The management of the Murray-Darling Basin


The management of the Murray-Darling Basin

13 March 2013

© Commonwealth of Australia 2013
ISBN 978-1-74229-781-1

View the report as a single document - (PDF 5611KB)

View the report as separate downloadable parts:

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Membership of committee (PDF 49KB)
 
Abbreviations (PDF 13KB)
 
List of Reccommendations (PDF 39KB)
 
Executive Summary (PDF 29KB)
Surface water
Groundwater
Infrastructure investment, environmental works and measures and constraints management
Water trading
Types of water entitlements
Socio-economic impacts and stakeholder engagement
Future research
 
Chapter 1 - Introduction (PDF 82KB)

Information about the inquiry
Acknowledgements
Note on references
Structure of the report
Interim reports
Background to water regulation and the Basin Plan
 
Chapter 2 - Surface Water (PDF 132KB)

Introduction
Surface water resources
SDLs and BDLs
Modelling of surface water sustainable division limits and the 2750 GL/y
Criticisms of the modelling for the Basin Plan
Concerns about the modelling assumptions
Climate change projections not captured in modelling
Interceptions have not been adequately reflected in modelling

 
Chapter 3 - Groundwater (PDF 106KB)
Groundwater SDLs and BDLs
Determination of groundwater baseline diversion limits
Modelling for groundwater sustainable diversion limits
Connectivity between surface and groundwater resources in the modelling
 
Chapter 4 - Infrastructure Investment, Environmental Works and Measures, and Constraints Management and Removal (PDF 239KB)

Introduction
Environmental Works and Measures
An additional 450 GL
Constraints Management Strategy
 
Chapter 5 - Water buybacks and water trading (PDF 88KB)

Background of the water buyback
Concerns about the buyback program
Impact of buybacks on irrigators
The 'Swiss cheese' effect
Sleeper and dozer licences
 
Chapter 6 - Types of Water Entitlements (PDF 133KB)

Long-term Cap equivalent
Types of water entitlements and the modelling
The MDBA modelling
The ABARES modelling
Types of water entitlements and the buyback process
Twynam water purchase
Nimmie-Caira buyback proposal

 
Chapter 7 - Impact of the Basin Plan on Rural Communities, Localism and Stakeholder Engagement (PDF 132KB)

Impact on Rural Communities
External pressures unrelated to the Basin Plan
Social and economic modelling
Perspective of rural communities
Stakeholder engagement and localism
Stakeholder engagement
Localism

 
Chapter 8 - Future Research and Solutions (PDF 92KB)

Key areas for future research and solutions
Water efficiency
Water interception
Surface water and ground water connectivity
Soil use
Effectiveness of water infrastructure

 
Additional Comments by Senator Nick Xenophon (PDF 31KB)
 
Appendix 1 - Terms of Reference (PDF 18KB)
 
Appendix 2 - Submissions Received (PDF 87KB)
 
Appendix 3 - Public Hearings and Witnesses (PDF 49KB)
 
Appendix 4 - Recent press articles and NSW Office of Environment and Heritage documentation regarding proposed relaxed flow constraints at Mundarlo Bridge on the Murrumbidgee River* (PDF 2708KB)
 
Appendix 5 - Feasibility study and business case for the proposed Nimmie-Caira project* (PDF 2131KB)

*PDF format only

For further information, contact:

Committee Secretary
Senate Standing Committees on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Australia

Phone: +61 2 6277 3511
Fax: +61 2 6277 5811
Email: rrat.sen@aph.gov.au