What is the Basin Plan trying to achieve? Our conceptual model of the Murray–Darling Basin water reform contextualised within the wider Basin social, economic and natural systems is shown above. Overall the Basin Plan aims to achieve a working Basin’. Under that, the desired ‘healthy, outcomes can be described under three key themes: healthy and resilient rivers, wetlands and floodplains (environmental) productive and resilient industries, and confident communities (social and economic) better decisions made at the right level (governance). Things we expect to see if the reform is working well would include: for the community: greater certainty over the security of water supplies for the long-term; more water-efficient production; water that is fit-for-purpose; minimised transaction costs of water trade and economic activity for the environment: improved floodplain health; increased waterbird numbers; sustainable native fish populations; the Murray mouth open more often and maintenance of good water quality in the Coorong and Lower Lakes for governance: what we learn as we put the Basin Plan to work leading to better management; risks to the Basin’s water resources minimised; local solutions being put in place and confidence in a sustainable future. Shown in Figure 2 are the key mechanisms through which these outcomes are expected to be achieved: Figure 2 Mechanisms to achieve Basin Plan outcomes
What is the Basin Plan trying to achieve? Our conceptual model of the Murray–Darling Basin water reform contextualised within the wider Basin social, economic and natural systems is shown above. Overall the Basin Plan aims to achieve a ‘healthy, working Basin’. Under that, the desired outcomes can be described under three key themes: healthy and resilient rivers, wetlands and floodplains (environmental) productive and resilient industries, and confident communities (social and economic) better decisions made at the right level (governance). Things we expect to see if the reform is working well would include: for the community: greater certainty over the security of water supplies for the long-term; more water-efficient production; water that is fit-for-purpose; minimised transaction costs of water trade and economic activity for the environment: improved floodplain health; increased waterbird numbers; sustainable native fish populations; the Murray mouth open more often and maintenance of good water quality in the Coorong and Lower Lakes for governance: what we learn as we put the Basin Plan to work leading to better management; risks to the Basin’s water resources minimised; local solutions being put in place and confidence in a sustainable future. Shown in Figure 2 are the key mechanisms through which these outcomes are expected to be achieved: Figure 2 Mechanisms to achieve Basin Plan outcomes
Basin-Plan-Evaluation-Framework-final.docx