To effectively deliver the Review, the Murray–Darling Basin Authority will provide Basin governments, industries, and communities with a shared understanding of the past, current and future condition of environmental, economic, First Nations and social values of the Basin. This will involve updating the science, incorporating new knowledge, testing evidence with communities and capturing the lived experience of people across the Basin.
The regional community forums have been invaluable in identifying and testing real life examples of the drivers of change, resilience and adaptation in the Basin. Feedback received from the groups is helping shape the final list of indicators that will underpin the assessment of current and future conditions in the Murray–Darling Basin.
During the forums, participants were invited to provide their feedback, ideas and suggestions on initiatives planned within the Basin Condition Monitoring Program, including:
- The creation of community oral histories to capture people’s lived experience of environmental and water reform changes in their region. This work is being undertaken by La Trobe University and encompasses 7 case study areas, including First Nations.
- Documenting and exploring community concerns about the environmental impact of water delivery and operations, including local monitoring of those impacts.
- An investigation into the usefulness of community data as a way of improving local flow and inundation models, along with developing citizen science support projects to encourage and strengthen ongoing collection of community data.
The forums also heard about the Basin Plan Evaluation, due in 2025, which will inform the 10-yearly review of the Basin Plan. The Evaluation will look at what has worked well and what we have achieved in the past 10 years under the Basin Plan. It will document the challenges, note anything unexpected that arose, examine what we could do better, and inform the ongoing implementation and improvement of the Basin Plan. The regional community forums will be involved in a Basin Plan Evaluation workshop later in the year.
The regional community forums represent the following regions:
- Border Region (Queensland/New South Wales)
- Central West (New South Wales)
- Riverina (New South Wales)
- Upper Murray, mid-Murray and Goulburn–Murray Irrigation District (New South Wales/Victoria)
- Sunraysia and Lower Darling (New South Wales/Victoria)
- the South Australian Murray.
If you would like to register your interest in joining your nearest community forum email engagement@mdba.gov.au