The Program Team has now facilitated the first meeting of the Stakeholder Consultative Committee convened to assist with the preparation of a business case for the Broken Reconfiguration Project. The Stakeholder Consultative Committee is comprised of community members and other key stakeholders.

The role of the Stakeholder Consultative Committee is to:

• assist the Resilient Water Program to understand the strategic issues facing affected stakeholders and their communities
• articulate stakeholders’ current and future service and system management expectations
• provide guidance and insight to assist the preparation of a Business Case which delivers against project objectives and addresses some of the key issues associated with this project including the development of project-specific implementation policies and landowner incentive strategies.
• the Resilient Water Program Project Control Group;
• the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority;
• Goulburn-Murray Water;
• the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action; and
• the following seven community representatives:

The Stakeholder Consultative Committee is comprised of representatives from:

• the Resilient Water Program Project Control Group;
• the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority;
• Goulburn-Murray Water;
• the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action; and
• the following seven community representatives:

We expect that the Committee will meet at least a further fourtimes before the business case is submitted to the Commonwealth Government for review.

Meeting One – Water Acquisition

The Stakeholder Consultative Committee convened to assist with the preparation of a business case for the Broken Reconfiguration Project held its first meeting in August.

The initial meeting was an opportunity for group members to introduce themselves and their interest in the business case.

The Resilient Water Program Team presented on progress to date and the next steps associated with delivery of the business case.

Water Acquisition

The key issue discussed at the first meeting was the process to be followed as part of acquiring water entitlement required for the project.

The Resilient Water Program presented its preferred way forward to the Committee, which includes the following key elements:

• all landowners will be offered the opportunity to sell water
• the incentive to be offered will be the same for all Broken water share holders regardless of association with any land
• the water share acquisition payment will not include loading for any other matter – it will only be referable to the value of the water share plus any incentive for early agreement.

The Program Team has sought to ensure arrangements are consistent with previous acquisition programs. Broken water share holders will receive a letter outlining the following offer;

• $3,510 for every 1ML of HRWS; and
• $325 for every 1ML of LRWS.

The Program team will offer customers the chance to agree to arrangements for water share acquisition in advance of finalising the business case and will prepare formal legal deeds for customers to sign in anticipation of capital funding being approved. An additional payment will be available for landowners who reach early agreement with the Resilient Water Program on a potential water share transfer.

Next Update

The next Broken Reconfiguration Project update will be in October.

If you have any queries in the meantime, please email ResilientWater@gmwater.com.au.

If you would like to share your thoughts on the project, please do not hesitate to provide a response via the form on this web page.