- Our investment in these environments is approaching $1 billion statewide since 2004, with a focus on works like fishways, snags, in stream vegetation and controlling pest plants and animals.
- Environmental water has been delivered to 120+ Victorian sites to benefit local plants, animals and ecosystems, reviving and transforming our Living Murray icon sites like the Hattah Lakes and Barmah-Millewa Forest.
- Meeting our environmental watering goals has improved habitats and breeding opportunities for waterbirds.
- Environmental water has improved the abundance and distribution of small and large-bodied native fish, maintaining species richness.
On this page:
The Basin Plan in 2024
The Basin Plan sets limits on how much water we can take from rivers in the Murray-Darling Basin. This includes water for irrigation, drinking water and industry. This ensures the long-term health of the environment.
The Basin Plan was signed into law in November 2012 under the Commonwealth Water Act 2007.
The Victorian Government has worked with Victorian communities to deliver the Basin Plan since 2013. We have worked to protect regional businesses. We have increased the involvement of Traditional Owners. We have delivered positive outcomes for communities and the environment.
Victoria is more advanced in delivering our obligations under the Basin Plan than any other state.
What Victoria has achieved
Rehabilitating the rivers and floodplains of northern Victoria
Since 2013, Victoria has led the delivery of the Basin Plan.
Working with communities with a focus on environmental outcomes, Victoria has secured 826.5 GL of our target. That's 77% despite floods and the pandemic.
1075.3 GL Bridging the Gap target
Victoria has 22 notified Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism (SDLAM) projects, and we are on track to deliver:
- 88% of our target through operational projects
- 93% with addition of VMFRP
- 98% with addition of Constraints Management Program.
We also have further projects under investigation.
Plus additional water recovery with neutral or positive socio-economic outcomes
- 7 GL Delivered
- 10.7 GL additional contracted water recovery.
Basin Plan outcomes
- Victoria has a transparent, robust and nation-leading compliance framework complemented by extensive metering coverage.
- Victoria has the largest fleet of modern meters in Australia, with 98% of water take in the Murray-Darling Basin metered and 61% of meters telemetered, providing real-time data to water authorities.
- We are delivering our SDLAM projects which will continue to increase positive and long-term environmental outcomes.
- This includes significant progress on the Victorian Murray Floodplain Restoration Project to restore the heath and increase climate resilience for 14,000 hectares of environmentally critical and culturally significant floodplain landscapes.
- All of Victoria's Water Resource Plans are accredited and in place, clearly demonstrating how our water management frameworks meet the requirements of the Basin Plan, and Victoria continues to comply with Sustainable Diversion Limits in all valleys.
- Victoria is compliant with Basin Plan trading rules and has reviewed and improved the rules around intervalley trade to make sure delivery of traded water doesn't cause ongoing damage to the Goulburn and Campaspe Rivers.
- Victoria led the development of the socio-economic criteria to apply to all additional water recovery, ensuring that up to 450 GL of water could be recovered with neutral or positive outcomes for the community.
- Australia's food bowl is in northern Victoria, and includes the largest irrigation area in the country, producing more than $3 billion worth of farm-gate produce every year, which along with flow-on industries, employs over 35,000 people.
- In Sunraysia, irrigated production represents 25% of Victoria's agricultural value, including 99.9% of table grapes, 99.6% of almonds, 86% of citrus and 75% of our wine grapes.
- In the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District, we produce 21% of Australia's milk, 75% of Australia's pears, 50% of Australia's stone fruit.
Changes made to the Basin Plan in 2023
Changes were made to the Basin Plan in 2023 without the support of the Victorian Government. These changes mean that the Commonwealth Government has more powers to purchase water.
There was also a rule that protected communities from the negative social and economic impacts of water recovery. Water could not be recovered in ways that had negative impacts. All states and the Commonwealth Government had agreed to this rule. The changes also removed these protections. This means up to 750 gigalitres of extra water could be recovered across the Basin by the Commonwealth Government. There is little detail on how this will occur. It is also uncertain how negative impacts on communities and environments will be minimised.
Victoria's ongoing plan
Victoria will continue to protect and restore our waterways and wetlands. We will invest in positive outcomes for communities, farmers, and the environment. Consistency in our approach builds trust in the Basin Plan.
Open tender water purchases cause harm to our towns, industries, and agriculture. Purchases also need to be made with the intended environmental benefits in mind. This provides the best outcomes for Victorian landscapes.
The Victorian Government has looked at ways to protect our communities. We know that there are alternatives to open tender purchases. This may include building new water infrastructure. We can also change the structure of our irrigation districts. It could also involve operating our river and water supply systems in different ways. These options are better for our communities and environment.
We are working with Victorians to develop guiding principles for this approach. We will use these principles to develop the next round of projects in our regions. We will develop projects in partnership with Victorian communities. This includes working with Traditional Owners.
This is how we plan to make sure that any water recovery in Victoria will have real, beneficial outcomes. It will also limit the large social and economic impacts of open tender water purchases.
What’s next
The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) will work alongside water corporations and catchment management authorities to talk to communities about Victoria’s approach and will work with communities to identify innovative new alternatives to open tender water purchase.
More information
Page last updated: 02/07/24