The Murray Darling Basin Plan

The Murray Darling Basin Plan "the Plan" became Commonwealth legislation in 2012.  It was enabled under the Water Act 2007.  The plan outlines the management of water resources in the Murray-Darling Basin, including water allocation, environmental water management, and water quality standards. The plan has been very successful having achieved what it was designed to do – establish sustainable limits, which are contiunously being complied with. Implementation has note been easy, and many regional communites like ours have been impacted.  A lack of clarity about the Plans purpose and measures of success, and underlying policy inflexibility, means that this is often not recognised. Many believe it is simply about water volumes, but this is incorrect.  The 2025 Basin Plan Evaluation highlighted that flow-based outcomes have been achieved however, many non-flow outcomes have not been achieved.

The Basin does not need more water for the environment.

• one in three litres has been recovered.
• 72 % of river flows are for environmental purposes.

Locally, the Gwydir Valley has met the legislative requirements of the Murray Darling Basin Plan

• 42,000 ML of LTDLE entitlement for instream environmental outcomes and
• a further 7,600 ML for shared contribution to the northern basin.
• The NSW and Australian Government’s hold 54,600 ML LTDLE entitlements1
• The region is over recovered by 5,000ML.

The Plan has been amended twice since becoming law:

• 2017/18: Amendments to reduce the Water Recovery targets for the Northern Basin, enable Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism and the additional 450GL of environmental water to be achieved with neutral socio-economic outcomes. 
• 2023: Restoring Our Rivers Bill amended key timelines for implementation, broadened the environmental objectives for the additional 450GL environmental water and enables other mechanisms of recovery without the need for neutral socio-economic outcomes, and removed limits on water purchases.

The 2023 bill was politically driven and not supported by industry. It has the potential to have significant impact on northern communities. In the 2026 discussion paper, the MDBA are assuming 100GL will be acquired from the northern basin, despite the fact that the 450GL number was modelled for environmental outcomes in the southern connected system and was essentially as constraints project.