The Basin Plan

The Basin Plan will be a strategic plan for the integrated and sustainable management of water resources in the Murray–Darling Basin.

Why we need a Basin Plan

The Basin is under enormous stress as a result of past water-allocation decisions, prolonged drought, natural climate variability and emerging climate change. A lack of water and the absence of natural flooding are having a significant impact on many key environmental assets - rivers, streams, wetlands, forests, floodplains and billabongs.

The Basin Plan will be developed to manage water resources and ensure there is sufficient water available to make sure key environmental assets and functions of the Basin are not compromised, while seeking to optimise social and economic outcomes.

Preparation of the Basin Plan

The Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) is preparing the plan, as required by the Water Act 2007. The plan is being prepared in consultation with the Basin state and communities. It is scheduled to be released for extensive consultation in mid-2010. You can see information on how you can be involved through our stakeholder engagement strategy here.

The purpose of the Basin Plan

The Basin Plan will provide an integrated approach to managing the water resources of the Murray–Darling Basin in a way that can be sustained through time and in the national interest.

The Basin Plan will provide a framework for setting environmentally sustainable limits (known as sustainable diversion limits) on the amount of surface water and groundwater that can be taken from the Basin. These limits will be set based on the best available scientific knowledge and socio–economic analysis and cultural information.

The Basin Plan will identify, and seek to protect and restore, key environmental assets which are essential to the life of the rivers, their surrounding landscapes and the cultural values of the communities which depend on those water resources.

The Basin Plan will also take into account the impact of this protection and restoration on individual communities, industries, regions and the wider economy.

Content of the Basin Plan

The Commonwealth Water Act 2007 specifies some content of the Basin Plan, including:

• limits on the amount of water (both surface water and groundwater) that can be taken from Basin water resources on a sustainable basis
• identification of risks to Basin water resources, such as climate change, and strategies to manage those risks
• the requirements that state water resource plans must comply with for them to be accredited or adopted under the Act
• an environmental watering plan to optimise environmental outcomes for the Basin
• a water quality and salinity management plan
• rules about trading of water rights in relation to Basin water resources.

Planned date

The Basin Plan is planned to commence in 2011.

While certain benefits of the Basin Plan may take some time to eventuate, other benefits will become apparent more quickly. For instance, the plan will bring greater certainty to water users and support their ability to adapt or to find new opportunities. Under the plan, water users will have greater flexibility in buying and selling water through improved water markets.

Commonwealth and state roles under the plan

The Basin Plan will be complemented by water resource plans that will be prepared by Basin states and provided to the Commonwealth Minister for accreditation.

The Basin Plan will also play an important role in identifying the responsibilities for managing risks related to reduced water availability and changes in reliability of supply.

Water-sharing arrangements that are provided for in existing water resource plans will remain in place until these plans cease as outlined in the transitional arrangements set out in the Water Act.

Responsibilities for preparing and approving the Basin Plan

MDBA is responsible for the overall preparation, implementation and enforcement of the Basin Plan.

We have an important role in engaging with stakeholders and are regularly meeting regionally to provide opportunities for meeting stakeholder groups and the community. We are using feedback from stakeholders to help inform our decision-making.

These key groups are closely involved in the development of the Basin Plan:

Murray–Darling Basin Ministerial Council

Basin Community Committee

Basin Officials Committee

For more information please see the Basin Plan concept statement and our frequently asked questions