Murray–Darling Basin Sustainable Diversion Limit Compliance outcomes 2019–20

One of the primary objectives of the Murray–Darling Basin Plan (the Basin Plan) is to ensure the water resources of the Basin are shared between all water users in a sustainable way; striking a balance and maintaining a healthy and productive system to sustainably support industries, the environment and communities.

Fundamental to the success of this objective is the implementation of and compliance with sustainable diversion limits (SDLs).

The Basin Plan introduced a new water accounting and compliance framework based on SDLs which came into force from 1 July 2019. The SDL framework applies to 29 surface water and 80 groundwater SDL resource units.

Full implementation of the SDL compliance framework is subject to the accreditation of Basin state government water resource plans (WRPs) by the Commonwealth Minister responsible for water. Where WRPs are not accredited, bilateral agreements have been put in place with relevant Basin state governments to give effect to SDLs reporting and compliance from the 2019–20 water year.

The Murray–Darling Basin Sustainable Diversion Limit Compliance Report 2019–20 is the first compliance report that examines how water use by Basin state governments is tracking in accordance with the Basin Plan. This report includes the registers of take for 2019–20.

The report provides a summary of the compliance outcomes across the Basin, the assessment methods and responses from the MDBA and Basin state governments to any apparent exceedances of SDLs for the 2019–20 water year.

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