The Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) has released the 2025 Basin Plan Evaluation assessing the achievements and lessons learned from the 13-years of implementing Australia's most significant water reform.
MDBA Chief Executive Andrew McConville said that while implementation is not complete, the Evaluation found evidence that the rivers, wetlands and lakes are in far better shape under the Basin Plan.
"This Evaluation provides strong evidence that the sustained commitment of Basin communities, industry and governments to implement the Basin Plan is working," Mr McConville said.
"This is the most comprehensive assessment of the progress made to restore and sustainably manage the Basin's environment and water resources.
"We have drawn on more than 30 lines of evidence, including extensive environmental monitoring, lived experience, social and economic studies and technical information.
"Reflecting on the past 13 years, it's important we acknowledge the challenges of Basin Plan implementation for industries and communities. This reform has not been easy.
"At a Basin scale there have been substantial benefits, but it is also the case that for some irrigation dependent communities this reform has been tough with direct impacts.
"Collaborative efforts to manage environmental watering are getting results - keeping rivers in the north and south connected, restoring low-lying floodplain vegetation and helping water birds to breed in places like Hattah and Narran Lakes. In dry years, water for the environment was the only water sustaining flows through the Murray mouth.
"Where we can deliver water, we are seeing results, and where we plan and deliver environmental water in collaboration with First Nations people, we are starting to see co-benefits that go beyond the environmental outcomes.
"Recovering 2,135 gigalitres of water has been game changing for the Basin, and so too has the commitment of governments and regional communities to engage in water reform, persist through challenging water quality events and sustain effort during extremes of flood and drought.
"These results also recognise the innovation of Australia's industries which have adapted on-farm and irrigation practices, become more efficient water users and still grown the economic value and contribution to gross domestic product from $23.6 billion in 2008 to $35.1 billion in 2021.
"We are at a critical time in our implementation of the Basin Plan. This Evaluation has identified what is working to ensure our rivers for generations.
"It also highlights some limitations of the Plan, where work to deliver water savings projects and maximise the use of environmental water through constraints relaxation has proven challenging.
"We still have challenges getting water onto the mid and high floodplains, and this was one of the original intentions of the Plan.
"Four water resource plans are yet to be accredited, only modest progress has been made in addressing delivery constraints, and we anticipate a shortfall in water recovery under the Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism.
"We know there is more to be done, particularly in addressing the challenges posed by climate change, and ensuring First Nations people have meaningful opportunities to participate in water management.
"It's clear from the results that the Basin Plan is working, but there is more to be done. What we do next will determine the long-term health of the Basin.
"The insights in the Evaluation are critical to shaping future reform and will be the focus of our discussions with communities, First Nations, industry and governments as we progress the Basin Plan Review."
The Evaluation identifies 6 key insights reflecting on achievements of environmental water, initial steps towards greater inclusion of First Nations peoples, and how the Plan and future policy decisions may be improved and shaped.
Released in tandem with the 2025 Sustainable Rivers Audit and informed by multiple lines of evidence, including 13 years of on ground monitoring data, work informing the Basin Plan Review has substantially grown the evidence base for Basin science and knowledge.
Read the Overview of the 2025 Basin Plan Evaluation or access the full 2025 Basin Plan Evaluation online from 2025 Basin Plan Evaluation | Murray-Darling Basin Authority .
