Ecology - Commerce - Leisure

The responsiblity for the management of the Murray-Darling Basin lies with the Murray-Darling Basin Commission. The Murray-Darling Basin Agreement was initially signed by the governments of the Commonwealth, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia in 1987, and revised in 1992. Queensland became a signatory in 1996, with the Australian Capital Territory being added in 1998. There are thus six formal partner governments in the Agreement, with many departments and agencies involved. This body was established to manage the river's assets on behalf of the states and territories who are members.

The size of the Murray-Darling Basin is enormous, and managing that area with multiple stakeholders having input and different objectives is a complicated and difficult task. Farming needs water for crops and agriculture, which feeds our country. Australia's irrigation areas produce 28 per cent of the nation's fresh fruit and produce from less than one per cent of the agricultural land (Source).

Our cities need to manage and understand water from the Murray-Darling Basin is not in unlimited supply and resource with the urgent need to implement better local (beginning at home) conservation methods. Tourism also has a huge impact on the Murray, therefore all tourism bodies need to consider their role because without a healthy river and river system tourism and regional towns will feel the impact.

Environmentally we need to understand that the entire ecological system relies on a good quality flow from the rivers down to the Coorong and Murray mouth. All demands on the Murray and other rivers in the basin need to better appreciated by the entire country especially during droughts. On this site you'll find a variety of bodies all involved in the mangement of the Murray-Darling Basin and the River Murray. These bodies include:

National Bodies & Governments Murray-Darling Basin Commission Australian Government New South Wales Government South Australian Government Victorian Government Local Councils & Shires National Farmers' Federation

Associations & Community Groups The Living Murray Initiative Murray Darling Association Save the Murray Trees For Life Murray Darling Rescue MurrayCare

Regional Bodies Murray Now - Regional Development Water Traders   Tourism New South Wales South Australia Victoria Regional Tourism bodies