Murray-Darling Basin Overview - evp sem 4

Murray-Darling Basin

• Map of the Murray-Darling Basin showing:
  • Northern Territory
  • South Australia
  • Queensland
  • Murray-Darling Catchment
  • Murray River
  • Darling River
  • State Boundaries
  • Adelaide
  • New South Wales
  • Victoria
  • Melbourne
  • Sydney
  • Canberra
  • Australian Capital Territory
  • Tasmania
  • Hobart
  • Brisbane

People of the Basin

• Aboriginal people
• Graziers
• Soldier settlement
• Immigration
• Government support
• Identity
• Culture
• Community
• Food supply

Annual Diversion (GL/Year) and Average Natural Flow to Sea

• Graph showing annual diversion of water in GL/Year for NSW, VIC, SA, QLD and ACT from 1920 to 2020.
• The graph also plots the average natural flow to the sea as a dotted line.
• A second dotted line shows the "Full development of existing entitlements"

Challenges

• Communities:
  • Ageing population
  • Urban migration
  • Decreasing population
  • Mechanisation
  • Services
• Economy:
  • Resource utilisation
  • Supply
  • Water quality
• River:
  • Health
  • Water quality

Water Consumption

• Net water consumption, 1996-97:
  • A bar graph illustrating net water consumption measured in Gigalitres shows the following:
    • Pasture: ~ 2000 GL
    • Vegetables: ~ 500 GL
    • Grapes: ~ 500 GL
    • Rice: ~ 1800 GL
    • Sugar: ~ 300 GL
    • Fruit: ~ 700 GL
    • Cotton: ~ 2800 GL

Value per Megalitre

• Value per megalitre of water, 1996-97:
  • A bar graph showing the value per megalitre of water in dollars for:
    • Pasture: ~$150
    • Vegetables: ~$1800
    • Grapes: ~$1500
    • Rice: ~$200
    • Sugar: ~$100
    • Fruit: ~$1000
    • Cotton: ~$400

Solutions?

• Markets economy
• Water reform
• What else……

Southern MDB Allocation Trade

• Graph of Southern MDB allocation and entitlement trade volume (ML) from 1983-84 to 2009-10.
• Key events marked include:
  • Interim cap announced June 1995
  • National Water Initiative signed June 2004

Announced allocation volumes (ML)

• Graph of announced allocation volumes (ML) and allocations traded as % of announced allocations from 1998-99 to 2009-10.

Average allocation trade price

• Graph of average allocation trade price ($/ML) and average % allocation in the southern MDB across months.
• Data is presented for:
  • Average price (2007-08)
  • Average allocation (2007-08)
  • Average price (2008-09)
  • Average allocation (2008-09)
  • Average price (2009-10)
  • Average allocation (2009-10)

Reform Process

• $12 billion plus invested$
• Murray-Darling Basin Authority
• Groundwater and surface water considerations
• Sustainable diversion limits
• November 2010 – Guide 3,856Gl to 6,983Gl
• Social and economic considerations – 3,000Gl to 4,000Gl

Potential Pitfalls

• Concerns about crippling the food bowl of Australia.

The Future

• Science or social considerations?
• Who takes the lead?
• Whose interests are served?
• Is this a science challenge or a social challenge??

Additional Reform Process Details

• Draft Basin Plan
• $2,750$ Gl return to river
• Increase of approx $2,600$Gl groundwater extraction
• Localism and review in 2015
• Comes into force in 2019
• Buyback or upgrade?

Current Status

• Best in the world??
• 4 corners
• Drought
• Communities
• Water use
• River health
• Taxpayer