Questions are being asked about where the Federal Government will find 450 gigalitres (GL) of water in the Murray-Darling system. 

Key stakeholders, including water planning experts, downstream farmers, and South Australian irrigators, have expressed their concerns and hopes regarding the latest version of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan (MDBP).

Water planning experts say the government’s desired 450GL of water for the environment will be indispensable for the ecosystem's survival.

The agreement’s 450GL target includes provisions for Commonwealth buybacks of irrigation licences and extends the deadline for delivering the water until December 2027.

While buybacks can be a contentious option, irrigators say that offering these options, whether for irrigation or environmental purposes, is essential, particularly for those in financial or retirement situations.

The Victorian government has refused to sign the new agreement, saying that it has already contributed more water than any other state. 

Meanwhile, New South Wales (NSW) opposes buybacks but acknowledges the federal government's authority to implement them. 

NSW Premier Chris Minns insists that water recovery should occur through structural changes to river systems, particularly in the Murray-Murrumbidgee and Darling regions.

However, the NSW Irrigators' Council (NSWIC) has condemned the plan, citing previous studies that link buybacks to significant job losses in the basin. 

The potential loss of 450GL through buybacks could result in substantial economic impacts, including a loss of $850 million in production and the drying up of 17,500 hectares of high-value horticulture in the NSW Southern Basin.

Some suggest that improving the environmental health of the river system can be achieved through projects that target introduced species like carp, building fish passageways, and installing fish screens on pumps to protect native species. Addressing cold water pollution from dams is also seen as a measure to enhance fish breeding.

Queensland Minister for Water Glenn Butcher has welcomed the extension for project delivery and expressed commitment to fulfilling the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. 

Queensland says it has already contributed significantly to water recovery under the Bridging the Gap program.