NK MehtaThe Menindee Lakes review is underway, but many people living beside the lakes in outback New South Wales are not convinced it will change much. Water levels have dropped to their lowest point since 2021. At the same time, forecasters expect a hot, dry El Niño summer. For a community that has already watched mass fish deaths unfold on its doorstep, that combination feels worryingly familiar.
Why the Menindee Lakes Review Matters Now
The lakes sit about 117 kilometres south of Broken Hill. Together, they hold roughly three and a half times the volume of Sydney Harbour. They also link the Upper Darling River to the Lower Darling, which makes them vital for the river system downstream.
However, the rules for running the lakes have barely changed since the 1960s. Back then, the system was developed into a water storage shared by NSW, Victoria and South Australia. The Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) is now reviewing those operating rules. Meanwhile, control of the lakes recently returned to the NSW government. That handover happened after storage fell below 28 per cent of capacity and the Northern Basin moved under water restrictions.
Locals Fear Another Fish Kill
Darryn Clifton has lived around the lakes his whole life. He is a former vice-president of the Darling River Action Group. In February, he found around 100,000 dead fish in Lake Menindee near Sunset Strip.
As a result, he believes the river needs serious attention to recover. He explains that when inflows stop, the remaining water slowly deteriorates. Then, once the weather turns, those stagnant conditions can trigger fresh fish kills. In his view, the pressure comes from several directions:
- Water extraction by irrigators in the northern basin
- Priority given to water supplies for South Australia
- Release decisions made by the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder
- Menindee usually being drawn down first among the basin’s three major storages
Clifton expects some change from the review. Even so, he doubts it will be the kind that satisfies people who live around the lakes.
What the Menindee Lakes Review Has Heard So Far
The review has drawn about 160 public submissions, including one from Clifton. According to Joe Davis, the MDBA’s senior director of river modernisation, there was broad agreement on many issues. Still, people disagreed on priorities. Some focused on environmental outcomes, while others put water security first. Opinions also split on whether change should come through infrastructure, operating rules or wider basin reform.
| Key Detail | What We Know |
|---|---|
| Location | About 117 km south of Broken Hill, NSW |
| Size | Around 3.5 times the volume of Sydney Harbour |
| Operating rules | Largely unchanged since the 1960s |
| Current management | Handed back to NSW as a NSW-only resource |
| Trigger for handover | Storage below 28% of total capacity |
| Public submissions | About 160 |
| Next step | Draft options expected before the end of 2026 |
| Final report | Due in 2027 |
Grape Growers Worry About Water Security
The concerns extend beyond fish. Steve Howse grows grapes at Menindee, and his vines can take more than two years to produce fruit. Consequently, water drawdowns leave him without the security his crop needs. He describes planting without reliable water as a costly gamble.
Instead of waiting on a review, Howse argues that opening access to water in the top two lakes could give growers about two years of secure supply. He also notes that much of the discussion centres on protecting fish habitat. Yet, as he points out, there will be no habitat at all without water.
What Happens Next for Menindee Lakes
The MDBA plans to release draft options for community feedback before the end of the year. After that, a final report is expected in 2027. For now, residents are watching water levels closely as summer approaches. Many hope the process listens to those who live with the consequences every day. Others, like Clifton, are bracing for change that falls short.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Menindee Lakes review?
It is an MDBA review of the lakes’ operating rules, which have stayed largely the same since the 1960s.
Why are locals worried about fish kills?
Low inflows cause water quality to decline. Hot weather can then trigger mass fish deaths, as seen in February when around 100,000 fish died.
Who manages Menindee Lakes now?
The NSW government took back control after storage fell below 28 per cent of capacity.
When will the review’s results be released?
Draft options are due before the end of 2026, with a final report expected in 2027.
