DRAFT MURRAY DARLING BASIN PLAN

Where is the Murray–Darling Basin? Large system in south-eastern Australia 1 million km 2 1/7 area of Australia Contains Australia’s 3 longest rivers -Murray ― 2,380 km -Darling ― 1,480 km -Murrumbidgee ― 1,490 km 23 river basins Major climate differences (North to South) Murray ― highly regulated Darling ― unregulated

Basin Plan ― why the need? Significant changes to hydrology –Less flooding (overbank flows) –Changes to seasonal flow regimes Over-allocation of water resources –Particularly severe in southern basin

Degradation of environment River red gums dying Fish populations reduced Waterbird number reduced Algal blooms Water quality degradation and salinity Murray Mouth closed to the sea too often Increased threat to agricultural production

Balancing the equation Murray ― 58%, 42% Darling ― 28%, 72% Environment 60% Environment 60% Flow to sea 40% Flow to sea 40% Interceptions Diversions 42% Consumptive Environment 58% 42% Consumptive Environment 58% Environment Flow to the sea WITHOUT DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT DEVELOPMENT CURRENT

Basin Plan ― purpose Objective –to develop and implement an integrated water resource Plan for the whole Basin Basin Plan seeks to rebalance the system –more water for the environment, but –minimise impacts on irrigators and local communities

Murray–Darling Basin Authority’s task –set the bounds (Sustainable Diversion Limits - SDLs) and work with the States and local communities to implement –the Murray–Darling Basin Authority only has powers to do part of the reform, but we must……

The Basin Plan The Basin Plan must include: Sustainable diversion limits (SDLs) Water resource plan accreditation Environmental Watering Plan Water Quality & Salinity Management Plan Water trading rules Monitoring and Evaluation program

What are we aiming to achieve? A healthy working Basin critical drinking water needs can be met rivers are connected to creeks, billabongs and floodplains healthy ecosystems supporting a wide variety of plants and animals sufficient flows to flush nutrients and salt through the system sustainable growth in food and fibre production long-term confidence for businesses and communities ‘fit for purpose’ water quality a free market for trading water

Decision-making process Environmentally sustainable level of take (ESLT) = Sustainable Diversion Limit (SDL) (more than just a volume) Implications Social and economic Environmental Environment (Science + Judgements) Balancing

Implementation Implementation of the Basin Plan as part of a Plan for the Basin this is a major rural reform ― it will take time ‘whole of government’ response to minimise impacts on local communities developing and implementing regional water resource plans less focus on the SDLs and more on how the extra water is used

Opportunity to progress towards more contemporary river management opportunity to address some of the river constraints potential changes to the amount of water needed to meet the SDLs once river constraint issues are addressed

Constraints Operational constraints - Change river operating rules ― these are currently focused on the consumptive delivery of water - Optimise storage management

Policy constraints - Modify storage carryover rules - Water sharing plans ― alter to better protect environmental water during droughts - Remove state-based policies that impact of environmental outcomes

Physical constraints - Remove/modify infrastructure that impede high flows - Purchase easements to allow high flows to be delivered - Adopt engineering works and other innovative solutions

Summary Development and implementation of the Murray– Darling Basin Plan ― major rural reform Significant reductions in current diversion limits required Commonwealth investment ($9 billion) should ‘purchase’ all the water required But still need a ‘whole of government’ response to minimise impacts on some local communities Many opportunities to progress towards more contemporary river management by addressing many of the current constraints This is a ‘journey’ we have just begun