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Water resource plans

Water resource plans are a key tool for implementing the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. They outline how each region aims to achieve community, environmental, economic and cultural outcomes and ensure that state water management rules meet the Basin Plan objectives. The plans reflect existing state arrangements that are currently in operation and incorporate new arrangements that strengthen water management at a local level.

Each water resource plan sets out the rules for how water is used at a local or catchment level, including limits on how much water can be taken from the system (to meet the sustainable diversion limits), how much water will be made available for the environment, and how water quality standards can be met.

Basin state governments are responsible for developing water resource plans. The Murray–Darling Basin Authority assesses the plans and provides advice for accreditation. Water resource plans must be accredited by the Australian Government Minister responsible for water. Water resource plans will be adjusted and reaccredited over time as new and improved information becomes available.

Basin state governments are responsible for complying with water resource plans and the sustainable diversion limits on the volume of surface water and groundwater that can be taken and used from 1 July 2019, when sustainable diversion limits became law.

South Australian Water Resource Plans

South Australia’s three water resource plans have all been accredited by the Australian Government Minister responsible for water:

The South Australian River Murray – includes the surface waters and floodplain of the River Murray and Lakes Alexandrina and Albert.

The Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges – includes the groundwater and surface waters of the Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges and the Marne Saunders Prescribed Water Resources Areas.

The Murray Region – includes the surface and groundwater resources of the remainder of the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin and the Coorong and Murray Mouth.

South Australian Water Resource Plan Areas

Water management in the South Australian portion of the Murray-Darling Basin is controlled by multiple state legislative instruments, plans and other documents. Relevant parts of these documents and their water management controls, form part of South Australia’s water resource plans, presented in such a way that demonstrates how we are meeting our Basin Plan obligations.

Note: Since South Australia’s water resource plans were accredited by the Australian Government Minister, parts of several State instruments that were accredited as part of the plans have been amended or replaced. One of the key changes is the Landscape South Australia Act 2019 replacing the Natural Resources Management Act 2004. While some of the legislative instruments and other documents referred to in the plans are not current, the plans remain in effect. All instruments and documents accredited as part of the water resource plans can be viewed via the MDBA website.

The South Australian government is working with the MDBA and the Office of the Inspector General of Water Compliance to identify the best approach to updating and reaccrediting the plans. This process will ensure that the updated plans meet local water management needs and Basin Plan requirements.

South Australia’s water resource plans address a range of water resource management issues including:

setting out how much water can be taken annually for consumptive use (urban, industrial and agricultural) in a way that meets the long-term sustainable diversion limit

setting out how water for the environment is managed, including supporting the Basin-wide strategy on water for the environment

how water quality and salinity will be managed

documenting how water will be managed during extreme events such as flood or drought

identifying objectives and outcomes regarding the management of water for Aboriginal people

setting out how interception activities, such as dams capturing run off, commercial plantations, mining and floodplain harvesting, will be managed and monitored

outlining the risks to the resource and strategies to address them.

How do water resource plans affect me?

Water resource plans do not alter how people currently take and use water for their businesses or household consumption in South Australia. Water resources in South Australia are managed in accordance with the Landscape South Australia Act 2019, local water allocation plans and water affecting activities control policies. These plans and policies can be found on each Landscape Board website.