MDBP issues explored
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An expert review deems the $13 billion Murray-Darling Basin Plan largely ineffective.
The Murray-Darling Basin Plan, intended to safeguard Australia’s largest and most vital river system, has been picked apart in a recent report from the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists.
Analysing data from 27 performance indicators, the study found that 74 per cent showed either no improvement or an overall decline since the plan’s implementation in 2012.
These findings highlight significant gaps in the plan’s effectiveness and raise urgent questions about the future of water management in the basin.
While some economic targets have shown progress - such as increases in the gross value of irrigated agricultural production and farmland prices - most environmental and social indicators lag far behind expectations.
Among the environmental issues, the condition of Ramsar-listed wetlands stands out.
The review says these internationally recognised ecosystems, critical for biodiversity, are not receiving the consistent water flows necessary to sustain them.
For instance, less than 17 per cent of the total area of key wetlands was flooded in six of the nine years since the plan’s commencement. Declining waterbird populations further underscore the ecological toll, with key breeding and abundance targets remaining unmet.
Indigenous water rights and participation in water management also remain areas of concern.
Despite provisions in the Water Act 2007 that aim to improve access and governance for Aboriginal organisations, the volume of water held by these groups in New South Wales has declined, now representing just 0.1 per cent of total non-environmental entitlements.
The report finds that the failure to meet this target reflects deeper issues in the inclusion of Indigenous voices in water planning and management.
A recurring theme in the report is the failure of the monitoring and enforcement mechanisms underpinning the Basin Plan.
The absence of an integrated, transparent evaluation system has hindered the plan’s ability to adapt and address emerging issues.
For example, flows at 24 of the 27 key hydrological sites were significantly lower than expected. Non-compliance with Sustainable Diversion Limits (SDLs) in regions such as the Barwon-Darling raise further concerns, with the Inspector-General of Water Compliance warning of systemic issues in New South Wales, where SDL excesses reached up to 40 per cent.
Economic metrics present a more mixed picture.
The value of irrigated agricultural production has remained stable and cash incomes for irrigation farms have generally risen, supported by government-funded efficiency programs.
However, the report cautions that the gains in production value are closely tied to increased plantings of high-value crops like almonds and cotton, which intensify competition for already scarce water resources.
This trend may prove unsustainable as water availability continues to decline due to climate change and ongoing extractions.
The Murray-Darling Basin’s environmental challenges extend beyond water quantity to include salinity, nutrient pollution, and poor water quality.
Salinity targets in several regions remain unmet, and nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations regularly exceed acceptable levels.
Meanwhile, the basin has witnessed an increase in fish kills, including six major events since 2012, with low dissolved oxygen and blackwater events cited as key contributing factors.
The Wentworth Group’s report recommends overhauling the plan’s monitoring and compliance frameworks to establish greater transparency and accountability.
The researchers also call for stronger engagement with Indigenous communities and more targeted environmental watering strategies. With the plan set for review in 2026, the findings underscore an urgent need for reform.
The report argues that, without significant changes, the basin’s ecosystems and communities will remain at risk, leaving the vision of a sustainable water future unrealised.
