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Communities

Communities have relied on the natural resources of the Murray–Darling Basin for more than 50,000 years. Today the Basin is home to more than two million Australians and a further one million rely directly on its resources.

The Basin is Australia’s most important agricultural area, producing over one-third of Australia’s food supply. Communities of the Basin increasingly recognise that sustainable use of the Basin’s natural resources is vital to their future.

Consulting communities

MDBA consults the community in various ways, including through the Basin Community Committee, the Community Reference Group of The Living Murray program, and the Indigenous Partnerships Program. The authority liaises with the Murray Darling Association representing over 90 local government municipalities in the Basin, as well as community groups and businesses.

Supporting communities

The Murray–Darling Basin Authority supports the Basin communities through its scientific and technical work, often in partnership with other research and industry organisations, and by providing information about the Basin.

Engaging communities

MDBA also promotes greater understanding of the Basin’s unique environment through school and community-based programs, including regional conferences and workshops.
Such programs and activities include:

  • the International River Health Conference, a youth conference held every two years since 1999, with regional conferences in lead-up years
  • a series of youth forums on The Living Murray program, conducted in partnership with the Murray Darling Association, at places such as Cohuna, Swan Hill and Corowa, where students learnt more about The Living Murray, and were also able to propose solutions for improving river health in their areas
  • the Special Forever program, in conjunction with e:lit (formerly the Primary English Teaching Association), which uses Basin environmental issues to achieve literacy and numeracy outcomes, and publishes an annual anthology of students’ work
  • the Engaging Visions project, in partnership with the Australian National University, supporting artists’ engagement with communities in environmentally sensitive areas of the Basin
  • Native Fish Awareness Week, involving public forums, school presentations, and discussions with catchment management authorities, local government, Indigenous groups and recreational anglers
  • participation in and sponsorship of many relevant community events such as field days.