About the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts

Water Assets and Natural Resources Division

The Water Assets and Natural Resources Division advises on, develops and secures the integrated implementation of policies, programmes and legislation for the conservation and sustainable use of water resources.

The Division has two branches.

Murray Darling Basin Reform Branch

The Murray Darling Basin Reform Branch has responsibility for the development and implementation of policies, programmes and legislation through:

• Murray Darling Basin Commission AG support
• MDBC Reform
• MDBC Cap/Allocation
• MDB water balance assessment - liaise with CSIRO
• Living Murray Initiative oversight
• Drought contingency planning for MDB urban water supply

Environmental Water Branch

The Environmental Water Branch has responsibility for the development and implementation of policies, programmes and legislation through:

• AG water holdings/use
• Environmental water management
• Internationally significant (Ramsar) wetlands
• Plans and sustainable water allocations/EPBC advice
• High Conservation Value Aquatic Ecosystems
• Nationally significant rivers/wetlands
• River/wetland health and condition
• Great Artesian Basin coordination
• GABSI bore capping and piping programme
• Lake Eyre Basin Ministerial Forum
• National Water Quality Management Strategy - development/implementation
• Water quality improvement programmes (Coastal Catchments Initiative)
• Northern Australia Land and Water Taskforce support
• Northern Australia Land and Water Futures Assessment

Web pages

• Coastal Catchments Initiative
• Freshwater
• Inland waters
• Lake Eyre Basin Ministerial Forum
• River health
• Water policy
• Water quality
• Wetlands