Status
On this page:
Background
Lower Murray Urban and Rural Water Corporation (LMW) proposes to undertake the Victorian Murray Floodplain Restoration Project (VMFRP), which consists of nine discrete sub-projects: Gunbower, Guttrum-Benwell, Vinifera, Nyah, Burra Creek, Hattah Lakes North, Belsar-Yungera, Wallpolla Island and Lindsay Island.
The Gunbower National Park (Gunbower) Floodplain Restoration Project and the Guttrum and Benwell Forests (Guttrum-Benwell) Floodplain Restoration Project have been combined under a single environment report (ER); commonly known as the VMFRP ER East package.
Both projects aim to return a more natural flooding regime to improve ecological conditions across the Murray River floodplain, with the proposed restoration of approximately 498 hectares at the Gunbower Floodplain Restoration Project and 1,219 hectares at the Guttrum-Benwell Floodplain Restoration Project.
The works proposed for these projects will include construction of:
- large and small regulators
- fishways
- containment structures
- temporary cofferdams
- spillways
- pump stations and associated power supply
- pipelines
- channel upgrade
- culvert crossings
- drop structures
- drainage outlets
- floodrunner works
- erosion control works
- new access tracks and realignments/upgrades to existing access tracks
- borrow pit sites to supply fill material to support construction.
The former Minister for Planning’s decisions stated an environment effects statement (EES) was not required under the Environment Effects Act 1978 (EE Act) for both projects subject to conditions. An environment report was a required condition of the decisions (see the Reasons for decisions linked below).
Both projects are controlled actions under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and the environment report serves as an accredited assessment under the Bilateral Agreement.
Public review and Inquiry
Exhibition
View the environment report and any related documents.
Submissions can be made through Engage Victoria.
Standing inquiry and advisory committee
The Victorian Murray Floodplain Restoration Project Standing Inquiry and Advisory Committee (SIAC) was appointed by the former Minister for Planning to consider the environmental effects of the VMFRP projects. This SIAC is applicable to the VMFRP ER East package.
The directions hearing will begin at 10 am Friday 22 May 2026. The public hearing is set to commence on Wednesday 24 June 2026. Please refer to Planning Panels Victoria Engage Victoria project page for further information.
Preparation
Consultation plan
LMW has prepared a consultation plan for the environment report process, outlining the opportunities and approaches for its community engagement during the preparation of the environment report.
Following the recommencement of the environmental report process, LMW has provided an updated Consultation Plan and addendum outlining activities planned for 2025 and into 2026.
The addendum below provides further details of specific consultation activities planned.
The plan and addendum may be updated as required during the preparation of the environment report. If updates are made, the updated versions will be posted on this page.
Technical reference group
DELWP (now DTP) has convened an inter-agency technical reference group (TRG) to support all nine VMFRP sub-projects being assessed under the EE Act. The TRGwas used to advise the proponent and DELWP (now DTP) on the development of the environment report. This includes advising, as appropriate, on scoping and adequacy of the technical studies conducted by the proponent to support the preparation of the environment report, as well as coordination with relevant statutory approval processes.
The organisations represented on the technical reference group are:
- DTP – Impact Assessment (chair)
- DEECA
- Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
- Department of Transport and Planning
- First Peoples - State Relations
- Heritage Victoria
- Relevant Registered Aboriginal Parties
- Relevant Local Councils
- Relevant Catchment Management Authorities
- Parks Victoria
- Lower Murray Water
- Goulburn Murray Water
- Environment Protection Authority
Scoping documents
The core scope of the environment report is included within the conditions set by the Minister under the decisions on the EES referrals. A scoping document was prepared by DELWP (now DTP) to help specify the matters needing to be investigated and documented by the proponent in the environment report and supporting technical studies.
In response to the scoping document the proponent has prepared a single environment report to encompass all conditions and matters.
Minister's decision on referral
On 06 December 2020 the Minister for Planning decided that an environment effects statement was not required for the two projects, subject to conditions being met. The Minister’s decisions required LMW to prepare an environment report under the EE Act to assess and manage specific potentially significant environmental effects of the both the Gunbower and Guttrum-Benwell projects.
Referral
Gunbower
Guttrum and Benwell
Project contact
If you have any questions or feedback, please get in touch with the Impact Assessment Unit via the contact details at the top, right-hand corner of the page, or reach out to the proponent:
Proponent: Lower Murray Water
Proposed Gunbower National Park Floodplain Restoration Project and Guttrum and Benwell Forests Floodplain Restoration Project queries:
✉ Email: info@vmfrp.vic.gov.au
Page last updated: 13/05/26