After rescoping the Yanco Offtake project earlier this year, Water Infrastructure NSW has proposed a range of new initiatives for the Murrumbidgee river to try and create a more flexible and more sustainable system.

It will all fall under the umbrella of the Murray-Darling Basin plan, as key tenets of the scheme.

Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey said that revitalising the Menindee Lakes plan and the Yanco Offtake project would bring the Murray-Darling plan back on track.

""Most of the criticisms of the Plan originate with shortcomings around these two projects," she explained.

"Today is a historic moment in the Basin Plan, changing both the Menindee Lakes and Yanco Creek Offtake projects to better meet community needs."

Key elements of the new plan for the Murrumbidgee include creating new fish passageways and screens that will open up more than 1,000km of the Murrumbidgee for fish migration and breeding, as well as measures to address cold water pollution and improve water quality.

Member for Albury Justin Clancy added that they would be consulting with the community on what needs to be done.

"They still have a long way to go, which is why we are asking people to talk to us, to stay engaged so we can continue to tailor the projects to best meet their needs," he said.

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Isaac Jeffrey, the CEO of the National Irrigator's Council, said that they would be keen to see further detail and encouraged all irrigators to be involved in the consultation process.

"The Better Bidgee and Better Baaka programs contain a number of projects with a mix of infrastructure investments to improve fish passages, better supply town water and increase reliable waterways' flows," he said.

"I join the Minister in asking all interested stakeholders to consider attending the webinars and providing feedback."

"Irrigators are not the only stakeholders with a role to play in making the Basin Plan work. Governments signed up to deliver a range of projects, including their SDLAM projects ... As we rapidly approach 2024, it is imperative that Basin governments deliver their part of the plan and get these projects done. We've done our bit, now it's time for governments to step up and do theirs."

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