A state government plan for the Kimberley’s Martuwarra Fitzroy River must prevent destructive over-extraction of vital groundwater to ensure it does not become ‘WA’s Murray-Darling disaster’.

As the final public consultation stage of a decade-long debate about the future of the Martuwarra Fitzroy River today gets underway, an alliance of WA and national conservation organisations urged the state government to follow through on its pledges to protect the river.

“The government should be congratulated for staying the course and now having a proposed water plan for the Martuwarra Fitzroy River. But a decade of effort will be undone if it allows open season along the river system to take groundwater, particularly in the dry season,” said Martin Pritchard from Environs Kimberley and the Kimberley: Like Nowhere Else Alliance.

“We've all seen the devastating impacts of large-scale water extraction and dams over east and must ensure the Martuwarra Fitzroy River does not become WA’s Murray Darling disaster with mass fish kills and towns running out of water.”

Critical to a long term, sustainable, water plan is enforceable limits on water extraction, ongoing monitoring, and Traditional Owner-led decision-making, said Mitch Hart, WA Manager for the Pew Charitable Trusts.

“Ensuring surface water is protected from big pumps and dams is paramount to ensuring the river’s National Heritage listed values and critically endangered freshwater sawfish survive into the future.”

"The Fitzroy is also an iconic barramundi destination and every fisher knows that Barra  thrive on big floods while healthy floodplains are vital for freshwater prawns and resilience of surrounding wetlands,” said Mr Hart.

The alliance says the biggest risk is treating groundwater as separate from the river. As flows drop away after the wet, groundwater continues to feed key habitats - including permanent pools, springs and wetlands - that provide dry-season refuge for wildlife and places for people to access water and continue cultural practices.

Notes:

Public consultation over the draft Fitzroy-Derby Water Resource Management Plan is open from 1 April to 30 June 2026.

Key issues identified by Kimberley: Like Nowhere Else in relation to the draft water plan:

• Need to put the Martuwarra’s National Heritage listed cultural values first, recognising the river’s central role for Kimberley communities, wildlife and the health of the Kimberley coast.
• Government must prevent a slide into over-allocation by taking a precautionary approach in a highly variable system where baseline data is limited.
• We welcome the Government’s announcement of no additional surface water extraction and no dams, in line with their existing policies.
• Government needs to tightly cap any further groundwater take, as every drop of water taken from the catchment will have an impact.
• Opportunities to fund and implement rigorous monitoring and compliance, reflecting the WA Auditor General’s concerns about whether licensing can currently demonstrate sustainable take.
• Need to guarantee meaningful Traditional Owner decision-making roles in governance, management and on-ground monitoring over the life of the plan.

Timeline of protections for the Martuwarra:

• 1960s: The Camballin Barrage is built as part of the ill-fated Camballin Irrigation Scheme to divert water for irrigation. Although no longer operational, the physical concrete structure (about 2.6 metres high) remains in the riverbed, creating a physical wall that prevents fish from moving upstream.
• 1996: Proposal by company WA Industries (WAI) for 3 dams on the Martuwarra and tributaries for 225,000 hectares of cotton.
• 1996 – 2004: Campaign by Environs Kimberley, Traditional Owners, Australian Conservation Foundation leads to proponent WAI withdrawing the proposal
• August 2011: The Martuwarra river and floodplain are added to the National Heritage List for Indigenous cultural values.
• November 2016: Traditional Owners from across the Kimberley release the Fitzroy River Declaration, expressing concern at extensive development proposals facing the river.
• March 2017: In the WA state election, Labor commits to protecting the Martuwarra.
• December 2020: WA Government announce creation of a national park around the Martuwarra, extending the Danggu Geikie Gorge National Park north to Dimond Gorge.
• May 2021: In response to a government discussion paper on water management, more than 43,000 people provide submissions opposing large-scale water extraction.
• October 2023: WA Government releases policy including a commitment to no damming, no new surface water licences, a precautionary approach and stronger Traditional Owner involvement in planning.
• September 2025: Traditional Owners present 61 recommendations for the Fitzroy–Derby water plan, including stronger governance and enforceable limits.