Water’s Edge

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 man...

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-Darlin...

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...

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 endanger...

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, r...

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...

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 del...

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 annua...

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...

Join us for part two of our chat with Grant Barnes from the NSW Natural Resources Access Regulator, and Deputy Inspector-General of Water Compliance Daniel Blacker.  The role of the independent Inspector-General of Water Compliance is to deliver trust and transparency in the management of Murray-Darling Basin resources, and ensure the highest standard of accountability for all involved in the use...

The role of the independent Inspector-General of Water Compliance is to deliver trust and transparency in the management of Murray-Darling Basin resources, and ensure the highest standard of accountability for all involved in the use and management of Basin resources. Often, the role of the Inspector-General is confused with the role of state agencies such as the Natural Resources Access Regulator...

Join us for our first edition of our special Water's Edge: Myth Busting episodes. In this first myth busting episode, we discuss the current buybacks process, and answer your questions about what it is, why it's happening, and how it's being rolled out.  If you have any special requests for a myth busting episode, we want to hear from you! Email IGWCmedia@agriculture.gov.au or call us on 13 44 92....

Recently the Inspector-General of Water Compliance Troy Grant paid a visit to the Barmah Choke. The Choke is located on the border of Victoria and NSW just north of Echuca, and has the lowest flow in any stretch of the River Murray. The Inspector-General was there meeting with community members to learn more about the Choke and its significance in the Murray-Darling. His visit comes ahead of a fai...

On the first of October 2019, former Australian Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty was appointed at the Interim Inspector-General of Murray-Darling Basin Water Resources for a period of 12 months. It followed his role as the Northern Basin Commissioner. Mr Keelty was appointed to this position to help create new laws under the 2007 Water Act to create a permanent, statutory position.   In Aug...

These last couple of months have seen a significant amount of rain across the Murray-Darling Basin, which has reinvigorated concerns about how the river system is being managed.   The sentiment echoes what the Inspector-General first heard when starting in the role: there was a level of distrust about how to key agencies were performing their duties. The community told the Inspector—General that t...

In the first episode of season 2, we chat to the Bureau of Meteorology’s Matthew Coulton. Matt is the General Manager of Agriculture and Water at the Bureau and his job is to provide advice to agricultural and water agencies and businesses, and develop new products and services to increase the value and impact the Bureau provides to Australia’s agriculture sectors. In this episode, Matt explains t...

Join the Inspector-General of Water Compliance’s Audit and Investigations team, as they take a look at the latest audit – based on trade in the Border Rivers Region. The Border Rivers Region covers a section of Northern NSW and Southern QLD, and there are separate trading rules across the two jurisdictions. This audit by the Inspector-General identified issues such as water being traded from one s...

Troy Grant and Annabelle are joined by former Auditor General of Victoria and Western Australia, Des Pearson, who conducted a review into compliance and enforcement across the Murray Darling Basin. Des and Troy are honest and forthcoming with their views about the report, and provide an insight into how water can be better managed across the Basin; with a more consistent approach to water terminol...

In this episode, join the Inspector-General of Water Compliance Troy Grant and Director of Compliance Monitoring Edwina Carter as we dive into the Annual Statement of Compliance for Sustainable Diversion Limits (SDLs). NSW is behind with submitting its Water Resource Plans, so Troy explains why he's worried about the late submissions, and what it means for the communities in the Murray Darling Bas...

In this first episode of "Water's Edge", we meet Troy Grant. We learn about how Troy came to the role, and what his vision and purpose is for the IGWC.  The IGWC aims to improve trust and transparency in implementing the Commonwealth’s Basin water reform agenda, deliver greater consistency and harmonisation of water regulation across the Basin and strengthen Basin Plan compliance and enforcement....