The Inspector-General of Water Compliance may audit Murray-Darling Basin governments and agencies.
Audits assess the extent of compliance with the Basin Plan and Water Resource Plan. They help keep Basin governments and agencies accountable for their compliance.
The Inspector-General publishes audit information, including:
- a summary of facts and findings
- recommendations for improvements, where needed
- any responses from those audited to the report findings.
Audits in 2024
Controls Supporting Compliance with the Basin Plan
This audit looked into controls in the Australian Government department of water. The controls applied to staff with knowledge of pending water announcements. The audit aimed to ensure no staff entered water trade before the announcement.
The audit was necessary as the Australian Government had entered the water market as a buyer. That entry was a result of the Bridging the Gap initiative.
Download
Controls supporting compliance with Basin Plan requirements (PDF 475 KB)
Controls supporting compliance with Basin Plan Requirements (DOCX 529 KB)
Snapshot: Controls Supporting Compliance with the Basin Audit (PDF 125 KB)
Snapshot: Controls Supporting Compliance with the Basin Audit (DOCX 170 KB)
Response to Recommendations: Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (PDF 194 KB)
Response to Recommendations: Commonwealth Environment Water Holder (PDF 82 KB)
Management of Groundwater: Goulburn-Murray (Groundwater) WRPA
This audit included Goulburn-Murray Water and the Australian Government department of water. It looked at whether each complied with regulations. The regulations applied in the Goulburn-Murray (Groundwater) Water Resource Plan Area.
A Water Resource Plan Area is a Basin region where water above and below ground is managed in a specific plan. The plan details:
- acceptable water-take from the Basin area
- maintenance of water quality standards
- state water management rules in line with Basin Plan 2012(Opens in a new tab/window) (the Basin Plan) objectives.
A Water Resource Plan is the key instrument for following the Basin Plan at a local level.
This audit focused on the Katunga Water Supply Protection Area. It assessed the trade of access rights and risk management.
Download
Report on Goulburn Murray (Groundwater) Water Resource Plan Area (PDF 3.4 MB)
Report on Goulburn Murray (Groundwater) Water Resource Plan Area (DOCX 1.1 MB)
Snapshot: Goulburn Murray (Groundwater) Water Resource Plan Area (PDF 154 KB)
Snapshot: Goulburn Murray (Groundwater) Water Resource Plan Area (DOCX 146 KB)
Audits in 2023
Management of overland flow harvesting in the Lower Balonne
This audit looked at the Condamine-Balonne Water Resource Plan Area. It focused on overland flow management. Overland flow is water that flows across land after rainfall or flooding.
This audit assessed the Queensland department of water(Opens in a new tab/window). It checked whether the department had met Basin Plan requirements.
Download
Report: Audit of the management of overland flow harvesting in the Lower Balonne (PDF 559 KB)
Report: Audit of the management of overland flow harvesting in the Lower Balonne (DOCX 760 KB)
Snapshot: Audit of the management of overland flow harvesting in the Lower Balonne (PDF 72 KB)
Snapshot: Audit of the management of overland flow harvesting in the Lower Balonne (DOCX 704 KB)
Response to Recommendations: Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water (QLD) (PDF 838 KB)
Response to Recommendations: Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water (QLD) (DOCX 315 KB)
Audits in 2022
Accounting for Interstate Trade in the Northern Basin
This audit looked at arrangements for recording interstate trades in the Border Rivers catchment. It assessed whether interstate trade data was accurate and complete.
The Border Rivers catchment is the only catchment where surface water can be traded between Queensland and NSW.
Download
Report: Accounting for Interstate Trade in the Northern Basin (PDF 737 KB)
Report: Accounting for Interstate Trade in the Northern Basin (DOCX 1.1 MB)
Snapshot: Accounting for Interstate Trade in the Northern Basin (PDF 87 KB)
Snapshot: Accounting for Interstate Trade in the Northern Basin (DOCX 705 KB)
Response to Recommendations: Department of Planning and Environment (NSW) (PDF 187 KB)
Response to Recommendations: Department of Planning and Environment (NSW) (DOCX 181 KB)
Response to Recommendations: Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water (QLD) (PDF 113 KB)
Response to Recommendations: Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water (QLD) (DOCX 80 KB)
Goulburn-Murray Water disclosure obligations under the Basin Plan
This audit looked at whether Goulburn-Murray Water met its duties on water trade disclosures. The Basin Plan requires Basin governments and agencies to disclose an interest in a trade before a trade occurs.
Goulburn-Murray Water is Victoria's largest approval authority, with more than 20,000 customers.
Download
Report: Audit of Goulburn-Murray Water disclosure obligations under the Basin Plan (PDF 162 KB)
Report: Audit of Goulburn-Murray Water disclosure obligations under the Basin Plan (DOCX 142 KB)
Snapshot: Audit of Goulburn-Murray Water disclosure obligations under the Basin Plan (PDF 88 KB)
Snapshot: Audit of Goulburn-Murray Water disclosure obligations under the Basin Plan (DOCX 701 KB)
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