Water availability across the Murray–Darling Basin is changing, and for irrigation-dependent communities such as Leeton and Edward River, these changes carry significant economic consequences. While the immediate effects of reduced water are felt at the farm level, the broader impacts extend well beyond agriculture into processing, supply chains, and local communities.
Importantly, changes in water availability are occurring alongside shifts in water market dynamics. As allocations decline, water becomes scarcer and allocation prices rise. Government buyback activity further contributes to this dynamic by reducing available supply and influencing market price benchmarks. Together, reduced availability and higher prices directly affect irrigators’ production decisions, particularly for water-intensive crops such as rice.
This report provides a clear picture of how reductions in irrigation water availability translate into changes in regional economic activity. It focuses on what happens as water is removed from the system, where impacts are most concentrated, and what is at risk for local employment and community stability.
Most importantly, the analysis shows that water is not just an input to farming in these regions, it underpins an interconnected economic system that supports jobs, industries, and communities.
Read the full report here: https://www.ramjo.nsw.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/Riverina-and-Murray-Joint-Organisation-Supporting-Document-Version-2.-Final.-Leeton-and-Edward-River.pdf