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| Riverina and Murray Joint Organisation | |
|---|---|
| Name | Riverina and Murray Joint Organisation |
| Formation | 2016 |
| Type | Regional collaboration body |
| Region served | Riverina, Murray, New South Wales |
| Membership | Multiple local government areas |
| Headquarters | Wagga Wagga |
Riverina and Murray Joint Organisation is a regional collaboration body formed to coordinate local policy, infrastructure, planning and advocacy across multiple local government areas in the south‑west of New South Wales. It brings together elected councils to collaborate on regional development, transport, water management, land use, tourism and disaster resilience across the Riverina and Murray River corridors. The organisation interacts with state and federal bodies including the New South Wales Government, the Australian Government, and agencies such as Transport for NSW and the Department of Planning and Environment.
The origins trace to state policy reforms following the 2015 review of local government by the Independent Local Government Review Panel and subsequent programs promoted by the Office of Local Government. Early convenings involved councils from Wagga Wagga, Murray River Council, Edward River Council, Federation Council, Temora Shire Council, Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council, Coolamon Shire Council, Gundagai Shire Council, Lake Cargelligo Shire Council and other shires. Formal establishment paralleled the launch of the Joint Organisations framework, coordinated with the Local Government NSW association and supported by ministers including the Minister for Local Government. The organisation’s timeline includes responses to the 2016 Census, flood events along the Murrumbidgee River, drought assistance linked to the Murray–Darling Basin Plan, and regional planning phases dovetailing with the Southern NSW Regional Plan.
Governance is led by a Board comprising mayors and councillors from member councils, operating under a charter aligned with the Local Government Act 1993. Members include urban and rural councils such as Wagga Wagga City Council, Murray River Council, Edward River Council, Federation Council, Berrigan Shire Council, Narrandera Shire Council, Leeton Shire Council, Griffith City Council and surrounding shires. The organisation liaises with regional agencies like Regional Development Australia Riverina and state departments including the NSW Treasury for budget allocations. Board meetings follow procedures informed by the Public Finance and Audit Act and engage advisory committees drawing expertise from institutions such as the University of Wollongong, Charles Sturt University, and the CSIRO.
Primary functions include regional strategic planning, advocacy to the Australian Parliament and the New South Wales Parliament, project delivery for infrastructure, and coordination of emergency management with entities like the NSW State Emergency Service and Fire and Rescue NSW. Services cover transport corridor planning with Transport for NSW, water resource programs linked to the Murray–Darling Basin Authority, tourism promotion with Destination NSW, and workforce development in partnership with TAFE NSW and the Department of Education. The organisation also supports grant administration tied to programs run by the Australian Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications and state grant schemes managed by the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet.
Strategic planning documents align to regional priorities such as growth corridors around Wagga Wagga Airport, freight links via the Sturt Highway, and irrigation improvements for the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area. Key projects have included regional transport strategies in consultation with NSW TrainLink and Australian Rail Track Corporation, telecommunication rollouts with NBN Co, and economic development initiatives tied to the Riverina–Murray food bowl. Disaster resilience projects responded to the 2016–17 Australian drought and 2016 floods in New South Wales, while environmental projects intersect with the Murray–Darling Basin catchment programs and Basin Plan implementation. Collaboration on regional health workforce planning involved agencies like NSW Health and the Murrumbidgee Local Health District.
Funding sources comprise member council contributions, state grants from entities such as the NSW Treasury and the Department of Planning and Environment, and federal funding streams administered by the Australian Government Department of Infrastructure. Project-specific funding has been secured via competitive grants from programs such as the National Stronger Regions Fund, regional growth funds tied to the Regional Growth Fund (NSW), and targeted emergency relief funds managed alongside the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). Financial oversight references audit practices paralleling the Audit Office of New South Wales standards and budget frameworks used by local authorities including Wagga Wagga City Council.
The organisation cultivates partnerships with higher education institutions including Charles Sturt University and University of New South Wales research groups, industry bodies like the National Farmers' Federation, conservation groups including Murray–Darling Basin Authority stakeholders, and economic development agencies such as Regional Development Australia Riverina. It coordinates with service agencies like Service NSW, emergency services including the Rural Fire Service (NSW), and infrastructure providers such as Ausgrid and NBN Co. Engagement extends to First Nations organisations including local Wiradjuri representatives and Native Title bodies, and to regional business chambers like the Wagga Wagga Chamber of Commerce.
Critiques have focused on perceived duplication with state agencies such as Regional Development Australia, debates over resource allocation between urban centres like Wagga Wagga and smaller shires, and tensions related to water policy amid the Murray–Darling Basin Plan controversies. Some stakeholders questioned governance transparency relative to provisions in the Local Government Act 1993 and audit practices referenced by the Audit Office of New South Wales. Political disputes have involved opposition from councils skeptical of joint bodies, echoes of debates during the 2016 local government amalgamations in New South Wales, and scrutiny during grant procurement akin to controversies seen in other regional joint organisations.
Category:Local government in New South Wales Category:Riverina Category:Murray River