00:00A flowing river at Tharwa, but many say it's the exception, not the rule.
00:08It's so badly, badly damaged.
00:10You know, to keep this river flowing is really, really important.
00:13The Upper Murrumbidgee is an essential waterway for the ACT and surrounding New South Wales.
00:19A 20-year-old deed is supposed to ensure the river's health, as well as the native plants, animals and humans that rely on it.
00:27There are targets for the amount of water that should be released through the Upper Murrumbidgee annually.
00:32In 15 years up to 2022, those targets were met just five times.
00:37I think that we're missing a cop on the beat.
00:40The river is meant to be managed by the New South Wales government agency, Water New South Wales.
00:46To my mind, their management has been a shambles.
00:49Professor Pittock's research has shown of 19 billion litres reserved for the environment,
00:5411 billion litres has been given to farmers in entitlements.
00:58And...
00:5993% of the water flowing into the headwaters are diverted to generate hydroelectricity.
01:05Snowy hydro is specifically excluded from paying for their water use.
01:11Now this offends all national principles about water management.
01:16The consequences are sediment pile up, weed spreading and pest fish thriving.
01:21A federal review is currently examining how this situation has been allowed to happen and how to fix it.
01:27Farmers too are urging better care for the river ecosystem and their livelihoods.
01:31Please be aware of what we need, you know, that we need to keep functioning as a community out here
01:36and, you know, it's highly important that the flows keep on coming.
01:41A plea for the most precious of resources.
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