Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024C00760:reg:24:p27
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024C00760
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 24 (pt 27/36)
Character Range: 379640–382734

agriculture, non‑agricultural industry, meeting critical human water needs and normal domestic requirements, for recreational and cultural purposes, and in maintaining freshwater ecosystems.
    27. Basin water resources are used both to irrigate food, fibre and pasture crops, and in dryland agriculture for watering of stock and in maintaining farming operations. Use of Basin water resources underpins Basin‑wide agricultural production with an estimated value of $15 billion annually, 40% of Australia's total agricultural production. About one‑third of the Basin's annual agricultural production by value is irrigated (ABS 2006).
    28. As a long‑term average, 42% of surface‑water run‑off to the Murray‑Darling Basin is diverted for social and economic consumption or environmental management, while 58% currently remains in the environment. In 2004–05, 83% of water taken from Basin water resources was used in agricultural production; another 13% was used in the water supply industry, primarily through irrigation water supply losses; and mining, other industries and household use was relatively small. The actual consumptive water use in any given year is governed by water access rights and entitlements. This amount will vary year‑to‑year depending on annual climatic conditions and water availability (ABS 2008). For example, in 2008–09, 3,843 GL was used for agriculture out of a total of 6,152 GL, which equates to 62% of the total water use for that year (ABS 2010).
    29. Basin water resources are used for critical human water needs and domestic purposes not only across the Basin, but also in Adelaide and regional South Australia, Lithgow and the Blue Mountains in NSW, and southern Victoria.
    30. Indigenous use includes for cultural, social, environmental, spiritual and economic purposes. Many Indigenous people view water spiritually—people, land and rivers are inextricably connected. Indigenous economic interests include trading, hunting, gathering food and other items for use that alleviate the need to purchase similar items and the use of water to support businesses in industries such as pastoralism and horticulture. The environmental and cultural health of the Murray‑Darling Basin is of paramount importance in serving these interests.
    31. The concept of cultural flows helps translate the complex relationship described above into the language of water planning and management. The following definition of cultural flows is currently used by the Northern Murray‑Darling Basin Aboriginal Nations and the Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations: "Water entitlements that are legally and beneficially owned by the Indigenous Nations and are of sufficient and adequate quantity to improve the spiritual, cultural, environmental, social and economic conditions of those Indigenous Nations. This is our inherent right". The provision of cultural flows will benefit Indigenous people in improving health, wellbeing and provides empowerment to be able to care for their country and undertake cultural activities.
    32. The resources are also used