Chapter 4—Identification and management of risks to Basin water resources
4.01 Simplified outline
(2) This Chapter identifies:
(a) risks to the condition, or continued availability, of Basin water resources (item 3 of the table in subsection 22(1) of the Act); and
(b) strategies to manage, or address, those risks (item 5 of the table in subsection 22(1) of the Act).
4.01 Simplified outline
4.01 Simplified outline
(2) This Chapter identifies:
(a) risks to the condition, or continued availability, of Basin water resources (item 3 of the table in subsection 22(1) of the Act); and
(b) strategies to manage, or address, those risks (item 5 of the table in subsection 22(1) of the Act).
Part 2 Risks and strategies to address risks
Part 2—Risks and strategies to address risks
4.02 Risks to condition, or continued availability, of Basin water resources, and consequential risks
(1) The risks to the condition, or continued availability, of Basin water resources, including the risks to the availability of Basin water resources that arise from the matters specified in item 3 of the table in subsection 22(1) of the Act are:
(a) insufficient water available for the environment; and
(b) water being of a quality unsuitable for use; and
(c) poor health of water‑dependent ecosystems.
(2) The consequences of the materialisation of the risks identified in subsection (1) include:
(a) that insufficient water is available, or water is not suitable for consumptive and other economic uses of Basin water resources; and
(b) that insufficient water is available, or water is not suitable to maintain social, cultural, Indigenous and other public benefit values.
4.03 Strategies to manage, or address, identified risks
(1) This section sets out the strategies to manage, or address, the risks identified in section 4.02.
Note: Water resource plans must be prepared having regard to the strategies (see subsection 10.43(3)).
(2) The Authority must have regard to the strategies when undertaking its functions.
(3) The strategies are the following:
(a) to implement the Basin Plan, including its following key elements:
(ii) the water quality and salinity management plan;
(iv) water resource planning;
(b) to develop water resource plans and amendments to the Basin Plan based on best available knowledge and in consultation with relevant stakeholders;
(c) to promote a risk‑based approach to water resource planning and management;
(d) to manage flows to optimise outcomes across the range of water uses in the Murray‑Darling Basin;
(e) to ensure effective monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the Basin Plan;
(f) to promote and enforce compliance with the Basin Plan and water resource plans;
(g) to improve knowledge of water requirements within the Murray‑Darling Basin, including the following:
(i) environmental watering requirements;
(ii) requirements relating to the social, spiritual and cultural uses of Basin water resources by Indigenous people;
(iii) the impact of climate change on water requirements;
(iv) the water required to deliver social and economic benefits to Basin communities;
(h) to improve knowledge of the impact on Basin water resources of the following:
(i) interception activities and land use change;
(ii) floodplain harvesting and peri‑urban and industrial take;
(iii) climate change;
(i) to improve knowledge of:
(i) groundwater and surface water resources, including through improved measurement; and
(ii) the causes of water quality degradation and the effects of water quality on environmental assets and ecosystem functions.
4.04 Authority may publish guidelines
(1) The Authority may publish guidelines setting out specific actions that may be taken in relation to the implementation of the strategies listed in subsection 4.03(3).
(2) The guidelines may be reviewed and, if necessary, updated at any time.
(3) The guidelines must be made having regard to AS/NZS ISO 31000:2009 Risk Management—Principles and Guidelines.
Note: Water resource plans must be prepared having regard to any guidelines published in accordance with this section (see subsection 10.43(3)).
4.02 Risks to condition, or continued availability, of Basin water resources, and consequential risks
4.02 Risks to condition, or continued availability, of Basin water resources, and consequential risks
(1) The risks to the condition, or continued availability, of Basin water resources, including the risks to the availability of Basin water resources that arise from the matters specified in item 3 of the table in subsection 22(1) of the Act are:
(a) insufficient water available for the environment; and
(b) water being of a quality unsuitable for use; and
(c) poor health of water‑dependent ecosystems.
(2) The consequences of the materialisation of the risks identified in subsection (1) include:
(a) that insufficient water is available, or water is not suitable for consumptive and other economic uses of Basin water resources; and
(b) that insufficient water is available, or water is not suitable to maintain social, cultural, Indigenous and other public benefit values.
4.03 Strategies to manage, or address, identified risks
4.03 Strategies to manage, or address, identified risks
(1) This section sets out the strategies to manage, or address, the risks identified in section 4.02.
Note: Water resource plans must be prepared having regard to the strategies (see subsection 10.43(3)).
(2) The Authority must have regard to the strategies when undertaking its functions.
(3) The strategies are the following:
(a) to implement the Basin Plan, including its following key elements:
(ii) the water quality and salinity management plan;
(iv) water resource planning;
(b) to develop water resource plans and amendments to the Basin Plan based on best available knowledge and in consultation with relevant stakeholders;
(c) to promote a risk‑based approach to water resource planning and management;
(d) to manage flows to optimise outcomes across the range of water uses in the Murray‑Darling Basin;
(e) to ensure effective monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the Basin Plan;
(f) to promote and enforce compliance with the Basin Plan and water resource plans;
(g) to improve knowledge of water requirements within the Murray‑Darling Basin, including the following:
(i) environmental watering requirements;
(ii) requirements relating to the social, spiritual and cultural uses of Basin water resources by Indigenous people;
(iii) the impact of climate change on water requirements;
(iv) the water required to deliver social and economic benefits to Basin communities;
(h) to improve knowledge of the impact on Basin water resources of the following:
(i) interception activities and land use change;
(ii) floodplain harvesting and peri‑urban and industrial take;
(iii) climate change;
(i) to improve knowledge of:
(i) groundwater and surface water resources, including through improved measurement; and
(ii) the causes of water quality degradation and the effects of water quality on environmental assets and ecosystem functions.
4.04 Authority may publish guidelines
4.04 Authority may publish guidelines
(1) The Authority may publish guidelines setting out specific actions that may be taken in relation to the implementation of the strategies listed in subsection 4.03(3).
(2) The guidelines may be reviewed and, if necessary, updated at any time.
(3) The guidelines must be made having regard to AS/NZS ISO 31000:2009 Risk Management—Principles and Guidelines.
Note: Water resource plans must be prepared having regard to any guidelines published in accordance with this section (see subsection 10.43(3)).
5.01 Simplified outline
5.01 Simplified outline
(2) This Chapter sets out the management objectives and outcomes to be achieved by the Basin Plan (item 4 of the table in subsection 22(1) of the Act).
(3) The management objectives and outcomes include objectives and outcomes:
(a) for the Basin Plan as a whole; and
(b) in relation to environmental outcomes; and
(c) in relation to water quality and salinity; and
(d) in relation to the long‑term average sustainable diversion limits; and
(e) in relation to trading in the water market.
Note: The temporary diversion provision for each SDL resource unit is zero—see section 6.07. Accordingly, there are no objectives or outcomes in relation to the temporary diversion provision.
5.02 Objectives and outcome for Basin Plan as a whole
5.02 Objectives and outcome for Basin Plan as a whole
(1) The objectives for the Basin Plan as a whole are:
(a) to give effect to relevant international agreements through the integrated management of Basin water resources; and
(b) to establish a sustainable and long‑term adaptive management framework for the Basin water resources, that takes into account the broader management of natural resources in the Murray‑Darling Basin; and
(c) to optimise social, economic and environmental outcomes arising from the use of Basin water resources in the national interest; and
(d) to improve water security for all uses of Basin water resources.
(2) The outcome for the Basin Plan as a whole is a healthy and working Murray‑Darling Basin that includes:
(a) communities with sufficient and reliable water supplies that are fit for a range of intended purposes, including domestic, recreational and cultural use; and
(b) productive and resilient water‑dependent industries, and communities with confidence in their long‑term future; and
(c) healthy and resilient ecosystems with rivers and creeks regularly connected to their floodplains and, ultimately, the ocean.
5.03 Objectives and outcome in relation to environmental outcomes
5.03 Objectives and outcome in relation to environmental outcomes
(1) The objectives in relation to environmental outcomes are, within the context of a working Murray‑Darling Basin:
(c) to ensure that water‑dependent ecosystems are resilient to climate change and other risks and threats; and
(d) to ensure that environmental watering is co‑ordinated between managers of planned environmental water, owners and managers of environmental assets, and holders of held environmental water.
Note 1: The fact that water storages and property (including floodplains) are under the control of various persons currently restricts the capacity to actively manage all water‑dependent ecosystems.
Note 2: Particular objectives relating to each of the objectives in paragraphs (1)(a) to (c) are specified in Part 2 of Chapter 8.
(2) The outcome in relation to subsection (1) is the restoration and protection of water‑dependent ecosystems and ecosystem functions in the Murray‑Darling Basin with strengthened resilience to a changing climate.
5.04 Objective and outcome in relation to water quality and salinity
5.04 Objective and outcome in relation to water quality and salinity
(1) The objective in relation to water quality and salinity is to maintain appropriate water quality, including salinity levels, for environmental, social, cultural and economic activity in the Murray‑Darling Basin.
Note: See also the water quality objectives for Basin water resources in Part 3 of Chapter 9.
(2) The outcome in relation to water quality and salinity is that Basin water resources remain fit for purpose.
5.05 Objective and outcomes in relation to long‑term average sustainable diversion limits
5.05 Objective and outcomes in relation to long‑term average sustainable diversion limits
(1) The objective in relation to long‑term average sustainable diversion limits is to establish environmentally sustainable limits on the quantities of surface water and groundwater that can be taken for consumptive use from Basin water resources, having regard to social and economic impacts, and in doing so:
(a) inform environmental water recovery measures, including water purchasing and infrastructure that improves water use efficiency; and
(b) provide greater certainty for all water users, including in times of drought and low water availability; and
(c) provide time for water access entitlement holders and communities to transition and adjust to long‑term average sustainable diversion limits.
(2) The outcomes in relation to the establishment of long‑term average sustainable diversion limits are:
(a) the restoration and protection of water‑dependent ecosystems and ecosystem functions in the Murray‑Darling Basin; and
(b) well‑informed water recovery measures, including water purchasing and infrastructure, enable a transition to long‑term average sustainable diversion limits; and
(c) greater certainty of access to Basin water resources; and
(d) water access entitlement holders and communities of the Murray‑Darling Basin are better adapted to reduced quantities of available water.
5.06 Objective and outcome for operation of the SDL adjustment mechanism
5.06 Objective and outcome for operation of the SDL adjustment mechanism
(1) The objective in relation to the operation of the SDL adjustment mechanism is to adjust SDLs in a way that increases environmental outcomes while maintaining or improving social and economic outcomes.
Note Particular objectives relating to different kinds of measures are specified in Part 2 of Chapter 7.
(2) The outcome in relation to the operation of the SDL adjustment mechanism is a healthy and working Murray‑Darling Basin that includes the outcomes specified in subsection 5.02(2).
5.07 Objectives and outcome in relation to trading in the water market
5.07 Objectives and outcome in relation to trading in the water market
(1) The objectives for trading in the water market are:
(a) to facilitate the operation of efficient water markets and the opportunities for trading, within and between Basin States, where water resources are physically shared or hydrologic connections and water supply considerations will permit water trading; and
(b) to minimise transaction cost on water trades, including through good information flows in the market and compatible entitlement, registry, regulatory and other arrangements across jurisdictions; and
(c) to enable the appropriate mix of water products to develop based on water access entitlements which can be traded either in whole or in part, and either temporarily or permanently, or through lease arrangements or other trading options that may evolve over time; and
(d) to recognise and protect the needs of the environment; and
(e) to provide appropriate protection of third‑party interests.
(2) The outcome for trading in the water market is the creation of a more efficient and effective market that:
(a) facilitates water reaching its most productive use; and
(b) enhances the productivity and growth of water‑dependent industries; and
(c) enables water‑dependent industries to:
(i) better manage through extreme events under current climate variability; and
(ii) strengthen their capacity to adapt to future climate change.
Part Part 4 - Basin Plan 2012 - Identification and management of risks to Basin water resources | Zoe