Schedule 2—Matters relating to surface-water SDL resource units

Schedule 2 to the proposed Basin Plan provides detail to supplement Chapter 6 of the proposed Basin Plan, setting out surface-water SDL resource units and sustainable diversion limits (see also sections 6.02 and 6.04 of the proposed Basin Plan, and Part 2 of Chapter 6 in this document). It also relates to Schedule 3 and Chapter 9.

This first section explains some of the background relevant to understanding Schedule 2. The explanations provided in this section are not part of the proposed Basin Plan, but are provided here to help with reading the plain English summary of Schedule 2.

Schedule 2 sets out the long-term average sustainable diversion limits (SDLs) for each surface-water SDL resource unit within the 19 surface-water water resource plan areas. It also includes estimates by the Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) of the quantity of water represented by the SDLs.

Long-term average sustainable diversion limits (SDLs) are the maximum long-term annual average quantities of water that can be taken on a sustainable basis from Basin water resources as a whole, and from each SDL resource unit, from 2019. They are the means for ensuring that consumption of water is maintained at an environmentally sustainable level.

Schedule 2 to the proposed Basin Plan sets the SDL for each resource unit as a formula: it is the baseline diversion limit (BDL) minus the local reduction amount and, where applicable, the shared reduction amount. The schedule includes notes of the MDBA’s estimates, in gigalitres per year, of the quantity of water represented by BDLs, SDLs, the amount of environmental water already recovered and the remaining gap. Table S2.1 that follows this explanation shows these estimates.

Baseline diversion limits (BDLs) establish a baseline from which to measure reductions in diversions; the figures provided are estimates of all water pumped, diverted or intercepted for consumptive purposes annually. Baseline diversion limits for surface-water SDL units are explained and presented in more detail in Schedule 3. (Please note: rounding may create slight discrepancies in BDLs between Schedule 2, Schedule 3 and the proposed Basin Plan.)

The local reduction amount is (in most cases) the minimum reduction required within each SDL resource unit to satisfy local environmental needs. The shared reduction amount is the further reduction required in addition to the local reduction amounts to satisfy the environmental needs of the Murray and Darling rivers, and is contributed to by SDL resource units which are sufficiently connected to these large rivers.

Table S2.1 summarises the content of Schedule 2 to the proposed Basin Plan. Shared reduction amounts are designated ‘X’, as the precise quantity contributed by each SDL resource unit will not be known until the total shared reduction amount (143 GL/y in the northern Basin and 971 GL/y in the southern Basin) has been recovered.

In setting the SDLs, MDBA has taken full account of previous efforts to recover water for the environment.

Surface-water SDLs are measured as reductions from 2009 baseline diversion limits. This baseline already takes into account around 959 gigalitres per year (GL/y) on a long-term average basis that was recovered pre-2009 through various programs, including The Living Murray initiative, state water sharing plans, and the Water for Rivers program. 136 GL/y of this was returned to the Snowy River, resulting in 823 GL/y available for the environment of the Murray–Darling Basin.

The MDBA’s view is that a further reduction of 2,750 GL/y from baseline diversion limits is necessary to achieve environmentally sustainable levels of water use. This plus water recovered pre-2009 will mean that 3,573 GL/y in total will be returned to the environment of the Murray–Darling Basin by 2019.

There has been progress in achieving this total reduction since 2009. Table S2.1 shows water reductions which have already been achieved to 30 September 2011, and the gap remaining.

Between 2009 and September 2011, 1,068 GL/y of water was sourced for the environment. This includes water recovered through the Australian Government’s Water for the Future programs, the New South Wales RiverBank program and stage one of the Northern Victoria Irrigation Renewal Project.

This means that 1,682 GL/y remains to be recovered. However, stage two of the Northern Victoria Irrigation Renewal Project was recently announced and will contribute 214 GL/y. This leaves only 1,468GL/y to be found across the Basin from willing sellers and new infrastructure projects.

Water reductions at a glance

Table S2.1 Estimated surface-water SDLs

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