The national conference was held in the rural city of Murray Bridge, South Australia. It was held on 27 to 28 September and welcomed the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP Minister for the Environment and Water, Basin experts, water users, irrigation and industry heads, and Senator Perin Davey Shadow Water Minister.
The annual event provides a platform for Murray–Darling Basin communities and local governments to come together to discuss the advocacy, representation, engagement priorities, and management of Basin resources.
This year’s conference was centred around partnerships and collaboration across the Basin, supported by detailed discussions on water security, the circular economy, national disaster recovery, and preparing for drought, water scarcity and climate change.
Murray–Darling Basin Authority Chief Executive, Andrew McConville spoke about the importance of connectivity through the Basin as we move into the first 10-yearly Basin Plan Review in 2026. The purpose of the review is to help us understand how the Basin Plan is working, explore how we can respond to the impacts of climate change, and support the Basin into the future. Collaboration between Basin governments and engagement with communities, land and water holders, and First Nations people and groups will be critical to a well-informed review.
Andrew highlighted how imperative this collaborative approach is to ensuring the Basin Plan continues to respond to the changing climate and the needs of our communities and industries, while protecting our Rivers for generations to come.
“We in the Murray–Darling Basin Authority rely on you to connect the dots between the Basin Plan as it is written, and the real, on-the-ground experience as it is lived, and with deep knowledge of your communities,” he said.
“We will continue to strengthen connections with Basin communities to capture and reflect the wealth of knowledge held there, and use it to inform the Basin Plan.”
The conference was supported by an exhibition hall, and a number of social events, including a study tour through the Coorong and Lower Lakes.