The Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA)Basin Plan 2015-16 combined annual report to satisfy reporting obligations for:

  • Basin Plan Schedule 12 responses
  • Basin Plan Implementation Agreement (BPIA) self-assessment of compliance with implementation tasks

Reporting context

This template provides for one Commonwealth information collection point, which can be used multiple times to meet the MDBA’s reporting obligations in relation to the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. The template is designed to satisfy MDBA’s reporting obligations for Basin Plan Schedule 12 and the Basin Plan Implementation Agreement compliance requirements.

Its aim is to reduce duplication,improve transparency and increase efficiency of reporting. Please note that the template has been tailored to address information requirements for the 2015-16 reporting year onlyand will be updated for each subsequent reporting period. The reporting information found in this template is specific to the 2015-16 year only and does not report on anything that has occurred outside of that period.

MDBA Basin Plan 2015-16 combined annual reportPage 1

A.Risk Management

Reporting Matter / Supporting evidence to be provided by MDBA / Response/milestone achievement and compliance status
The effectiveness of the management of risks to Basin water resources(s4.03)
A1 Implementation and management of the risk strategies under s4.03 (3) of the Basin Plan.
Meets Schedule 12 Matter 4, Indicator 4.1 and BPIA Task 39.1 reporting requirements / How regard was had to the risk strategies / The MDBA continues to progress the implementation of the Basin Plan in accordance with s4.03(3) through the following activities:
  • Developing the Basin environmental watering outlook for 2015-16 and associated activities (see Reporting Matter C)
  • Development of the water quality and salinity management plan (see Reporting Matter E)
  • Operation of the water trading rules (see Reporting Matter F)
  • Assisting Basin States with Water Resource Plan (WRP) development, and the assessment of the first proposed WRP submitted for accreditation (Warrego–Paroo–Nebine WRP) (see Reporting Matter H).
In alignment with the other strategies listed under s4.03, the MDBA has conducted the following activities:
  • Progressing amendments to the Basin Plan resulting fromgroundwater and Northern Basin reviews, and the review of the Water Act
  • Promoting a risk-based approach to water resource planning through the development of position statements on risk assessment methods and management strategies; developing a WRP Completion Plan to support and track the development of water resource plans through Basin Plan Implementation Committee(BPIC), and; planning a workshop with BPIC members for the 2016 - 17 year to develop risk management strategies for WRP development in Basin States
  • Working with Basin States and environmental water holders on the Basin annual environmental watering priorities 2015-16, to optimise flow outcomes for a range of water users (see Reporting MattersC and L)
  • Reporting on the implementation of the Basin Plan and progressing work toward the 2017 Evaluation
  • Establishing its regulatory role through the development of a Compliance Program
  • Improving knowledge of Basin water resources through a range of projects, including:
  • Incorporating dissolved oxygen thresholds into the “River Operations Workflow System’ (ROWS) to alert MDBA to breaches; compiling information for the new Basin-wide salinity management strategy, and; progressing the development of the Flow management guidelines for salinity and other water quality targets (see Reporting Matter E)
  • Progressing amendments to SDLs as a result of thereviews of two NSW and one Victorian groundwater area and the Northern Basin Review outcomes (see Reporting Matter J)
  • A range of projects associated with the Northern Basin Review, including improvements to floodplain hydrological modelling capabilities and reviews of water requirements of floodplain vegetation (see Reporting Matter J).

Strategies to manage or address identified risks (s4.03)
A2Identify research priorities to address risks to Basin water resources.
Meets BPIA Task 39.2 reporting requirements / Responses should address the following requirement(s) as outlined in the Basin Plan Implementation Agreement:
The MDBA will, through the Basin Plan Implementation Committee – Water Resource Plan Working Group, identify research priorities to improve knowledge of the impact of climate change, interception activities, land use, floodplain harvesting, peri-urban and industrial take on Basin water resources in a manner consistent with the National Water Knowledge and Research Platform. / The MDBA has a comprehensive Research and Knowledge Strategy, consistent with the National Water Knowledge and Research Program to strengthen underlying knowledge and drive research to inform the implementation of the Basin Plan. The strategy identifies strategic advice and partnerships, visiting research fellows and academic publishing as means to meeting research priorities. A relevant example of how the strategy has implemented the Basin Plan Implementation Agreement is the MDBA’sstrategic partnership with CSIRO, which has enabled the development of floodplain hydrological modelling capabilities particularly in the Northern Basin.
Most active support of relevant research activity throughout 2015-16 has been regarding the Northern Basin Review.
Risk assessments for four surface and four groundwater WRPs provided by Basin states to the MDBA to date have not revealed any major gaps in knowledge needing research support from the MDBA to address
Guidelines to assist in implementing risk strategies (s4.04)
A3Develop guidelines that provide further advice on actions that may be taken to implement the risk strategies listed.
Meets BPIA Task 40.1reporting requirements / Responses should address the following requirement(s) as outlined in the Basin Plan Implementation Agreement:
If required, the MDBA will develop guidelines in consultation with BPIC and the BPIC – Water Resource Plan Working Group. / No formal guidelines have been developed.
Two position statements covering risk assessment methods and strategies have been developed and endorsed by the Authority to provide guidance to states in addressing relevant Chapter 10 requirements. These position statements are made publicly available on the MDBA website and have been distributed to BPIC and WRPWG.

MDBA Basin Plan 2015-16 combined annual reportPage 1

B.Local Knowledge and StakeholderEngagement

Reporting Matter / Supporting evidence to be provided by MDBA / Response/milestone achievement and compliance status
The extent to which local knowledge and solutions inform the implementation of the Basin Plan.
B1The outcome of engagement on the implementation of the Basin Plan.
Meets Schedule 12 Matter 6, Indicator 6.1 reporting requirements / Where possible include specific examples:
  • How local knowledge and solutions were used by the reporter
  • How involving communities made a difference to Basin Plan implementation
  • How decisions changed as a result of community involvement
Local knowledge might include knowledge drawn from Traditional Owners and other Aboriginal people and groups. When reporting on Aboriginal participation and influence, processes of involvement may be as important as outcomes.
In 2015/16 reporting, we would expect use of local knowledge to feature in development of Water Resource Plans.
Examples or case studies are not mandatory, but may be a useful way to describe how local knowledge and solutions inform implementation of the Basin Plan. / Aboriginal Partnerships
MDBA attended Northern Basin Aboriginal Nations (NBAN) and Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations (MLDRIN) Board meetings (five each) and full gatherings (two each) to discuss Basin Plan implementation and receive strategic input from these two peak Traditional Owner-based organisations. In particular, NBAN worked with MDBA to implement the sociocultural survey to find out the importance of watered environments to Aboriginal people. The survey results are being considered in relation to the Northern Basin Review.
NBAN also worked with MDBA to implement the Use-and-Occupancy mapping project to map Aboriginal people’s contemporary use of Country. The maps, once digitised, will be returned to individual participants. The collated and anonymised maps will be given to NBAN and other Aboriginal organisations (where consented to) to be used for water planning negotiations.
NBAN provided advice to the MDBA in relation to BP Chapter 10, Part 14 (Indigenous values and uses) in relation to QLD’s Warrego, Paroo, Nebine Water Resource Plan.
MLDRIN and NBAN delegates have participated in 2 workshops with state governments and MDBA to discuss implementation of BP Chapter 10, Part 14. It is intended that these workshops will continue.
MLDRIN and NBAN delegates worked with MDBA’s Environmental Watering team to devise a process for Aboriginal environmental watering priorities to be included in the Annual Environmental Watering Priorities.
MLDRIN delegates participated in the implementation of the Aboriginal Waterways Assessment (AWA) projects in the ACT and SA, and has since negotiated implementation of the AWA in six catchments across Victoria. The AWA is a tool for Traditional Owners to potentially use in relation to Water Resource Planning or water management and planning more broadly.
Engagement
Local knowledge and solutions gained through community engagement in the Basin have influenced how the MDBA connects with Basin communities, how the MDBA implements the Basin Plan and our reviews of the Basin Plan’s settings.
Improving community awareness and understanding of the Basin Plan is a core component of the MDBA’s work, and is most effectively done through two-way communication and customised engagement to suit different regional preferences and key issues. Based on feedback from communities, farmers, local government and recreational water users the MDBA has decided to establish a presence in some Basin communities by piloting the employment of locally-based Regional Engagement Officers. This will build a stronger understanding of the local relevance of the Basin Plan and enable the MDBA to be responsive to local information and needs. The pilot of Regional Engagement Officers will commence in 2016-17.
Environmental Watering Plan
The Environmental Watering Plan component of the Basin Plan aims to coordinate the planning, prioritisation, and use of environmental water to maximise the benefits achieved and deliver basin scale change. Strategy builds on the Basin Plan. Each year basin-wide annual environmental watering priorities are established based on stakeholder input and feedback. The MDBA works collaboratively with environmental water holders and managers to develop the priorities. This complements local planning and watering priorities prepared by the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder, Basin states and local authorities. For the year ahead, there is a focus on improving habitat for a range of species including waterbirds and fish. This includes providing drought refuges in the Lower Balonne floodplain, improving aquatic habitat in the Coorong and supporting native fish movement into the Coorong and through the Murray mouth. The priorities also identify Basin-wide benefits from coordinating watering of individual wetlands as part of a broader wetland complex, such as the Macquarie Marshes and the Narran Lakes, to protect critical waterbird habitat. This will be implemented if more water becomes available.
The Living Murray
The Living Murray (TLM) environmental watering for 2015/16 aligned with the Basin annual watering priorities for the year. The watering was informed by proposals for priority environmental watering actions developed for each of the six TLM icon sites. These proposals were developed with the support of the icon site managers, and a range of other stakeholders including; local communities, government agencies, land managers, scientists and traditional owners.
The Living Murray Indigenous Partnerships Program (IPP) is an initiative that has enabled the consideration of Aboriginal community knowledge, values and perspectives in the management of icon sites and environmental watering activities. This year the program engaged indigenous representatives and facilitators to assist in the planning, management and monitoring at sites, to ensure that Aboriginal knowledge and cultural values were considered and protected.
In Victoria, facilitators were based with the Goulburn-Broken Catchment Management Authority (CMA), North Central CMA and the Mallee CMA. In South Australia they were based with the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources and the Ngarrindjeri Regional Authority. In New South Wales, the Moama Local Aboriginal Land Council was engaged for Koondrook-Perricoota Forest along with a facilitator for Millewa Forest.
Key highlights for the IPP in 2015-16 included:
  • Ngarrindjeri, Yorta Yorta, Barapa Barapa and other groups' input into 2016–17 water planning and site and cultural heritage management.
  • Indigenous facilitators participating in meetings of the Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations advisory groups.
  • Providing updates on The Living Murray activities in 2015–16 to Traditional Owners across the icon sites.
  • Ngarrindjeri people providing input into new and emerging ecological research programs in the Lower Lakes, Coorong and Murray Mouth relating to water management and ecology.
  • Ngarrindjeri people providing assistance with sampling activities for the Lower Lakes threatened fish monitoring program.
  • Capacity-building and training activities on topics such as communication writing and ecological monitoring, including a turtle monitoring project at Koondrook-Perricoota Forest.
  • An open day at Millewa Forest that targeted the attendance of local Aboriginal communities to showcase icon site management activities.
Northern Basin Review
Throughout the MDBA’s Northern Basin Review process, the MDBA has sought to engage a broad range of stakeholders and incorporate their feedback into the decision making process. The MDBA held over 30 meetings across the Northern Basin. These meetings included community drop-in sessions, general information meetings and targeted roundtable workshops. At the workshops the MDBA presented the results of work on achieving environmental outcomes, social and economic work and the Aboriginal survey work. Throughout the first two consultation phases the community provided input into the decision making process both directly at the meetings and in response to the written meeting summaries. This feedback contributed to the Triple Bottom line decision-making framework and stakeholder consultation report, which will be considered as part of finalising the Northern Basin Review. To complement the community input, the Northern Basin Advisory Committee has been working with the MDBA to help identify and prioritise key northern Basin issues and to work further with local communities.
B2Processes used to identify stakeholders and other relevant groups and individuals from local communities and peak bodies.
MeetsSchedule 12 Matter 6, Indicator 6.2 reporting requirements / Where possible include process used to identify stakeholders and other relevant groups/individuals. / Northern Basin Aboriginal Nations (NBAN) and Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations (MLDRIN) provide MDBA with culturally authoritative advice including identification of Traditional Owners and Aboriginal people. This occurs in line with MDBA’s principles to engage Aboriginal people in the Murray-Darling Basin.
The MDBA has undertaken extensive stakeholder mapping and continues to update its stakeholder lists to support its community engagement. Working with our community advisory committees, Basin Community Committee and the Northern Basin Advisory Committee we seek regular advice from community representatives to identify who and how we meet with stakeholders in the Basin. In 2015-16, regular meetings with industry, local government and environmental NGO peak bodies have provided opportunities to confirmour processes for identifying stakeholders in key regional areas are thorough and efficient. We increasingly seek to deepen our stakeholder lists in every region of the Murray Darling Basin. The MDBA has also reinvigorated its internal Customer Relationship Management database to improve coordination within the MDBA and Commonwealth agencies.
B3How stakeholders and other relevant groups and individuals were engaged.
MeetsSchedule 12 Matter 6, Indicator 6.3 reporting requirements / Where possible include:
  • Range of audiences engaged
  • Range of opportunities for exampletypes of engagement
Relate these to the Basin Plan obligations to have regard to local views (Chapter 8 and 10) / The range of engagements include meetings, phone calls, written correspondence.
In 2015-16 the MDBA conducted 210 community meetings and engaged a broad range of stakeholders including Aboriginal people, and industry and agricultural groups such as dairy, cotton, table grapes, wines grapes, citrus, horticulture and rice. MDBA also engages peak bodies across basin, 21 peak bodies meetings were conducted involving irrigators, local government, agriculture and environmental groups.
The MDBA has various channels to enable individuals to directly engage with the MDBA including a hotline, social media channels and email. We responded to 415 emails received through .

MDBA Basin Plan 2015-16 combined annual reportPage 1

C.Environmental Watering

Reporting Matter / Supporting evidence to be provided by MDBA / Response/milestone achievement and compliance status
Basin annual environmental watering priorities (ss8.27 - 8.31, 8.04 - 8.07, 8.14(2) (a) (i), 8.49 - 8.51, 8.33 - 8.43, 8.53 - 8.59; Schedules 8 & 9)
C3Prepare Basin annual environmental watering priorities each year, with the required content, published, reviewed and updated as obligated under Chapter 8, Part 4, Divisions 2-5
MeetsSchedule 12 Matter 10, Indicator 10.1 and BPIA Task 51.1 reporting requirements / Responses should address the following requirement(s) as outlined in the Basin Plan Implementation Agreement:
a)In consultation with Basin States and the CEWH, the MDBA will review the framework for development of Basin annual environmental watering priorities, based on feedback and evaluation of previous year’s priorities. / The MDBA published the Basin environmental watering outlook for 2015-16in March 2015. Through the process and via other forums (e.g. environmental water advisory groups) the MDBA sought feedback from the Basin States and the CEWH on the application of framework for developing Basin annual environmental watering priorities. Based on this feedback it become clear that an additional stakeholder feedback mechanism would be advantageous. Consequently, the development of a stakeholder survey, for roll out in 2016-17, commenced during the reporting period.