Authority members were updated on the progress of the basin plan review including provisions for the authority to appropriately consider all submissions received.
The discussion paper was released on February 5.
The 12-week public submissions process is under way and will remain open until Friday, May 1.
The chief executive and executive directors updated the authority on recent activities with a particular focus on preparations for the consultation that supports the release of the discussion paper.
The authority was updated on the upcoming basin leadership summit to be held in Brisbane on March 10 and 11.
This is the third summit hosted by the MDBA and will take place during the 12-week discussion paper consultation period as a key engagement activity intended to support and equip basin leaders to engage with their communities on the Basin Plan Review.
Members were briefed on the next steps required to deliver the 2026 Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism reconciliation and the actions required to decide on the final sustainable diversion limit adjustment amounts.
The basin plan requires the authority to propose SDL adjustments to the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment and Water by the end of 2026.
Members met with the independent panel established by the MDBA in December 2025 to provide advice on relaxing flow constraints along the Murray River (upstream of the SA border) and connected Goulburn River.
The authority was updated on Murray River operations noting increasingly dry conditions and outlook across the basin.
Recent operations have seen increased monitoring and the use of supply levers to successfully meet all demands in the Murray River given the extended heatwave conditions across the southern basin in late January.
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