Status
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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
- Lindsay Island.
Both the Lindsay Island Floodplain Restoration (Lindsay Island) Project and the Wallpolla Island Floodplain Restoration (Wallpolla Island) Project aim to return a more natural flooding regime to improve ecological conditions across the Murray River floodplain, with the proposed restoration of approximately 2,585 hectares (ha) of floodplain vegetation at the Lindsay Island project and 997 ha of floodplain at the Wallpolla Island project.
The works proposed for these projects will include:
- Large and small regulators
- Containment structures
- Drop structures
- Temporary cofferdams
- Spillways
- Culverts
- Pump suction line
- Hardstand areas
- New access tracks and realignments/upgrades to existing access tracks; and
- Borrow pit sites will be established to supply fill material in order to support construction.
The former Minister for Plannings decision stated that an Environment Effects Statement (EES), under the under the Environment Effects Act 1978 (EE Act), was required for both projects and that one EES process could be undertaken to assess the potential environmental effects of both the Lindsay Island and Wallpolla Island projects together (see the Reasons for decision linked below). This combination of projects is commonly referred to as the VMFRP EES West package.
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
EES Exhibition
The EES is to be publicly exhibited for comment for 30 business days from Monday 22 June 2026 to 11.59pm on Friday 31 July 2026.
You can view the environment effects statement and any related documents at Proponent EES website.
Submissions can be made through the Engage Victoria Platform.
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 EES West package.
Dates for the directions hearing and inquiry will be provided once confirmed with Planning Panels Victoria.
EES preparation
Consultation plan
LMW has prepared a consultation plan for the EES, outlining the opportunities and approaches for its community engagement during the preparation of the EES.
Following the recommencement of the EES 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 EES. If updates are made, the updated versions will be posted on this page.
Technical reference group
The Department has convened an inter-agency technical reference group (TRG) to support all nine VMFRP sub-projects being assessed under the EE Act. The TRG was utilised to advise 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 government 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
- First People of the Millewa-Mallee Aboriginal Corporation
- Swan Hill Rural City Council
- Mildura Rural City Council
- Campaspe Shire Council
- Gannawarra Shire Council
- Mallee Catchment Management Authority
- North Central Catchment Management Authority
- Parks Victoria
- Lower Murray Water
- Goulburn Murray Water
- Environment Protection Authority.
Technical reference group representatives are supported by internal experts on specific aspects of the EES studies.
Scoping requirements
The scoping requirements set out the matters to be investigated and documented in the EES.
Draft scoping requirements for this EES were placed on public exhibition from 23 April to 14 May 2021.
After considering public submissions on the draft scoping requirements, the Minister for Planning issued final scoping requirements in July 2021, dated June 2021 (available below).
In response to the scoping requirements the proponent has prepared a single EES to encompass all matters across the EES West package.
Minister's decision on referral
On 06 December 2020 the Minister for Planning required LMW to prepare a single EES under the Environment Effects Act 1978, to assess and manage potential significant environmental effects of both the Lindsay Island and Wallpolla Island projects.
Project contact
If you have any questions or feedback, please get in touch with the Impact Assessment Unit via the contact details, or reach out to the proponent:
Proponent: Lower Murray Water, Proposed Lindsay Island Floodplain Restoration Project and Wallpolla Island
Floodplain Restoration Project queries:
Page last updated: 22/06/26