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| Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board | |
|---|---|
| Name | Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board |
| Jurisdiction | South Australia |
| Headquarters | Renmark |
| Formed | 2019 |
Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board
The Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board is a statutory regional body in South Australia based in Renmark that administers natural resource management across the Murraylands and Riverland region. It operates within the policy frameworks set by the South Australian government and the Department for Environment and Water (South Australia), delivering programs that intersect with the Murray River (Australia), Riverland communities, and agricultural districts such as Barossa Valley and Mallee (South Australia). The board engages with stakeholders from the Renmark Paringa Council, Mid Murray Council, and Swan Reach to coordinate river health, biodiversity, and landcare initiatives.
The board functions as one of nine regional landscape boards established under the Landscape South Australia Act 2019 to integrate land, water and biodiversity management across defined regions. It covers the catchments of the Murray River (Australia), Lakes Alexandrina and Albert, and parts of the River Murray corridor, working alongside agencies including the Natural Resources Management Council (Australia), Australian Government environmental programs, and local government authorities such as the Berri Barmera Council and Renmark Paringa Council. Key landscapes include floodplain wetlands near Coorong National Park, irrigated horticulture zones in Renmark, and dryland farming areas toward Mallee (Victoria). The board interfaces with national initiatives like the Murray–Darling Basin Authority and state initiatives administered by the SA MDBA.
The board was formed during the 2019 restructuring of regional management under the Marshall ministry (2018–2022) in South Australia, replacing previous regional entities such as the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin Natural Resources Management Board and the Murraylands NRM Board. Its establishment responded to reforms arising from inquiries into the Murray–Darling Basin governance, including recommendations from reviews associated with the Commonwealth of Australia and state policy makers. Early antecedents include catchment committees from the 1990s and partnerships developed during projects funded by the National Landcare Program and the Caring for our Country initiative. The board’s legal foundation is the Landscape South Australia Act 2019, enacted by the Parliament of South Australia.
Governance is exercised through a board appointed under state legislation, with representation drawn from electorates such as Chaffey, Murray (state electorate), and MacKillop (state electorate). The chief executive reports to ministers from the Department for Environment and Water (South Australia), and the board coordinates with statutory agencies including the Environment Protection Authority (South Australia) and the SA Water. Committees address issues spanning native species recovery, invasive species management, water quality monitoring, and cultural heritage liaison with groups such as the Ngarrindjeri and Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations (MLDRIN). Administrative links extend to universities and research institutes such as the University of Adelaide, SARDI (South Australian Research and Development Institute), and the CSIRO for applied science support.
The board’s responsibilities include catchment planning, salinity and soil health programs, pest and weed control, wetland restoration, and community capacity building in locations like Barmera and Loxton. Program delivery aligns with federal initiatives from the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (Australia) and with regional plans such as the Murray–Darling Basin Plan. Key programs target carp management in the Murray River (Australia), revegetation along the River Murray riparian zones, and mitigation of acid sulfate soils in lower Riverland wetlands. The board runs monitoring partnerships with the Bureau of Meteorology and coordinates with infrastructure agencies like SA Water and the Australian Rail Track Corporation where projects intersect transport corridors.
Major initiatives include flow and environmental watering coordination with the Murray–Darling Basin Authority and cross-jurisdictional projects with New South Wales and Victoria authorities. Restoration projects have been undertaken in the Coorong and Lower Lakes region, and revegetation efforts near Morgan (South Australia) and Cadell. The board has been a partner in invasive fish reduction trials used by the Australian Institute of Marine Science and collaborates on dryland salinity trials with the Australian National University and Griffith University research teams. Community-led programs link with organisations such as Landcare Australia, Conservation Volunteers Australia, and the Goulburn–Murray Water catchment partners on shared issues.
Funding is sourced from the South Australian government budget allocations, competitive grants under the National Landcare Program, and Australian Government environmental funding rounds. The board forms partnerships with councils like Berri Barmera Council and industry groups including the Nursery & Garden Industry Australia and the Australian Horticultural Producers. Collaborative funding and project management occur with agencies such as the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development (Australia) and philanthropic foundations that have supported landscape restoration, and research collaborations with institutions such as the University of New South Wales and University of Melbourne.
Community engagement is achieved through regional advisory groups, volunteer fencing and revegetation events with Landcare Australia, and cultural heritage programs in consultation with Ngarrindjeri and other First Nations organisations like the Adnyamathanha Traditional Lands Association. Stakeholders include irrigation associations such as the Riverland Citrus industry, recreational stakeholders from towns like Renmark and Loxton, and environmental NGOs including the Australian Conservation Foundation and WWF-Australia. The board provides resources and training, liaises with state MPs representing electorates like Chaffey and Murray (state electorate), and publishes regional plans aligned with national frameworks such as the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Category:Environment of South Australia Category:Natural resource management