Government weighs additional water buybacks as Murray-Darling Basin plan falls short

A recent draft from the Murray-Darling Basin Authority shows that state-led water-efficiency schemes will deliver only 340 GL of savings, leaving a 265 GL gap against the basin plan’s target. The shortfall arises because 17 of 39 projects have been shelved or missed the December 31 deadline, prompting Environment and Water Minister Murray Watt to acknowledge the need for additional water to satisfy the basin’s legislated obligations.

The government, which has already purchased 279.6 GL of water for $1.6 billion, has not dismissed further voluntary buybacks, a measure that irrigation representatives like Suzanna Sheed describe as devastating for local communities and food-manufacturing jobs. She cited closures such as the Strathmerton Bega cheese factory and cuts at SunRice in Deniliquin. The National Irrigators’ Council’s chief executive Zara Loewin urged a focus on scientific environmental needs rather than more buybacks. Consultation on the draft report runs until early November, with final decisions expected by year-end, while a broader basin-plan review is slated for late 2026.