Episode:29The Future of The Forgotten River
Guests:Andy Lowes & Maxine Cooper
The Upper Murrumbidgee River ran completely dry at Tharwa in 2019, and the Forgotten River campaign has since secured a $50 million funding agreement. But the river still urgently needs more water, with Tantangara Dam capturing up to 99% of its headwaters. The episode examines what the funding could mean and what a small group of passionate people can achieve.
Show Notes
In 2019, the Upper Murrumbidgee River at Tharwa ran dry. Under a burning, smoky sky, flow stopped entirely, and the riverbed was visible except for a few algae-choked pools. This came as a shock for local residents who rely on the river for their water supply, and inspired Andy Lowes to write a letter to Canberrans on behalf of the river. Fast forward to today, and The Forgotten River campaign coordinated by Andy and Dr. Siwan Lovett at the Australian River Restoration Centre has achieved some big wins for the river, including a combined $50 million dollar funding agreement reached between ACT Independent Senator David Pocock and the Albanese Government. The Upper Murrumbidgee still needs more water — Tantangara Dam currently captures between 90% and 99% of its headwaters — but these are big steps towards the rehabilitation of a troubled riparian system.
In this timely and important podcast episode, Australian River Restoration Centre Director Dr Siwan Lovett sits down with Dr Maxine Cooper, Chair of the ACT and Region Catchment Management Coordinating Committee, and Andy Lowes, Chair of the Upper Murrumbidgee Catchment Network, to discuss what has changed since parts of the river dried up in 2019; what the new funding may mean for the river; and what can happen when small group of dedicated, passionate people come together
This conversation is inspiring, insightful, and a testament to the shared love held by those on Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country, and other traditional Countries, for the Upper Murrumbidgee.
"I just hope that in 50 years' time, the collective effort of us all has made a difference for this river — this river that will be there long after we're not."
— Dr. Maxine Cooper
Resources:
Visit The Forgotten River to learn more about the Upper Murrumbidgee and how you can support this beautiful waterway.
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Learn more about The Forgotten River
The Upper Murrumbidgee River has been left behind by Federal and NSW water management reforms that are designed to improve the health of our waterways. This leads to crises like this one. In 2019 and again in 2025, the Upper Murrumbidgee River at Tharwa ran dry.
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