Coorong getting back on track

The Coorong’s health is important to the entire Murray-Darling Basin system, and to the success of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

Ministers from each of the Murray-Darling Basin states, as well as the Australian Government have agreed today to take action to restore the struggling Coorong South Lagoon.

It has been agreed that:

• $70 million of unallocated South Australian State Priority Project (SPP) funds will be made available for measures to support the long-term health of the Coorong identified in the Healthy Coorong, Healthy Basin Action Plan.
• Of the $70 million, up to $2 million is being immediately released to support the Commonwealth and South Australian Governments to progress and finalise the Healthy Coorong, Healthy Basin Action Plan.
• Subject to the evaluation of the Healthy Coorong, Healthy Basin Action Plan, $25 million will be made available to deliver phase 1 of the action plan.

Last month the Coorong Summit Summary Report and the Goyder Expert Panel Report were released and summarised recommendations and a vision for the Coorong’s future. These will be used to form the new Healthy Coorong, Healthy Basin Action Plan.

The finalised action plan will detail the management, research and infrastructure activities to be carried out to get the Coorong back on track for the future.

The action plan is expected to be finalised before mid-2019.