What Murray-Darling Basin Authority does

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) is an independent Australian Government statutory agency established under the Water Act 2007 (Cth), headquartered in Canberra with seven offices across the Basin. It is responsible for planning and managing the water resources of the Murray-Darling Basin — a 1 million square kilometre area spanning 77,000 km of rivers across NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and the ACT, home to 2.4 million people and 8,400 irrigated agriculture businesses that together generate roughly $30 billion in agricultural output annually. MDBA operates the River Murray system on behalf of NSW, Victoria, and South Australia, coordinates water releases from major storages, and manages infrastructure including dams, weirs, locks, and barrages in coordination with state partners WaterNSW, Goulburn Murray Water, Snowy Hydro, and SA Water.

Its core deliverable is the Basin Plan (made law in 2012), which sets sustainable diversion limits and balances competing demands for water across agriculture, communities, First Nations cultural practices, and environmental flows. Underpinning the Plan is a portfolio of technical assets: a River System Modelling Platform with historical climate data from 1895 to present, hydrodynamic modelling for flood prediction, Sentinel-2 satellite-based remote sensing in use since 1987, the Insights Portal (ArcGIS-based), the River Murray Data live operational site, the Bureau of Meteorology's Murray-Darling Basin Water Information Portal, and the $35 million Hydrometric Networks and Remote Sensing Program completed September 2024. The agency also runs the $20 million MD-WERP research consortium (2021-2025) with CSIRO and multiple universities, the Basin Condition Monitoring Program, the Sustainable Rivers Audit, and the Sustainable Yields assessment (most recent 2025).

MDBA does not sell products or services and is funded through Australian Government parliamentary appropriations rather than commercial revenue. Its 251-500 staff and regional engagement officers deliver public consultation, regional forums, annual River Reflections conferences, scientific research, and water accounting/compliance tools to Basin states, irrigators, communities, First Nations peoples, and environmental water holders. The current strategic initiative is the 2026 Basin Plan Review — the first comprehensive review in the Plan's 14-year history — with a final report due December 2026.

Name

Murray-Darling Basin Authority

Legal name

Murray–Darling Basin Authority

Website

https://mdba.gov.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority is an independent Australian Government statutory agency that plans and manages water resources across the 1 million sq km Murray-Darling Basin, operating the River Murray system on behalf of three states and balancing the needs of agriculture, 2.4 million residents, First Nations peoples, and the environment under the Basin Plan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Resource Management

NAICS

Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411)

SIC

Water Supply (4941)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources Administration (Watersheds, Rivers, Groundwater) (BPAIAMAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water Quality & Watershed/Hydrologic Modeling (SWMM/HEC-RAS, Flood/Runoff/Nutrient) (EUAHAKAF), Water & Wastewater Compliance (NPDES/Stormwater, Pretreatment, Drinking Water/SDWA) (EUAHABAB), Water & Wastewater Infrastructure Asset Management (EUAEAMAH), Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration (BPAIACAG), Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK)

Keywords

• Water resource management
• Basin planning
• Hydrological modelling
• Environmental water management
• River system operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Canberra

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The MDBA manages the water resources of the Murray-Darling Basin by administering the Basin Plan, operating the River Murray system on behalf of NSW, Victoria, and South Australia, and delivering scientific monitoring, modelling, and research programs. Its offerings are public water resource management services, data platforms (Insights Portal, River Murray Data, Water Information Portal), monitoring programs, environmental assessments, and regulatory frameworks rather than commercial products. Operations span 77,000 km of rivers, 23 rivers, 22 catchments, and cover infrastructure such as dams, weirs, locks, and barrages across a one million square kilometre area.

Product overview

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority operates as a statutory water resource management agency rather than a commercial technology product company. Its offerings consist of water resource management programs and data access platforms organized around the Basin Plan as the core framework. The primary platforms include the Insights Portal for modelling information, River Murray Data for live operational data, and the Bureau of Meteorology's Water Information Portal for Basin-wide water information. Supporting programs include the Basin Condition Monitoring Program (monitoring environmental, social, economic, and cultural conditions), Sustainable Rivers Audit (environmental assessment), Sustainable Yields (climate impact analysis), and the Murray-Darling Water and Environment Research Program (research). Operational services cover River Murray Operations and Infrastructure Management. The 2026 Basin Plan Review is the major planning initiative currently underway. No commercial software products, APIs, or SaaS offerings are described.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Basin Plan
• Insights Portal
• River Murray Data
• Murray-Darling Basin Water Information Portal
• Basin Condition Monitoring Program
• Basin Plan Evaluation
• Sustainable Rivers Audit
• Sustainable Yields
• Murray-Darling Water and Environment Research Program (MD-WERP)
• Infrastructure Management
• River Murray Operations
• Hydrometric Networks and Remote Sensing Program
• 2026 Basin Plan Review
• Publications and Data Service

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,900 participants engaged and nearly 2,500 submissions received during 2026 Basin Plan Review public consultation
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• WaterNSWcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWaterNSW manages regulated inflows from the Murrumbidgee River and Billabong Creek, as well as the Great Darling Anabranch and lower Darling River inflows when MDBA is not calling shared resource from Menindee Lakes. Collaborates on water information systems including WaterInsights portal.
• Goulburn Murray WatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoulburn Murray Water (GMW) manages the regulated inflows from the Goulburn River system including Goulburn, Campaspe and Loddon rivers and Broken Creek. Essential partner in coordinated operations of the River Murray System.
• Snowy HydrocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSnowy Hydro Limited controls releases from the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme into the upper River Murray. Under the Snowy Water Licence, Snowy Hydro has substantial flexibility over the pattern of releases, significantly impacting downstream water availability.
• SA WatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSA Water manages flows downstream of the South Australia border, including operation of the Lower Lakes barrages. Essential partner for delivering water to South Australian communities and managing the Murray Mouth.
• Bureau of MeteorologycoreTechnology or IntegrationCollaborated on $35 million Hydrometric Networks and Remote Sensing Program. Bureau developed the Murray-Darling Basin Water Information Portal providing transparent water information across the Basin including water availability, storage, groundwater, streamflow, allocation volumes, water take, water markets, and water quality.
• Geoscience AustraliacoreTechnology or IntegrationCollaborated on $35 million Hydrometric Networks and Remote Sensing Program to enhance measurement and monitoring of water in the northern Murray-Darling Basin.
• Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial and economic projects under the Basin Condition Monitoring Program have been developed in consultation with ABARES, a division of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
• Murray and Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations (MLDRIN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMDBA is working with MLDRIN directly on design of cultural projects including pathways to Basin Plan Review, cultural flows, outcomes for First Nations peoples, and digitising and interpreting the Darling (Baaka) Scrolls.
• Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and WatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian Government partner in the Murray-Darling Water and Environment Research Program (MD-WERP), a $20 million initiative (2021-2025) to understand the Basin's condition and inform solutions for sustainable long-term future.
• Commonwealth Environmental Water HoldercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian Government partner in MD-WERP program and key stakeholder in environmental water management. Manages water allocated to maintain health of rivers, wetlands and floodplains (water for the environment).
• CSIROcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead research partner in MD-WERP Research Consortium, partnered with Deakin University to deliver research on climate adaptation and hydrology themes. Previously conducted original Sustainable Yields project in 2009.
• La Trobe UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead research partner in MD-WERP Research Consortium, partnered with Griffith University, University of Canberra, Macquarie University and Sarah Martin Consultant Archaeologist to deliver research on environmental outcomes, and social, economic and cultural outcomes.
• Basin State GovernmentscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBasin governments (NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia) were consulted via inter-jurisdictional Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Working Group (MER WG) to ensure no overlap in Basin Condition Monitoring Program and complement existing monitoring.
• New South Wales GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on $35 million Hydrometric Networks and Remote Sensing Program. State government partner in water management, responsible for WaterInsights portal and managing water resources in NSW portion of Basin.
• Queensland GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on $35 million Hydrometric Networks and Remote Sensing Program. State government partner responsible for WaterIQ portal and managing water resources in Queensland portion of Basin (approximately 15% of Murray-Darling Basin).
• Basin Community Committee (BCC)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMDBA works with the BCC Indigenous sub-group on design of cultural projects under the Basin Condition Monitoring Program.

Scale indicators20 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Environment Agency (UK): UK statutory body responsible for environmental regulation including water quality, flood management, and conservation. Comparable to MDBA in its statutory environmental stewardship role, though broader in scope and not focused on a single river basin.
• Tennessee Valley Authority: US federal corporation managing the Tennessee River basin for navigation, flood control, power, and environmental stewardship. Comparable as a multi-purpose river basin authority with infrastructure management and regional economic development functions.

Direct peers

• California Department of Water Resources: US state agency responsible for managing and delivering water across California, including the State Water Project. Directly comparable to MDBA as a sub-national water resources planning authority with environmental, agricultural, and urban stakeholders, and significant infrastructure assets.
• Brazilian National Water Agency (ANA): Brazilian federal agency overseeing national water resources management and regulation. Comparable to MDBA as a national-level water regulator implementing federal water policy across multiple river basins and stakeholder groups.
• WaterNSW: NSW state-owned water corporation operating the state's water infrastructure and bulk water supply. Closely comparable as a coordinating water operator within the Murray-Darling Basin; works with MDBA on shared tributary management.
• South Florida Water Management District: Regional water authority governing water resources across south Florida, balancing agricultural, urban, and Everglades environmental needs. Comparable to MDBA in its role as a science-driven planning body with extensive monitoring and ecosystem restoration mandates.
• US Bureau of Reclamation: US federal agency that manages water resources in 17 western states, delivering water for agriculture, municipal use, and hydropower. Closely comparable to MDBA in managing large-scale federal water infrastructure and allocation across multiple jurisdictions.
• Goulburn Murray Water: Victorian rural water corporation managing irrigation districts and waterways in northern Victoria. Comparable as a state-level Basin water operator partnered with MDBA, with similar agricultural and environmental water management functions.

Others

• Bureau of Meteorology: Australian Government agency providing hydrological and meteorological data. Directly comparable to MDBA's data and modelling function as a collaborator on the Murray-Darling Basin Water Information Portal, though its scope is broader and includes weather forecasting.

Regional players

• Snowy Hydro: Australian federal corporation operating the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme, with water releases significantly impacting Murray-Darling inflows. Comparable as a major water infrastructure operator and MDBA partner, though focused on hydropower and water supply rather than basin-wide regulation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MDBAuth
• Xx.com/MD_Basin_Auth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/murray-darling-basin-authority
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/MurrayDarlingBasin

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Murray-Darling Basin Authority