Get involved

The Murray–Darling Basin Authority is currently preparing a proposed Basin Plan that will manage the water resources of the Murray–Darling Basin for the future.

We want you to be involved in developing a better Basin Plan and we are providing a variety of opportunities for you to do this. Please see our stakeholder engagement page for further information on our engagement strategy.

How can you get involved?

• Visit our subscriptions page to register for:
  • our stakeholder engagement and website announcements
  • our e-Letter for monthly news from the MDBA
  • our media releases.
• visit the MDBA website often for updates and new information
• come to one of our public events
• join in our online forums when they are held (coming soon)
• submit a formal submission during the consultation period in mid-2010
• call us on 1800 230 067 to talk to a member of staff
• visit our links page for further reading

Developing the proposed Murray–Darling Basin Plan

Up until mid-2010 we are developing a proposed plan that will then be released for public comment. We are using a range of activities to meet with as many people as possible to inform them about the development of the Basin Plan, to seek views on specific issues, and provide information on how to make a submission during the consultation period.

We are doing this through:

• individual meetings with stakeholders and communities
• presentations and information stands at shopping centres, conferences, field days and agriculture shows
• presentations, discussions and information stands at regional Basin Community Committee and MDBA meetings
• a Northern Basin Indigenous Gathering
• a Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations (MLDRIN) workshop
• a peak bodies forum
• a science and government forum.

We are offering a variety of methods for you to access information, including:

• digital communication including our website, on-line forums and blogs (coming soon)
• our monthly e-letter
• fact sheets
• a key issues paper on sustainable diversion limits
• technical and research reports.

Public consultation and submission

We are currently preparing a proposed Basin Plan and will be seeking public submissions on it in mid-2010. 

We will:

• make the proposed plan available on our website
• provide a plain English summary of the plan, including an outline of the scientific knowledge and socioeconomic analysis on which the proposed plan is based
• give at least 16 weeks for submissions and comments to be made on the proposed plan
• provide details on how you may obtain a copy of the proposed plan
• provide details on how and where submissions can be submitted
• hold regional workshops to give information on, and discuss, the proposed plan and the submission process.

Public submission review and next steps

After the formal consultation period has closed, we:

• will consider every submission we receive in response to the proposed plan
• may alter the Basin Plan as a result of considering the submissions we receive
• will publish a document on our website that will:
  • give a broad outline of any changes we made to the proposed plan after the start of the consultation period
  • summarise any submissions we receive, how we addressed those submissions and any changes we made as a result of considering those submissions
• will publish all the submissions we receive on the proposed plan on our website, unless the person specifically requests their submission (or a particular part of the submission) be confidential.

When we have considered any submissions we receive and made any necessary changes, we will give the Basin Plan to the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council for comment. 

After the Ministerial Council, we will then give the Basin Plan to the Minister for Climate Change and Water to consider for adoption.

Please see our stakeholder engagement page for more information about our stakeholder engagement strategy.