Irrigators have welcomed a plan by the federal government to sell back environmental water entitlements to farmers in the Murray-Darling Basin.
The move comes as a large part of the basin experiences a drying-out phase brought on by extreme hot weather and below-average rain during spring and summer.
The National Irrigators Council says water can and should be sold and put to agricultural use without compromising the environment.
"We've had some hot weather which has spiked the water use," chief executive Tom Chesson told ABC Radio on Monday.
Parliamentary secretary for the environment Simon Birmingham says the sell-off will have important economic benefits while also maintaining environmental flows.
Trading will be limited to only a small portion of the overall entitlement held by the environmental water holder, he said.
The commonwealth owns almost 1700 gigalitres of water in the basin, following several years of environmental buy-backs.
"This will be good news for irrigators who will be keen to secure more water during this period of hot and dry weather," Senator Birmingham said.
The Greens say the decision will come at the cost of the environment.
The government will release details of the first tender process later on Monday.
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