Audits
Audits
Auditors appointed by the Inspector-General of Water Compliance conduct audits into the extent of compliance with the Basin Plan 2012 and water resource plans. This helps to ensure the highest standard of accountability for all involved in the use and management of Basin resources. Audits also provide assurance that the systems and processes for measuring and monitoring compliance in the Murray-Darling Basin are adequate and effective.
Audit Reports
The Inspector-General of Water Compliance is required to publish audit reports, which set out the findings and recommendations of the audit. Audit snapshots are published alongside the report to provide a summary of the key objectives, facts, findings and recommendations of the audit. The Inspector-General may also publish management responses to the audit report that have been received from the auditee. Finalised audit reports are published below.
2024
Controls Supporting Compliance with the Basin Plan
September 2024
The objective of the audit was to examine the controls the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) had in place to ensure people within DCCEEW with knowledge of a pending water announcement did not enter into any water trading activity before it was made generally available, as required by sections 12.51 and 12.52 of the Basin Plan.
Read the audit report, snapshot overview and the DCCEEW response.
Download
Controls Supporting Compliance with Basin Plan Requirements (Accessible Version) (PDF 470 KB)
Controls Supporting Compliance with Basin Plan Requirements (Accessible Version) (DOCX 528 KB)
Audit Snapshot – Controls Support Compliance with Basin Plan requirements (PDF 120 KB)
Audit Snapshot – Controls Support Compliance with Basin Plan requirements (DOCX 169 KB)
DCCEEW Response to IGWC 3 September 2024 (PDF 193 KB)
CEWH response to Controls Supporting Compliance with Basin Plan Requirements audit (PDF 81 KB)
If you have difficulty accessing this file, email contact@igwc.gov.au for assistance.
Audit – Management of Groundwater – Goulburn-Murray (Groundwater) Water Resource Plan Area
April 2024
This audit assessed whether Goulburn-Murray Water and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action comply with rules in the Goulburn-Murray Water Resource Plan Area for the Katunga Water Supply Protection Area. The focus of the audit was on the trade of groundwater access rights and management of risk.
Read the audit report, snapshot overview and the Victorian Management response.
Download
Snapshot overview – Audit of Management of Groundwater Goulburn-Murray (Groundwater) Water Resource Plan Area (PDF 153.9KB)
Snapshot overview – Audit of Management of Groundwater Goulburn-Murray (Groundwater) Water Resource Plan Area (DOCX 145.63 KB)
Audit of the management of Groundwater – Goulburn - Murray (Groundwater) Water Resource Plan Area (PDF 3.37 MB)
Audit of the management of Groundwater – Goulburn - Murray (Groundwater) Water Resource Plan Area (DOCX 1.1 MB)
If you have difficulty accessing this file, email contact@igwc.gov.au for assistance.
2023
Audit of the management of overland flow harvesting in the Lower Balonne
June 2023
This audit focussed on the Condamine-Balonne water resource plan area. Specifically, it focussed on management of overland flow. The aim of the audit was to assess whether the Qld Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water is meeting Basin Plan requirements. It also assessed the Condamine-Balonne water resource plan requirements.
Read the audit report, snapshot overview and the Queensland Management Responses.
Download
Audit of the management of overland flow harvesting in the Lower Balonne (PDF 557 KB)
Audit of the management of overland flow harvesting in the Lower Balonne (DOCX 760 KB)
Snapshot overview - Audit of management of overland flow harvesting the Lower Balonne (PDF 91 KB)
Snapshot overview - Audit of management of overland flow harvesting the Lower Balonne (DOCX 704 KB)
Qld Management Responses to Recommendations from Audit (PDF 838 KB)
Qld Management Responses to Recommendations from Audit (DOCX 315 KB)
2022
Report - Accounting for Interstate Trade in the Northern Basin
October 2022
The purpose of this audit was to assess arrangements in NSW and Qld for recording interstate trades in the Border Rivers catchment. It was also aimed at ensuring interstate trade data is accurately accounted for. The Border Rivers catchment is the only catchment where surface water can be traded between Qld and NSW. The Inspector–General of Water Compliance has identified a number of process and accounting changes that should be implemented to improve the accuracy and integrity of water trade in the Border Rivers.
Read the audit report, snapshot overview, and management responses from Qld and NSW.
Download
Report - Accounting for Interstate Trade in the Northern Basin (PDF 850 KB)
Report - Accounting for Interstate Trade in the Northern Basin (DOCX 1.12 MB)
Audit Snapshot (PDF 78 KB)
Audit Snapshot (DOCX 700 KB)
NSW Government Final Management Response (PDF 187 KB)
NSW Government Final Management Response (DOCX 180 KB)
QLD Government Final Management Response (PDF 112 KB)
QLD Government Final Management Response (DOCX 79 KB)
Audit of Goulburn–Murray Water disclosure obligations under the Basin Plan
July 2022
This audit was conducted to assess whether Goulburn–Murray Water (GMW) was meeting disclosure obligations around water trades, as required by the Basin Plan. GMW was selected for this audit because it is the largest approval authority in Victoria and an Irrigation Infrastructure Operator with more than 20,000 customers.
View the audit report and report snapshot.
Download
Audit report - Goulburn-Murray Water disclosure obligations under the Basin Plan (PDF 162 KB)
Audit report - Goulburn-Murray Water disclosure obligations under the Basin Plan (DOCX 142 KB)
Audit snapshot - Goulburn-Murray Water disclosure obligations under the Basin Plan (PDF 88 KB)
Audit snapshot - Goulburn-Murray Water disclosure obligations under the Basin Plan (DOCX 701 KB)