This Basin Plan Report Card highlights amended timeframes and mechanisms to deliver the Basin Plan in full as a result of the Water Amendment (Restoring our Rivers) Act 2023, which commenced in December 2023. These changes provide more time and options, more funding, and more accountability to deliver on Basin Plan targets.
MDBA Chief Executive Andrew McConville said the legislation had provided a second chance to achieve more from the Basin Plan and encouraged Basin governments to make the most of this opportunity.
“This Report Card shows improvement towards achieving the additional 450 gigalitres per year (GL/y) water recovery target and the extended timeframe allows for a broader range of recovery options to be considered,” Mr McConville said.
“It is encouraging that 2 of the Northern Basin Toolkit measures have been completed within the last 12 months and another 2 have had their timeframes extended to December 2026.
“While Basin states have until mid-2025 to rescope, remove or add Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism (SDLAM) projects, it is critical that this time is put to good use and that delivery work continues as a priority through to December 2026.
“Water resource plans that are not operational are a concern for many affected communities so it’s pleasing to see New South Wales now has 16 of its water resource plans accredited and operational.
“This work must continue as an assessment of the volume of water to be recovered under ‘Bridging the Gap’ can only reliably be conducted once all New South Wales water resource plans have been accredited.”
The MDBA has a role to monitor progress towards implementing the Basin Plan to achieve a healthy, productive Murray-Darling Basin and provides this regular assessment as an update on this progress.
The Basin Plan Report Card is available on the MDBA website at mdba.gov.au/bp-reportcard
ENDS
Contact the MDBA Media office at media@mdba.gov.au or 02 6279 0141.
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