The federal government has claimed a milestone in recovering environmental water for the River Murray.

New figures show that water recovery in progress on the Murray-Darling Basin Plan’s 450GL water target has surged to 286GL in this term of government, compared to 2GL in the previous 10 years.

It says it has in train almost two-thirds of the water towards the 450GL target, and delivered 99.5 per cent of the Bridging the Gap target – two core parts of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

The government has welcomed the strong community interest in voluntary water purchase. The first round tender has closed and contracts are currently being evaluated for up to 70GL of water from parts of the southern connected Basin. 

Further offers are still under consideration, with another tender for up to 100GL of water from the southern connected Basin opened late last month.

Last week the federal government announced more than $94 million of funding for South Australian Basin communities to deliver important infrastructure that can support higher flows in the River Murray and provide assistance that will minimise the social and economic impacts of water recovery.

It says it remains open to all options to deliver the Murray−Darling Basin Plan in a way that balances the needs of communities, industries and the environment.

Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek says after a decade of sabotage, Labor has got the Basin Plan back on track.

“We know this water is vital to Basin communities and is something that matters deeply to all South Australians.

“A healthy Murray-Darling Basin is vital to the communities, industry and environment that rely on it. That’s why we’ve worked together with Basin states and communities to rescue the Plan and deliver much-needed water.

South Australian Deputy Premier Susan Close says the announcement is tremendous news for the state and couldn’t come at a better time with drought starting to bite.

“Without a healthy River Murray, there is no water for farmers, irrigators or the environment, so this is an unbelievable result.”