The Murray–Darling Basin Plan sets the amount of water that can be taken from the rivers in the Basin each year, leaving enough to maintain a healthy environment.
The Basin Plan includes two different water recovery targets. These set the amount of water, measured in gigalitres - or ‘GL’ – to be returned to the rivers to improve their health.
Different programs and projects are underway to meet these targets. For the latest progress on these targets visit the Water recovery in the Murray–Darling Basin page on our website.
The Water Amendment (Restoring Our Rivers) Act 2023 commenced on 7 December 2023. The Act made changes to the Water Act 2007 and Basin Plan 2012 providing more time, more options, more funding and more accountability to deliver on these targets. Development of this Act was supported by an historic agreement between the Australian and state governments to deliver the Basin Plan in full.
450 GL of water to enhance environmental outcomes
Our approach to recovering this water is outlined in the Restoring our Rivers: Framework for delivering the 450 GL of additional environmental water.
Three principles guide this approach:
- water needs to support the delivery of enhanced environmental outcomes (as set out in s86AA of the Water Act 2007)
- how we recover water should consider ways to minimise socio-economic impacts (refers to section 86AD of Water Act and Basin Plan section 7.17)
- ensure the approach achieves value for money (including by following the Commonwealth Procurement Rules).
The Australian Government will deliver the 450 GL through 3 programs:
- Resilient Rivers Program – state led pathway is now open.
- Voluntary Water Purchase.
- Sustainable Communities Program.
We are working with Basin state governments to deliver these programs.
Since January 2024, we have focused on non-purchase water recovery options. We developed the Resilient Rivers Program based on ideas received from the community. It is a flexible program that enables a range of projects and investments. We are actively working with Basin states and stakeholders to maximise opportunities to use this program.
The Resilient Rivers Water Infrastructure Program is already open to Basin states. It provides $494 million for water saving infrastructure projects.
The Restoring our Rivers Voluntary Water Purchase Program is guided by the Restoring Our Rivers Trading Strategy. The Trading Strategy was released on 4 July 2024. It outlines our approach to water purchase over the next 12 months. Purchase activities undertaken in the first year of the program will concentrate on the southern connected basin.
The Sustainable Communities Program is open to Basin state governments from 1 July 2024. $300 million is available to invest in Basin communities impacted by water recovery. Investing now will support communities to build capacity and prepare for a future with less water.
We are continuing to build and update our evidence base on the impacts of water recovery. We have updated the addendum to the 2012 Basin Plan Regulation Impact Statement. This considers impacts on environmental, socio-economic and First Nations outcomes.
Visit Framework for delivering the 450 GL for more information on all the options for water recovery.
Bridging the gap
The Basin-wide water recovery target to bridge the gap between historic water overuse and a sustainable level of use is 2,750 GL. This target was calculated by comparing the difference between the Baseline Diversion Limit (BDL) and the Sustainable Diversion Limit (SDL).
The Australian Government amended the water recovery target in 2018. This was to show where environmental outcomes could be achieved with less water. Basin states nominated projects that could keep water available for productive use without impacting the environment.
In line with the:
- Northern Basin Review - a reduction of 70 GL
- Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism (SDLAM) - a reduction of 605 GL.
The bridging the gap water recovery target was reduced from 2,750 GL to 2,075 GL per year.
A range of programs and projects have been invested in to support the delivery of this target. This includes:
- SDLAM Supply and Constraints Projects
- Supply projects seek to reduce water storage evaporation and manage environmental water more efficiently through changes to infrastructure or river operating rules. Constraints projects seek to reduce barriers to delivering environmental water.
- Northern Basin Toolkit
- Environmental works and measures in NSW and Queensland to deliver environmental outcomes and keep water in productive us.
- Strategic Water Purchasing - Bridging the Gap.
Water Market reforms
In 2021 the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) reported on their inquiry into water markets. The Water Amendment (Restoring Our Rivers) Act incorporates the water market reforms recommended by the ACCC. These provide new accountability measures to restore transparency, trust, and confidence in Basin water markets, including:
- new trading rules to govern permanent or temporary buying and selling of water rights
- the role of the Inspector-General of Water Compliance in overseeing the use and management of Basin resources.
Northern Basin
The northern Basin is different to the southern Basin in many ways. Following the Northern Basin Review by the Murray–Darling Basin Authority in 2016, a number of measures are underway to support the health of the northern Basin:
Who is responsible?
Many different government bodies are involved in implementing the Basin Plan. They play different roles in developing and implementing water programs and initiatives across Australia.
You can find further information on the following government agency websites.
Australian Government
- Murray–Darling Basin Authority
- Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder
- National Water Grid Authority
- Inspector-General of Water Compliance
- Bureau of Meteorology
- National Indigenous Australians Agency.
State Government
- NSW Government – Department of Planning and Environment - Water
- QLD Government – Department of Environment, Science and Innovation
- SA Government – Department of Environment and Water
- VIC Government – Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action
- ACT Government – Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate.
Agreements, reports and funding
The Australian Government and Basin state governments work together to improve the health of the Basin.
This work is supported by the Intergovernmental Agreement on Implementing Water Reform in the Murray-Darling Basin (IGA).
The IGA builds on existing achievements by implementing water reforms that continue to improve the health of the Murray–Darling Basin.
The Australian Government provides financial support to the Basin states via the National Partnership Agreement on Implementing Water Reform in the Murray–Darling Basin (NPA).
Download the assessment reports and details of payment arrangements.
Drought, disaster and rural support
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry have programs and services to help farmers and rural communities manage the effects of drought, natural disaster, pests and diseases. Visit the Drought, disaster and rural support page on their website.
Support
Mental health, financial counselling and domestic violence support is available to anyone living in Australia. See our list of Support Services contact details if you or anyone you know requires support.