Media Release

Inspector-General launches inquiry into the measurement of non-urban water take in the Murray-Darling Basin

16 September 2026

The Inspector-General of Water Compliance, the Hon. Troy Grant, has announced an inquiry into how non-urban water take is measured across the Murray-Darling Basin. This is the Inspector-General's second inquiry, following the inquiry into the Northern Basin Toolkit.

Accurate measurement of water take is fundamental to the integrity of the Basin Plan. It is critical for governments and the community to understand how much water is being taken, whether legal limits are being respected, and whether the Basin's water is being shared as intended.

Measurement varies across the Basin. Each jurisdiction uses its own mix of meters, estimates and modelling. Significant investment has gone into meters, telemetry and data systems over the past decade, but questions remain about how well these arrangements are working.

Existing assurance mechanisms, including the Inspector-General's Metering Report Card and Compliance Compact Stocktake, rely largely on information reported by jurisdictions. The inquiry will provide the independent verification needed to assess how non-urban water measurement arrangements are performing across the Basin.

"Water measurement is the foundation of trust in the Basin Plan. If we cannot rely on the data, we cannot rely on the outcomes," said Mr Grant. "This inquiry will provide an independent, Basin-wide view of how water take is measured and whether current arrangements are fit for purpose."

The inquiry will focus on three themes: coverage - how much non-urban water take is measured and where gaps remain; accuracy - whether meters, estimates and models are producing reliable results; and timeliness - how quickly the data becomes available to measure compliance. It will not examine floodplain harvesting or overland flow measurement, which are the subject of a current audit by the Inspector-General in New South Wales.

“The Commonwealth and Basin States have invested heavily in measurement over recent years. That work deserves careful, independent scrutiny to identify what is working, what is not, and where practical improvements can be made,” said Mr Grant.

“I expect this inquiry to identify practical lessons that will benefit every jurisdiction and strengthen confidence in Basin water management.”

The Inspector-General is seeking input from stakeholders across the Basin, particularly those with involvement in water measurement, including industry bodies, meter owners and technical experts.

Submissions are open until 28 October 2026 and can be made through the Inspector-General's dedicated inquiry website: inquiry.igwc.gov.au

The Inspector-General expects to report to the Australian Government in late 2027.

Media contact: Joshua Watson – joshua.watson@igwc.gov.au - 0479 194 279