2024

Murray-Darling Basin Compliance Performance Report 2022-23

December 2024

The Inspector-General has published a report on compliance activities undertaken by Basin States during 2022-23. 

Reporting on compliance with relevant water take laws promotes transparency and accountability across Basin government activities. This facilitates public confidence in the integrated management of Murray-Darling Basin water resources. 

The Regulatory Leaders Forum, a group comprising leaders from all Basin water compliance regulatory agencies, is collaborating on an outcomes-focused reporting scheme for future similar reports.

Download

Compliance Performance Report 2022-23 (PDF 11.5 MB) 
Compliance Performance Report 2022-23 (DOCX 488 KB)

Modern Regulator Improvement Tool (MRIT)

September 2024

The Regulatory Leaders Forum considered the benefits of undertaking self-assessment of regulatory maturity using the Modern Regulator Improvement Tool (MRIT) developed by the Australasian Environmental Law Enforcement and Regulators neTwork (AELERT). The MRIT is a qualitative self-assessment tool which requires and relies upon significant judgment in application.

Regulation Enforcement Collaboration And Practice (RECAP) provided independent verification of IGWC’s MRIT, an assessment and guidance around future self-assessments.

Download

MRIT Executive Summary Jan 2024 (PDF 310 KB)

MRIT Executive Summary Jan 2024 (DOCX 552 KB)

RECAP Consultations Pty Ltd IGWC MRIT Independent Assurance Report 8 July 2024 (PDF 252 KB)

If you have difficulty accessing these documents, please email contact@igwc.gov.au

Sustainable Diversion Limit Compliance

July 2024

Sustainable Diversion Limits (SDLs) are essential to the implementation and operation of the Basin Plan. SDLs limit the amount of water that can be taken from rivers and aquifers for towns, industry, and farmers.

Each year, the Inspector–General of Water Compliance undertakes an SDL compliance assessment to ensure all areas are compliant.

This is the third Annual Sustainable Diversion Limit Compliance Statement released by the Inspector–General of Water Compliance.

Download

Sustainable Diversion Limit Compliance Statement for 2022-2023 (PDF 1.49 MB)
Sustainable Diversion Limit Compliance Statement for 2022-2023 (DOCX 1.91 MB)

IGWC Metering Report Card 2022-2023

April 2024

This Report Card is updated each year to track progress of metering reform in the Murray-Darling Basin.

The Report Card is a point in time snapshot as at 30 June 2023.

Download

IGWC Metering Report Card 2022-2023 (PDF 4.86 MB)
IGWC Metering Report Card 2022-2023 (DOCX 292 KB)

Please note, this Word document is intended for accessibility purposes only. It is recommended you view this document in PDF format in the first instance.

2023

Trade Price Reporting investigation report

October 2023

Water trade plays a crucial role in managing water scarcity in the Murray-Darling Basin. It’s essential to provide accurate and timely price information to make these markets work effectively. The Inspector-General of Water Compliance carried out an investigation to check if people disposing of a water allocation followed reporting requirements. The investigation examined the NSW Macquarie for the 2021-22 water year.

Download

Report: Investigation into trade price reporting in NSW (PDF 1.44 MB)
Report: Investigation into trade price reporting in NSW (DOCX 501 KB)

Snapshot: Investigation into trade price reporting (PDF 124 KB)
Snapshot: Investigation into trade price reporting (DOCX 715 KB)

Sustainable Diversion Limit Compliance

September 2023

This Sustainable Diversion Limit statement of compliance is the second statement since the Inspector-General's establishment in August 2021.

Sustainable Diversion Limits (SDLs) commenced on 1 July 2019. All 55 SDL resources units managed by a water resource plan are compliant. However, New South Wales did not have any water resource plans operational at the time of assessment. This means it could not be assessed for SDL compliance.

Download

Sustainable Diversion Limit Compliance Statement for 2021-22 (PDF 1.12 MB)
Sustainable Diversion Limit Compliance Statement for 2021-22 (DOCX 1.58 MB)

IGWC Metering Report Card 2021-22

July 2023

This Report Card is updated each year to track progress of metering reform in the Murray-Darling Basin.

The Report Card is a point in time snapshot as at 30 June 2022.

Download

Murray-Darling Basin – Metering and Measurement Report Card - 01 Jul 2021 to 30 Jun 2022 (PDF 1.58 MB)
Murray-Darling Basin – Metering and Measurement Report Card - 01 Jul 2020 to 30 Jun 2022 (DOCX 187 KB)

Please note, this Word document is intended for accessibility purposes only. It is recommended you view this document in PDF format in the first instance.

IGWC Metering Report Card 2020-21

January 2023

The Water Act 2007 (Cth) was amended on 5 August 2021 to provide the Inspector-General of Water Compliance oversight of implementation of Basin governments’ commitments. This specifically includes the Murray-Darling Basin Compliance Compact.

The Inspector-General worked with the Basin States to develop the first metering Report Card. The Report Card identifies progress being made in water metering reforms by Basin States. States have committed to having compliant meters by July 2025.

This Report Card is updated each year to track progress.

The Report Card is a point in time snapshot as at 30 June 2021.

Download

Murray-Darling Basin – Metering and Measurement Report Card - 01 Jul 2020 – 30 Jun 2021 (PDF 1.36 MB)
Murray-Darling Basin – Metering and Measurement Report Card - 01 Jul 2020 – 30 Jun 2021 (DOCX 540 KB)

2022

Steady as it flows – An assessment of River Murray operations and environmental water management

September 2022

This assessment examined how the Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) performs its role in running the River Murray. It also looks at how the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH) manages water entitlements.

The assessment found the two organisations performing professionally.

Download

Steady as it flows – An assessment of River Murray operations and environmental water management (PDF 4.90 MB)
Steady as it flows – An assessment of River Murray operations and environmental water management (DOCX 4.0 MB)

Compliance and enforcement across the Murray-Darling Basin

August 2022

The Des Pearson Review looked at compliance and enforcement of water rules and regulations in the Murray–Darling Basin. Mr Pearson’s review observed there is no established Basin-wide set of key indicators that would allow for effective monitoring of compliance and enforcement activities. His review also noted there needs to be a more collaborative approach to establish Basin-wide measures showing effectiveness of compliance.

View the Des Pearson Review, and the Inspector–General’s report on the original review.

Download

Compliance and enforcement across the Murray-Darling Basin (PDF 636 KB)
Compliance and enforcement across the Murray-Darling Basin (DOCX 620 KB)

Compliance and enforcement across the Murray-Darling Basin Review by Mr Des Pearson (AO) (PDF 1.02 MB)
Compliance and enforcement across the Murray-Darling Basin Review by Mr Des Pearson (AO) (DOCX 198 KB)

Sustainable Diversion Limit Compliance

August 2022

Sustainable Diversion Limits (SDLs) commenced on July 1 2019, and are essential to the implementation and operation of the Basin Plan. SDLs limit the amount of water that can be taken from rivers and aquifers for towns, industry, and farmers. Each year, the Inspector–General of Water Compliance assesses the SDL register to ensure all areas are compliant. This is the first Annual Sustainable Diversion Limit Compliance Statement released by the Inspector–General of Water Compliance.

Download

Sustainable Diversion Limit Compliance Statement for 2020-21 (PDF 5.15 MB)
Sustainable Diversion Limit Compliance Statement for 2020-21 (DOCX 1.00 MB)

Sustainable Diversion Limit Compliance Frequently Asked Questions (PDF 93 KB)
Sustainable Diversion Limit Compliance Frequently Asked Questions (DOCX 820 KB)

Map of Groundwater Sustainable Diversion Limit Resource Units (PDF 2.95 MB)

Map of Surface Water Sustainable Diversion Limit Resource Units (PDF 1.80 MB)

2021

Access reports and reviews prior to 2021 in archived reports. These were released by either the Interim Inspector-General of Water Compliance, Interim Inspector-General of Murray–Darling Basin Water Resources or the Northern Basin Commissioner.