Released at the River Reflections conference last week, MDBA chair Sir Angus Houston said the paper provided the Authority’s view on what may be necessary to ensure the Basin Plan supports basin water management to adapt to future conditions.
“I’m pleased to release the Early Insights Paper and share our thinking on some of the basin’s most complex challenges, what we want to investigate further and how the authority is considering potential changes in the Basin Plan to meet future challenges,” Sir Angus said.
“These are indeed early insights, designed to continue the conversation with basin communities, but of some things we are certain – climate change is the primary threat to the basin.
“The internationally agreed position of world climate scientists suggests temperature rises of two degrees by 2050 are likely, however there is still considerable uncertainty about what this means for future river flows.
“The MDBA will look at the evidence and determine whether the outcomes we aimed for in the Basin Plan will continue to serve us well in the future.
“Considering whether the overall limits of water take in the Basin – the Sustainable Diversion Limits – can continue to be a tool we use to meet these future challenges will involve us examining how they are working right now.
“We have collected 12 years of experience implementing the current Basin Plan and we will be using this data, along with updated science and community input to inform how we manage the Basin for the next decade.
“The Early Insights Paper shares our current thinking on some of the Basin’s most complex challenges and is a tool to consult broadly and test our thoughts – taking the next significant step in our journey to the 2026 Basin Plan Review.”
The Early Insights Paper presents five key areas of challenge, cutting across four themes that form the focus of the review – climate change, First Nations, sustainable water limits and regulatory design.
The paper sets out how the MDBA will assess the Basin Plan’s environmental outcomes; prepare for a range of plausible climate futures; and consider different ways of managing the northern Basin.
MDBA chief executive Andrew McConville said the five areas of challenge set out in the Early Insights Paper are also areas of opportunity for basin communities, industries, and governments.
“We can seize this moment to transition from a Basin Plan implemented in response to historical over-extraction and time of crisis during the Millenium Drought, to a more inclusive Basin Plan, informed by updated and best available science, and a more integrated view of water management,” Mr McConville said.
“Part of building a better plan is also embracing the opportunity to contribute to better outcomes for First Nations communities and enhance the way we involve First Nations peoples in water management decisions.
“I think everyone wants to improve the Basin Plan and we all want to protect our rivers for future generations.
“The review is our opportunity to build confidence in basin management by focussing on outcomes and contemplating a Basin Plan that considers the range of land and water management approaches, river operations, regional development and environmental watering in a more integrated manner.
“We want to better enable governments and communities to think beyond what we have now and work together by being more inclusive ourselves.
"Sharing these challenges in the Early Insights Paper is an opportunity for everyone to bring their input, views, knowledge, and expertise to help us in our decision-making. “
All Australians will have the opportunity to have their say on the review through a combination of formal and informal consultation.
To read the Early Insights Paper and subscribe for further updates, please visit https://www.mdba.gov.au/water-management/basin-plan-review/early-insights-paper.
