Water Resource Plans

Water resource plans are a key tool for implementing the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. A water resource plan is required for each water resource plan area in the Murray-Darling Basin to improve consistency and transparency in water resource management across all Basin States.

A key component of water resource plans is to show how Victoria will comply with sustainable diversion limits on the volume of surface water and groundwater that can be taken and used in catchments from 1 July 2019, when sustainable diversion limits became law. For more information on sustainable diversion limits visit the Murray-Darling Basin Authority.

Chapter 10 of the Basin Plan outlines the requirements for water resource plans. These include:

• setting out the quantity of held environmental water and planned environmental water, and incorporating the rules and management arrangements associated with delivery and use of this water
• setting out how much water can be taken annually for consumptive use in a way that meets the sustainable diversion limit
• ensuring that environmental watering is consistent with the Basin-wide environmental watering strategy
• setting out the circumstances when trade is allowed within and between groundwater sustainable diversion limit resource units and from groundwater to surface water sustainable diversion limit resource units
• outlining how water will be managed during extreme events
• setting out how interception activities will be managed and monitored, including runoff dams, commercial plantations, mining activities and floodplain harvesting
• a plan to manage water quality standards
• outlining the risks to water resources and strategies to address these risks
• identification of Traditional Owner objectives and outcomes for water resource management

For details on how Victoria responded to each requirement in Chapter 10 of the Basin Plan see the Wimmera-Mallee Index Table (PDF, 419.9 KB) and Victoria’s North and Murray Index Table (PDF, 668.7 KB).

Victoria's water resource plans were developed in partnership with water corporations, catchment management authorities as well as in consultation with environmental managers, Traditional Owners, industry bodies, local government and Basin communities.

A Technical Advisory Group was set up for the development of each water resource plan which included stakeholders from relevant rural and urban water corporations, catchment management authorities, the Victorian Environmental Water Holder, peak bodies including Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations (MLDRIN), the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF), VicWater, Environment Victoria and the Goulburn Valley Environment Group.

Victoria worked closely with Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations (MLDRIN) and Traditional Owner groups identified as having an interest in water within Victoria’s water resource plan areas. The engagement was tailored to the needs of each Traditional Owner group, by providing the opportunity for each Traditional Owner group to tell us how they wanted to be engaged with and to develop their own content for inclusion. The contributions of 9 different Traditional Owner groups can be found in Part 11 (PDF, 3.5 MB) of the Wimmera-Mallee Comprehensive Report and contributions of 14 different Traditional Owner groups in Chapter 8 (PDF, 2.9 MB) and Appendix F (PDF, 670.1 KB) for Victoria’s North and Murray Comprehensive Report.

Fundamental to developing water resource plans was the assessment of current and future risks to determine how water resource plans should respond to residual risks to the availability and condition of Victoria’s water resources. The risk assessment considered risks at a water resource plan area scale rather than a localised scale. Residual risks are those identified after existing management arrangements were applied. For more information on the risk assessments undertaken see Appendix B in the Wimmera-Mallee Comprehensive Report and Victoria’s North and Murray Comprehensive Report.

Victoria’s water resources are managed by the Minister, water corporations, catchment management authorities, the Victorian Environmental Water Holder, and other regulatory bodies (see figure below).

The Victorian Water Act sets out statutory rights and entitlements to take and use water in Victoria. For more information on access to take and use water see Part 6 (PDF, 9.3 MB) of the Wimmera-Mallee Comprehensive Report and Chapter 7 (PDF, 1.1 MB) of Victoria’s North and Murray Comprehensive Report.

The Wimmera-Mallee Water Resource Plan was accredited by the Commonwealth Minister for Water Resources, Drought, Rural Finance, Natural Disaster and Emergency Management on 19 September 2019. See the formal instruments:

• Water Act (Wimmera-Mallee (surface water) Water Resource Plan) Accreditation Decision 2019
• Water Act (Wimmera-Mallee (groundwater) Water Resource Plan) Accreditation Decision 2019

The Wimmera-Mallee Water Resource Plan covers:

• the Wimmera-Avon, Avoca and Mallee surface water basins
• the Wimmera-Mallee and Avoca groundwater catchments

See how water is used in the Wimmera-Mallee water resource plan area.

Victoria submitted the proposed Wimmera-Mallee Water Resource Plan to the MDBA on 22 February 2019. Follow the links below to download a copy of the key documents for the Wimmera-Mallee Water Resource Plan submission:

• Submission letter to MDBA (PDF, 233.5 KB)
• Wimmera-Mallee Index Table (PDF, 419.9 KB), which includes the specific responses to each Basin Plan requirement and specifies the proposed text for accreditation by the Commonwealth Minister

For more information on how stakeholders were engaged to develop the plan was developed see Appendix D (PDF, 1.2 MB).

The Wimmera-Mallee Water Resource Plan Comprehensive Report is the key document that provides the supporting information for the Index Table and explains how water resources are managed in Victoria. To request a digital copy of the full comprehensive report or to inquire about accessible versions of the report please email vic.basinplan@delwp.vic.gov.au. The document is separated into the following Parts and Appendices:

• Parts 1-4 provide an introduction of water resources in the plan area, including an introduction of the plan (Part 1 (PDF, 481.1 KB)) and the areas it covers (Part 2 (PDF, 1.2 MB)), the landscape, people and economies (Part 3 (PDF, 989.9 KB)) and details of the water resources (Part 4 (PDF, 1.3 MB)). See here for the cover (PDF, 407.7 KB) and contents (PDF, 114.7 KB) of the Comprehensive Report.
• Part 5 (PDF, 1.5 MB) gives an overview of Victoria’s water governance structure
• Part 6 (PDF, 9.3 MB) explains Victoria’s entitlement framework and trade
• Part 7 (PDF, 945.4 KB) provides an overview of Victoria’s approach to the risk assessment found in Appendix B (PDF, 2.0 MB)
• Part 8 (PDF, 507.6 KB) provides a summary of the methods used to determine sustainable diversion limits and take, supported by further information in Appendix C (PDF, 908.7 KB)
• Part 9 (PDF, 868.2 KB) how Victoria responds to extreme events and critical human water needs
• Part 10 (PDF, 551.9 KB) explains interception from commercial plantations and runoff dams
• Part 11 (PDF, 3.5 MB) demonstrates how Victoria meets Basin Plan requirements for Aboriginal water values and uses, and explains how Traditional Owner groups were involved in the development of the plan
• Part 12 (PDF, 1.1 MB) explains how Victoria meets its environmental watering requirements
• Part 13 (PDF, 1.1 MB) explains how recreational water in Victoria is managed
• Part 14 (PDF, 312.4 KB) that provides a summary of Victoria’s approach to the Wimmera-Mallee Water Quality Management Plan. The full water quality management plan is provided at Appendix A (PDF, 1.8 MB). See below for more information.
• Part 15 (PDF, 620.5 KB) outlines how measuring and monitoring is undertaken in Victoria.
• Appendix D (PDF, 1.2 MB) is the consultation report that summaries the extensive public consultation, Traditional Owner engagement and stakeholder involvement throughout the development of the plan
• Additional information is available in the glossary and references (PDF, 568.3 KB) of the Comprehensive Report.

Victoria’s North and Murray Water Resource Plan areas were accredited by the Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia on the following dates:

• Northern Victoria water resource plan area (accredited 28 May 2020) see Water Act Water Act (Northern Victoria Water Resource Plan) Accreditation Decision 2020
• Victorian Murray water resource plan area (accredited 10 June 2020) see Water Act (Victorian Murray Water Resource Plan) Accreditation Decision 2020
• Goulburn-Murray water resource plan area (accredited 10 June 2020) see Water Act (Goulburn-Murray Water Resource Plan) Accreditation Decision 2020

Victoria’s North and Murray Water Resource Plan covers:

• the Mitta Mitta, Kiewa, Ovens, Broken, Goulburn, Campaspe and Loddon rivers connected to the Murray
• floodplain wetlands of the Murray River, such as Hattah Lakes, Lindsay Island and Barmah National Park, and the connected wetlands in the Loddon, Goulburn and Ovens catchments
• all groundwater in the northern Victoria area
• the Sunraysia and Goulburn-Murray irrigation districts

See how water is used in Victoria’s North and Murray water resource plan area.

For more information on how stakeholders were engaged to develop the plan see Appendix D (PDF, 1.2 MB).

Victoria’s North and Murray Water Resource Plan was submitted to the MDBA on 30 April 2019. The MDBA advised Victoria that its assessment found that components of the WRPs needed further development. Subsequently Victoria resubmitted Victoria’s North and Murray Water Resource Plan package on 26 November 2019. The following documents form part of the formal submission package:

• Submission letter to MDBA which includes the Statement of Reasons
• Victoria’s North and Murray Index Table which includes the specific responses to each Basin Plan requirement and specifies the proposed text for accreditation by the Commonwealth Minister

Victoria’s North and Murray Comprehensive Report is the key document that provides the supporting information for the Index Table and explains how water resources are managed in Victoria. To request a digital copy of the full comprehensive report or to inquire about accessible versions of the report please email vic.basinplan@delwp.vic.gov.au. The document is broken into the following Chapters and Appendices:

• Chapters 1-4 provide an introduction of water resources in the plan area, including and in introduction of the plan (Chapter 1 (PDF, 982.2 KB)) and the areas it covers (Chapter 2 (PDF, 1.6 MB)), the landscape, people and economies (Chapter 3 (PDF, 1.3 MB)) and details of each Basin (Chapter 4 (PDF, 1.4 MB)). See here for the cover and contents (PDF, 675.9 KB) of the Comprehensive Report.
• Chapter 5 (PDF, 797.6 KB) provides an overview of Victoria’s approach to the risk assessment found in Appendix B (PDF, 2.1 MB)
• Chapter 6 (PDF, 1.1 MB) gives an overview of Victoria’s water governance structure
• Chapter 7 (PDF, 1.1 MB) explains Victoria’s entitlement framework and trade
• Chapter 8 (PDF, 2.9 MB) and Appendix F (PDF, 670.1 KB) demonstrates how Victoria meets Basin Plan requirements for Aboriginal water values and uses, and explains how Traditional Owner groups were involved in the development of the plan
• Chapter 9 (PDF, 443.2 KB) provides a summary of the methods used to determine sustainable diversion limits and water take, supported by further information in Appendix C (PDF, 991.3 KB)
• Chapter 10 (PDF, 1.5 MB) explains how Victoria responds to extreme events and critical human water needs
• Chapter 11 (PDF, 855.5 KB) explains interception from commercial plantations and runoff dams
• Chapter 12 (PDF, 2.2 MB) explains how Victoria meets its environmental watering requirements and is supported by further information in Appendix E (PDF, 1.4 MB)
• Chapter 13 (PDF, 750.6 KB) explains how recreational water in Victoria is managed
• Chapter 14 (PDF, 550.8 KB) that provides a summary of Victoria’s approach to Victoria’s North and Murray Water Quality Plan and Appendix A (PDF, 2.2 MB) provides the full Plan
• Chapter 15 (PDF, 880.7 KB) outlines how measuring and monitoring is undertaken in Victoria.
• Appendix D (PDF, 1.2 MB) is the consultation report that summaries the extensive public consultation, Traditional Owner engagement and stakeholder involvement throughout the development of the plan.
• Additional information is available in the glossary and references (PDF, 727.0 KB) of the Comprehensive Report.

Victoria developed the Wimmera-Mallee Water Quality Management Plan, and the North and Murray Water Quality Management Plan, as Appendices to the two Victorian Water Resource Plans. They are summarised in Part 14 of the Wimmera-Mallee Water Resource Plan, and Chapter 14 of the North and Murray Water Resource Plan respectively.

These plans give background on surface and groundwater quality in each region. They identify causes of water quality degradation, relevant water quality targets, and measures for water quality.

These plans will be updated from time to time as required.

In addition to the Water Quality Management Plans:

• - Victorian water managers, and environmental water managers have regard to targets for managing flows and report on their actions annually, through Matter 14 reporting.
• - Victoria has regard to long term salinity targets (the end-of-valley targets from the BSM2030 (Basin Salinity Management Strategy)) when undertaking long term salinity management and planning.

In 2020, Victoria provided its report on Progress   towards water quality targets (the Matter 12 Report).

The Traditional Owner contributions across both water resource plans have been compiled into a standalone publication Traditional Owner objectives and outcomes: Compilation of contributions to Victoria’s water resource plans (PDF, 2.6 MB).