Introduction
Since the last Murray–Darling Basin Ministerial Council meeting significant progress has been made to enable the Basin Plan to be implemented in full, including the passing of the Water Amendment (Restoring Our Rivers) Act 2023 (the Act), in the Australian Parliament late last year.
The Australian Government’s Restoring Our Rivers: Draft framework for delivering the 450 GL of additional environmental water outlines programs and timelines for achieving Basin Plan water recovery. Several programs are now open and more than $800 million is available to states to:
- deliver on-farm, off-farm, urban, industrial and mining water efficiency projects, and
- including through the $300 million Sustainable Communities Program to assist Basin communities affected by voluntary water purchase, to invest in a future that supports local jobs and businesses.
Investments can include kickstarting or expanding less water dependent industries in regional communities, new community infrastructure projects, workforce development and community support services.
Conditions
Ministers noted that communities continued to experience fluctuating rainfall, seasonal conditions and water levels in the Murray–Darling Basin. At 19 June 2024, total active storage levels across the northern Murray–Darling Basin was about 68%, and in the southern Basin about 79%. At about the same time in 2023 northern Basin storages were at 93% and southern 90%. The Bureau’s climate outlook, issued 20 June 2024, reports that July to September rainfall is likely to be below average across much of Victoria and south-east South Australia, and above average for some southern and central areas. In the northern Basin rainfall is likely to be more typical for this time of year.
State of the Basin
The Basin Community Committee updated Ministers on key Basin-scale issues including on-ground conditions and work to improve the connectivity between the north and south of the Basin through the Menindee Lakes.
In the face of a changing climate and welcoming more Commonwealth environmental water holdings in coming years, Ministers heard from the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder on important issues for attention and action including:
- protection of held environmental water through Menindee Lakes on a permanent basis
- a growing concern that held environmental water is being increasingly relied upon to address water quality problems – which is a shared responsibility of all water users, and
- the importance of taking steps to relax constraints so rivers and wetlands can more naturally connect.
Ministers noted the program of works underway to understand and mitigate shortfall risks in the River Murray System. Ministers noted that while delivery risks in the River Murray System are currently very low this water year, if drier conditions were to return next water year (2024/2025 year), delivery risks for the River Murray System will increase due to high demands that will be in the system.
Ministers welcomed a trial to protect environmental water’s passage from the northern Basin into the southern Basin through the Menindee Lakes.
Ministers discussed the significant concerns ongoing poor water quality in the Menindee Lakes and Lower Darling (Baaka) were continuing to present. Ministers welcomed cross jurisdictional efforts to mitigate and manage the issues, including downstream water quality impacts in the River Murray, and agreed they should continue during the upcoming MDBA review of the operation and management of Menindee Lakes.
Restoring Our Rivers – Basin Plan Implementation
Ministers recognised the importance of Basin governments working together to deliver the Basin Plan in full.
Ministers noted that the gap to Sustainable Diversion Limits (SDLs) has now been bridged in New South Wales catchments of Lachlan and NSW Murray, and in the Australian Capital Territory. The gap remains to be bridged in NSW Border Rivers, Barwon Darling and Queensland’s Condamine–Balonne and that contracting processes are still underway for the Namoi catchment in NSW, where the gap is expected to be bridged or significantly reduced on completion.
Ministers also noted that only 4 water resource plans (WRPs) remain to be accredited in NSW and that NSW is engaging closely with the Gomeroi Nation to enable resubmission. 16 have been accredited as at 17 June 2024. WRPs have been accredited in all other jurisdictions.
Ministers noted the release of Restoring Our Rivers: Draft Framework for delivering the 450 gigalitres (GL) of additional environmental water and the progress that had been made to date across jurisdictions to deliver enhanced environmental outcomes under the plan.
Ministers noted the findings and recommendations of the independent assessment of Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism (SDLAM) for consideration as Basin governments continue to implement as many SDLAM projects as possible by the deadline.
The Murray–Darling Basin Authority provided an update on the Constraints Relaxation Implementation Roadmap. The Roadmap will be published by the end of 2024.
Ministers discussed the need to ensure better connectivity in the northern Basin to improve environmental health. Ministers tasked the Basin Officials Committee to develop a coordinated approach to deliver on existing and new commitments to improve connectivity in the northern Basin and to report back by the end of 2024, including through Menindee Lakes.
Ministers welcomed the Australian Government’s commitment of $55.6 million to begin to help reverse the degraded health of the Upper Murrumbidgee catchment. The Australian, NSW, Victorian and ACT governments agreed to work together for improved river health and First Nations outcomes.
Ministers were also updated on the progress NSW and the ACT were making to implement an interstate trading framework.
First Nations Water outcomes
Ministers welcomed the significant legislative reforms to the Water Act and Basin Plan that improve water management outcomes for First Nations peoples.
Ministers noted the headway made to deliver the $100 million Aboriginal Water Entitlements Program. Ministers heard that close collaboration with First Nations will occur as the program is further developed and implemented.
Continued strong engagement will help ensure First Nations Peoples’ knowledge and wishes are better incorporated across all levels of decision-making.
Water markets, trading and transparency
Ministers reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthen trust and transparency in Basin water management and water markets.
Ministers received an update on the range of statutory accountability measures that had been introduced through the Restoring Our Rivers Act 2023. This included the strengthening of the role of the Inspector-General of Water Compliance.
Ministers received updates on the progress of water market reform implementation. Ministers thanked the Inspector-General of Water Compliance for the update.