Media Releases
Leeton Shire Council Calls for Prime Minister Intervention in Basin Plan Buybacks
MEDIA RELEASE from Leeton Shire Council The Federal Government has dealt another blow to the southern New South Wales food-bowl with its latest purchase of almost 86 billion litres of water in June 2026 at a cost of $430M to taxpayers. Leeton's Mayor, Cr George...
Sturt Highway Taskforce pleads for urgent action following Euroley tragedy
MEDIA RELEASE From the desk of the Chair Sturt Highway Taskforce The Sturt Highway Taskforce is once again pleading for urgent and meaningful investment in the Sturt Highway after another devastating tragedy, with yesterday’s crash near Euroley claiming two lives and...
RAMJO says $430 million water buyback shows Basin communities are still being ignored
MEDIA RELEASE For immediate release | 21 June 2026 RAMJO says $430 million water buyback shows Basin communities are still being ignored The Riverina and Murray Joint Organisation (RAMJO) has condemned the Federal Government’s latest Murray-Darling Basin water...
$5.192 Million Funding Boost to Help Deliver Affordable Housing in Leeton
MEDIA RELEASE from Leeton Shire Council Leeton Shire Council is pleased to announce it has secured $5.192 million in funding through Round 2 of the NSW Sustainable Communities Program to support enabling infrastructure for Council's Affordable Housing Project at the...
Major Funding Win for Edward River with Two Key Projects Approved
MEDIA RELEASE from Edward River Council Edward River Council is celebrating a major funding success, with two priority projects approved under Round 2 of the Sustainable Communities Program, securing a combined $5.6 million investment in the region. To be delivered in...
Sturt Highway ignored in Federal Budget despite renewable energy freight pressures
The Sturt Highway Taskforce has expressed frustration that the 2026–27 Federal Budget invests billions in renewable energy projects, while failing to fund upgrades to the Sturt Highway, the key corridor required to deliver them safely. The taskforce has previously met...
Berrigan Shire Council lodges submission to the Murray-Darling Basin Plan 2026 Review
MEDIA RELEASE from Berrigan Shire Council At its Extraordinary Council Meeting, held yesterday, 29 April, Berrigan Shire Council has endorsed to lodge a detailed submission to the Murray–Darling Basin Plan 2026 Review. The submission calls for a fundamental shift in...
Balranald Shire Council Mayor Condemns Water Buyback Profiteering as Communities Pay the Price
MEDIA RELEASE from Balranald Shire Council Balranald Shire Mayor, Cr Louie Zaffina, has expressed deep disappointment following reports that another major water entitlement holder has received tens of millions of dollars from the Federal Government under water buyback...
Balranald Shire Council Mayor Says Confirmed $15 Million Water Buyback Highlights Growing Threat to Communities
MEDIA RELEASE from Balranald Shire Council Balranald Shire Mayor, Cr Louie Zaffina, says an officially recorded $15 million Commonwealth water purchase involving a local landowner has again highlighted the ongoing economic risk water buybacks pose to communities such...
Murrumbidgee Council steps in, securing the future of Coleambally Preschool
MEDIA RELEASE from Murrumbidgee Council Murrumbidgee Council is working with the Coleambally Preschool Association Committee, following their request for the council to take over management and operation of the preschool and early learning centre, ensuring the service...
NSW Country Mayors: Time for NSW to get its’ fair share of the GST
Media release from the Country Mayors Association of NSW Inc Chairman of the Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA) Mayor Rick Firman OAM (of Temora Shire) has said today, “the latest GST distribution which has resulted in NSW receiving only 25.5% of the pool,...
Regional prosperity should not be a zero-sum game – RAMJO councils express concerns over competitive nature of Round One of the Sustainable Communities Program
The Riverina and Murray Joint Organisation (RAMJO) today voiced concerns regarding initial funding allocations under the Federal Governments Sustainable Communities Program, which is seeing fierce competition for a limited pool of $15 million in grants for industry,...
New Advocacy Group to Improve the Riverina-Murray’s Digital Connectivity
Advocacy for digital connectivity is set to be more coordinated and cohesive across all levels of government in the Riverina Murray with the formation of a new advocacy group under the umbrella of the Riverina and Murray Joint Organisation (RAMJO). The move, initiated...
Say NO to Water Buy Backs
Say NO to Water Buy-Backs Helen Dalton MP, Member for Murray is seeking support to Say NO to Water Buy-Backs via a petition. This petition aims to protect regional and remote communities from the potentially devastating impacts of Commonwealth Water Buybacks. The...
Riverina and Murray Councils call for meaningful engagement and partnership in developing alternatives to water buy-backs.
On Friday 22 March 2024, representatives of the Riverina and Murray Joint Organisation (RAMJO), met with NSW Water Minister, the Hon. Rose Jackson, in Sydney. RAMJO Councils’ deep-held concerns about the potential impacts of further water buybacks on communities...
Committed Support Needed for Rural and Regional Health
Riverina and Murray Joint Organisation (RAMJO) welcomed the promise by the NSW Liberal National Coalition, the Hon. Paul Toole, Deputy Premier and Bronnie Taylor, Minister for Regional Health, to continue with a dedicated Minister for Regional Health should they win...
“What’s Yours is Yours” RAMJO Councils push back on NSW Government on accounting for RFS assets
RAMJO Councils are incensed but not surprised after receiving qualified audit opinions from the NSW Audit Office for refusing to account for Rural Fire Services (RFS) mobile assets or “red fleet” in their annual financial statements, calling it the most blatant...
New Freight Transport Plan to Keep Our Region Going
A new Regional Freight Transport Plan identifying key priority road infrastructure projects and strategies for completion has been developed for the southern Riverina and Murray areas of NSW. In announcing the outlined strategies to coincide with Road Safety Week...
Murray Darling Basin Partnership Boost
A new partnership has strengthened the case for a cooperative research centre focussed on solving one of Australia’s most complex and challenging issues - a sustainable Murray-Darling Basin. The Riverina and Murray Joint Organisation of 11 NSW local government...
United View on Water Management Options Well Received
A unique water discussion paper, over a year in the making, was released to the public on Monday and has already attracted the attention of Environment Minister Sussan Ley for its positive, solutions-based approach to water management of the Murray-Darling Basin. For...
New Options for Future Water Management
RIVERINA AND MURRAY REGIONAL LEADERS UNITED ON WAY FORWARD For the first time in living memory, community leaders across the drought-ravaged Murray and southern Riverina region have united to develop a position on water, intended to show government a way to provide...