Draft Restoring our Rivers Framework

On this page

This consultation is now closed. Outcomes from this consultation are published on our Water Public Engagement page.

Consultation submissions

Public consultation on the Draft Restoring our Rivers Framework was open from 30 January 2024 – 4 March 2024. We received a total of 103 submissions.

Read published submissions.

Draft framework for delivering the 450 GL of additional environmental water

The Australian Government has released the Restoring our Rivers: Draft framework for delivering the 450 GL of additional environmental water and launched the first of 3 new programs.

Read the draft framework for delivering the 450 GL

The Water Amendment (Restoring Our Rivers) Act 2023 commenced on 7 December 2023 providing more options, more time, more funding, and more accountability to deliver the Basin Plan in full.

The draft framework for delivering the 450 GL outlines 3 new programs that the Australian Government will establish to deliver the 450 GL target:

Resilient Rivers Program - infrastructure projects, rules changes, land and water partnerships, and other ways to recover water
Voluntary Water Purchase Program - purchase of water entitlements from willing sellers
Sustainable Communities Program - adjustment assistance for Basin communities impacted by voluntary water purchase

The draft framework for delivering the 450 GL also outlines the three key principles that will guide the approach to water recovery: enhancing environmental outcomes, minimising socio-economic impacts and achieving value for money.

Consultation on the draft framework for delivering the 450 GL is open from 30 January to 4 March 2024 to enable communities, industries, farmers, First Nations and environmental groups to have their say on draft principles, program guidelines and potential impacts on communities.

The Resilient Rivers Water Infrastructure Program (RRWIP – state led) is now also open. This will provide Australian Government funding for basin states to propose state-led water recovery projects that will improve water management, reduce water losses in the management and delivery of water for production, and return water to the environment.

Why we are consulting you

As part of our commitment to work with communities on the design and delivery of 450 GL programs, we invite you to have your say on key parts of the draft framework.

The survey includes questions on:

Water Recovery Toolbox – Leasing Opportunities
Water Recovery Toolbox - Land and Water Partnerships (more information below)
Understanding impacts on communities
Proposed Sustainable Communities Program

Land and Water Partnerships

We would like to hear from interested parties to understand the interest in, and the viability of, a program to purchase land and water holdings together as part of the Resilient Rivers Program.

In relation to this, the survey asks about:

the land and water you might be willing to sell to us should a land and water partnership program be established
details of the complementary outcomes and benefits that would be realised if land and water are purchased and managed collectively
how the land you might be willing to sell could be of interest or benefit to First Nations Peoples to own under a freehold title.

We are also interested in hearing from parties that might want to own or manage land on an ongoing basis as either a First Nations group, a Basin government, or a private, philanthropic or non-government organisation.

For more information read: Exploring Land and Water Partnerships Program.

What will happen next

This consultation closed on 4 March 2024.

Read the Guide to Consultation and the Supporting Information documents below for more information on previous and future engagement activities and how they have been incorporated into the draft framework for delivering the 450 GL.