Clarification of Definitions in the Water Act 2007

"May 2010".

Project Number: Part 1 - Implementing a systems approach to support adaptive management of river and wetland health in the MDB; Part 2 - Review of Interventions and Development of habitat Preference Curves for biota at Murray Icon Sites; Part 3 - Natural versus Artificial watering of floodplains and wetlands - M/BUS/248.

MDFRC item.

1 of 4 reports associated with project see (Ecosystem Services and Productive Base for the Basin Plan), (Feasibility Assessment of Ecological Outcomes (indicators) proposed for the Basin Plan Monitoring and Evaluation Program) and (‘Natural’ versus ‘Artificial’ watering of floodplains and wetlands).

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) is responsible for the overall preparation, implementation and enforcement of the Basin Plan. The Basin Plan is a strategic plan for the integrated and sustainable management of water resources in the Murray–Darling Basin. The Water Act 2007 specifies some content of the Basin Plan, including: limits on the amount of water (both surface water and groundwater) that can be taken from Basin water resources on a sustainable basis; identification of risks to Basin water resources, such as climate change, and strategies to manage those risks; requirements that state water resource plans will need to comply with if they are to be accredited under this Act; an environmental watering plan to optimise environmental outcomes for the Basin; a water quality and salinity management plan; and rules about trading of water rights in relation to Basin water resources (MDBA 2010). The documentation seeks to provide a review of literature regarding the terms used in the Water Act 2007, and provide further clarification and recommendations for undefined terms.