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| Basin Plan 2012 | |
|---|---|
| Name | Basin Plan 2012 |
| Jurisdiction | Australia |
| Adopted | 2012 |
| Administered by | Murray–Darling Basin Authority; Commonwealth of Australia |
| Related legislation | Water Act 2007 (Cth); Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 |
| Region | Murray River; Murrumbidgee River; Darling River; Lachlan River |
Basin Plan 2012 The Basin Plan 2012 is a statutory water resources plan for the Murray–Darling Basin in Australia, developed under the Water Act 2007 (Cth) and administered by the Murray–Darling Basin Authority. It integrates scientific assessments from institutions such as the CSIRO, Bureau of Meteorology, and environmental agencies to guide allocations across rivers including the Murray River, Darling River, Murrumbidgee River and Lachlan River. The Plan intersects with policies from state governments—New South Wales Government, Victoria (state), Queensland, South Australia, Australian Capital Territory—and engages stakeholders including Australian Conservation Foundation, National Farmers' Federation, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation and Australian Water Association.
Development began following national inquiries such as the Murray–Darling Basin Royal Commission-style reviews and the establishment of the Murray–Darling Basin Authority after recommendations linked to reports by the Productivity Commission and the Independent Audit Group. The Plan followed consultation processes similar to inquiries like the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Australia reviews and drew on modelling from organisations including the CSIRO, Bureau of Meteorology, Australian National University, and research teams at University of Melbourne and University of Sydney. Early policy debates involved stakeholders such as the National Farmers' Federation, Australian Conservation Foundation, The Wilderness Society, Murray-Darling Basin Authority Advisory Committee and state water agencies like NSW Department of Primary Industries, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (Victoria), Queensland Department of Natural Resources. International comparisons referenced frameworks like the Colorado River Compact and the European Union Water Framework Directive.
The Plan set objectives aligned with the Water Act 2007 (Cth), seeking a sustainable balance among consumptive use, community needs and environmental health in the Murray–Darling Basin. It specified limits on extraction using concepts such as sustainable diversion limits informed by science from the CSIRO, Australian Academy of Science, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation studies and advice from the Murray–Darling Basin Authority Board. The scope covered surface water and groundwater systems across catchments including the Namoi River, Gwydir River, Castlereagh River, Macquarie River, and management zones encompassing jurisdictions like South Australian Government and Tasmanian Government for related estuarine issues.
Provisions established sustainable diversion limits, water recovery targets, environmental watering plans, and mechanisms for water trading between entitlement holders. Measures included purchase of water entitlements via the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder, investment in efficiency projects often coordinated with MDBA programs, and rules for river operations influenced by river operators such as Murray–Darling Basin Commission predecessors and state water corporations like WaterNSW and Goulburn–Murray Water. The Plan incorporated tools like water accounting consistent with standards from the Bureau of Meteorology and asset management models used by Snowy Hydro and irrigation infrastructure programs funded through federal initiatives similar to those under the National Water Initiative. It referenced environmental flows for sites such as the Barmah-Millewa Forest, Coombah Swamp, Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth and wetlands listed under the Ramsar Convention.
Targets aimed to improve river health indicators, fish populations (including Murray cod, Australian freshwater catfish and native silver perch), wetland condition, floodplain productivity and estuarine functioning in areas such as the Coorong and Lower Lakes. Outcomes were assessed against baselines established by research programs at University of Adelaide, University of Canberra, Charles Sturt University and monitoring by agencies including the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment and State Water Authorities. The Plan linked to broader conservation frameworks such as the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and international obligations under the Ramsar Convention and biodiversity strategies developed by bodies like the Australian National Botanic Gardens and the Australian Museum.
Governance structures involved the Murray–Darling Basin Authority, the Murray–Darling Basin Ministerial Council, state agencies including Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (NSW), and the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder. Consultation processes engaged interests represented by groups such as the National Farmers' Federation, Australian Water Association, The Wilderness Society, Environmental Defenders Office, indigenous bodies including Peak Indigenous Water Forum-style representatives, and regional authorities like Local Land Services (NSW). Implementation relied on cooperative federalism mechanisms comparable to intergovernmental arrangements like the Council of Australian Governments and coordination with water corporations including Goulburn–Murray Water, SunWater and WaterNSW.
The Plan was subject to legal challenges and reviews, including cases considered in the High Court of Australia and judicial review applications invoking principles from the Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 and precedents such as rulings involving Commonwealth Minister for the Environment decisions. Amendments and adjustments responded to reviews by the Murray–Darling Basin Authority, parliamentary inquiries such as the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Agriculture and Water Resources, and negotiation with state governments including New South Wales Government and Victoria (state) leading to revised water recovery and compliance measures. Litigation involved parties like environmental NGOs (Environmental Justice Australia) and agribusiness representatives, and references to statutory instruments under the Water Act 2007 (Cth).
Monitoring frameworks used hydrological data from the Bureau of Meteorology, ecological monitoring by research institutions such as the CSIRO, University of Melbourne, and compliance overseen by the Murray–Darling Basin Authority and state regulators like NSW Environment Protection Authority. Reporting included water accounts published in coordination with the Bureau of Meteorology and audits by bodies such as the Australian National Audit Office and parliamentary scrutiny via committees including the Senate Environment and Communications References Committee. Adaptive management used feedback from programs like the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder and scientific advice panels comprising experts from Australian Academy of Science and university research centres.