The Federal Government’s voluntary water purchase open tender has received more than 1,000 responses across the southern Murray-Darling Basin, far exceeding the volume of water required.
The government will gradually return 450 gigalitres of water to the environment by 2027 as it fully implements the Basin Plan.
About 27.5 gigalitres, or 11,000 Olympic swimming pools of water, have already been recovered – up from just two gigalitres in May 2022.
“We said from day one we’re committed to delivering the Murray-Darling Basin Plan in full – and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” said Minister for the Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek. “The overwhelming response to the voluntary tender shows there are many willing sellers who want to work with the Government to ensure the Basin river system continues to be healthy and sustainable for the communities, businesses, farmers and irrigators who rely on it.”
The tender closed in September 2024 and sought to purchase eligible water rights for up to 70 gigalitres of surface water per year across five catchments in the southern connected Basin.
Responses are being evaluated, and value-for-money offers will be accepted starting December 2024.
Water recovery through voluntary purchase is just one option; the government prioritises non-purchase options.
The Resilient Rivers Program provides more than $494 million for water-saving infrastructure projects nominated by states. One construction project, one water-saving program, and four feasibility projects worth close to $90 million have already been approved, with more in the pipeline. The program makes another $3 million available to states to develop land and water partnership proposals.
Earlier this year, the government made a record $300 million available to Basin state governments to support jobs and businesses in communities affected by voluntary water purchase.
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