Answers to Questions

River Murray Salinity Levels

In reply to Mr COWDREY (Colton) (12 September 2024).

The Hon. N.D. CHAMPION (Taylor—Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Minister for Housing Infrastructure, Minister for Planning): I have been advised by the responsible minister on this topic, the Minister for Climate, Environment and Water:

In accordance with Schedule B of the Murray-Darling Basin Agreement (Schedule 1 of the Water Act 2007), Murray-Darling Basin governments and the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) must prepare comprehensive progress reports on implementation of the Basin Salinity Management 2030 (BSM2030) strategy and undergo an independent audit of their performance biennially.

On 15 April 2024, the Minister for Climate, Environment and Water noted the 2023 basin salinity management reporting package that was provided to the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council. The package included the Report of the Independent Audit Group for Salinity 2021–23 (mdba.gov.au).

The MDBA's 2022-23 comprehensive report is available at Basin Salinity Management 2030 (mdba.gov.au) and South Australia's 2023 comprehensive report is available at 2022-23-Basin-Salinity-Management-2030-Biennial-Report.pdf (environment.sa.gov.au).

The operation of the Pike and Loxton salt interception schemes in 2022-23 was influenced by flooding, which inundated infrastructure and raised groundwater levels on the floodplain.

The reduced operation of salt interception schemes across the Murray-Darling Basin since the 2022-23 flood has not created any risks to water quality for irrigation or human consumption as salinity has remained well below 800 EC at Morgan and is currently around 450 EC.

The MDBA is continuing to work closely with the state constructing authorities under the Murray-Darling Basin Agreement on flood remediation works and the operation of salt interception schemes to manage any ongoing salinity risk whilst minimising operating costs during periods when river flows provide adequate dilution for in-river salinity.