Flows return to the Darling River at Tolarno Station
March 2020
Here are the images we have all been waiting for. It has been 13 months since the fish kill and even longer since the Darling flowed past Tolarno. We are so excited to show you this.
Unfortunately the reality is this won’t last very long. If mass extraction had not occurred upstream we’d have a secure water supply for up to 6 years! We’re not complaining about 12-18 months but this just shows the fight is not over.
We hope we never have to experience this again but the only way that can happen is if we all keep fighting for the Darling-Barka.
Here are the images we have all been waiting for. It has been 13 months since the fish kill and even longer since the Darling flowed past Tolarno. We are so excited to show you this.
Unfortunately the reality is this won’t last very long. If mass extraction had not occurred upstream we’d have a secure water supply for up to 6 years! We’re not complaining about 12-18 months but this just shows the fight is not over.
We hope we never have to experience this again but the only way that can happen is if we all keep fighting for the Darling-Barka.
New allegations of maladministration and mismanagement of the Murray Darling Basin Plan
Two years after the ABC program Four Corners aired serious allegations of water theft and mismanagement in "Pumped", Four Corners have done it again. This time, its allegations of serious maladministration and mismanagement of the $5.6 billion water infrastructure scheme of the Murray Darling Basin Plan. The scheme has been used, legally, by irrigators to expand their irrigation operations and use more water from our rivers.
Watch "Cash Splash", or read more here.
We've worked with other river community members to come up with a strategy to get the Murray Darling Basin Plan on track:
Please support us by writing to your Members of Parliament. To find the name and contact details of your politicians:
We've even got a template letter you can personalise.
Watch "Cash Splash", or read more here.
We've worked with other river community members to come up with a strategy to get the Murray Darling Basin Plan on track:
- Have a Federal Royal Commission.
- Initiate a gateway process to undertake rigorous independent assessment of all environmental water recovery projects before funding or works.
- Put a watchdog on the block by establishing an independent Federal Basin Plan Regulator to ensure compliance.
- Secure Water for First Nations to address urgent threats to cultural values by securing Strategic Indigenous Reserves and funding for cultural flows.
- Hold a full independent audit of environmental water recovery to date, including water availability for provision of environmental flows.
- Re-instate buy backs to stop over extraction and ensure our rivers are resilient in the severest of droughts.
Please support us by writing to your Members of Parliament. To find the name and contact details of your politicians:
- For Federal Politicians, visit: www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/House_of_Representatives
- For NSW Politicians, visit: www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/members/pages/all-members.aspx
We've even got a template letter you can personalise.

letter.docx | |
File Size: | 16 kb |
File Type: | docx |
You can also sign a petition to the Federal and State Water Ministers. Click here to read and sign.
A million fish die on the Lower Darling
Please write to your politicians to save the Lower Darling
On January 6, 2019, approximately 1 million fish have died on the Lower Darling at the Menindee Lakes. The fish have died because the little bit of stagnant water that remains is toxic and deoxygenated the water. Its an environmental disaster that is man-made.
Our politicians continue to ignore the reasons this disaster has happened. Please make sure they know you care, and will consider their response in the upcoming Federal and NSW elections. We have a message we would like you to send them - Please download the letter and send to your local Member of Parliament, the Prime Minister, and if you live in NSW, the Premier! You can also send to politicians in leadership from all parties.
You can amend the letter, or just add your politician's & your name and send.

letter.docx | |
File Size: | 13 kb |
File Type: | docx |
To find the name and contact details of your politicians:
To see the original video, visit our facebook page: www.facebook.com/TolarnoStation/videos/1005409629583240/
- For Federal Politicians, visit: www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/House_of_Representatives
- For NSW Politicians, visit: www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/members/pages/all-members.aspx
To see the original video, visit our facebook page: www.facebook.com/TolarnoStation/videos/1005409629583240/
The fight to save Menindee Lakes from significant changes which will have huge detrimental impact on the Lakes and lower Darling is on! on May 8, 2018, the Federal Senate will vote on whether to allow a suite of projects under the Murray Darling Basin Plan to go ahead. If this suite of projects is not stopped by the Senate, it will allow the NSW Government to go ahead with this devastating project.
Here is the analysis done by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority about the Menindee Lakes project. Despite the damning findings of the analysis, they recommended it go ahead.
Here is the analysis done by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority about the Menindee Lakes project. Despite the damning findings of the analysis, they recommended it go ahead.

Murray Darling Basin Authority's analysis of the Menindee Lakes project | |
File Size: | 241 kb |
File Type: |
Writing to the Prime Minister
The Tolarno team have written to the Prime Minister asking again for a Federal Royal Commission. As an open letter, please share!
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Lateline features crisis on the Lower Darling
Lateline have visited the Menindee Lakes and Lower Darling to understand what impact government mismanagement and alleged misconduct have had on our communities. For more information, click here.
Four Corners: Pumped - Who is benefiting from the billions spent on the Murray-Darling?
Four Corners have be exploring where all the water has gone... Click here to find out more.
Sign our petitions to save the Murray-Darling Basin
We are calling on Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to finish what he started in 2006, and make sure the Murray-Darling Basin Plan:
Sign our petitions here! Please note, the signatures of both will be combined when we take them to Canberra, so please sign the petition which most resonates with you:
- Legally dedicates 3,200 GL of river water to our rivers so they can flow.
- Removes barriers and outdated rules so our rivers can replenish natural floodplains.
- Uses the best available science to manage the current and future impact of changes in the climate.
- Is overseen by transparent institutions we can trust to look after our rivers and ensure everyone plays by the rules.
Sign our petitions here! Please note, the signatures of both will be combined when we take them to Canberra, so please sign the petition which most resonates with you: