Search results

This assessment of social and economic conditions in the Basin was commissioned in mid-2019 by the then Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources.

The Advisory Committee on Social, Economic and Environmental Sciences (ACSEES) is an important source of independent, strategic advice to the Murray–Darling Basin Authority. The committee's work helps to ensure the Basin Plan is confidently implemented with the support of robust science and knowledge.

The Murray–Darling Basin social and economic conditions report will help fill gaps in MDBA’s socio-economic reporting. It is one of the 15 projects under the Basin Condition Monitoring Program.

The 2017 Basin Plan Evaluation considers environmental, social, cultural and economic outcomes seen so far, and whether these outcomes are in line with what was expected 5 years before. A series of technical reports providing in-depth analysis and results have been developed.

Hydrological conditions often differ each year and across regions of the Basin. Planning for dry conditions is a major challenge for river operators, water resource managers and the community.

When parts of the Murray–Darling Basin are in drought it affects the whole river system, including plants and animals, the communities of the Basin, and farming and food production.

The 2020 Basin Plan Evaluation and recent reviews highlight an urgent need for targeted and focused support for communities in the Basin, particularly smaller, irrigation-dependent and remote communities. This requires meaningful engagement to customise support and provide improved information.

The Murray–Darling Basin Authority met on 28 and 29 July 2021. All members were present, and the meeting was chaired by Sir Angus Houston.

The prolonged drought across the Basin means in the next 12 months environmental water will be used strategically to protect our wetlands, floodplains and river ecosystems from further damage, and place them in the best possible position to recover from the drought when it breaks, according to the latest Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) report.