The Murray-Darling Basin Authority held its regular meeting in Canberra on September 4, tackling a range of pressing water management issues across Australia's largest river system.

Authority members spent considerable time with NSW Government representatives discussing funding challenges for ageing infrastructure in joint programmes.

The meeting also covered current determinations by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal and progress on various water limit adjustment projects under the Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism.

Progress on reconnecting river country initiatives for the Murrumbidgee River featured prominently in discussions, with members receiving updates on next steps for the Menindee water limit adjustment project.

However, the Authority learned that some environmental water deliveries have been temporarily paused while new metering and measurement equipment is installed. The NSW Government is also working on urgent regulatory amendments during this period.

The ongoing Basin Plan Review received significant attention, with members hearing about outcomes from a workshop involving senior officials from states and the Commonwealth. Key policy positions were considered during these discussions, and the

Authority also received updates from meetings with staff from the Inspector General of Water Compliance.

In a major development, members endorsed a new framework for assessing sustainable water extraction limits and approved initial assessments of 17 groundwater areas.

These assessments will be included in a discussion paper that will be available for public consultation in early 2026, giving communities and stakeholders a chance to have their say on water management decisions.

The Authority heard directly from the Sustainable Rivers Audit First Nations Leadership Group, highlighting the important role of Aboriginal communities in river management.

Rachel Kelly, Chair of the Basin Community Committee, also provided an update on community perspectives and concerns.

River modernisation efforts received strong support from Authority members, who expressed enthusiasm for the Joint Programmes Menindee Review.

This support was reinforced by ongoing backing from the Basin Officials Committee, demonstrating broad institutional support for the modernisation efforts.

Several administrative decisions were finalised during the meeting.

The Authority approved amendments to the water limit adjustment register, which will be updated on the MDBA website. Members also agreed to water accounting assessments for incomplete recovery adjustments for the 2024-25 period.

Current river conditions present a mixed picture across the basin. The Murray River system continues to experience dry conditions, and while water storage levels rose during winter, they remain slightly below the long-term average for this time of year.

This contrasts sharply with the Northern Basin, which has received above-average rainfall. As a result, between 400 and 600 billion litres are expected to flow into Menindee Lakes by the end of October.

The meeting was chaired by Daryl Quinlivan, with Chief Executive Andrew McConville and Authority members Professor Stuart Bunn, Dr Jane Doolan, Belinda Duarte AM, Roseanne Healy, Allison Mudford, and Rene Woods in attendance.