Wallpolla Island

Wallpolla Island forms part of a large, relatively flat floodplain shaped by the Murray River, with a network of permanent and temporary wetlands and flood-dependent vegetation. Wallpolla Creek plays a central role in moving water across the floodplain, linking the river to a mosaic of wetlands and low-lying habitats.

The floodplain supports river red gum forests, black box woodland, lignum shrubland and saltbush communities, which provide habitat for a wide range of native wildlife. These include frogs, waterbirds, small native fish and threatened species such as the growling grass frog, Giles’ planigale and Murray cod.

Historically, Wallpolla Island flooded regularly, with water spreading across the floodplain often enough to sustain healthy vegetation and productive food webs. River regulation, including dams, weirs and levees, has reduced the frequency, duration and extent of natural flooding. In some parts of the floodplain, the time between floods has increased well beyond what flood-dependent plants and animals can tolerate.

The Wallpolla Island Floodplain Restoration Project would improve the way environmental water can be delivered to, moved across and retained on the floodplain. By working with natural river flows and using carefully designed infrastructure, the project aims to restore more natural flooding patterns and support healthier floodplain ecosystems.

Wallpolla Island is a place of deep cultural, spiritual and historical significance for Traditional Owners, including the First People of the Millewa-Mallee Aboriginal Corporation. Protecting cultural heritage and working closely with Traditional Owners is central to how the project is planned and delivered.

Most of the infrastructure would be located on crown land, with some work proposed on private property. The Wallpolla Island project complements and builds on existing
environmental watering at Wallpolla Island, built under The Living Murray program as part of the Chowilla-Lindsay-Wallpolla Icon Site project. These works were completed in 2006 and included the installation of an inlet regulator at Horseshoe Lagoon.

Environmental watering proposed under the VMFRP at the Wallpolla Island project site would be constructed across four Water Management Areas
and would include the following:

• One very large regulator (which act like gates) incorporating a vertical slot fishway
  – Three large regulators
  – Twelve small regulators
  – Approximately 5.0 km of containment banks with access tracks on top
  – Eight culverts
  – Three spillways
• Four permanent hardstand areas for temporary pumps (to transfer environmental water and construction water from the Murray River, Wallpolla Creek or Snaggy Point Billabong, as required during operation and construction)
  – Four pipeline alignments for temporary pump infrastructure (for operation)
  – Around 27 km of existing access tracks that are subject to upgrade
  – Around 15 km of existing access tracks that will be used during construction and operation that would be used for maintenance activities only
  – 1.5 km of new access tracks that would be accessible to all park users.

No permanent pumps or pipelines are proposed as part of the Wallpolla Island project.

Under the Environment Effects Act 1978 (Vic), the Victorian Minister for Planning determined that an Environment Effects Statement (EES) was required for the Lindsay Island Floodplain Restoration Project and Wallpolla Island Floodplain Restoration Project. The EES describes the potential environmental effects of the projects and identifies measures to avoid, minimise and manage impacts. An EES has been prepared in response to the scoping requirements issued by the Victorian Minister for Planning.

As part of the environmental planning and assessment pathway, a draft Planning Scheme Amendment (PSA) has also been prepared. The draft PSA proposes changes to the Mildura Planning Scheme to support the delivery of the projects.

The EES and the draft Planning Scheme Amendment (PSA), are currently on public exhibition. More information about the EES and assessment pathway and how you can make a submission is available on the VMFRP Environmental Assessment Portal

Four potential operating scenarios have been developed to deliver environmental water at different frequencies and durations based on the ecological needs of the Wallpolla Island sites.
These scenarios would rely on high Murray River flow events and temporary pumps to deliver water to each site.

Water would be delivered using a combination of:

• Natural high river flows
• Managed flows using gated structures (regulators)
• Temporary pumping during dry conditions

Different watering approaches would be used depending on river levels and floodplain condition. In some years, water may flow naturally onto the floodplain. In others, infrastructure would allow water to be held for longer or delivered to areas that would otherwise remain dry.

This flexible approach allows the project to respond to changing conditions while using water efficiently.