Murray Irrigation

Fee structure Review 2026

Simplifying the company's fee structure by removing fixed Delivery Entitlement fees and introducing increased variable water delivery fees.

Murray Irrigation has undertaken a comprehensive independent review of our fee structure in response to feedback received from customers, who have asked us for improved equity and flexibility in the way they are charged. 

 

We are pleased to present the company's proposed solution, which revolves around removing Delivery Entitlements as a charging mechanism. 

 

The Murray Irrigation Board is seeking customer feedback before making its decision on whether to proceed with the proposed change to the company's fees or to maintain the status quo. This will be done via an online survey. Further information can be found below.   

 

In the meantime, we encourage you to utilise the information tools and resources available on this webpage, and participate in the customer meetings and webinars being hosting across the footprint commencing 25 March 2026. Details, including dates and locations, can also be found below. 

Timeline of events

The Challenge

MIL’s fee structure, implemented in 2007, has become inequitable for many customers and is no longer fit for purpose as a result of the separation of Water Entitlements (WEs) from land and the resultant issuing of Delivery Entitlements (DEs), and government water buybacks. This has led to:

Large cost variation in customers with similar water use


Some customers are paying up to four times more than others for similar water use.  This is primarily due to DE fees being a fixed cost and the misalignment of DEs to WEs.

High fixed cost


Currently, 81% of the average fees paid by customers are fixed and do not vary with water use. While these fees recover MIL’s fixed operating and maintenance costs, it does not provide the flexibility customers are seeking, particularly during low water allocation years.

Under-recovery of outlet costs


MIL’s independent review also found that current outlet fees significantly under‑recover operating and future refurbishment costs, creating a long‑term capital funding gap.

A summary of this review can be found here.

Principles for finding a solution

MIL explored a range of fee structures to address these issues. The proposed structure is guided by four principles:

1. Improve cost alignment


Reduce variability in cost between customers with a similar water use.


Proposed approach

  • Implement a variable fee structure and remove fixed costs associated with DEs.
  • Use water use to determine delivery fees.

2. Reward water use


Reward customers with higher water use.


Proposed approach

  • Retain volume tiers for delivery fees.
  • Maintain Water Users Credit.

3. Minimise negative impact


Limit the number of customers who are negatively impacted.


Proposed approach

  • Reduce overall fees.

4. MIL financial stability


Maintain the company’s earnings to support services and maintain infrastructure.


Proposed approach

  • Diversify revenue and increase earnings from the sale of water.

Proposed Solution

The proposed solution simplifies the company’s fee structure. It involves moving to a variable water delivery fee and cost recovery for outlet fees.


Proposed changes to the current fee structure (2025-26 Season)

Proposed Approach

Proposed Change

Delivery Fees

Variable delivery fees

  • Remove DE based fixed fee of $16.01/DE
  • Increase variable fee by $9.78/ML
  • Casual usage delivery fee not applicable

Outlet Fees

Cost recovery

  • Increase in outlet fees to reflect cost recovery with an average 2 increase of 75%
  • EOI process for customers to disconnect outlets

WaterWell

MIL retains water

  • Discontinue Resource Distribution and Allocation Advance to customers to fund reduced fees
  • No change to 5% Water Users Credit to customers

Fees to be adjusted each year based on CPI (or change in Government charges) for the 2026-27 season through to the scheduled review in 2030-31.


To determine how this change would impact your farm business, please use the Customer Calculator available in your customer portal.

 1 Major customer fees paid by irrigators. Based on 2025‑26 fees. Excludes charges collected on behalf of the Government. 

2 Average cost based on all customers past average water use for an average season with on-farm delivery of 600GL. Utilise the Customer Calculator in the customer portal to see how this proposed change will affect your business.

Customer Fees 1

Current

Proposed

Delivery Fees

Variable Delivery Fees ($/ML)

0-5 ML

$63.75

$73.53

6-100 ML

$17.22

$27.00

>100 ML

$8.58

$18.36

Casual Fee

$63.75

N/A

Fixed Delivery Fees ($/DE)

$/DE

$16.01

N/A

Outlet Fees ($/outlet)

Outlet Fee - XL

$2,049

$3,211

Outlet Fee - L

$1,538

$2,767

Outlet Fee - S

$1,157

$2,347

Outlet Fee - S&D

$529

$1,073

Other Fees

Landholding $/parcel

$1,708

No Change

CL Fee Recovery $/parcel

$1.11

No Change

Account Fee $/account

$75.28

No Change

Average Cost ($/water use)

Average Cost 2

$53.27

$41.87

What it means for customers

If the new structure is adopted, around 80% of irrigation customers would benefit from a decrease in their average cost or see little to no change. A portion of customers would experience an increase in their average cost. 


MIL will retain the water from Resource Distribution and Allocation Advance distributions that has been allocated to customers by DEs to fund the reduced company revenue from customer fees. Refer to 'What it means for MIL' section below for more on this.

 

The proposed fee structure also delivers the following advantages:

  • The current fee structure will be simplified and better aligned with the customer’s business and ability to pay, with 85% of average cost based on water use and number of outlets.
  • Irrigation customers will continue to receive a Water Users Credit.
  • In low water allocation years, irrigation customers will no longer have a fixed water delivery cost burden.
  • DEs will have no liability for customers selling or buying land or with change in land use, but will be retained as per the Company’s Constitution.

Customer Calculator

Murray Irrigation has developed a Customer Calculator to assist customers to understand how the proposed change to fees and prices would impact your farm business. This calculator allows you to manually input specific details. To utilise the personalised Customer Calculator that will compare the current fees and prices structure to the proposed fees and prices structure based on your current account configuration. 

The below video, developed using a test account explains the simplicity of the personalised Customer Calculator. 

The Customer Calculator hosted on this website has been provided for general information purposes only and to give a general sense of the impact of the proposed changes. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the results, the calculator may not account for all variables or for changes you may make to your own circumstances. The outputs should not be considered professional advice, nor determinative of any outcome. By using the calculator, you agree that Murray Irrigation and its personnel are not responsible for any decisions or outcomes based on its results.

What it means for MIL

Under the proposed fee structure, MIL will take on more of the financial burden to manage lower and variable revenue on behalf of customers:

  • $6.8 million reduced revenue in an average season, with 600GL on-farm water delivery, and
  • $10.8 million reduced revenue in a low season, with 200GL on-farm water delivery.


To fund lower customer fees while maintaining earnings, MIL will continue to diversify revenue including through the sale of water. This will allow MIL to continue delivering current services and invest in infrastructure for future generations.


MIL plans to grow earnings from water sales through Water Solutions, by retaining and selling Resource Distribution and Allocation Advance, which is expected to recover around 50% of the average $6.8 million in reduced company revenue from customer fees. The Company will also continue to attract new water to the footprint as demonstrated by CEWO and MDBA engagement and projects.

Customer Meetings

Murray Irrigation will be hosting 3 webinars and 9 small, in person meetings across the footprint between 25 March and 10 April 2026.


These meetings will provide customers an opportunity to understand the proposed change to the Company's fee structure, why this change is being considered and ask questions of Management and Directors prior to giving feedback.


Customers are encouraged to participate in these meetings.


For those who are unable to attend, please watch the below webinar recording.

Timeline of events

To RSVP to your chosen meeting, simply click the 'RSVP here' button in the RSVP column. You will be taken to an EventBrite page where you can enter your details and confirm your attendance to your chosen meeting. RSVPs are not required for the online webinars, please use the 'join' link within the table to attend at the chosen time.

Day Time Venue RSVP
Wed 25/3 9:00am Wakool Service Club
Wed 25/3 2:00pm Online Webinar
Thurs 26/3 2:00pm Pretty Pine Recreation Reserve
Fri 27/3 9:00am Finley RSC
Tues 31/3 9:00am The Coach House - Deniliquin
Tues 31/3 2:00pm Bunnaloo Hall RSVP
Wed 1/4 9:00am Berrigan Sportsground RSVP
Wed 1/4 2:00pm Online Webinar Join
Wed 8/4 7:30am Online Webinar Join
Wed 8/4 2:00pm Moulamein Bowling Club RSVP
Thurs 9/4 9:00am Blighty Recreation Reserve RSVP
Thurs 9/4 2:00pm Jerilderie Sports Club RSVP

Note: If you're viewing this table on mobile, please use the scroll bar at the bottom to RSVP.

These meetings have been capped at 20 people per meeting based on customer preference of small, in person meetings.


If you are unable to RSVP to a meeting of your choice due to limited availability we encourage you to attend an online webinar. Alternatively, please contact the Customer Experience team on 1300 138 265 or customersupport@murrayirrigation.com.au.

Current meeting locations

Customer Feedback Survey


The Murray Irrigation Board is seeking customer feedback on the proposed change to the Company's fee structure.


Customer feedback will be open from Friday 10 April to Friday 17 April. Once open, you will be able to access this survey via your Customer Portal.


The results of this survey will be provided to the Board for them to make an informed and measured decision on whether to proceed with the suggested change to the company’s fee structure, or to maintain the status quo and stay with the current fees and prices structure.

Complete feedback survey

More information


For customers who would like more information on the proposed change to the Company's fee structure, please download the below fact sheet and peruse the frequently asked questions below. Alternatively, you can call or email the Customer Experience Team on 1300 138 265 or customersupport@murrayirrigation.com.au.