The Broken Reconfiguration Feasibility Study (BRFS) recommended progressing this community led initiative to business case development. Funding for the business case has been secured through the Commonwealth’s Resilient Rivers Water Infrastructure Program, as part of our Planning our Basin future together program. This marks an important step to a more resilient and sustainable Broken River System.

The business case will refine the preferred option and finalise the scope of works. It will also look at broader economic impacts, costs and benefits of the project. This will involve further engagement with the community. The Consultative Committee will continue to support the project through the business case.

The Broken Reconfiguration Feasibility Study has been approved by Harriet Shing MP, Minister for Water and is now public.

The feasibility and technical reports are now online and available for sharing or downloading via the link below.

As part of the Broken System Review in 2020-22, it was recommended a study into system reconfiguration options must be done to support the community to plan for reduced water availability in the future.

A Broken Reconfiguration Feasibility Study (BRFS) has been established to consider changes that could be made to the system’s configuration to better meet the region’s long-term needs.

For the purposes of the study, the Broken System has been divided into five zones, to consider the feasible reconfiguration options. Several individual options will apply across all of the zones. Other options (primarily infrastructure) will be unique to certain areas based on factors like, land and water use, and location within the system.

• Zone 1: Broken River from Lake Nillahcootie to Lake Benalla.
• Zone 2: Broken River from Lake Benalla to Casey’s Weir, including entitlement holders connected to the Mokan Pipeline system.
• Zone 3: Broken Creek from Casey’s Weir to Waggarandal Weir
• Zone 4: Broken River from Casey’s Weir to Gowangardie Weir
• Zone 5: Broken River from Gowangardie Weir to the Goulburn River.

Feasible reconfiguration options will be analysed to understand the socio-economic and other benefits they could provide. These draft options will be tested with stakeholders and the community to help to determine the preferred option/s.

Community engagement

In the year since the BRFS has been established, the team have used a variety of engagement tools to gather as much community insights on the Broken System as possible to inform the study.

In November 2023 then again across the early months of 2024, the team have hosted more than 50 briefings, drop-in sessions, kitchen table visits and invited workshops. Via these efforts, the team have managed to hear the views of the entitlement holders cumulatively holding 60 per cent of water entitlement in the Broken System.

The team have also gathered data using the interactive map-based pinning feature above and by conducting a survey that elicited a response from more than 10 per cent of water users in the Broken system.

The BRFS have compiled the feedback received during face to face sessions. A copy of the presentation and a summary of what we heard and the next steps are available in the Document Library on this page.

Community engagement

In the year since the BRFS has been established, the team have used a variety of engagement tools to gather as much community insights on the Broken System as possible to inform the study.

In November 2023 then again across the early months of 2024, the team have hosted more than 50 briefings, drop-in sessions, kitchen table visits and invited workshops. Via these efforts, the team have managed to hear the views of the entitlement holders cumulatively holding 60 per cent of water entitlement in the Broken System.

The team have also gathered data using the interactive map-based pinning feature above and by conducting a survey that elicited a response from more than 10 per cent of water users in the Broken system.

The BRFS have compiled the feedback received during face to face sessions. A copy of the presentation and a summary of what we heard and the next steps are available in the Document Library on this page.

Broken Reconfiguration Feasibility Study Consultative Committee

The study includes a Consultative Committee (BRFS CC) made up of community members and other key stakeholders to provide advice on local issues and consultation processes.

As part of the study, the Broken System has been divided into five zones for investigation, with representation across the committee.

The BRFS CC is made up of the following members, who each represent a zone:

• Chris Gibson (Benalla to Caseys Weir)
• Maureen Cottam (Benalla to Caseys Weir)
• Wayne Spinks (north of Caseys Weir)
• Neil Renshaw (Benalla to Caseys Weir)
• David Rush (Lake Nillahcootie to Benalla)
• Trevor Stedman (Gowangardie Weir to Shepparton, Caseys Weir to Gowangardie Weir)
• Craig Madden (Chair of the Goulburn Broken Regional Water Services Committee)

The Consultative Committee is an opportunity to guide the future of water management in the Broken River system and ensure local community insights and consideration shape the study. In addition to the BRFS CC, the study will also seek wider community valuable feedback and insights.

The results from the study will then be used to take advantage of current and future opportunities for funding changes to the way water is supplied and used in the system to best meet its needs going forward.