Maximising benefits from Murray Darling water resource Management, in Getting Water Reform Right: Lessons from the Murray Darling Basin

The legislation underpinning the Basin Plan (the Water Act 2007) requires the protection and restoration of Basin ecological assets through the setting of sustainable diversion limits (SDLs). In meeting these environmental objectives, it also requires optimizing social, environmental, and economic outcomes of Basin water resource management, including net economic returns from Basin water resource management, for the Australian community. A further requirement is that all assessments underpinning the Plan are to be based on best scientific and economic practice and in observance of the National Water Initiative (CoAG, 2004).