In the past 6 months, the Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) has made good progress in preparing for the 2026 Basin Plan Review.
In particular, we’ve tested our Early Insights Paper with a diverse range of stakeholders and communities.
Watch the video below from MDBA's Chief Executive, Andrew McConville where he reflects on our progress from July to December 2024.
Since launching the Early Insights Paper, we’ve been out and about in the Basin more often than not.
– Andrew McConville, MDBA Chief Executive
"In 6 months, we held 21 in-person briefings with peak and industry groups. We also hosted 11 virtual forums, we met with government officials, and we did 7 regional tours related to the Basin Plan alone."
“Back in the office, we hosted a public webinar with hundreds of attendees, where we answered your questions live. After the event, we replied in writing to every query, publicly on our website. You can check out the entire recording on our website.”
The Early Insights Paper outlined our approach to the Review. It also listed the key issues and opportunities that we’ll explore, such as:
- assessing the effectiveness of Sustainable Diversion Limits (SDLs)
- climate change
- issues and opportunities, including:
- assessing the Basin Plan’s environmental outcomes
- preparing for a range of plausible climate futures
- moving beyond ‘just add water’
- managing the northern Basin
- build on, and simplify the Basin Plan.
These challenges cut across the 4 focus areas of the review: climate change, First Nations, sustainable diversion limits and regulatory design.
What we’ve heard
Many stakeholders said that the Early Insights Paper clearly highlights the key issues.
There was broad support for the idea of moving beyond ‘just add water’ and taking a more integrated approach to water management.
There is concern for native fish, water quality and equity in the way we engage with First Nations peoples and Basin communities.
People want to know how climate change will affect water availability. They also want more details on climate scenarios and modelling.
“We also heard that while genuine engagement is still vital to Basin communities, stakeholder fatigue is high,” says Mr McConville.
“We’ve continued with our commitment to advance the water management goals of First Nations peoples in the Basin, holding workshops with over 100 First Nations people across the Basin to test the independent Looking back to move forward report.
“The report – which will inform the Basin Plan Evaluation – shares First Nations peoples views that limited progress has been made to include them in Basin water management, however there is a strong willingness to work together to improve outcomes for First Nations’ peoples going forward,” noted Mr McConville.
Consultation on the Early Insights Paper is now complete. The MDBA will focus on the next steps in the Basin Plan Review Roadmap; the Evaluation and the Sustainable Rivers Audit, both due mid-2025.
The assessment phase for the Basin Plan Evaluation is well underway. You can read 2 sentiment reports that will help inform the Evaluation:
- What we’ve heard: Peak groups’ perspectives to support the 2025 Basin Plan Evaluation
- What we’ve heard: Regional Community Forums’ perspectives to support the 2025 Basin Plan Evaluation.
We’re committed to sharing an update on the Basin Plan Review every 6 months. This is the 3rd iteration of the Basin Plan Review progress update. You can expect the next update around July 2025.