used for drought refuges
- Environmental works are built at icon site
- The Southern Connected Basin Environmental Water Committee is formed to coordinate environmental water across the southern basin and make joint government decisions on the TLM Program
- Environmental water holders delivery over 3,000 GL of water across the southern basin
Last updated: 15 July 2025