CICL Update - The Main Channel August 2026
Dear Customers,
This newsletter provides Customers with an update on key water issues affecting CICL and its Customers’ businesses.
In this month's newsletter -
Customer Breakfast Meeting
DCCEEW Allocation
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW)
Allocation announcements
03/08/2026
High Security 95%
General Security 22%
Groundwater 100%
(Lower Murrumbidgee)
2026-27 CICL announcement and offers
Member benefit 12%
Additional water offer %
Water allocation update –NSW - DCCEEW released a water allocation update on Monday 3rd August 2026 found here. The next allocation announcement will be on Monday 17th August 2026 at 2:30pm.
Inter-valley trade (IVT)
Up-to-date information on the IVT is here.
You can register for WaterNSW IVT alerts here.
Water Operations Update
The main offtake opened on 6 August to begin filling the channel system. Customer water deliveries are expected to begin around Monday 17 August.
Waterways is open for 2026/2027 water Statements.
Crop forms - Before a water order can be placed, members are required to submit a crop form with intended crop types and areas per farm. These details can be updated at any time throughout the season if your plans change.
Call Water Operations to report any supply or ordering issues:
During business hours on T:02 6954 4003 or
After hours on M: 0427 544 269
CICL Board Elections
CICL will call for nominations from Tuesday 25 August 2026 for one member director due to the retirement by rotation of Craig Perkins. Craig, our Chair, has advised he intends to renominate.
The call for nominations closes at 12 noon on Thursday 24 September 2026.
IPART and Regulatory Improvement Program
IPART made their final determination for WaterNSW’s regulated water charges applying from 1 July 2026. It included a four-year determination and an annual price increase cap of 10 percent plus CPI. The Murrumbidgee Valley reaches full cost recovery within the determination period and sees only a CPI increase over the final two years of the four-year period. CICL is pleased IPART continued with valley-based pricing and the Irrigation Corporation Rebate as acknowledgement of avoided WaterNSW costs.
Despite acknowledging the affordability risks and the pressure on water users, the tribunal rejected industry’s request for a five percent increase and a two-year determination. Pleasingly, it did recommend the NSW government undertake a comprehensive review of the regional and rural water sector to ensure long-term sustainability. NSWIC has now publicly called for an urgent, transparent Government-led review of the pricing model and the introduction of an interim pricing cap of five percent (including inflation) while that review is undertaken.
Regulatory Improvement Program
CICL’s new operational policies and membership of the Energy and Water Ombudsman of NSW (EWON) came into effect on 1 July. The policies were developed in response to changes to CICL’s Operating Licence and will provide customers with greater clarity about how CICL manages key operational matters.
More information is available on the CICL website under the Customer tab.
2026 Winter Works Program now complete
A big shout-out to CICL’s outdoor staff and trusted contractors for the successful completion of this year’s Winter Works program!
With activities coordinated across 85 sites, major projects included regulator upgrades on the Boona Main canal and Tubbo Main; radial gate upgrades on the Main Canal at Grants Regulator and Yamma Offtake and meter replacements across 12 farm outlets.
The empty channels and (mostly) dry weather enabled our teams to complete annual mechanical servicing of gates, desilting of channels and repairs to channel banks and guardrails. This will help CICL maintain its service levels and improve safety for our people and the community.
Basin Plan Review
The Murray Darling Basin Authority released its “What we Heard Report” following public consultation on the Basin Plan Review. The report and the published submissions can be found on the authority’s website.
The 2,400 submissions showed alignment in several areas including; maximising environmental outcomes from water available, addressing native fish decline, better integration of land and water management, improving water quality and access to water for critical human needs and improving governance and transparency. Industry is calling for targeted investment in these areas to address the issues without simply adding more water.
The Inspector General for Water Compliance’s report released in July found that water use across the Basin is fully complaint with the Sustainable Diversion Limits set by the Basin Plan, showing overextraction is no longer an issue with 72 percent of inflows now remaining in the rivers for the environment.
CICL will remain engaged as the review progresses to final recommendations and legislative changes, and will continue to oppose further water recovery, including rule-based measures such as lower SDLs.
Water Act Review
The statutory review of the Water Act 2007 is underway with the Discussion Paper released in July. The review will consider; The operation of the Water Act, and how well the objects of the Water Act are being achieved and the opportunities to promote the principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
It is too early to understand the direction which the government may take in its review of the Water Act. Key concerns relate to how changes to the Water Act may impact on the Basin Plan, its consideration of water for First Nations, and the consideration of climate change impacts on water availability.
The final report is due by the end of February 2027. CICL will prepare its own submission and collaborate with the National Irrigators Council and NSW Irrigators Council on theirs.
SWIOID
The Snowy Water Inquiry Outcomes Implementation Deed (SWIOID) review is ongoing. The review is looking at ways to improve the health of the Upper Murrumbidgee River. CICL has made another submission to the SWIOID review in response to the Independent Review Panel’s draft report.
CICL’s submission and work to date have been focused on maintaining the rights of downstream water users. Any changes to release patterns or environmental water management must not adversely affect the availability or reliability of downstream water entitlements. Any impacts should be transparently reported and fully offset, mitigated, or compensated.
CICL conveyed to the review panel that the report is not decision ready, and many of the recommendations involve unquantified costs and require robust cost-benefit analysis before progressing to decision making. CICL will continue to advocate for customers’ interests for the remainder of the process.
Great Outcomes for our Local Waterways
As part of preparations for CICL's annual Winter Works program, we contacted NSW Fisheries before draining our irrigation channels. Thanks to this collaboration, Fisheries officers successfully rescued 65 juvenile and 9 adult Murray Cod from Boona Main Canal. Among the rescued fish was an impressive adult measuring 87cm in length (pictured).
Four of the adult Murray cod will be retained to support the NSW Fisheries breeding program, while the remaining fish were returned to the Murrumbidgee River.
CICL is proud to work alongside NSW Fisheries to help protect native fish populations and contribute to the health of our river system.
Staffing Update - Farewell Kevin Kelly and Paul Clarke, Welcome to Didula and Wilco
Over the coming months, CICL will see some significant staff changes.
At the end of August, we will farewell Kevin Kelly, who is retiring after more than 30 years of dedicated service. Kevin has made a lasting contribution to CICL and the wider community, and we thank him for his commitment over the years. We wish him a long and happy retirement.
We will also be saying goodbye to Paul Clarke, who will be leaving CICL at the end of September to take up a new role in Bathurst. Paul has played an important part in the organisation's success, and we thank him for his leadership, professionalism and contribution during his time with CICL. We wish him every success in his next chapter.
As we farewell Paul, we are pleased to welcome new Chief Financial Officer Wilco Seinen, who will commence with CICL on 14 September. Wilco brings extensive experience in finance, utilities and infrastructure, having most recently served as CFO for a power and water utility in Sint Maarten in the Caribbean. He has also held senior finance leadership roles with Engie and Gippsland Water in Victoria.
Wilco's strong background in managing major projects and water assets within highly regulated environments will be a valuable addition to the organisation. We look forward to welcoming Wilco and his wife to Coleambally and to the CICL team.
Farewell Kevin Kelly and Paul Clarke
CICL is pleased to introduce our new Civil Engineer, Didula, pictured here with COO Vanessa Clark. When asked what he’s most looking forward to, Didula shared that he’s excited to apply his civil engineering expertise to capital projects that will improve the irrigation capacity across our region. We welcome Didula to the business and the Coly community!
Didula - Civil Engineer pictured with Vanessa Clark COO
CICL Grant Latta Scholarship Opportunity-Applications open now
Applications are now open for the 2027 CICL Scholarship Program, offered in partnership with the CDPCEF. The scholarship supports students studying Engineering, Information Technology, Agricultural Science, Environmental Science, Finance or Communications, providing up to $9,000 per year. Recipients will also gain valuable paid work experience with CICL during university breaks and have the opportunity for employment with CICL following graduation. For more information, contact Alison Hayes at CICL.
We’d love to see what’s happening on your farm—send through your photos and we might feature them in an upcoming newsletter!