Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to search

Queensland and NSW floods 2022

Visit recovery.gov.au to see what help is available.

Close
Home

Top navigation main

  • News & media
  • Jobs
  • Ministers
  • Contact us
Main menu

AWE Main

  • Climate change
    Climate change Driving climate action, science and innovation so we are ready for the future.
    • Climate science and adaptation
    • Australia's climate change strategies
    • Emissions reduction
    • Emissions reporting
    • International commitments
    • Climate Active
    • Climate change publications and data
    • Australia’s National Greenhouse Accounts (Emissions Data)
    Stronger action on climate change

    Stronger action on climate change

    See how the Australian Government is committed to taking more ambitious action on climate change.

    Find out more

  • Energy
    Energy Building a secure and sustainable energy system for all Australians.
    • Energy policy in Australia
    • Energy and Climate Change Ministerial Council
    • Renewable energy
    • Energy publications
    • energy.gov.au
    • Energy Rating
    • Commercial Building Disclosure Program
    • Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS)
    • Your Home
    • Reducing transport emissions
    Photo of commercial laundry focused on a washer and dryer

    Energy Ratings labels

    Helping consumers choose energy-efficient appliances

    Helping consumers choose energy-efficient appliances

  • Environment
    Environment Improving stewardship and sustainable management of Australia’s environment.
    • Bushfire recovery
    • Climate change and the environment
    • Biodiversity
    • EPBC Act
    • Environmental information and data
    • International activities
    • Invasive species
    • Land
    • Marine
    • Partnerships
    • Protection
    • Report a breach of environment law
    • Threatened species & ecological communities
    • Waste and recycling
    • Wildlife trade
    Decorative image

    Read our Nature Positive Plan

    Our plan sets out the Australian Government’s commitment to environmental law reform

    Find out more

  • Water
    Water Improving the sustainable management of Australia’s water supply for industry, the environment and communities.
    • Coal, Coal seam gas (CSG) and water
    • Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder
    • Water policy and resources
    • Wetlands
    Water matters

    Water Matters

    Keep up with the latest news on the department's work in managing Australia's water resources.

    Read the latest edition here

  • Parks and heritage
    Parks and heritage Managing Australia’s iconic national parks, historic places and living landscapes.
    • Australian Marine Parks
    • Australian National Botanic Gardens
    • Booderee National Park
    • Kakadu National Park
    • Christmas Island National Park
    • National parks
    • Norfolk Island National Park
    • Heritage
    • Pulu Keeling National Park
    • The Great Barrier Reef
    • Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park
    The reef

    Great Barrier Reef

    Australia is protecting and conserving this World Heritage Area.

    Find out more

  • Science and research
    Science and research Undertaking research and collecting data to support informed decisions and policies.
    • Climate change
    • Australia's biological resources
    • National Environmental Science Program (NESP)
    • Office of the Science Convenor
    • Australian Biological Resource Study (ABRS)
    • State of the Environment (SoE) reporting
    • Bird and bat banding
    • Supervising Scientist
    Our climate is changing

    Our climate is changing

    Find out more about how climate science helps Australians with the impacts of climate change.

    Find out more

  • About us
    About us We lead Australia’s response to climate change and sustainable energy use, and protect our environment, heritage and water.
    • Accountability and reporting
    • Assistance, grants and tenders
    • Fees and charges
    • News and media
    • Our commitment to you
    • People and jobs
    • What we do
    • Who we are
    2023-24 May Budget

    2023-24 Budget

    The 2023-24 Budget has been delivered. Find out what's been announced.

    Find out what's been announced

  • Online services
    Online services We do business with you using online platforms. This makes it easier for you to meet your legal requirements.
Department of Climate Change, Energy, Enviroment and Water

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. About us
  3. News and media
  4. Voluntary strategic water purchasing tender to Bridge the Gap is now open

Back to news - AWE

  • Back to news

Voluntary strategic water purchasing tender to Bridge the Gap is now open

  • News
  • Water
24 March 2023

The Australian Government has opened a tender on AusTender on 23 March 2023, to purchase permanent water rights in 6 catchments across New South Wales and southern Queensland to bridge the gap to the Sustainable Division Limits (SDLs) in the Murray–Darling Basin Plan (Basin Plan).

Tender applications will close at 5pm (AEST) on Friday 19 May 2023.

This marks an important step forward in continuing to return water to the environment and delivering upon the Australian Government’s commitment to deliver the Basin Plan in full.

Earlier this year, the Australian Government released the Strategic Water Purchasing Framework for 49.2GL – Bridging the Gap, which outlines the approach to bridge the remaining 49.2 gigalitre (GL) gap to achieve the SDLs set out in the basin plan.

The voluntary strategic water purchasing tender is open to willing water right owners to sell their permanent water rights in the following six catchments:

Queensland

  • Condamine–Balonne: 14 GL of surface water and 3.2 GL of groundwater

New South Wales

  • NSW Murray: 10 GL of surface water
  • Namoi: 9.5 GL of surface water
  • NSW Border Rivers: 5.1 GL of surface water
  • Barwon–Darling: 1.6 GL of surface water
  • Lachlan: 0.9 GL of surface water

The 4.9 GL of surface water required to Bridge the Gap in the Australian Capital Territory is held by a retail operator owned by the ACT Government. The Australian Government will continue to work with the ACT Government to recover this water.

This purchasing activity is to deliver water against the 49.2GL Bridging the Gap target and the Australian Government is unable to consider offers of water rights outside the target areas as part of this tender process.

More information

  • Ministerial statement - Water tender opens to Bridge the Gap under the Murray–Darling Basin Plan
  • Ministerial statement – Bridging the Gap under the Murray–Darling Basin Plan
  • Visit AusTender to submit a tender or find out more information relating to the tender.
  • For help with submitting a tender application through AusTender please review the support information.
  • To read the framework and find out more about water purchasing in the basin, visit Strategic water purchasing framework – Bridging the Gap 2023
  • Read the previous news article announcing Strategic water purchasing to Bridge the Gap within the Murray–Darling Basin

For any questions about the tender or if you cannot access AusTender, please email watertenders@dcceew.gov.au

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Copy link

Related

Learn how you can save water and money (cartoon image of a plumber fixing a sink)

Online course launched to promote water efficiency for developers, builders and plumbers

  • Media release
  • Water
12 April 2023
Decorative image

Strategic water purchasing to Bridge the Gap within the Murray-Darling Basin

  • News
  • Water
22 February 2023
Front cover of report

WELS Regulator supports recommendations of the third review of the water efficiency labelling and standards scheme

  • Media release
  • Water
07 November 2022
Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks! Your feedback has been submitted.

We aren't able to respond to your individual comments or questions.
To contact us directly phone us or submit an online inquiry

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Please verify that you are not a robot.

Skip

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI
Last updated: 24 March 2023

© Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.