Basin Plan Report Card

The Murray–Darling Basin is the largest and most complex river system in Australia. The Basin Plan is a major reform agenda, agreed by the Australian Government and the governments of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory. The Plan is intended to ensure that the shared water resources of the Basin are managed and used sustainably, in the national interest.

This is the ninth Report Card produced by the Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA). It responds to feedback from the community seeking short, timely updates on progress. Like previous report cards, our assessment has accounted for project status, delivery timeframes, and governance and funding arrangements. The report is also informed by feedback from governments, industries and Basin communities.

Five key elements of Basin Plan implementation have been assessed. Some elements are on track, while others are at risk of delay. Until all components of the Basin Plan are operational, with the collective effort of Basin governments, the full benefits for Basin communities and the nation cannot be delivered.

Assessment – December 2022

Water resource plans

Plans from Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory are accredited and in operation. The MDBA has provided guidance to Basin state governments on the process to amend water resource plans so the plans can evolve and adapt to new information and improvements.

New South Wales water resource plans

The Basin Plan requires Basin states to develop water resource plans by 1 July 2019. The New South Wales water resource plan for the Border Rivers Alluvium was accredited and commenced on 24 September 2022. Formal accreditation and commencement of the New South Wales Fractured Rock Water Resource Plan was announced on 18 November 2022 followed by the Murray–Darling Basin Porous Rock and Macquarie–Castlereagh Alluvium Water Resource Plans on 24 December 2022. Of the remaining 16 water resource plans requiring accreditation, 9 plans have been submitted for formal assessment. The remaining water resource plans have been submitted for review ahead of formal submission.

Water recovery

Bridging the Gap

Bridging the Gap water recovery remains close to completion, with approximately 98% of surface water and 92% of groundwater recovered. There was no Bridging the Gap water recovery between 1 July and 31 December 2022. The quantity of the gap will be finalised once New South Wales water resource plans have been accredited and the sustainable diversion limit adjustment mechanism (SDLAM) determination in 2024.

Sustainable diversion limit adjustment mechanism (SDLAM)

Supply and constrains measures

There remains substantial work to implement many of the SDLAM supply and constraints projects by 30 June 2024. Some projects will not be completed by this time and there are challenges to successfully achieving the originally envisaged environmental outcomes.

Sustainable diversion limit adjustment mechanism

Efficiency measures

Meeting the 30 June 2024 deadline to implement efficiency projects to recover 450 gigalitres (GL) is now highly unlikely with the recent statutory review of the Water for the Environment Special Account indicating that it is not possible to recover 450 GL by 30 June 2024. As of 31 October 2022, only 4.5 GL of the additional 450 GL has been recovered, with a further 21.4 GL contracted for delivery.

Northern Basin initiatives

Meeting the 2024 timeframes for delivery of environmental projects is becoming more challenging. It is now unlikely that some projects will be delivered by 30 June 2024, resulting in an increase to the risk of implementation in comparison to the previous reporting period.

Environmental water delivery

Delivery of environmental water was reduced across winter-spring 2022 to avoid exacerbating the impact of floods. In a few locations targeted flows were delivered to improve water quality, providing refuge for native fish to retreat from low oxygen levels associated with flooding.