Murray-Darling Basin plan to effect supply, freight and transport sectors

The draft plan for the Murray-Darling Basin is said to restore the basin health by diverting 2750 gigalitres of agricultural water to the environment by 2019 through a mix of buybacks and infrastructure projects, but could heavily impact supply chains in the area.

The new basin plan does not provide a breakdown of the socio-economic impact of buybacks on individual communities, but does note the most vulnerable regions. It says the rice, cotton, dairy and horticulture industries could be hardest hit.

"Flow-on economic impacts may affect those associated with the supply chain, processing, freight and transport, and local businesses," the report said.

"Flow-on social impacts may affect, for example, social services and community wellbeing."

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