A Basin Plan that works for the environment, communities and food

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A Basin Plan that works for the environment, communities and food

Tuesday 10 March, 2026

The Murray-Darling Basin supports healthy rivers and wetlands, underpins food and fibre production, and sustains the regional communities that rely on both.

That's why Goulburn-Murray Water (GMW) welcomes the Murray-Darling Basin Authority's review of the Basin Plan, and in particular the shift in the discussion paper away from the "just add water" approach of buybacks, to making better use of the environmental water we already have.

Commonwealth purchases of consumptive water, combined with other environmental water holdings, makes up about 27 per cent of the total pool recovered.

More than 50 per cent of the almost 1000 GL of consumptive water recovered from the southern Basin through water purchases, has been Victorian high reliability water shares, which has led to real and lasting regional impact.

Recognition that the next phase of the Basin Plan should focus on efficiency, system improvements and smarter management is an important and positive step.

Getting more benefit from existing water can deliver environmental outcomes while also supporting productive agriculture and regional jobs.

However, there is a critical gap in the current discussion and a missing chapter from the review paper.

The paper does not recognise sustainable food production, nor the value of irrigated agriculture to regional communities and the national economy.

The Basin is not just a river system - it is a working system that supports people, towns and food production at scale.

GMW manages one of the largest irrigation networks in the country, across a footprint of around 68,000 square kilometres in northern Victoria, supported by an extensive network of storages, rivers, regulators and thousands of kilometres of channels.

That system underpins highly productive agriculture and the communities that depend on it.

Sustainable food production and reliable irrigation allow farmers to plan, invest and innovate, producing more food with less water and higher environmental standards.

In northern Victoria, irrigated agriculture supports major food and fibre industries, regional jobs and local businesses, strengthening communities and supply chains well beyond the Basin.

Importantly, productive agriculture and healthy rivers are not competing goals.

Efficient irrigation systems, modern infrastructure and well-designed operating rules reduce losses, improve water use efficiency and help deliver environmental water more effectively.

Supporting agriculture is not about taking water from the environment; it is about ensuring the water that is available delivers the greatest overall benefit.

As the operator of complex irrigation systems, GMW sees first-hand how infrastructure, operations and rules interact on the ground.

That practical experience matters.

The "missing chapter" of the Basin Plan discussion paper would highlight the importance of sustainable agriculture and thriving regional communities as core national outcomes alongside environmental repair.

This review is an opportunity to reset the conversation about the Basin's future - to move beyond a singular focus on recovery volumes and towards a more integrated approach that values environment, communities and food together.

The conversation shouldn't be limited to agencies and technical experts.

I encourage irrigators, regional businesses, community members and local organisations to read the MDBA discussion paper and make a submission.

Local knowledge and lived experience are vital in shaping a Basin Plan that is workable, balanced and enduring.

Submissions close on Friday 1 May at 5pm.

They can be made through the Murray-Darling Basin Authority's website

www.mdba.gov.au

or via email or post.

Every submission helps ensure regional voices are heard and that the final plan reflects the realities of life and work across the Basin.

This is our chance to help shape a future that delivers healthy rivers, thriving regional communities and sustainable food production.

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