SA Constraints Measures project
The South Australia Constraints Measures project (SA Constraints) is removing constraints, or barriers, to the delivery of environmental water, in order to improve the health of the South Australian River Murray’s floodplains and wetlands. This includes developing a government framework to support the management of environmental water delivery and an on-ground works program to remove physical barriers inhibiting environmental water from reaching the floodplains and wetlands.
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About the project
In 2013, the Constraints Management Strategy was produced by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority to identify the physical, operational and management constraints that are affecting delivery of water for the environment for 7 key areas across the Basin, including the River Murray in South Australia.
While the main goal of relaxing constraints is to provide greater scope for environmental flows to floodplains and end-of-system, the SA Constraints Measures project will also improve access to the river and facilities for water managers, communities and landholders during natural high flow events.
High flow events that enable flows over riverbanks are beneficial for the environment because they connect habitats along the floodplain with one another and the main river channel. Such connections enable species to access refuge habitat areas, find breeding partners, and recolonise suitable habitats, all of which are important for the species’ long-term survival. Flooding also increases food resources for species downstream of the flood location.
River regulation and water use for consumptive purposes have significantly altered the flow regime of rivers across much of the Murray-Darling Basin, reducing the volume and duration of high flow events. This has resulted in flow volumes greatly reducing, with the average annual flow volume now less than half the volume prior to development. Similarly, the length of time between high flow events has grown to more than twice that experienced prior to regulation and diversion of river flow.
Benefits for South Australia
Delivering water for the environment will enable high flows to reach floodplains on a more regular basis, which will aid environmental outcomes for South Australia. The SA Constraints Measures project aims to remove some of the constraints, or physical barriers, impacting the delivery of water for the environment in the South Australian River Murray.
Research shows that South Australia will benefit from having coordinated flows of up to 80,000 megalitres per day (ML/day) at the border for periods of one month, up to 3 times a decade. This flow is below the levels observed in 2016 (95,000 ML/day) and well below the 2022-2023 (190,000 ML/day) and 1956 (341,000 ML/day) flood levels.
Planning controls developed as a result of the 1956 flood event have guided the construction of infrastructure on the floodplain to minimise impacts of future high flows and flood events. However, during high flows, inundation of some riverfront land, jetties, banks, marinas, pontoons and public roads can occur.
The SA Constraints Measures project has investigated ways to mitigate the effects of high flows on infrastructure and communities, and additional strategies such as providing more culverts and upgrading roads, riverbanks, walls, boating and marina infrastructure have been considered in order to improve access for communities and landholders during natural high flow events.
High flows are not floods, however, individual property owners should prepare for high flows to minimise impacts to their land and infrastructure. Information and advice on high flows can be found on the River Murray Flow Report page.
What we are doing
Early Works project
The SA Constraints Measures project is working to remove a range of barriers currently impeding environmental flows. This includes developing a government framework to support the management of environmental water delivery and an on-ground works program to remove physical barriers inhibiting environmental water from reaching the floodplains and wetlands.
The SA Constraints Measures Early Works project includes infrastructure upgrades that will contribute to building community resilience and is part of a package of initiatives that make up the Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s Sustainable Diversion Limit (SDL) Adjustment Mechanism.
The Department for Environment and Water has worked closely with stakeholders and members of the community on the Early Works project, to understand their priorities and needs and to identify infrastructure options that can be constructed as part of the SA Constraints Measures Early Works project.
Current Early Works projects (scheduled for completion by 30 December 2025)
- Installation of gates and signage in the Murray River National Park at Chowilla and Morgan, to improve visitor management and safety during high flow periods
- Upgrading surface water monitoring stations to ensure critical water flow, height and salinity monitoring during high flows
- Detailed design of cultural facilities at Ngaut Ngaut Conservation Park
Completed Early Works projects
- Infrastructure improvements at Central Irrigation Trust drainage outlets to improve safety for workers managing irrigation infrastructure during environmental high flow events
- Installation of gates and signage in the Murray River National Park at Chowilla and Morgan, to improve visitor management and safety during high flow periods
- Upgrading surface water monitoring stations to ensure critical water flow, height and salinity monitoring during high flows
- Renmark rowing dock upgrade
- Renmark town wharf upgrade
- Channel clearing to improve flow and connectivity across Murray River National Park floodplains at Katarapko
- Upgrading infrastructure on the Loxton riverfront, including 3 toilet blocks, 3 sluice gate upgrades, bank stabilisation and upgrading the Community Wastewater Management System switchboard.
- Modernising the Noora pipeline and Renmark Area Drainage Discharge Scheme (RADDS) infrastructure to reduce the risk of failure during high flow events and improve saline groundwater management
- Investigating potential upgrade designs for Bruno Bay, to improve environmental outcomes while also enhancing community use of recreational areas and access for water managers and landholders during periods of higher flows (up to 80 gigalitres per day)
- Detailed design of upgrades to the Lock 5 marina
- Detailed design and construction of upgrade Twentyfirst Street Bridge
- Detailed design of Lyrup Road culvert
- Design of bank stabilisation at Pomberuk/Hume Reserve in Murray Bridge
- Detailed design of upgrades to the Swan Reach boat ramp, South Punyelroo Community Wastewater System and roads in the Scott Creek shack area
- Construction of a houseboat mooring at Bowhill
Stage Two
In March 2025, funding was announced for Stage Two of the SA Constraints Measures, allowing the project to continue delivering constraint removal solutions for River Murray communities.
Stage 2 projects
- Lock 5 Marina bank stabilisation and mooring poles
- Loxton riverfront power infrastructure and Community Wastewater Management System pump upgrades, and stage 2 of bank stabilisation
- Construction of upgraded toilets, shelter, seats, barbecue, carpark, access road and boat ramp at Bruno Bay, Cobdogla
- Cobdogla Station Caravan Park bank stabilisation
- Swan Reach boat ramp upgrade
- South Punyleroo Community Wastewater Management System upgrade
- Bank stabilisation and supporting infrastructure construction at Pomberuk/Hume Reserve, Murray Bridge
- Cadel pump access track upgrade
- Watchels Lagoon culvert installations to improve connectivity
- Installation of Lyrup Road culvert to improve connectivity
- Detailed designs for Arnold Park bank stabilisation, Morgan Riverfront remediation, South Punyelroo access road and Blanchetown boat ramp
- Detailed designs for Paisley Island sluice gates, bank stabilisation, toilet, Community Wastewater Management System pump and boat ramp
- Detailed designs for Ramco bank stabilisation and toilet
- Detailed designs for Waikerie bank stabilisation
- Detailed designs for Holders Bend bank stabilisation and boat ramp
- Detailed designs for Lake Bonney jetty, wastewater system and cultural sites protection
Enhanced Environmental Water Delivery
The SA Constraints Measures project is closely aligned with the Enhanced Environmental Water Delivery project (EEWD). While the SA Constraints Measures project is focused on increasing regulated flow limits across the Southern Basin by mitigating third-party impacts, EEWD is concerned with developing tools and strategies to ensure river operators and environmental water holders can use this increased operational flow range effectively.
Latest news
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As part of the Department for Environment and Water’s SA Constraints Measures project, 4 River Murray surface water monitoring stations have been identified for upgrades that will enable them to better withstand enhanced environmental flow events.
The Department for Environment and Water’s (DEW) South Australia Constraints Measures project is collaborating with Berri Barmera Council on an innovative project that will combine environmental health measures with infrastructure along Lyrup Road in Monash.
The Riverland community will be asked to have input into the design of infrastructure upgrades at Bruno Bay in Cobdogla, which could see the boat ramp and community infrastructure made more accessible during high River Murray flows.
Projects to improve floodplain health, direct water back into local catchments and incorporate First Nations knowledge into water management practices were among those recognised at the Australian Stream Management Awards this month.
Ngarrindjeri communities are working with the Department for Environment and Water's SA Constraints Measures project to ensure Ngarrindjeri cultural heritage and knowledge are incorporated into designs and implementation proposals for this culturally significant site.
More Information
Fact Sheets
Contact us
Contact the SA Constraints Measures team at SAconstraints@sa.gov.au
The $90.79 million South Australia Constraints Measures project supports infrastructure upgrades that enhance environmental water delivery, community resilience and access during high-flow events. The project is delivered by the Government of South Australia and funded by the Australian Government as part of the Basin Plan.
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