NSW dropping the ball on Murray-Darling

NSW is lagging behind other states in completing water resource plans for the Murray-­Darling Basin and at ‘high risk’ of missing targets needed to deliver savings in the Basin Plan.

Water flows between Lake Menindee and Lake Cawndilla in western NSW. Picture: Getty Images

NSW is lagging behind other states in completing water resource plans for the Murray-­Darling Basin and at “high risk” of missing targets needed to deliver savings in the Basin Plan.

A six-monthly report card delivered on Thursday by the ­Murray-Darling Basin Authority showed that after nearly a decade, NSW had completed just one of 20 water resource plans.

It also showed seven state-managed water-saving projects were at “high or extreme risk” of not being completed by the deadline of June 2024.

Water resource plans set rules on how much water can be taken from the system in each local catchment and set legislative responsibilities for states.

Since the report was prepared, the NSW government has formally submitted another two water resource plans and lodged four for review, but is still well ­behind a proposed mid-year deadline.

MDBA chief executive Andrew McConville said NSW was failing to meet its deadlines.

“Most concerning is NSW’s progress to complete their water resource plans (WRPs), which have moved from ‘at risk of delay’, to ‘high risk’,” Mr McConville said.

“All other state plans are in place and operational. The lion’s share of water in the basin is used in NSW, and without accredited WRPs it means NSW is working outside of the basin’s compliance framework.”

Mr McConville said it would take a “concerted effort” by states to deliver the expected reduction in water diversion by 2024.

The Murray-Darling Basin Plan was set up in 2012 to co-­ordinate water use across the basin states to balance community, farming and environmental needs.

Federal Water Minister Tanya Plibersek, who has flagged that the government could pursue controversial voluntary water buybacks from farmers to save an extra 450 gigalitres of water, said the report card showed parts of the plan were being allowed to “drift off course”.

“I’ve had constructive conversations with NSW (Water) Minister Kevin Anderson. He has assured me the 20 plans are coming as fast as possible,” Ms Plibersek said.

“I expect the plans to be delivered as soon as possible and I look forward to receiving them.”

Mr Anderson said the delay was partly due to NSW having to deliver a majority of the plans.

“It is worth noting that NSW has 20 out of the 33 water resource plans, more than double of any other jurisdiction.”