Unlocking water in the Mary Basin water plan area

We have analysed the Mary Basin water plan and found ways to unlock more than 2,000ML of water to help local industries grow.

We assessed these types of information:

• water demand gathered from
  • direct feedback from water users and stakeholders
  • unallocated water expressions of interest (EOI)
• unallocated water reserves
• existing water entitlements.

Recommendations

We have four recommendations to unlock more water.

1. Release up to 2,360ML* surface water available from unallocated water reserves in the Mary Basin water plan area.
2. Monitor new seasonal water assignments for water licences in the Mary Basin area and look for any issues or challenges that might make it harder for people to seasonally assign water.
3. Provide better access to water for First Nations communities.
4. Consider ways to meet future water demands when the water plan is due for review (by 2034), such as:
   • converting water licences to allocations for more trading opportunities
   • reviewing unallocated water reserves.

*Unallocated water in the Mary Basin water plan is specified as an average annual volume. This means it’s the typical amount of water a person or business will be able to take each year under the conditions of their authorisation.

Timeline

• Refine new water licences conditions and make formal decision to release unallocated water – early 2026
• Application and assessment process for new water licences – mid-2026
• Issue new water licences – late 2026
• Monitor seasonal water assignments – 2026 onwards
• Reassess demands and prepare for water plan review – 2030 onwards.

More information

• Read the summary of these findings (PDF, 904KB), including a map showing locations of known water demand and proposed water releases.
• Contact us for more information.
• Read more about unallocated water in the Mary Basin general reserve.
• Read about the Mary Basin water plan area.
• Read about seasonal water assignments.
• Check the water management protocol (PDF, 1.1MB) for rules for seasonal assignment of unsupplemented water licences.
• Read about the Regional Water Assessment Program.
• Understand the process for releasing unallocated water.
• Learn about water trading.
• Watch our video What is a water plan?