A Framework for Determining Commonwealth Environmental Water Use

2013
Commonwealth Environmental Water Office
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Overview

This paper outlines the framework for determining Commonwealth environmental water use in the Murray-Darling Basin. The framework is used to guide decisions on the use of Commonwealth environmental water in accordance with the environmental watering plan of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. The framework sets out:

  • the role and obligations of the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder, as established by the Water Act 2007 and Basin Plan
  • the overall objectives and scope of Commonwealth water use, including how the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office will contribute to the Basin Plan's environmental watering objectives
  • how watering options are developed and assessed based on a set of criteria and in accordance with the Basin Plan's 'Principles to be applied in environmental watering'
  • how watering actions are implemented and monitored.

Any comments on this framework or on the Commonwealth's watering activities generally can be forwarded to ewater@environment.gov.au.