DCCEEW Water Policy
Restoring our rivers and safeguarding the Murray–Darling Basin
Third Review of the Water for the Environment Special Account
Third Review of the Water for the Environment Special Account
The Water for the Environment Special Account (WESA) funds the recovery of environmental water in the Murray–Darling Basin to:increase the volume of the Basin water resources that is available for environmental use by 450 gigalitreshelp ease or remove constraints to deliver the environmental water.Section 86AJ of the Water Act 2007 provides for three reviews of the WESA.The third WESA review commenced in June 2025. The panel’s review report must be provided to the Commonwealth Water Minister by 30 September 2025.
450 GL Implementation Plan – November 2025 Update
450 GL Implementation Plan – November 2025 Update
The Restoring Our Rivers: Framework for delivering the 450 GL of additional environmental water details how the Australian Government proposes to meet the 450 gigalitre (GL) Murray–Darling Basin Plan target.The additional 450 GL of water is vital to keep the river system healthy in the face of a drying climate.
Restoring Our Rivers Trading Strategy
Restoring Our Rivers Trading Strategy
About the trading strategyThe Restoring Our Rivers Trading Strategy provides information about Australian Government water purchasing towards the 450 GL target. It ensures that information is available to all market participants. It has been prepared for the purposes of s12.49(3)(iv) of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.The trading strategy provides information about procurement activities for water purchase. The Restoring our Rivers Voluntary Water Purchase Program is one of 3 programs established to deliver the 450 GL of additional environmental water.
Restoring Our Rivers Expressions of Interest
Restoring Our Rivers Expressions of Interest
Two Expressions of Interest (EOIs) to sell water in the southern connected Basin closed in November 2024. EOIs are the first stage in multi-stage procurement processes. The EOIs helped the department better understand the willingness of entitlement holders to sell water. The information gathered was used to design the EOI 1 and EOI 2 purchase programs.
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Framework for delivering the 450 GL of additional environmental water
Framework for delivering the 450 GL of additional environmental water
The Restoring Our Rivers: Framework for delivering the 450 GL of additional environmental water details how the Australian Government proposes to meet the 450 gigalitre (GL) Murray–Darling Basin Plan target.The additional 450 GL of water is vital to keep the river system healthy in the face of a drying climate.
Implementing the Plan
Implementing the Plan
The Murray–Darling Basin Plan sets the amount of water that can be taken from the rivers in the Basin each year, leaving enough to maintain a healthy environment.
Sustainable Communities Program
Sustainable Communities Program
The Australian Government is committed to implementing the Murray–Darling Basin Plan in full.
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