Sharing water resources in the Murray-Darling Basin

SDLs were set when the Basin Plan was adopted in 2012. Victoria's submissions to the Guide and Draft (or Proposed) Basin Plan demonstrate efforts as per action.

Action status: Complete

Victoria initiated and drafted the first version of the Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism that was incorporated into the Basin Plan (see Chapter 7 of Basin Plan). The Victorian Government's Response to the proposed Basin Plan April 2012, reports that Victoria submitted an environmental works prospectus with more than $380 million of water projects that would help to achieve the same, or similar environmental outcomes with far less water.

These projects were further developed in the Victorian Murray Darling Basin Environmental Works and Measures Feasibility Program for consideration as part of the Basin Plan SDL Adjustment Mechanism.

A shortlist of the projects were further developed for consideration by the SDL Adjustment Assessment Committee for inclusion as part of the SDL Adjustment Mechanism.

Action status: Complete

a) River operating reserves have been established - see clause 102D of the Murray-Darling Basin Agreement and section 3.1.1 of River Murray System annual operating plan 2015-16.

b) The establishment of a conveyance reserve (see a) was a prerequisite to assure Victoria there was no risk that Victorian reserves would be borrowed to prop upriver operations - see page 23 of Carryover Review Committee Final report to the Minister for Water.

c) SA carryover rules documented in clause 130 and Schedule G of the Murray-Darling Basin Agreement.

d) Accounts published. This is a requirement of the Basin Officials Committee under the Objectives and Outcomes document. Annual review of river operations is required under the Objectives and Outcomes document and is carried out by the Independent River Operations Groups.

e) Water sharing anomalies have been, and will continue to be, periodically reviewed and pursued through intergovernmental forums. This is an ongoing component of Victoria's advocacy in intergovernmental water discussions – recommended reporting no longer required.

Action status: Ongoing

Governance arrangements are now clearly documented.

Processes exist to integrate planning and management of environmental water. For example, see the Southern Connected Basin Environmental Watering Committee Terms of Reference which state that the purpose of the committee is to coordinate the delivery of all environmental water in the Southern Connected Basin.

No agreement was reached with partner governments to pursue these matters. But river operation functions and responsibilities are captured in the Murray-Darling Basin Agreement and Objectives and Outcomes document.

ESC has been accredited.

Action status: Complete

Commonwealth is participating in cooperative management. A range of principles to guide prioritisation and use are set out in Chapter 8 of the Basin Plan. High level coordination of environmental water management is achieved through the Southern Connected Basin Environmental Watering Committee.

The Victorian Environmental Water Holder (VEWH) and Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH) have a partnership agreement about the planning, managing, transfer and monitoring of environmental water (sighted but not publicly available).

Action status: Complete