Water’s Edge

A chat with Grant Barnes from NRAR (Part II)

Join us for part two of our chat with Grant Barnes from the NSW Natural Resources Access Regulator, and Deputy Inspector-General of Water Compliance Daniel Blacker. 
The role of the independent Inspector-General of Water Compliance is to deliver trust and transparency in the management of Murray-Darling Basin resources, and ensure the highest standard of accountability for all involved in the use and management of Basin resources. Often, the role of the Inspector-General is confused with the role of state agencies such as the Natural Resources Access Regulator, or NRAR, in NSW. When the role of the Inspector-General was established, it was noted in the legislation that the role was not intended to duplicate the role of other agencies. The Inspector-General aims to oversight and monitor agencies, ensuring they are complying with the Basin Plan and Water Act. The role of state agencies like NRAR is to enforce and prosecute individuals.   
Joining us on today’s episode of Water’s Edge is NRAR’s Chief Regulatory Officer Grant Barnes, and our Deputy Inspector-General of Water Compliance Daniel Blacker.
Learn more about NRAR: https://www.nrar.nsw.gov.au/ 
Visit the IGWC's website: https://www.igwc.gov.au/ 

A chat with Grant Barnes from NRAR (Part I)

The role of the independent Inspector-General of Water Compliance is to deliver trust and transparency in the management of Murray-Darling Basin resources, and ensure the highest standard of accountability for all involved in the use and management of Basin resources. Often, the role of the Inspector-General is confused with the role of state agencies such as the Natural Resources Access Regulator, or NRAR, in NSW. When the role of the Inspector-General was established, it was noted in the legislation that the role was not intended to duplicate the role of other agencies. The Inspector-General aims to oversight and monitor agencies, ensuring they are complying with the Basin Plan and Water Act. The role of state agencies like NRAR is to enforce and prosecute individuals.   
Joining us on today’s episode of Water’s Edge is NRAR’s Chief Regulatory Officer Grant Barnes, and our Deputy Inspector-General of Water Compliance Daniel Blacker.

💥 Myth busting: buybacks

Join us for our first edition of our special Water's Edge: Myth Busting episodes. In this first myth busting episode, we discuss the current buybacks process, and answer your questions about what it is, why it's happening, and how it's being rolled out. 
If you have any special requests for a myth busting episode, we want to hear from you! Email IGWCmedia@agriculture.gov.au or call us on 13 44 92. 
 

The significance of the Barmah Choke and how it affects water trading

Recently the Inspector-General of Water Compliance Troy Grant paid a visit to the Barmah Choke. The Choke is located on the border of Victoria and NSW just north of Echuca, and has the lowest flow in any stretch of the River Murray. The Inspector-General was there meeting with community members to learn more about the Choke and its significance in the Murray-Darling.
His visit comes ahead of a fairly significant time of year. Trade through the Choke opens on 1 July and to explain a little more about the significance of that is IGWC’s Director of Trade Regulation, Edwina Carter. Edwina explains how trade through the Barmah Choke works, when there’s a limited amount of water able to flow through this shallow, narrow section of the River Murray.

Origins of the Inspector-General with Mick Keelty AO

On the first of October 2019, former Australian Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty was appointed at the Interim Inspector-General of Murray-Darling Basin Water Resources for a period of 12 months. It followed his role as the Northern Basin Commissioner. Mr Keelty was appointed to this position to help create new laws under the 2007 Water Act to create a permanent, statutory position.  
In August 2021, the role of the Inspector-General of Water Compliance was officially filled by Troy Grant, after Mr Keelty decided not to continue in the role.
This episode of Water's Edge gives listeners a sneak peak at what it was like during the establishment phase of the role of the Inspector-General of Water Compliance. 

Steady as it flows report - the Inspector-General’s assessment of River Murray operations and environmental water management

These last couple of months have seen a significant amount of rain across the Murray-Darling Basin, which has reinvigorated concerns about how the river system is being managed.  
The sentiment echoes what the Inspector-General first heard when starting in the role: there was a level of distrust about how to key agencies were performing their duties. The community told the Inspector—General that they didn’t think the Murray Darling Basin Authority was managing the River Murray properly. They also voiced concerns about how the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder was managing environmental flows.  
A report titled Steady as it Flows has been released by the Inspector-General which looks at these concerns. While the report was released earlier in the year, we thought it was timely to sit down and take a look at it in more detail, to learn about the role of these agencies and their responsibilities.   
View the report at the IGWC's website.

Water information hub: the role of the Bureau of Meteorology in collecting vital water information and the importance of reporting to the community.

In the first episode of season 2, we chat to the Bureau of Meteorology’s Matthew Coulton. Matt is the General Manager of Agriculture and Water at the Bureau and his job is to provide advice to agricultural and water agencies and businesses, and develop new products and services to increase the value and impact the Bureau provides to Australia’s agriculture sectors. In this episode, Matt explains the role of the Bureau and its responsibilities under the Water Act as Australia’s water information agency.
Visit www.mdbwip.bom.gov.au for more information about the Water Information Portal.

Border Rivers Trade Audit - how different trading rules can cause issues when water crosses two jurisdictions

Join the Inspector-General of Water Compliance’s Audit and Investigations team, as they take a look at the latest audit – based on trade in the Border Rivers Region. The Border Rivers Region covers a section of Northern NSW and Southern QLD, and there are separate trading rules across the two jurisdictions. This audit by the Inspector-General identified issues such as water being traded from one state, but not appearing in an account in the other state, incorrect volumes being recorded, and manual adjustments being made by authorities without documented explanations.
 
To view the audit report in full, or a brief Snapshot overview, visit www.igwc.gov.au/reviews-reports
 
Host Annabelle Hudson is joined by the Inspector-General Troy Grant, Deputy Inspector-General Daniel Blacker, Director of Audit and Investigation Matt Wilkes, and Assistant Director of Audit and Investigation Elliot Raboy.