Murray Darling Basin irrigation water use remains in full compliance with Sustainable Diversion Limits

26 August 2025, Canberra, ACT: A new report has found the Murray-Darling Basin is in full compliance with the new Sustainable Diversion Limits, consistent with previous findings and the recent 2025 Evaluation that the Basin has seen an environmental turnaround.

The report by the Inspector-General of Water Compliance (IGWC) found:

‘All 78 SDL resource units assessed for the 2023–2024 water accounting year were found to be compliant’[1].

“The report confirms Sustainable Diversion Limits are being enforced and in fact, water diversions are well under these limits,” said National Irrigators’ Council CEO, Zara Lowien.

“Getting water use below these Sustainable Diversion Limits was a huge feat, and it means 1 in 3 litres of irrigation water are now out of production and remain in rivers.”

However, irrigators are also pointing out an interesting finding amongst the data.

“If you look closely, you’ll see that not only is water use below the Sustainable Diversion Limits, but it is so far below that there’s a noticeable gap, and a gap that is growing”.

The IGWC says this trend ‘most SDL resource units appear to be trending toward higher water balance credits… likely reflects the relatively dry drought period, during which water take was reduced, followed by a three-year, wetter-than-average period’ but irrigators aren’t convinced.

“We saw this same trend of usage being well below the limits with the previous limits,” said Ms Lowien, “this is a clear sign that the job of getting water usage below Sustainable Diversion Limits is well and truly done.”

“With the upcoming Basin Plan Review, we hope these findings can give people confidence that water sharing in the Basin has seen a turnaround, and the focus can now shift to the new environmental priorities clearly evidenced by the recent Basin Plan Evaluation, with many of these new priorities non-water related”.

The 2025 Basin Plan Evaluation described the Basin Plan as a ‘game changer’ but said:

‘Water for the environment is essential, but on its own is likely not sufficient. Factors such as water quality, riparian and floodplain management, pest control, instream habitat, river operations, constraints and works, and environmental water portfolio management are also crucial to achieve environmental outcomes.’[2]

“These two reports [the Sustainable Diversion Limit report and the recent Basin Plan Evaluation], said Ms Lowien “shows it’s time to turn the chapter to move beyond just water quantities, but to the broader needs of the Basin.”

The IGWC report again points out delays for Water Resource Plan accreditation but incorrectly states this creates assessment challenges, however the 2023 Restoring our Rivers Bill changes clarifying that all areas are required to comply with Sustainable Diversion Limits since 2019, irrespective of water resource plan accreditation status.

“Almost all of the challenges identified in the IGWC report are now resolved, or on track, for the next report,” said Ms Lowien. “This includes accreditation of Water Resource Plans, floodplain harvesting measurement, and very small remaining water recovery.”

“While some work remains, this does not detract from the huge feat of yet another year of irrigation water use being below Sustainable Diversion Limits, which after all, was the entire point of the $13 billion Murray Darling Basin Plan.”

Water use at or below the Sustainable Diversion Limits means only 28% of inflows in the Basin are used, with the other 72% remaining for the environment, well within global standards.

ENDS

[1] IGWC Compliance Report 2023-2024

[2] 2025 Basin Plan Evaluation | Murray–Darling Basin Authority  P 4.          

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