Nearly 85 percent of the Murray−Darling Basin Plan’s environmental water target has now been achieved, as the Plan continues to deliver a healthier, more sustainable river system for the environment, agriculture and local communities into the future.
The current Basin Plan requires 450 gigalitres (GL) of water to be recovered for environmental purposes, to improve the health of rivers, wetlands, and ecosystems across the Basin.
Under the former Coalition Government, the Liberals and Nationals ignored the warning signs and failed Australia’s most important river system, returning just 2GL of the promised 450GL in a decade.
But the legislative and policy changes introduced by the Albanese Government in 2023 have delivered the flexibility and tools to achieve real progress on the Basin Plan.
As a result, over 380GL of water has now been recovered towards the 450GL target, through a combination of federally-funded water-efficiency infrastructure projects and voluntary water purchasing.
A further 20GL is set to be recovered through purchases of water entitlements offered by voluntary sellers.
In the past four years, the Albanese Government has committed more than $520 million to state and community-led projects designed to improve water efficiency and make irrigation networks more efficient.
Water has also been progressively purchased from willing sellers including owners of large water portfolios in the southern Murray-Darling Basin through Expression of Interest processes that ran in late 2024. The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water assessed offers to sell from water entitlement owners, considering value for money as well as the environmental utility of that water across multiple catchments when making purchase decisions.
Minister for the Environment and Water, Murray Watt welcomed the progress, and said a healthy Basin was crucial for all communities along the river system.
“We remain on track to reach 400GL by December, and it’s good to see this process nearing the finish line, delivering a healthier Basin for the future,” Minister Watt said.
“You simply can’t have sustainable communities if you don’t have a sustainable environment, and last year’s Basin Plan evaluation showed that our rivers and wetlands are now better off thanks to the Plan – while at the same time our agricultural production has continued to set new records.
“We flagged intentions back in 2024 so that people had time to think through potential impacts and make decisions.
“The Government is taking a balanced approach to water recovery that incorporates infrastructure investment, voluntary water purchases and community adjustment assistance.
“We understand water purchasing can impact some communities, which is why we established the $300 million Sustainable Communities Program.
“Working with Basin states, that program is helping local communities diversify their economies and build resilience for a future with less water by funding locally-backed projects and initiatives that unlock land for new business and housing, support investment in infrastructure and create opportunities for emerging industries.”
