The Albanese Government has launched a water ownership program for First Nations peoples in the Murray-Darling Basin, delivering on an election commitment.

Jamie and Ian Woods from Hay have been appointed to the interim governance body has been set up so that water entitlements can be purchased, before a permanent body is established. Both men are of the Nari Nari nation.

Under the Aboriginal Water Entitlements Program, the government has made $100 million available to buy water in the Basin, with First Nations representatives to determine how that money is spent.

Nari Nari Tribal Council (NNTC) and NSW Government have signed a historic agreement which secures the permanent protection and sustainable management of more than 55,000 hectares of land at Gayini under the ownership and stewardship of its traditional custodians.

The region shared in two NSW Landcare Awards, when Nari Nari Tribal Council and Ivanhoe Central School were both announced as winners at an online award ceremony held last week.