e-News Edition #63 New

Date: 08-May-2026

Hot Topics

1. Basin Plan Review Submissions Close, Recommendations Due to Minister Late 2026

2. Federal Budget 2026-27 Delivered Tuesday 12 May, What to Watch for Water and Irrigation

3. NSW State-Wide Opening Water Allocations Announcement: Friday 15 May

4. SA River Murray Opens at 62% for 2026-27

5. Ozwater'26 Lands in Brisbane, 26 to 28 May

6. Gippsland Irrigation Expo Returns 20 May with 40+ Exhibitors

7. NSW Water Metering: 1 December 2026 Deadline Now Inside the Window

8. Final Weeks: Waterwise Irrigation Rebate Closes 31 May for Perth and Peel

1. Basin Plan Review Submissions Close, Recommendations Due to Minister Late 2026

Public submissions on the 2026 Murray-Darling Basin Plan Review closed at 5pm AEST on Friday 1 May 2026, drawing the curtain on a 12-week consultation that attracted strong engagement from irrigators, communities, First Nations groups and environmental water holders.

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) will now use those submissions to develop the Review, which is to be finalised and delivered to the Commonwealth Government before the end of the year. Recommendations to the Federal Water Minister are expected by late 2026.

The National Irrigators' Council has urged the MDBA to prioritise stability, noting that three decades of reform have already shrunk the share of Basin water available to farmers by around one-third. Industry watchers will be looking closely at how the Authority weighs irrigator and community evidence against environmental and First Nations submissions in the coming months.

Track the next phase of the Basin Plan Review →

2. Federal Budget 2026-27 Delivered Tuesday 12 May, What to Watch for Water and Irrigation

Treasurer Jim Chalmers will hand down the 2026-27 Federal Budget on Tuesday 12 May 2026, and there are several areas worth watching from an irrigation industry perspective.

Key items on the radar include: any expansion of the Resilient Rivers Water Infrastructure Program (currently a $494 million program over four years, with a recent $27 million top-up); funding signals on the National Water Grid; on-farm water efficiency, drought resilience and Future Drought Fund commitments; First Nations water infrastructure investments; and the Government's response to the Murray-Darling Basin Plan Review process now underway.

Irrigation Australia will share a member-focused summary of the budget's implications for the industry following the announcement. We encourage members to flag any specific budget items or follow-up topics they would like covered.

DCCEEW water reform investment overview →

3. NSW State-Wide Opening Water Allocations Announcement: Friday 15 May

NSW will release its state-wide opening water allocations for 2026-27 on Friday 15 May 2026. This is the announcement irrigators across NSW have been waiting for, and it sets the planning baseline for the new water year starting 1 July.

Recent signals are conservative. The 1 May allocation update confirmed no increase in General Security allocation for the Murrumbidgee regulated valley, and the current estimate of the required reserve for the next water year in the Murray system is 236 GL, fully reserved since 1 April. Two consecutive years of low Basin inflows continue to constrain allocations.

We will summarise the 15 May announcement in our next edition. In the meantime, irrigators are encouraged to revisit on-farm efficiency, review water trade strategies, and engage with their irrigation infrastructure operator on early-season planning.

NSW water allocation statements portal →

4. SA River Murray Opens at 62% for 2026-27

The South Australian Department for Environment and Water has confirmed that River Murray irrigators will receive a minimum opening allocation of 62 per cent at the start of the 2026-27 water year on 1 July.

The projection is based on the MDBA's "worst-case" water availability scenario, in which South Australia receives 1,246 GL, well below the state's annual Entitlement Flow of 1,850 GL. The conservative opening reflects two consecutive years of low rainfall and weak inflows into Basin storages.

The Bureau of Meteorology three-month outlook is signalling an increased chance of unusually low rainfall across parts of the Basin, so allocations may take longer than usual to improve through the season. Irrigators are encouraged to plan early, review water trade options, and revisit on-farm efficiency upgrades to stretch the available volume.

View the SA Government allocation announcement →

5. Ozwater'26 Lands in Brisbane, 26 to 28 May

The Australian Water Association's flagship event Ozwater'26 takes place at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre from 26 to 28 May 2026, under the theme "Our Water. Our Tomorrow."

The three-day program features 200+ trade exhibitors, scientific and technical papers, case studies, workshops and panels, the Young Water Professionals Program, and the Australian Water Awards Gala Dinner on the evening of Wednesday 27 May. Themes flagged for this year include recycled water, stormwater reuse, desalination readiness, and the role of culture in sustaining sector resilience.

Ozwater is the largest gathering point for the broader Australian water sector each year. For IA members, it is a strong week to connect with utilities, regulators, technology providers and adjacent water industry stakeholders.

Ozwater'26 program and registration →

6. Gippsland Irrigation Expo Returns 20 May with 40+ Exhibitors

Agriculture Victoria has confirmed the Gippsland Irrigation Expo will return on Wednesday 20 May 2026 at the Sale Showgrounds, with its biggest program yet. The free event will feature more than 40 exhibitors, a technical program, and practical demonstrations designed to help producers improve water efficiency, upgrade ageing systems, and support on-farm decision-making.

With more farmers planning for drier years and tightening water allocations, the expo is squarely focused on practical, impartial information for irrigation upgrades. It is a useful day out for IA members based in or working with Gippsland producers.

Event details from Agriculture Victoria →

7. NSW Water Metering: 1 December 2026 Deadline Now Inside the Window

NSW coastal water users are now inside the final compliance window for the next major non-urban metering deadline. From 1 December 2026, large coastal water users (those with works nominated by licence entitlements of 100 ML or more, excluding surface water pumps 500 mm or greater in diameter, which should already be compliant) must have pattern-approved metering equipment in place.

Inland users with surface water pumps of 500 mm or greater, or works nominated by licence entitlements of 100 ML or more, are required to be compliant now unless otherwise exempt. Smaller users with entitlements between 15 ML and 100 ML have until 1 December 2027 (or work approval renewal, whichever is later).

Penalties under the Water Management Act have increased substantially since the start of 2026, with civil penalties now reaching nearly $5 million for individuals and $10 million for corporations. The updated rules aim to ensure 95 per cent of licensed water use in NSW is accurately metered by December 2026.

Members needing certified meter installers can use the IA Certification Directory, or contact the IA training team for upcoming Certified Meter Installer and Validator (CMI) course dates, with the next NSW intake on 23 to 25 June 2026.

NSW non-urban metering compliance information →

8. Final Weeks: Waterwise Irrigation Rebate Closes 31 May for Perth and Peel

A reminder for IA members servicing Perth and Peel customers: the Water Corporation Waterwise Irrigation Rebate for 2025-26 closes on 31 May 2026, or earlier if all allocations are exhausted. Eligible customers can claim a rebate of up to $200 when they engage a Waterwise Garden Irrigator to identify and repair pipe leaks, or to replace or repair faulty irrigation solenoid valves (including master solenoids).

To qualify, customers need a Water Corporation account in the Perth/Peel area, an existing irrigation system that has watered their garden within the last two years, and they must use a Waterwise Garden Irrigator who is part of the program. Applications must be submitted within 30 days of the service.

Now is a strong time to schedule end-of-season service visits and remind customers about the rebate while it remains open.

Waterwise Irrigation Rebate details →

10. Upcoming Training Courses

Irrigation Australia is an RTO (91313) delivering nationally accredited irrigation qualifications, certifications and short courses across the country. Below are the next confirmed sessions. Group discounts and the WA Apprenticeship subsidy may apply, so contact the training team for details.

Upcoming training

May 2026

• Electrofusion and Butt Welding, New South Wales: 13 to 14 May 2026

June 2026

• Electrofusion and Butt Welding, Victoria: 3 to 4 June 2026
• AHC32424 Certificate III in Irrigation Technology, South Australia: commencing 15 June 2026
• Electrofusion and Butt Welding, South Australia: 17 to 18 June 2026
• Certified Meter Installer and Validator, New South Wales: 23 to 25 June 2026

Self-paced online courses

• Introduction to Irrigation Part A (free for beginners)
• Introduction to Irrigation Part B (Landscape and Agricultural streams)
• Irrigation Insights, a free induction course for new entrants
• 12-month subscription package available for company members covering all three Introduction to Irrigation courses for unlimited staff

Click here to view all upcoming training

Irrigation Australia is pleased to share that we will be an approved provider for the new Apprenticeship in Western Australia.

Funding and subsidies are available in WA. Discounts are available for multiple staff enrolments from the same organisation.

View all upcoming courses and register via our website.

13. Advertise in Our Publications

With 2026 well underway, Irrigation Australia continues to ensure our members are supported and connected. We’d like to remind you of the opportunity to advertise your business in our publications.

We’ve recently made changes to how we share our publications, with additional promotion streams and distribution methods to help your message reach a wider audience across the irrigation industry.

If you’re looking to reach irrigation professionals through The Irrigation Journal or The Overflow, contact info@irrigation.org.au for more information or to receive our 2026 Media Kit. 

14. The Irrigation Australia Talent Hub – Employers Wanted! 

With 2026 well underway, Irrigation Australia continues to ensure our members are supported and connected. We’d like to offer the opportunity to advertise your business in our publications.

We’ve recently made changes to how we share our publications, with additional promotion streams and distribution methods to help your message reach a wider audience across the irrigation industry.

Your advertisement is promoted through:

• Member email notifications
• Irrigation Australia’s website
• e-News (8,500+ subscribers)
• Social media channels
• QR codes in WA irrigation retail stores
• Publuu distribution

All ads include live links to your website, email and phone number for instant reader engagement.

If you’re looking to reach irrigation professionals through The Irrigation Journal or The Overflow, contact info@irrigation.org.au or view our media kit on the Irrigation Australia website.

Click here if you are interested in becoming an Irrigation Australia Member.

Click here to view upcoming Training Courses.

Click here to view the latest Career Opportunities available within the Irrigation Industry.