Northern Basin Toolkit

The Northern Basin Toolkit (NBTK) aims to improve long-term river health. The $180 million program is designed to complement the delivery of water for the environment, while generating jobs, stimulating regional economies, and providing social and cultural benefits.

The Toolkit measures will create opportunities for local communities and include:

• Arrangements to protect environmental flows
• Targeted recovery of water
• Event based mechanisms (such as options for pumping and store-and-release)
• Improvements to the coordination and delivery of environmental water
• Environmental works and measures to promote fish movement and habitat
• Removal of physical constraints in the Gwydir catchment to improve flows to wetlands.

DPIRD Fisheries is working with other State and Commonwealth agencies to deliver four projects under the NBTK. These are focussed on the Barwon-Darling / Baaka and its main tributaries:

• Macquarie Marshes enhanced water – Higher flow rates to improve habitat quantity and quality for native plants and animals
• Fish Passage: reconnecting the Northern Basin – Creating fish migration paths across more than 2000 km or waterways
• Fish-friendly Water Extraction – Helping water users protect native fish by installing modern screens on irrigation pumps
• Reconnecting Watercourse Country – Building environmental water corridors in the Gwydir to support the lifecycles of wildlife.

DPIRD Fisheries is also undertaking scientific research to support implementation. This includes long-term evaluation of environmental outcomes and genuine collaboration with water users, natural resource managers, industries, and regional communities.