National Water Account 2015

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Accountability statement

Murray–Darling Basin: Water access and use

Water rights, entitlements, allocations and restrictions

Introduction

This note provides information about the water access rights granted by jurisdictions to the users of the region's water resources and the associated allocation announcements and abstractions.

The 2015 Account acknowledges that the legislative water resource management frameworks relating to Australian water rights vary greatly across jurisdictions, sometimes making comparisons difficult. To facilitate meaningful comparisons between the 2015 water accounting reports, the Bureau of Meteorology has developed and applied an accounting concept to classify and report water entitlements within a water asset/water liability framework. 

According to that framework, water rights for the Murray–Darling Basin region for the 2014–15 year have been classified as shown below.

Surface water rights

A detailed downloadable table provides a breakdown of surface water basic rights and entitlements for all categories relevant to the Murray–Darling Basin region based on water resource plan (WRP) area.

Surface water basic rights and entitlements in the Murray–Darling Basin region during the 2014–15 year refer to surface water supply for:

• basic rights—68,210 ML
• individual users—11,603,613 ML
• urban water system—611,880 ML
• environmental purposes—4,174,425 ML.

The volume of surface water basic rights and entitlements, water availability (sum of net carryover, allocation announcements and net allocation trade) and diversion volumes for the 2013–14 year compared with the 2014–15 year is shown in Figure N18. The percentage shows the ratio of diversion to the water entitlement.

Figure N18 Surface water access entitlements, water availability and diversions for Murray–Darling Basin region for the 2013–14 and 2014–15 years

Total net surface water diversion for consumptive purposes for the 2014–15 year was 7,316,482 ML and 8,881,545 ML for the 2013–14 year, which is 18% less than the previous year. Reduced surface water availability during the 2014–15 year is the main reason which has contributed to the decrease in total surface water diversions.

In calculating net surface water diversion, return flows have been deducted from gross diversions. Total gross surface water diversion for consumptive purposes for the 2014–15 year was 7,760,862 ML (reconciliation of net and gross volume is available in the downloadable table).

The 2014–15 year net volume of 7,316,482 ML for consumptive purposes comprises:

Basic rights diversion of 27,692 ML, which refers to surface water rights, including landowner basic rights, riparian rights, and mining rights that are not under a water access entitlements. All basic right diversions in the Murray–Darling Basin region occur in New South Wales, which is the only State to provide an estimated volume. Updated volume from NSW are available for 2014–15 year and are less from 2013–14 year which was 68,210 ML.

Non-allocated diversions of 805,978 ML, which refers to individual user diversion in 2014–15 year. This volume also includes 6,154 ML diverted for urban purposes. This compares to 1,498,569 ML in 2013–14 year. The reduction in diversion volume is due to reduced surface water availability, especially in northern section of the region.

'Allocated diversion: non-urban' refers to individual user diversion in 2014–15 year and was 6,151,561 ML compared to 7,021,395 ML in 2013–14 year. The reduction in water diverted is primarily attributed to lower surface water availability across the whole Murray–Darling Basin region during the 2014–15 year.

'Allocated diversion: urban' refers to water supply for towns and was 331,251 ML in 2014–15 year, which is slightly more than the 2013–14 year volume of 293,371 ML.

In addition to diverting water for consumptive purposes, there was allocated and non-allocated environmental water delivery within the Murray–Darling Basin.  The delivery volumes of allocated and non-allocated water for environmental purposes under held environmental water category was 1,445,171 ML (net volume, Figure N18) in 2014–15 year, slightly less than the 2013–14 year volume of 1,538,285 ML due to reduced surface water availability. The net volume was calculated after deducting reported environmental return flows

Groundwater rights

A detailed downloadable table provides a breakdown of groundwater rights for all categories relevant to Murray–Darling Basin region on water resource plan (WRP) area basis.

• basic rights—240,712 ML
• individual users (includes unregulated and supplementary)—2,455,005 ML
• urban water supply—71,085 ML
• environmental and salt exclusion—68,197 ML

The volume of groundwater entitlements, water availability (sum of net carryover and allocation announcements) and extraction volumes for the 2013–14 year compared with the 2014–15 year is shown in Figure N19. The percentage shows the ratio of extraction to the water entitlement.

Figure N19 Groundwater access entitlements, water availability and extractions in the Murray–Darling Basin region for the 2013–14 and 2014–15 years

Total groundwater extraction for the 2014–15 year was 1,551,094 ML (gross volume) and 1,376,037 ML for the 2013–14 year, which is 13% more than the previous year. Reduced surface water availability is the main reason which has contributed to the increase in groundwater extractions.

The 2014–15 year volume of 1,551,094 ML comprises:

Estimated extractions under basic rights which was 221,332 ML in  2014–15 year. Basic rights refer to groundwater rights, including landowner basic rights, riparian rights, and mining rights that are not under a water access entitlements. Information was provided for Queensland (22,609  ML), New South Wales (172,646 ML), Victoria (20,408 ML) and South Australia (5,669 ML).

'Allocated extractions: non-urban' refers to extractions by individual users which was 1,292,979 ML in 2014–15 year. It comprises 3,385 ML for non-allocated extraction, 1,274,039 ML for allocated extraction and 15,555 ML for salt intereception schemes in New South Wales and South Australia. The volume for the 2013–14 year was 1,120,132 ML. This category includes entitlement holders for allocated extractions for individual use as well as supplementary water access licences. Supplementary water access licences for groundwater extraction are issued to licence holders who have a history of extraction greater than their new aquifer access licence. The licences are issued for the 10-year period of the water sharing plan and are not normally tradeable. The volume of water available under the supplementary licence will be gradually reduced each year; by the end of the 10th year, there will be no water available under these licences (National Water Commission 2012).

Allocated extractions: urban refers to water supply for towns and was 36,783 ML in 2014–15 year which is slightly more than the 2013–14 year volume of 34,497 ML.

Combined surface water and groundwater rights

For the 2014–15 year, combined surface water and groundwater access entitlements were available in the Australian Capital Territory within the Murray–Darling Basin region. There were 35 active entitlements with a total volume of 2,402 ML that may abstract water from either groundwater or surface water in the Australian Capital Territory. The entitlement and use volume is included under 'Surface water entitlement and allocated diversion' in Figure N18.

Landscape water rights

Runoff harvesting entitlements are the water rights under which landscape runoff is harvested into farm dams. Reliable information on runoff harvesting entitlement volumes was not available for inclusion in the region's water account. Harvesting by run-off dams dams during the 2014–15 year under s.71 data provided by jurisdictions to Murray–Darling Basin Authority was estimated to be 2,393,000 ML. This is excluding (335,000 ML) estimated interception by plantations.

A brief description of the different terms used by jurisdictions within the Murray–Darling Basin region and how runoff that is harvested from the land is managed is provided in the downloadable pdf document. This document contains information compiled by the Bureau from various sources.

Water restrictions

The downloadable table provides information on water restrictions applicable during the 2014–15 year for different entitlement classes within the region.

More information on limitations related to available water for New South Wales SDL resource units are available from DPI Water available water determinations for 2014–15.

Information on limitations on allocations for high and low reliability water shares (non-urban use) in Victorian SDL resource units for 2014–15 are available from the monthly water report from Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning.

For the SDL resource units not included in the downloadable table, water restriction information was not available. More information on current Water Restrictions is available from Bureau's website.

Water market activity

During the 2014–15 year, no water was traded into or out of the Murray–Darling Basin region. Surface water and groundwater entitlement and allocation trade within the Murray–Darling Basin region during the 2014–15 year is summarised in the following Table N26.

Inter-state surface water allocation trade

Inter-state allocation trade during the 2014–15 year resulted in net inward movement of water for Queensland and South Australia and net outward movement for New South Wales and Victoria as shown in Table N27 and summarised in Figure N20. A similar trend of net allocation trade was observed for the 2013–14 year. The downloadable table provides the details.

Interstate trade allocation trading activity, expressed as volume and direction of net trade, in the Murray–Darling Basin in 2014–15 figure is available from the National Overview.

Figure N20 Direction and volume (ML) of interstate trades in the Murray–Darling Basin during the 2014–15 year

Water use

Economic benefits

Surface water and groundwater resources within the Murray–Darling Basin region are used for primarily irrigation supply to support agriculture industry. Town water supplies are made for various purposes, including residential needs, industrial and commercial purposes.

Water supplies made under some of the entitlement classes relevant to the following entitlement categories have contributed to economic benefits:

• Surface water access entitlement for non-allocated diversions
• Surface water access entitlement for allocated diversions
• Groundwater access entitlement for allocated extractions.

The 2015 Account does not recognise details of economic contributions made under the entitlement classes of those entitlement categories.

It is also possible that water supplies made under other statutory surface water and groundwater rights have also contributed to economic benefits. The 2015 Account does not recognise those contributions.

Most of the consumptive water use in the region is for irrigation water supply. Based on information provided by Murray–Darling Basin Authority for National Water Account 2015, irrigation water supply for the 2014–15 year was approximately 8,176,035 ML (net volume) which comprised 6,902,048 ML of surface water and 1,273,987 ML of groundwater. During the 2013–14 year approximately 9,575,725 ML (net volume) comprises 8,461,267 ML of surface water and 1,114,458 ML of groundwater for irrigation purposes. The reduction in water supply by approximately 15% is attributed to lower water availability across the Murray–Darling Basin region during the 2014–15 year.

Social benefits

Across the Murray–Darling Basin region, many towns and urban centres have an urban water system. The population abstracts water for drinking and commercial purposes. Town water supplies are made for various purposes including residential needs, and industrial and commercial purposes. These have been categorised under the social benefit category, assuming their main purpose within the Murray–Darling Basin region is to serve residential needs.With that assumption, water right or entitlement classes directly related to social benefits identified in the Murray–Darling Basin region for the 2014–15 year were:

• surface water basic right: stock and domestic
• surface water entitlements: stock and domestic
• surface water entitlements: urban supplies
• surface water entitlements: high security–community and education
• surface water entitlements: high security–research
• groundwater basic right: stock and domestic
• groundwater entitlements: urban supplies.

It is also possible that water supplies made under entitlement categories other than stated in the above list have contributed to social benefits. The 2015 Account does not recognise those contributions.

Stock and domestic licences for surface water and groundwater basic rights allow the right holders to abstract water to meet basic requirements for household and stock purposes. Urban water entitlements associated with surface water and groundwater allow water utilities and local councils to provide water for residential needs.

Cultural benefits

Cultural basic right allows abstraction of water by anyone who holds native title rights with respect to water, as determined under the Australian Government Native Title Act 1993. The right holders can abstract water for a range of needs without holding a water access licence. This includes accessing water for personal, domestic and non-commercial communal purposes such as:

• manufacture of traditional artefacts
• hunting, fishing, and gathering
• recreation
• cultural purposes
• ceremonial purposes.

Specific licences for Aboriginal cultural use occur in New South Wales. See 'Jurisdictional provisions for social and cultural water supplies' below.

In general, water regimes required to support cultural values are not quantitatively defined in allocation plans; however, the cultural values are considered within the environmental water provisions.

Each jurisdiction has its own provisions to protect cultural values in the southern section of the region as outlined below:

The New South Wales plans have also generally adopted an approach that indicates sites of Aboriginal significance, including wetlands, are managed through the environmental watering regime. 702 ML (Source NSW DPI Water) has been recorded as Aboriginal cultural supplies in the Murrumbidgee NSW SDL resource unit, no specific information is available to identify details of Aboriginal sites that benefitted from the supply in the 2014–15 year.

Environmental water provisions

Water for environmental benefit in the Murray–Darling Basin region is delivered through two broad environmental water scenarios:

• planned environmental water
• held environmental water.

Planned environmental water

Planned environmental water is further categorised into:

• Planned regulated (or supplemented) surface water: The dominant feature of environmental water management in this categorisation is the ability to control or influence flow by operational releases from storage.
• Planned unregulated surface water: In this categorisation, water is managed for environmental benefit through controlling the water access regime.

Planned, partly regulated surface water

This type of environmental water delivery occurs in some river reaches in the Murray-Darling Basin region through the active release of environmental allocations from a storage at the direction of the respective environmental entitlement holder or when triggers are met (not directed). Other entitlements may become available as rules are met and can then be managed by respective government department.

The water regime in place at given locations on the rivers (environmental water determination) and the storage release rules (environmental water commitments) are specified in approved water sharing and management plans that are listed under Water management plans in 'Administration' in the 'Contextual information'.

Planned unregulated surface water

Environmental water determination for planned unregulated surface water categorisation is based on provisions made in approved water sharing and management plans. Water management plans in 'Administration' in the 'Contextual information' include details of these plans within the Murray-Darling Basin region.

Held environmental water

The Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH) managed 2,309,000 ML of water entitlements, which has a long-term average yield of 1,592,000 ML per year as applicable at end of the 2014–15 year (Commonwealth Environmental Water Office) website.

Entitlement volumes shown reflect only those that have been recorded as being legally held (or under the administrative operations of the environmental water manager). The entitlement volumes will be subject to change as water continues to be acquired under some programmes. In particular, the volumes held by the CEWH will increase as more entitlements are acquired.

Environmental water outcomes

Consolidated information on water released under entitlements held for the benefit of the environment was not available for the 2014–15 year. Available information on environmental water outcomes primarily on held environmental water categorisation is provided here.

A detailed downloadable table is available for environmental water entitlements and delivery held or owned by environmental managers in the Murray-Darling Basin region as applicable in the 2014–15 year. The delivered volume, 1,445,171 ML stated in this account is estimated net volume under held environmental water category based on information available at the data collection stage for this account. Information for the Gwydir River was not available at the data collection stage. The volume is after deducting known return flows (estimated to be over 300,000 ML) and excludes water delivered under environmental water allowances (estimated to be over 100,000 ML).

Commonwealth programmes

During the 2014–15 year, 1,014,000 ML of Commonwealth environmental water was delivered within the Murray–Darling Basin region. Details on where and how the delivered volume was used are available from the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (Commonwealth Environmental Water Office) website. Commonwealth environmental water contributed to 36 watering actions in 16 catchments in the Murray-Darling Basin.

In 2014–15, a total of 285,500 ML of The Living Murray environmental water was delivered to the six Murray River icon sites (Murray–Darling Basin Authority 2016b).

This was achieved by coordinating flows from the Murray, Goulburn and Campaspe systems with other environmental holders resulting in maximum ecological benefit at multiple sites throughout the River Murray system.

The Living Murray Program was established in 2002 to improve the health of the River Murray system. It is one of Australia's largest river restoration programs. The Living Murray Program focuses on maintaining the health of six icon sites along the river, chosen for their environmental, cultural and international significance. It is a partnership among the Australian, New South Wales, Victorian, South Australian, and Australian Capital Territory Governments.

The Living Murray Program is focusing on improving the environment at the following six icon sites along the river:

• Barmah–Millewa Forest
• Gunbower–Koondrook–Perricoota Forest
• Hattah Lakes
• Chowilla Floodplain and Lindsay–Wallpolla Islands
• Lower Lakes, Coorong and Murray Mouth
• River Murray Channel.

These sites have been chosen for their high ecological value. Most are listed as internationally significant wetlands under the Ramsar convention and are of cultural significance to Indigenous people and the broader community.