The Murray-Darling Basin Plan is a strategic plan for the integrated and sustainable management of water resources in the Murray-Darling Basin.
The Basin Authority will release a guide to the plan on Friday, having delayed it because of the August 21 federal election.
The plan is expected to reduce water allocations to irrigators and possibly basin communities in favour of environmental flows.
Content of the Basin Plan
The Commonwealth Water Act 2007 specifies some content of the Basin Plan, including:
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-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.
The Murray-Darling Basin Authority
The Murray-Darling Basin Authority (formerly the Murray-Darling Basin Commission), reports to the Australian Government Minister for Climate Change and Water and is in charge of managing the Murray-Darling Basin.
The Chief Executive of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) is Rob Freeman.
Membership of the Ministerial Council comprises the Commonwealth Water Minister, who also chairs the council, and one minister from each of the Basin states and the Australian Capital Territory.
The Ministerial Council has an advisory role in the preparation of the Basin Plan by the Authority.
The plan is being prepared in consultation with the Basin state and communities.
It will be complemented by water resource plans that will be prepared by Basin states and provided to the Commonwealth Minister for accreditation.
