Public feedback on Draft Report of the Snowy Water Deed review

Dept of Climate Change, Energy, Environment & Water

In July 2026, the Snowy Water Inquiry Outcomes Implementation Deed Independent Review Panel released its Draft Report for feedback.

People could provide feedback from 7 July to 4 August 2026.

The Panel received 257 submissions. 231 submissions are publicly available, based on author publication preferences. A summary of the feedback is also available.

Feedback showed broad support for the Panel’s draft recommendations. Many respondents supported all recommendations adopted as a package, rather than choosing only some of them.

Respondents supported:

  • stronger environmental flows
  • modern governance
  • better monitoring and compliance
  • community stewardship
  • more First Nations involvement.

Most concerns were about how the recommendations would be put in place. Respondents wanted more information about:

  • funding
  • who handles delivery
  • open and transparent decision making
  • timing
  • impacts on downstream water reliability
  • future governance.

The feedback will help shape the Panel’s final recommendations to the Australian Government.

/Public Release. View in full here.