Valuing water: The Australian perspective - Lessons from the Murray-Darling Basin - Report

Jul 19, 2026

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Valuing water: The Australian perspective - Lessons from the Murray-Darling Basin presents a knowledge framework and a synthesized evidence base for valuing water resources under conditions of scarcity. Developed by the Australian Water Partnership and the World Bank with global water security support, the report consolidates three thematic case study strands: economic values, environmental values, and cultural values, each prepared by specialist teams and authors. It also documents collaborative acknowledgements, governance guidance, and Indigenous acknowledgement, linking water planning, allocation, and resource management to more equitable and transparent decision-making.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages112

Reading Time4 h 42 min

About the Australian Water Partnership knowledge framework

Purpose and knowledge strategy alignment

Global Water Security & Sanitation Partnership (GWSP) support

Donor and administering partners

About the authors and case-study synthesis

Economic values

Environmental values

Cultural values

Acknowledgements and guidance

World Bank leadership and advisory review

Government and partnership contributions

First Nations acknowledgement of Country

Valuing water: The Australian perspective Lessons from the Murray-Darling Basin Pub lic Disclosure Authorized Pub lic Disclosure Authorized Pub lic Disclosure Authorized Pub lic Disclosure Authorized AWP Knowledge Framework The Australian Water Partnership (AWP) is committed to enhancing sharing of knowledge and tools for sustainable water management to improve water planning, allocation and governance by governments, industries and civil society. This knowledge product supports the AWP Knowledge Strategy and contributes to the Australian Perspective Series under the Australian Bookcase. The other tiers within this bookcase are the Australian Journey Series and Guide Series. For more information, [visit waterpartnership.org.au](visit waterpartnership.org.au) GWSP This publication received support from the Global Water Security & Sanitation Partnership (GWSP) . GWSP is a multidonor trust fund administered by the World Bank’s Water Global Practice and supported by the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Austria’s Federal Ministry of Finance, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Netherlands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, and the United States Agency for International Development. About the Authors This report is a synthesis of three case study reports under the valuing water: The Australian Perspective Project: • Australian Water Partnership, & World Bank. (2022) . Valuing water: The Australian perspective. Lessons from the Murray-Darling Basin. Australian Water Partnership,& World Bank. Prepared by: Will Fargher, Ryan Gormly, Sarah Leck, and Huw Pohlner with Aither, and support from Lin Crase, University of South Australia. • Australian Water Partnership, & World Bank. (2022) . Valuing water: The Australian perspective. Economic values of water under scarcity in the Murray-Darling Basin. Australian Water Partnership, & World Bank. Prepared by Aither, with support from Lin Crase (University of South Australia) . • Australian Water Partnership, & World Bank. (2022) . Valuing water: The Australian perspective. Environmental values of water in the Murray-Darling Basin. Australian Water Partnership, & World Bank. Prepared by Rod Marsh ([marsh.eco](marsh.eco)); Amanda Wealands, Simon Tilleard, Barry Hart and Ross Hardie (Alluvium Consulting); and Garry Smith (DG Consulting) . • Australian Water Partnership, & World Bank. (2022) . Valuing water: The Australian perspective. Cultural values of water in the Murray-Darling Basin. Australian Water Partnership,& World Bank. Prepared by Phil Duncan, Lyndsay Charlton, Bill Moulden and Lisa Walpole (Alluvium Consulting) . Acknowledgements This report is the result of a collaborative effort between the World Bank and the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, with financial support from the Australian Water Partnership, to promote more equitable, transparent and effective management of water resources development. The World Bank team was led by Marcus Wishart (Lead Water Resource Specialist, SEAW1), Xiawei Liao (Water Resource Specialist, SEAW1), David Kaczan (Economist, SEAE1) and Si Gou (Water Resources Management Specialist, SEAW1) . Guidance was provided by an advisory panel of peer reviewers within the World Bank, including Eileen Burke (Senior Water Resource Specialist and Global Lead for Water Resources), Shelley McMillan (Senior Water Resource Specialist and Task Team Leader for the Mekong Vision 3.0), Halla Qaddumi (Senior Water Economist) and William Young (Lead Water Resource Specialist) . Additional technical review and guidance were provided to the case study on values of water under scarcity by Giovanni Ruta (Senior Environmental Economist), to the case study on environmental values by Hish

FAQs

What is the main purpose of Valuing water: The Australian perspective - Lessons from the Murray-Darling Basin?

It supports the Australian Water Partnership’s knowledge strategy by synthesizing case studies that inform water planning, allocation, and governance through economic, environmental, and cultural value perspectives.

Which thematic case studies are included in the report synthesis?

The report synthesizes economic values of water under scarcity, environmental values of water, and cultural values of water in the Murray-Darling Basin.

Who prepared the case study work and contributions are acknowledged?

Preparation is led by named authors and specialist teams across the three value domains, with contributions from partners including the Australian Water Partnership and the World Bank, and guidance and technical review from additional reviewers.

Jul 19, 2026

Upload by Liam