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Murray–Darling Basin: Supporting information

For the water account period 01 July 2022 – 30 June 2023

  • Total annual rainfall was above average for the third consecutive year following the region's wettest spring on record.
  • Wet conditions contributed to above average runoff across the region.
  • Storages were 95% full at the end of the year, the highest end of year storage volume in the 1980–2023 record.
  • Approximately 39% of the surface water accessible for consumptive use was taken, mainly for irrigation and agricultural purposes.

Schematic representation of the Murray–Darling Basin region. In 2022–23, runoff was 88% more than average. Storage volumes at 30 June 2023 were 95% full, higher than the previous year. 34% of the total surface water taken for consumptive use (16,455 GL) was taken. 26% of the total groundwater taken for consumptive use (3,153 GL) was taken.

For further information on the region's water accounting statements scroll down this page or click on the links below:

 

Water assets

Lake Eildon, Murray–Darling Basin region (Bureau of Meteorology © Paul Feikema)

 

  • Water asset volumes in the region were 28,480 GL at 30 June 2023, with surface water assets accounting for 88% of this volume.
  • The remaining 12% of the region's total water assets are held in aquifers.

 

Storages

 

Table S1 Accessible storage volume in the Murray–Darling Basin region over the past six water accounting periods ending 30 June
Surface water 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Northern Basin 4,298,423 4,459,085 2,532,584 821,148 405,581 1,494,725
Southern Basin 14,637,004 13,638,557 10,226,386 6,804,651 6,183,152 9,393,854
Accessible total 18,935,427 18,087,642 12,758,970 7,625,799 6,558,733 10,888,579
Dead storage 300,544 300,544 300,544 300,544 302,271 302,271
Total storage 19,235,971 18,388,186 13,059,514 7,926,343 6,891,004 11,190,850
Total capacity 20,339,796 20,339,796 20,339,796 20,339,796 20,339,796 20,339,796
% full 94.6% 90.4% 64.2% 39.0% 33.9% 55.0%

 

  • Storage volumes increased to 94.6% full at 30 June 2023, from 90.4% full at the same time last year.
  • 2022–23 was the fourth consecutive year of annual increase in storage volume and the highest end of year storage volume in the 1980–2023 record.
  • Most of the MDB storage infrastructure is located in the southern Basin which has a total capacity of 15,632 GL compared with 4,708 GL in the northern Basin.

Map of Murray–Darling Basin region showing the status of each storage at 30 June 2023. The storages are colour coded into nine categories of volume as a proportion of capacity. Many of the storages, particularly in the east and south of the basin were at more than 95% capacity. An inset line graph shows the time series of percentage-full storage volume between 1 July 2009 and 30 June 2023. Murray–Darling Basin storages at 30 June 2023 were 94.6% full, the highest end of year volume in this period.
Figure S1 Percentage full volume on 30 June 2023 for each storage and total storage volume from 2009–2023 (inset)

  • At the beginning of the 2022–23 year, storages were 95% full in the northern Basin and 87% full in the southern Basin, following two years of high inflows that saw the total volume held in combined public storages increase by over 50%.
  • Following the region's wettest August to November period on record, the combined storage volume for the Murray–Darling Basin exceeded 100% during late spring and remained above 95% throughout summer.
  • Most storages in the Murray–Darling Basin are ungated, meaning they are not designed to provide downstream flood mitigation. Several storages including Wyangala, Copeton and Eildon, spilled over the dam when they reached capacity. From October to early December, Dartmouth Dam, the largest storage in the Basin with 3,856 GL capacity, spilled for the first time since 1996.
  • By the end of March 2023, volumes dropped to 90% of total capacity, the lowest level for the 2022–23 year following drier conditions in summer and increased consumption.
  • At the end of the 2022–23 year, many storages in the east and south remained over 95% full, however, drier conditions resulted in a decline in volumes further inland, particularly in the north of the Basin. Despite exceeding capacity and spilling in December 2022, Beardmore Dam (Lake Kajarabie) had fallen to 16% by June 2023.
  • More detailed information on the individual storages within the region are available on our Water Storage website.

 Groundwater assets

Map of groundwater sustainable diversion limits in the Murray–Darling Basin region. The Goulburn–Murray sustainable diversion limit area has a groundwater asset volume of more than 400,000 ML. South Australian Murray Region, Wimmera–Mallee, Murrumbidgee Alluvium, Lachlan Alluvium, Western Porous Rock, Namoi Alluvium, and Condamine–Balonne areas have groundwater asset volumes of more than 200,000 ML. Murray Alluvium, Eastern Porous Rock, and Warrego–Paroo–Nebine areas have groundwater asset volumes of more than 100,000 ML. Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges, New South Wales Great Artesian Basin Shallow, Macquarie–Castlereagh Alluvium, New England Fractured Rock and Northern Basalts, Queensland Border Rivers–Moonie, and New South Wales Border Rivers Alluvium have groundwater asset volumes of more than 50,000 ML. Darling Alluvium, Lachlan and South Western Fractured Rock, Australian Capital Territory, and Gwydir Alluvium areas have groundwater asset volumes less than 50,000 ML.
Figure S2 Groundwater sustainable diversion limits in the Murray–Darling Basin region

  • The groundwater asset volume for the region represents sustainable diversion limit volumes as set out in the Murray–Darling Basin Plan.
  • The groundwater asset volume at the end of the year was the same as the previous year, reflecting no change to the region's sustainable diversion limits.

 

Water liabilities

Agricultural land use, Murray–Darling Basin region (Alison Pouliot © 2010)

 

  • Water liabilities in the Murray–Darling Basin region refer to the volume of allocation remaining on licence entitlements at the end of 2022–23.

 

Table S2 Opening and closing balance of surface water allocations in the Murray–Darling Basin region during the 2022–23 reporting year
Description Individual users (ML) Urban system (ML) Environmental purposes (ML)
Opening balance at 01 July 2022 5,298,398 0 1,510,622
add Surface water allocation: individual users 8,847,411 584,263 3,236,055
add Net trade consumptive use 25,203 7,302 0
less Allocated diversion: individual users 4,446,899 358,583 2,357,037
less Adjustment for surface water allocation 4,132,197 232,983 634,300
Closing balance at 30 June 2023 5,591,917 0 1,755,340

 

Table S3 Opening and closing balance of groundwater allocations in the Murray–Darling Basin region during the 2022–23 reporting year
Description Individual users (ML) Urban system (ML) Salinity and water table management (ML) Environmental purposes (ML)
Opening balance at 01 July 2022 771,804 0 0 0
add Allocation 2,079,764 79,659 39,031 48,680
add Net trade accommodation: individual users -120 0 0 0
less Allocated extraction 569,508 32,309 11,899 40,224
less Adjustment for groundwater allocation 1,510,136 47,350 27,132 8,456
Closing balance at 30 June 2023 771,804 0 0 0

 

  • Water supply licences for individual users and environmental purposes include carryover provisions, which means a portion of water allocation that has not been abstracted at the end of the water year can be carried over into the next water year.
  • For urban system supply and salinity and water table management licences, there are no carryover provisions. The portion of water allocation that has not been abstracted at the end of a water year is forfeited, meaning the allocation remaining at the end of the year is 0 ML.
  • The total carryover volume at the start of 2022–23 was the highest since 2012–13, following three consecutive years of increasing water availability.
  • With water storages relatively high and a favourable outlook for 2022–23, surface water allocations were high and similar to those in 2021–22.
  • Total surface water allocation for individual, urban, and environmental purposes in 2022–23 was 12,668 GL, with individual users, mostly irrigated agriculture, making up 70% of this volume.
  • Surface water and groundwater liabilities closed higher in 2022–23 than in 2021–22.

 

Water flows

McIntyre River near Goondiwindi, Murray–Darling Basin region (MDBA © Arthur Mostead)

  • Water inflows into the Murray–Darling Basin region were approximately 84,819 GL, 26% more than last year and the highest in the 2012–2023 period.
  • Surface water inflows contributed 51,223 GL (60%) of total water inflows, with runoff accounting for 84% of the total surface water inflows.
  • Runoff into the region's surface water storages was 88% above average (based on modelled data from 1975 to 2022), and the highest since 2011–12.
  • Inflows were more than twice the 2012–2022 average for all basin states, with the exception of Queensland, where inflows were close to average.
  • Total water outflows from the Murray–Darling Basin region were 72,452 GL, 28% more than last year.
  • The increase in outflows were largely due to high recharge to groundwater, overbank flows and outflow to sea due to sustained high river flows.
  • Recharge to groundwater across the region was 146% above average (based on modelled data from 1975 to 2022), and the highest on record, reflecting the increase in water in the landscape.
  • There was a decrease in outflows associated with water consumption from 2021–22.
  • Groundwater outflows were lower than in previous years due to reduced consumptive use.
  • A more detailed breakdown of inflows and outflows is given in the Statement of Changes in Water Assets and Water Liabilities.

 

Water availability

 

Table S4 Annual surface water available in the Murray–Darling Basin region over the past six water accounting periods ending 30 June
  2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018
Water availability* 63,859,307 51,472,918 32,170,604 22,286,228 20,530,060 28,401,667
Water accessible** 16,312,456 16,524,964 11,602,116 6,634,142 7,037,105 9,975,447
Water taken*** 6,355,359 8,436,233 7,952,068 5,090,614 5,841,944 7,891,237
% water accessible taken 39% 51% 69% 77% 83% 79%

* Surface water availability is sum of accessible storage at the start of the year (see Water assets) and estimated inflows into storages and rivers during the year.

** Accessible water is the volume of water that is lawfully accessible for consumptive use and is the sum of surface water allocations, other statutory rights and carryover at the start of the water year.

*** Water taken is the volume of water for taken for consumptive use and includes floodplain harvesting. This does not include water for environmental purposes.

  • Volumes of water accessible for use and water taken are both influenced by the water availability.
  • Higher storage volumes at the beginning of the year and above average runoff contributed to very high total water availability for 2022–23 compared with previous years (24% higher than in 2021–22).
  • Water accessible for take was 38% above average (based on all available data from 2010 to 2022), similar to last year, with increased water availability allowing for high announced allocations and carryover at the beginning of the water year.
  • Water taken from surface water resources was less than the previous two years, which may reflect the increase in surface water availability across the landscape decreasing the demand for water.
  • Only 39% of the water accessible was taken for consumptive use in 2022–23.

 

Water use

Wheat harvesting, Murray–Darling Basin region (MDBA © Arthur Mostead)

 

  • Total consumptive use for individual users, urban systems, and basic rights was 6,498 GL in 2022–23, 88% sourced from surface water resources and the remaining 12% from groundwater resources.

 

Table S5 Surface water taken in the Murray–Darling Basin region over the past five water accounting periods ending 30 June
Surface water 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019
Queensland        
Individual users 340,753 1,000,612 528,620 588,255 217,497
Urban system 7,479 6,597 7,564 7,983 3,879
Environmental purposes 142,869 366,365 73,911 192,719 16,141
Basic rights 10,589 10,589 10,589 10,589 10,589
Total 501,690 1,384,163 620,684 799,546 248,106
New South Wales        
Individual users 3,263,466 3,921,287 3,592,604 1,634,963 2,502,368
Urban system 82,691 77,870 79,016 89,310 104,040
Environmental purposes 920,037 1,124,134 917,344 158,554 304,777
Basic rights 50,263 49,279 49,279 49,252 50,252
Total 4,316,457 5,172,570 4,638,243 1,932,079 2,961,437
Victoria        
Individual users 1,402,023 1,796,348 1,644,843 1,504,141 2,032,647
Urban system 117,921 134,259 149,429 136,982 134,005
Environmental purposes 688,890 884,678 608,528 840,035 486,876
Basic rights 27,465 27,465 - - -
Total 2,236,299 2,842,750 2,402,800 2,481,159 2,653,528
South Australia        
Individual users 371,524 458,754 461,274 420,762 447,927
Urban system 105,658 148,935 172,485 156,076 199,318
Environmental purposes 748,110 873,351 809,102 976,525 742,916
Basic rights 6,062 6,062 - - -
Total 1,231,354 1,487,102 1,442,861 1,553,363 1,390,161
Australian Capital Territory        
Individual users 1,350 740 1,301 945 2,626
Urban system 47,702 45,336 49,268 55,330 53,422
Environmental purposes - - - - -
Basic rights - - - - -
Total 49,052 46,076 50,569 56,275 56,048
Basin Total        
Individual users 5,379,115 7,177,741 6,228,642 4,149,066 5,203,065
Urban system 361,452 412,997 457,762 445,681 494,664
Environmental purposes 2,499,907 3,248,528 2,408,885 2,167,833 1,550,710
Basic rights 94,379 93,395 59,868 59,841 60,841
Total 8,334,853 10,932,661 9,155,157 6,822,422 7,309,280

 

  • In 2022–23, water taken from surface water resources was 8,335 GL, 9% less than average (based on data from 2010 to 2022), and 24% less than last year.
  • Approximately 65% of the total surface water diverted was for consumptive use by individual users, 4% was supplied to the urban system and 1% was for individual users under a basic right.
  • The remaining 30% of the diversions were for environmental purposes.
  • Across the region, with the exception of the ACT, the volume taken by individual users decreased in 2022–23. This may be due to favourable rainfall conditions reducing the need to access additional water, particularly across the southern Basin.
  • In some areas, prolonged flooding directly impacted agricultural areas and infrastructure, which further indirectly reduced the need or ability to access water.
  • While surface water inflows were higher in 2022–23, and more than double the average (based on data from 2010 to 2022), the Queensland region of the MDB had a decrease of close to 70% in inflows from 2021–22 volumes. With less regulated flows and higher dependency on natural instream water availability, it is likely this reduction in inflows contributed to the significant decrease in water taken by individual users.

 

Table S6 Groundwater taken in the Murray–Darling Basin region over the past five water accounting periods ending 30 June
Groundwater 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019
Queensland        
Individual users 136,633 101,923 85,227 161,601 194,693
Urban system 4,269 3,982 9,476 14,246 15,640
Salinity and water table management - - - - -
Basic rights 4,200 3,110 3,580 24,446 24,446
Total 145,102 109,015 98,283 200,292 234,779
New South Wales        
Individual users 319,099 324,830 355,322 1,000,459 1,129,562
Urban system 28,040 27,930 10,346 20,159 36,519
Salinity and water table management 1,251 4,121 1,128 1,339 7,198
Basic rights 191,745 191,745 191,755 177,590 176,291
Total 540,135 548,626 558,551 1,199,547 1,349,570
Victoria        
Individual users 65,494 121,100 196,346 242,370 252,098
Urban system - - - - -
Salinity and water table management - - - - -
Basic rights 20,280 20,280 20,280 20,289 20,235
Total 85,774 141,380 216,626 262,659 272,333
South Australia        
Individual users 38,977 47,443 48,379 48,539 53,131
Urban system - - - - -
Salinity and water table management 10,648 13,223 12,375 12,709 12,340
Basic rights 3,924 3,924 3,924 3,924 3,924
Total 53,549 64,590 64,678 65,172 69,395
Australian Capital Territory        
Individual users 457 316 630 339 1,081
Urban system - - - - -
Salinity and water table management - - - - -
Basic rights - - - - -
Total 457 316 630 339 1,081
Basin Total        
Individual users 560,660 595,612 685,904 1,453,308 1,630,565
Urban system 32,309 31,912 19,822 34,405 52,159
Salinity and water table management 11,899 17,344 13,503 14,048 19,538
Basic rights 220,149 219,059 219,539 226,249 224,896
Total 825,017 863,927 938,768 1,728,009 1,927,158

 

  • Water taken from groundwater resources for consumptive use was 825 GL, 35% less than average (based on data from 2010 to 2022), and slightly less than last year.
  • Approximately, 68% of the groundwater extractions were for individual users, while 27% of extractions were for individual users under a basic right.
  • Around 4% of the extraction was for the urban system, while the remaining 1% was extracted for salinity and water table management.
  • Groundwater use was slightly less compared to the previous year, 2021–22 and the lowest volume since 2011–12.
  • Higher surface water availability, particularly in the southern Basin, may have reduced dependency on groundwater during 2022–23.
  • The volumes of water extracted for individual use in New South Wales in 2020–21 and 2021–22 were revised to exclude volumes already accounted for under basic rights.