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Sustainable Diversion Limit business cases

Various Victorian Catchment Management Authorities

RMCG has led the development of business cases for most of the SDL offset projects to finalise the Murray Darling Basin Plan, in collaboration with trusted partners including Alluvium, DG Consulting and Ecological Associates. These projects include:

  • Seven sites in the Victorian Mallee for the Mallee CMA, where we developed proposals for major environmental works and measures
  • Two sites in the North Central region at the Gunbower National Park Environmental Works Project and the Guttrum Forest and Benwell Forest Environmental Works Project
  • Operating rule changes for the Hume Dam release arrangements, Barmah Millewa Forest Environmental Watering Agreement, and the Hume Dam 6″ release rule
  • Three schemes in the lower Murray for the NSW Office of Water: at Locks 8 & 9, Frenchman’s Creek and the Carrs, Cappits and Bunberoo Creek restoration scheme
  • Yanco system modernisation: improving the efficiency of water delivery through 600km of creek system at the same time as enhancing ecosystem functionality and social amenity
  • Gooragool Lagoon on the Murrumbidgee: where we are negotiating with the landholder and NSW OEH to balance production imperatives with ecosystem values.

In each case RMCG worked with central agencies and local communities to draft practical and targeted business cases to meet the requirements of the assessment guidelines which cover the ecological values of the site, hydrology and environmental water requirements, risk assessment and the costs, benefits and governance arrangement of alternative options.

Team

Steph Drum

Steph Drum

Associate

B.Nat.Res. (Hons)

Steph has specific skills and experience in natural resource management and sustainable agriculture, stakeholder and community engagement, policy and strategy development and evaluation. She has broad ranging experience in the design, implementation and evaluation of natural resource management programs. Steph combines her technical NRM knowledge with her expertise in building community capacity to develop tailored approaches to delivering and evaluating both environmental and social outcomes.

Rebecca Schwarzman

Rebecca Schwarzman

Senior Consultant

B.Sci. (Hons)

Bec is a skilled geographer and environmental scientist with a background in water, natural resource management and regional development.

She has made important contributions to catchment and water management, salinity, compost use in agriculture and bushfire planning and management at RMCG. She works on projects with a focus on strategic planning, program evaluation and social and environmental research, primarily for government agencies.

Bec has well developed project management skills and has a practical and resourceful style. She is a highly capable writer and problem solver.

 

Steph McNulty

Steph McNulty

Senior Consultant

M.Env., B.Sci. (Marine Biology)

Steph has ten years’ experience working in environmental management. Key areas of knowledge include general ecology and environmental policy. She has specific skills in GIS analysis, project management and stakeholder consultation. Steph’s work has focused on the delivery of balanced, practical and effective environmental interventions.