Over 1,000 irrigators offer licences to government
The Federal government’s voluntary water buyback tender has received more than 1,000 responses across the southern Murray-Darling Basin, far exceeding the volume of water required.
Federal Water Minister Tanya Plibersek issued a statement last week saying that the government is progressively returning 450 gigalitres of water to the environment by 2027 as it delivers the Basin Plan in full.
About 27.5 gigalitres, or 11,000 Olympic swimming pools of water, have already been recovered – up from just two gigalitres in May 2022.
The tender, which closed in September 2024, sought to purchase eligible water rights for up to 70 gigalitres of surface water per year across five catchments in the southern Basin.
Ms Plibersek said that responses are being evaluated and value-for-money offers will be accepted from December 2024.
“Voluntary purchase is just one of the ways that water will be recovered, with the government prioritising non-purchase options, Ms Plibersek said.
“The Resilient Rivers Program provides more than $494 million for water saving infrastructure projects nominated by states. […]
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