"We have to extend the time frame."

After recently seeking an assessment from the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) about the likelihood of the Murray-Darling Plan being fully implemented by the due date of June 30, 2024, Federal Water Minister Tanya Plibersek was forced to admit it would take more time to achieve water recovery targets.

Ten years ago the Australian Government, and the governments of NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and the ACT, made a world-leading commitment to a healthy future for the Basin.

"Implementation of the Basin Plan is at a critical juncture. It is important that the challenges inhibiting the full delivery of the Basin Plan are quickly addressed to provide a clear pathway forward," Sir Angus Houston, Chair of MDBA said.

Estimates suggest the plan is on track to return to the environment 750 gigalitres (GL) less than the overall target of 3,200GL.

With 16 key Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism (SDLAM)projects unlikely to be operable by 30 June 2024, the MDBA estimates a shortfall in water recovery of between 190 and 315 gigalitres.

While Ms Plibersek says water recovery has stalled over the past decade, the government is committed to delivering the Murray-Darling Basin Plan in full, which includes the extra 450GL of water for the environment."

Aerial view of the Menindee Lakes. SOURCE: MDBA

This announcement has brought mixed responses from environmental stakeholders.

Peak environmental groups including Environment Victoria, NSW Conservation Council, Conservation Council of SA and Queensland Conservation Council warn delaying the Basin Plan would risk terrible damage to the environment during the next drought and that the health of our river systems at increased risk.

“With the UN declaring an El Nino and Australia facing a dry spell, right now is the worst possible time to deprive wetlands and wildlife of the water they will need to survive tough times ahead," Conservation Council of SA Chief Executive Craig Wilkins said “The 450 gigalitres of water that the Albanese Government promised for the environment before the election must be delivered as soon as possible."

Mr Wilkins said that more than ten years of delays delivering this water promised for the environment has resulted in the Darling-Baaka running dry, "millions of dead fish, and toxic blackwater events because small and medium floods haven’t been able to flush out the landscape.”

NSW Nature Conservation Council CEO Jacqui Mumford had a similar viewpoint.

“When we are seeing large-scale fish kills even in wet years, it should send alarm signals about what we might see in future dry years," she said “Entire communities have run out of water and ecosystems are collapsing, with native fish populations have declined by 90 per cent, and even once common birds like the Pink Cockatoo being at risk of extinction.

"The river system is still sick, despite the recent rains, and if we don’t restore more natural flows we’re putting it at risk of ecological collapse when water becomes more scarce.”

The Darling River near Bourke. IMAGE: mdba.gov.au

However, dampening these alarm bells is the NSW Irrigator's Council who say additional time to meet deadlines is "simply necessary."

 “There are other options to deliver the remainder of the Basin Plan without one more drop coming from food and fibre production,” said NSWIC Acting CEO, Christine Freak.

“Additional time is an opportunity to do it right, working together with Basin communities to support the range of positive initiatives put forward through the recent Federal Government public consultation.

“It is pleasing the MDBA has taken a position that projects to deliver the remaining environmental outcomes under the Plan remain worthwhile.

“Projects are simply not substitutable by just adding more water.

“Getting the environmental projects right must be the priority, but that will require adaptive management to do things differently,” Ms Freak said.

"Significant progress has been made with Sustainable Diversion Limits (SDLs) - the Basin Plan centrepiece - now in place, following over 2,100 gigalitres of water being redirected back to the environment.

“The remaining challenges cannot overshadow this progress."