Water Minister Tanya Plibersek says the $13 billion Murray-Darling Basin Plan is in need of a “course correction”.

Plibersek has written to the chair of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA), Sir Angus Houston, seeking advice on the likelihood of achieving the plan's water recovery targets by the mandated deadline of June 2024.

While 98 per cent of the overall water recovery target has already been met, certain aspects of the plan, such as New South Wales' water resource plans, the sustainable diversion limit adjustment mechanism (SDLAM) projects, and the promised 450 gigalitres (GL) to South Australia, are falling significantly behind schedule.

In her letter, Plibersek said; “The plan is too far behind and likely requires significant change to make substantial progress”.

She called for an honest assessment of the plan's status, including whether it can be delivered on time.

One potential solution under consideration is extending the water-recovery deadline to allow for additional time to complete the remaining work. Plibersek has acknowledged this option and stressed its importance.

Recent developments show that much work remains. 

The government had announced earlier this year that it would open a tender to buy back 44.3GL of water entitlements from willing sellers across six different catchments to meet the plan's “Bridging the Gap” targets. 

The tender closed in May, and offers will be made in August.

Concerns are also mounting regarding the completion of 21 SDLAM projects proposed by southern basin states, which aim to maintain a flow of 605GL of water in the system. 

Additionally, only 26GL out of the promised 450GL has been recovered or contracted for the Water for the Environment Special Account.

In 2019, the Productivity Commission warned that the SDLAM projects were significantly behind schedule, a concern reiterated by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority earlier this year.

During Senate Estimates in February, officials from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water revealed that the New South Wales government had yet to formally register two SDLAM projects that had been “re-scoped” following widespread community opposition.

New South Wales still has 20 outstanding water resource plans awaiting approval by the MDBA, despite the original completion deadline being in 2019. 

So far, only five plans have been accredited by the water minister, while eight are currently under assessment by the MDBA.

Plibersek is expected to receive the requested report from the MDBA on July 24. 

The lack of consensus among basin state ministers has made it challenging to negotiate the impending deadline, and no date has been announced yet for the next Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council meeting.