The impacts of water trading in the southern Murray-Darling Basin:
An economic, social and environmental assessment
This report identifies and assesses the economic, social and environmental impacts (both positive and negative) of water trading in the southern Murray-Darling Basin from 1998-99 to 2008-09.
The purpose is to:
- fulfil the National Water Commission's obligation under the National Water Initiative (NWI) to monitor and report on the impacts of interstate trading
- address the need for a comprehensive assessment of the impacts of water trading, given its status as a centrepiece of water reform in the southern Murray-Darling Basin
- inform future water market and trading reforms in the Murray-Darling Basin and Australia.
The study looks back at the effects of water trading in the southern Murray-Darling Basin over the past decade of severe and prolonged drought. It does not attempt to forecast the potential future impacts of trading.
The Commission will reassess the impacts of trading in 2012, when more evidence will be available on the impacts of recent Commonwealth purchases and increases in trading due to other factors.
Documents for download
Impacts of water trading in the Southern Murray-Darling Basin (6.89MB)
Appendix A (2.32MB), Appendix B (929KB), Appendix C (91KB), Appendix D (84KB), Appendix E (359KB), Appendix F (262KB), Appendix G (67KB), References and abbreviations (151KB)