The Murray–Darling Basin Authority

The Murray–Darling Basin Authority is responsible for planning the integrated management of water resources of the vast Murray–Darling Basin — Australia's food bowl.

More about the MDBA

MDBA environmental water purchase concludes

Trading - photo Brayden Dykes

30 June 2009

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority today closed its offer to purchase up to $50 million worth of water entitlements at market price from willing sellers in Victoria and South Australia.

Barmah Choke relaxation rule extended

Barmah choke - photo Keith Ward

30 June 2009

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority announced today that relaxation of the trading rule controlling the transfer of water allocations from upstream of the Barmah Choke downstream to other stretches of the Murray River will be extended from 1 July to 30 September 2009.

MDB Ministerial Council Meeting No 1

communique01-arthur-mostead

12 June 2009

The Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council today held its historic first meeting under the new governance arrangements with all Basin governments united around the opportunity to put the Basin onto a sustainable footing.

New Basin Community Committee announced

BCC-photo-Kylie-goldsmith

12 June 2009

Minister for Climate Change and Water and Chair of the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council, Senator Penny Wong, today welcomed the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA)’s appointment of a new 16-member Basin Community Committee.

How the new basin plan is being developed

New basin plan- photo arthur

11 June 2009

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority today released a ‘Concept Statement’ which explains the key elements and approach being taken in developing the new Basin Plan.

Basin suffers through 9th dry autumn

Drought Photo: Irene Dowdy

10 June 2009

The Murray-Darling Basin has experienced its ninth consecutive autumn with below average rainfall, according to the latest Murray-Darling Basin Authority Drought Update.

First meeting of new authority

First meeting of authority - Irene Dowdy

01 June 2009

The newly appointed Murray–Darling Basin Authority members held their historic first meeting on 1 and 2 June in Canberra. They approved a Basin Concept Statement and the 16 members of the Basin Community Committee. They received a detailed briefing on the priorities and activities of the Authority office across the Basin. The next meeting will be held at Wentworth, NSW.

Murray-Darling Basin Authority appointments

mdba appontments

14 May 2009
Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, today announced the appointment of the Chair and Members of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA).

Murray environmental water purchase offered

water purchase- photo by arthur mostead

06 May 2009
The Murray-Darling Basin Authority today announced it will begin offering to purchase up to $50 million worth of water entitlements at market price from willing sellers in the southern Murray-Darling Basin from 6 May 2009.

New web site about water availability

Water in Storages

23 April 2009
A new interactive website will be updated weekly to show water availability in public water storages across the Murray-Darling Basin, Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, said today.