Alexandrina Council has been a vocal and consistent advocate for the health of the River Murray, Lower Lakes & Coorong which is linked to the functioning of a healthy Murray Darling Basin.

The Murray Darling Basin covers over one million square kilometres of south-eastern Australia, across New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, and the Australian Capital Territory. Over the years, the combination of natural droughts and increasing human use of the waterways for agriculture, manufacturing and communities has led to a decline in the health of the Basin.

Our region is still recovering from the Millennium Drought. Restoring and protecting the health of the River Murray, Lakes & Coorong is essential for the fish, birds and other wildlife which call it home but also for our local farmers, fishers and business owners. Healthy communities need healthy environments.

In 2012, following the Millennium Drought, the Basin Plan was developed to manage our water carefully and protect the Basin for future generations. The Basin plan sets the amount of water that can be taken from the Basin each year, while leaving enough for our rivers, lakes and wetlands and the communities, plants and animals that depend on them. It is managed in partnership between The Federal Government and the State Governments located in the Murray Darling Basin (South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, and the Australia Capital Territory).

Alexandrina Council’s vision is a healthy, working Murray-Darling Basin which sustains our people, our economy and our environment. The wellbeing of future generations demands that governments, interest groups and water users all work together to provide effective whole-of-Basin management.

We recognise the Ngarrindjeri Nation as the traditional custodians of the lands and waters of the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth region and support their right to be involved in Murray Darling Basin decision-making.

Alexandrina Council supports full and timely implementation of the Basin Plan and we are committed to working for the good of all that rely on a healthy, working river, now and into the future.

For further information about how Council advocates for a healthy Murray Darling Basin, click here.