Water’s Edge

In October 2024, the Inspector-General of Water Compliance, the Hon. Troy Grant, announced an inquiry into the Northern Basin Toolkit. In this episode, hear from Troy and Ken Lonnie, Director of Inquiry for the Inspector-General, as they discuss the findings of the inquiry. The Toolkit is a $166 million package funded by the Australian Government. It includes infrastructure projects and policy reforms aimed at lowering the northern Basin's water recovery target under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. To find out more and read the full report, visit https://inquiry.igwc.gov.au/northern-basin-toolkit 

In August 2025, Troy Grant was re-appointed for a second and final term as the Inspector-General of Water Compliance. The position can be held for a total of eight years under the Water Act 2007 (Cth). In this episode, Troy reflects on his first term as Inspector-General from 2021 to 2025. He shares what people can expect in the next four years. Troy also discusses the work being done in water management and his recent visit to southern areas of the Basin. Additionally, he offers insights on leadership, creating a legacy, and building a new team to support the Inspector-General of Water Compliance. If you would like to learn more about the Murray-Darling Basin after listening to this episode of Water’s Edge, visit our educational video series, Australia’s Murray-Darling Basin.   

The Water Amendment (Restoring Our Rivers) Act 2023 introduced new rules. This could lead to a follow-up IGWC investigation on trade price reporting. Mildura water broker Phil Grahame offers his view on a fair-priced Basin water market. Participants should be able to make informed decisions. Plus: the community asks a complex question. The IGWC answers, about rules and regulations in Murray-Darling Basin jurisdictions.

In this episode of Water’s Edge: the Murray-Darling Basin community has its say on management and compliance of a precious resource – water. A deep dive into the Inspector-General of Water Compliance’s (IGWC) Community Sentiment Survey conducted by ORIMA Research. Join the IGWC at field days across the Basin where community members share what they're concerned about. Plus, the Inspector-General of Water Compliance, the Honourable Troy Grant, steps up to the mic to answer the first Water's Edge listener questions. Got a question you’d like answered in Water’s Edge? Email it to us at [email protected], with the subject line ‘Water’s Edge podcast’. Water’s Edge is produced by the independent Inspector-General of Water Compliance.

In this episode of Water’s Edge: a deep dive into ACT’s water with the Inspector-General of Water Compliance's Regulatory Leaders Forum.   Inspector-General of Water Compliance, the Honourable Troy Grant, shares how the forum uniting water leaders is progressing.  Icon Water shares how they balance water infrastructure and the environment at Canberra's Cotter Dam, including protecting the endangered Macquarie Perch.  Plus how Australia's largest inland sewage plant proves every drop of water is valuable.  Canberra is the biggest city in the Murray Darling Basin and the only jurisdiction completely within the Basin. 

The search for positive water management - storage, treatment, irrigation, and community benefits – leads to the NSW Macquarie region.  Inspector-General of Water Compliance Troy Grant takes Pakistan’s High-Commissioner to Australia, His Excellency Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri, on a Murray-Darling Basin field trip to share water ideas.  Pakistan and Australia share similar challenges in water scarcity, regulation, and efficiencies but also a vision to be world-leaders in water resource management.    Fourth generation broadacre crop farmer and Trangie Nevertire Irrigation Scheme Chair, Tony Quigley GAICD, explains the innovative system.  Learn how Dubbo works to drought-proof its drinking water with Glenn Clifford, Luke Ryan and Murray Wood at Dubbo Regional Council’s John Gilbert Water Treatment Plant.  And explore the Burrima boardwalk in the Macquarie Marshes Ramsar site with Macquarie Marshes Environmental Trust’s Tony Wass and David Duncan. 

In this episode of Water’s Edge: if 2023 was a year of climate opposites, then what’s ahead for 2024 and what does it mean for the Murray-Darling Basin?  Get the answers from this episode’s guest, Professor Albert Van Dijk from the Australian National University, who led the 2023 Australia’s Environment Report.    Plus, the Inspector-General of Water Compliance Troy Grant takes the report off the page and into the Murray-Darling Basin.  And hear from Narromine grower Tim Gainsford as a one of the people putting this into practice in the Basin.  Got a question you’d like answered in Water’s edge? Email it to us at [email protected], with the subject line ‘Water’s Edge podcast’.  Water’s Edge is produced by the independent Inspector-General of Water Compliance.   Reports:  2023 Australia’s Environment Report: ausenv.tern.org.au/aer.html  Global Water Monitor 2023 Summary Report: globalwater.online/globalwater/report.html 

According to the IGWC’s Annual Community sentiment survey, only 15% of people know that the ACT is actually a part of the Murray-Darling Basin. While the ACT makes up  a small portion of the Basin compared to other states, it still brings significant economic and environmental benefits to the Basin. In this final episode of season 2 of Water’s Edge, we chat to Dr Su Wild-River. Su is the ACT’s delegate on the Regulatory Leaders Forum, and from the ACT Environmental Protection Authority.   Visit our website igwc.gov.au for more information. 

77% of the general population doesn't know whether they live in the Murray-Darling Basin, despite it being the country's largest area of agricultural production - the food bowl producing a third of our food supply.  Join us for this episode of Water's Edge, as we learn more fun facts about how people in the Basin feel about water management through the Inspector-General of Water Compliance's annual community sentiment survey.  Episode guests are Deputy Inspector-General of Capability Bridgett Leopold and Assistant Director of Intelligence and Engagement Rachel McNamara.  Read about the Steady as it Flows report: Steady as it flows – An assessment of River Murray operations and environmental water management (PDF 4.90 MB) Read our annual community sentiment survey: https://www.igwc.gov.au/publications/annual-survey  

Were you at this year's AgQuip? Celebrating 50 years of Australia's largest agricultural field days, the Inspector-General went along for the first time, to speak to people about the work that we do. We also learnt about what some of the issues are in the community and how it's affecting people around water compliance and regulation.  We're now heading to Riverland Field Days, and then straight to Henty after that so we'd love to hear from you.