Status - Closed
2025 update
A tender to purchase water rights to bridge the gap to Sustainable Diversion Limits (SDLs) in the Murray-Darling Basin Plan in northern New South Wales and southern Queensland closed on 13 November 2024.
Queensland - Condamine–Balonne: 11.37 GL/y of surface water required [Gap is now bridged]
- We have evaluated offers in the Condamine-Balonne and accepted offers totalling 11.97 GL (nominal) that reflect value for money.
- We estimate this nominal volume to equate to 11.64 GL/y on a long-term diversion limit equivalent basis, bridging the gap in the Condamine-Balonne.
Nominal (GL) is the stated volume on the Water Right and the volume purchased during a trade. GL/y or LTDLE volumes reflect the reliability of the Water Right and is the amount that accrues to Basin Plan targets. Less reliable Water Rights have a LTDLE which is lower than their nominal value.
The final volume recovered is dependent on confirmation of the long-term diversion limit factors for each water right by the Queensland Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers. The Murray-Darling Basin Authority will verify this.
New South Wales - Border Rivers: 5.09 GL/y of surface water required [Gap remains]
- We have evaluated offers in the NSW Border Rivers and accepted offers totalling 2.37 GL (nominal) that reflect value for money.
- We estimate this nominal volume to equate to 1.27 GL/y, reducing the gap from 5.09 GL/y to 3.82 GL/y in the NSW Border Rivers.
Stakeholder engagement
At the end of August 2024, we held 5 information sessions in 5 locations. These were held in 2 catchments across the northern Murray-Darling Basin that were included in the tender for the Bridging the Gap target.
The locations included Toowoomba, Surat, St George, Dirranbandi and Goondiwindi.
Invitations were sent to water entitlement holders in these catchments. Wider stakeholders and media were not invited to attend the information sessions. This was to enable detailed conversations and open discussions about the 2024 open tender.
The presentation slides provide the same information as the sessions for anyone who was unable to attend in person.
Download
If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.
What we heard
You can read a summary of what we heard during the 5 information sessions.