The Australian Government has opened a voluntary Expression of Interest (EOI) process to assess interest from entitlement holders in the northern Murray–Darling Basin who may wish to sell water.
The EOI forms part of the updated Restoring Our Rivers Trading Strategy and relates to the Government’s commitment to recover 450 gigalitres of additional environmental water under the Basin Plan by the end of 2027.
Recovery efforts to date have largely focused on the southern Basin.
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Voluntary process
The EOI is designed to gather information about the volume and location of water entitlements that may be available from willing sellers.
Any future decision to proceed to tender would consider environmental priorities as well as social and economic impacts, in accordance with the Water Act 2007.
The Government said the process follows advice from the Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) highlighting environmental benefits associated with recovery in northern systems.
The MDBA’s Basin Plan Evaluation, released in July 2025, noted the role environmental water played in supporting river flows during the 2017–2019 drought.
Environmental objectives
According to the Government, additional environmental water in the northern Basin could be used to support river connectivity during dry periods and reduce the frequency or duration of cease-to-flow events.
Minister for the Environment and Water Murray Watt said extending recovery efforts north would assist environmental outcomes in key catchments.
“Recovering environmental water in the north will mean more water is available to help restore river connectivity and get water into wetlands, waterholes and floodplains when it is most needed,” Minister Watt said.
The Minister referenced the Ramsar-listed Macquarie Marshes in north-western New South Wales, which was recently listed as endangered following advice from the Threatened Species Scientific Committee.
Community considerations
The Government said advice on the social and economic impacts associated with purchasing northern Basin water will be considered as part of any future decision.
It has also allocated $300 million under the Sustainable Communities Program to support Basin communities, alongside funding for water efficiency projects through the Resilient Rivers Water Infrastructure Program.
The EOI process will inform whether a formal tender process is pursued in specific northern catchments.
Further information is available through the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.