ountry News Co
Water Talk Reaching Australia ’s richest agricultural region
E 12-PAUG RE T 015 FEA arch 2 M
Irrigating by mobile phone — page 4
Rising water prices – two views — pages 8 and 9 | River detectives on the job — page 6 Fight over money from water sale — page 11
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PAGE 2—‘Water Talk’, March, 2015
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New system worth the effort witching to a fully S automated pipe and riser system has been
‘‘life changing’’ for Waaia dairy farmers Tony and Mette De Nittis. Mr and Mrs De Nittis milk up to 230 Holsteins on their 100 ha property and moved from a gravity-fed system to a fully piped system as part of the Goulburn-Murray Water Connections Project and the Farm Water Program. The farm was previously supplied via a spur channel. The 700 m channel has been decommissioned and the property connected to a backbone channel by pipe. ‘‘Before the work we had five wheels, one with a maximum flow of 10 Ml and the other four with a maximum flow of 6 Ml,’’ Mr De Nittis said. ‘‘Irrigating was very slow — to water everywhere took four days. Now we average about 12 Ml and can get the whole lot done in about 72 hours.’’ Mrs De Nittis said the property was now a lot easier to manage. ‘‘Previously the water
from the recycled dam could only go to some parts of the farm — now it can be used everywhere,’’ she said. ‘‘Because we know exactly when and where the water will be delivered, it’s made rotating grazing and managing pasture and all other aspects of the farm so much easier.’’ The piped system also allows effluent from the dairy effluent pond to be used across the farm to boost pasture growth and improve soil structure, while filling in of the on-farm channels has reduced the time and costs associated with spraying and maintaining them. ‘‘We’ve also got wider laneways and better access so it’s easier to move the cows around the farm and to and from the dairy,’’ Mrs De Nittis said. They said the time and effort to manage the project works was worth it. ‘‘It was a lot of work and pre-planning but Mick Hogan Excavation and Mait Industries were fantastic to work with during the whole project and also with
support afterwards,’’ Mrs De Nittis said. ‘‘Then there was a whole lot of work involved in setting up and getting used to the automation — there were a few nights spent sleeping in the ute to check we’d got the timing right.’’ The couple has already noticed improvements in pasture quality and quantity. ‘‘We’re now cutting more and feeding more cows than ever before,’’ Mr De Nittis said. ‘‘Looking to the long term, we’ve set up a profitable fully modernised farm that will make it easier for us to continue to manage it ourselves or, down the track, sell. The programs (G-MW Connections and Farm Water) have been great for the local economy and creating jobs and confidence in the industry and this region. ‘‘For us, the whole experience has been lifechanging.’’
The Nittis’ filled-in channel.
The piped system has boosted pasture growth and improved soil structure.
Basin plan issues raised urray Irrigation has given M the new Parliamentary Secretary to the Environment
Minister Bob Baldwin three specific key areas that needed to be addressed in the roll-out of the MurrayDarling Basin Plan. Mr Baldwin and the new MDBA chairman Neil Andrew went on a week-long tour of Murray River communities early in February and Mr Baldwin reiterated the government’s commitment to deliver the plan in full. He said broad rhetoric would not change that objective, but he was open to hearing about things that could be addressed as part of the implementation. Murray Irrigation chairman Bruce Simpson said in an ideal world the plan would be halted. He identified three key areas of concern: ‘‘Firstly, the government must legislate to cap buy-back at 1500 Gl to give irrigators the certainty that the worst form of water recovery in terms of economic impact is only used as the option of absolute last resort — and preferably never again,’’ Mr Simpson said. ‘‘Mr Baldwin said he needed the support of cross-bench senators to get legislation through the parliament so we gave the same message to independent Senator John Madigan when he was in Deniliquin on Wednesday (February 3).
‘‘There are no more excuses to delay that legislation and formalise the focus of water recovery through infrastructure investment.’’ The second item on Murray Irrigation’s list is the SDL adjustment mechanism that allows the volume of water recovery to be adjusted to recognise where the same environmental outcomes can be achieved with less water through engineering solutions. ‘‘The SDL adjustment mechanism offers hope that the amount of water recovery from this region can be reduced at the same time as achieving significant environmental outcomes by actively managing environmental water delivery instead of aiming for widespread and damaging floods,’’ Mr Simpson said. The third key area was the plan’s Constraints Management Strategy. Mr Simpson said the strategy was in ‘‘desperate need of a practical approach’’. ‘‘Currently the strategy is all about how to get water over the banks, across the system and to the end,’’ he said. ‘‘It should not be about that. It should be about looking at where you will get the best returns for investment without damage. ‘‘Our region is a perfect example of where there are practical solutions to local delivery constraints, such as
New MDBA chairman Neil Andrew visited communities along the Murray River in February. using or upgrading existing infrastructure to maximise environmental benefits, without the need for damaging floods and negative third party impacts.’’ Southern Riverina Irrigators, which represents 1600 irrigators in the region between Yarrawonga Weir and Kerang including the Edward-Wakool region, supports Murray Irrigations recommendations. Chairman John Bradford said the buy-back of 1500 Gl was the most important issue for irrigators. ‘‘The government has promised us they will legislate 1500 Gl,’’ Mr Bradford said. ‘‘It’s imperative that we get
that up and get it across the line. ‘‘If we continue to lose water within Murray Irrigation, the onus is on the people and the price pressure of running a system with less water is not favourable to irrigators in the future.’’ Mr Bradford said water not used for environmental purposes during the drying phases should be returned to the irrigators. He also said he hoped Mr Baldwin would take the concerns of irrigators into account. ‘‘He’s a nice person but a real straight shooter,’’ Mr Bradford said. ‘‘He basically said you either come along or get off the bus.’’
‘Water Talk’, March, 2015—PAGE 3
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Warm weather changes market (Goulburn/Loddon) and 55 per cent (Murray). Under average inflow conditions both systems are forecast to have 100 per cent HRWS allocations by October 15 this year. As we approach the end of the water year interest in forward water markets has been stimulated with strong interest and planning around future requirements. A huge part of forward and future planning is also the strategy around permanent entitlement purchases and sales. Prices for permanent entitlement remain firm in all regions with interest increasing as irrigators look to the future. — Ruralco
Banking on program esearchers have R started a program to monitor bank erosion
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along the lower Goulburn River. The monitoring program is funded by the Commonwealth and Victorian Environmental Water Holders for five years and aims to assess whether there is any influence from environmental flow deliveries on rates of bank erosion. Dr Geoff Vietz from Streamology, which is conducting the monitoring, said the information collected from the program would help determine if environmental flow deliveries contributed to bank erosion by accelerating natural rates of erosion, and if so how they might be modified to reduce their impact. ‘‘Bank erosion is a dynamic and natural process that helps to create a diverse range of physical habitats for native vegetation, fish and bugs,’’ Mr Vietz said. ‘‘However, accelerated rates of bank erosion can have an impact on water quality and result in the loss of valuable riparian and agricultural land.’’ A total of 200 erosion pins have been inserted into the bank at four locations along the lower Goulburn River between Murchison and the Murray River. The erosion pins are remeasured up to six times a year to quantify rates of bank recession. Qualitative visual assessments of bank erosion are also made to determine the main mechanisms of erosion. Simon Casanelia from Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority said the CMA was hopeful the results of the monitoring program would identify opportunities for further refinement of the
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followed by a flurry of activity as warm weather caused demand to spike. Now in mid-February we see prices beginning to fall away again, with increased allocations and slightly cooler weather. In Victorian markets temporary allocation prices have been far more stable but now appear to be softening. This activity is very similar to the trends of last season when we saw the price of temporary water increased slightly in early February and then fall away as a large
number of irrigators looked to close out their season. Allocation announcements in NSW have provided a further increase in general security allocations with NSW Murray increasing by a further six per cent to 59 per cent and Murrumbidgee by two per cent to 50 per cent. Of real interest to the Victorian Murray and Goulburn markets, the first seasonal outlook for 2015-16 has also been released. Under dry conditions the HRWS allocations for the Goulburn/ Loddon and Murray are expected to be 39 per cent at July 1. Under average conditions this increases to 49 per cent
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Simon Casanelia from the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority assisting researchers with monitoring recently on a Goulburn River bank. planning and delivery of environmental water. ‘‘Currently, the height of environmental deliveries down the Goulburn River are varied and their rate of rise and fall are controlled to reduce their potential impact on bank erosion,’’ Mr Casanelia said. ‘‘The Goulburn Broken CMA is delivering environmental water down the lower Goulburn River to promote the growth and establishment of bank vegetation, which will help reduce the potential for erosion. ‘‘The loss of bank vegetation through overgrazing, drought and floods has weakened the ability of the river bank to resist the
erosive forces of high flows.’’ The river bank condition monitoring is part of a broader monitoring program funded by the Commonwealth and state governments that is also evaluating the impact of environmental water deliveries on native fish, instream metabolism, riparian vegetation and macro-invertebrates along the lower Goulburn River. The Victorian Environmental Water Holder prioritises environmental water releases in the Goulburn River as part of its Seasonal Watering Plan 2014-15, which aims to improve river and wetland health across the state.
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PAGE 4—‘Water Talk’, March, 2015
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Irrigation efficiency aids farm growth mprovements in waterIquality use efficiency, pasture and lifestyle are
The line of automated outlets on the Ryan family dairy farm at Lancaster.
Nick Ryan looks at the farm plan that was the template for the irrigation modernisation work.
Calves seek shelter from the sun on the Lancaster dairy farm.
the key benefits of an irrigation modernisation project at Lancaster. Nick and Nicole Ryan, who farm in partnership with Nick’s brother Tony and his wife Sandy, are more than five years into the program which, when complete, will see a complete overhaul of the irrigation system on the 259 ha dairy farm. The third-generation farmers began the upgrade through the Northern Victorian Irrigation Renewal Project and accessed funding from rounds two and three of the On-Farm Irrigation Efficiency Program. About 70 per cent of the farm has been converted from flood irrigation to an automated pipe-and-riser system with fast-flow outlets installed on the remainder of the property. In total 1.8 km of channels and six dethridge wheels have been decommissioned and, in exchange for funding, the Ryans have returned 200 Ml of water to the Federal Government for the environment. The result, Nick Ryan said, was a modern and efficient system that could be operated remotely through mobile phone or tablet, allowing the farmers to irrigate when away from the property or carrying out other farm work. ‘‘We have direct access to the backbone channel so we can order water 24 hours before we need it, not four days as was the case in the past,’’ Mr Ryan said. ‘‘We can get the water on and off quickly which assists pasture growth. It’s a much better quality of irrigation.’’ He said Rubicon Water’s Farm Connect system actually increased the
Nick Ryan and daughter Eve, 4, check the flow of irrigation water. amount of irrigated land on the property; some paddocks, which were previously unproductive had been brought into production with the pipeand-riser system. The family looked at several systems but opted for the Rubicon version because of a reputation for quality and local back-up service. ‘‘We have done the work in stages and this system has the capacity of being added to without re-doing the whole thing,’’ Mr Ryan said. Two fixed moisture monitors have been installed and more are planned. These operate
from the same software program and assist to effectively schedule irrigations. Mr Ryan said the family operation Woodbine Holdings grew predominantly perennial pastures, with some annual pastures. He said the increased quality and quantity of pastures had allowed the operation to expand from 650 head to an 850-cow herd. The Ryans teamed with delivery partner Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority for round two of the IEP, and with Waterfind for round three works.
Nicole Ryan controls the automated system with a software program accessed by a tablet.
‘Water Talk’, March, 2015—PAGE 5
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Recruiting young river sleuths now orth Central N Catchment Management Authority is
on the lookout for passionate people keen to engage the next River Detectives recruits. The River Detectives environmental education program has been introducing primary school students to key river health and water-quality concepts for several years. The North Central CMA is getting its magnifying glasses out looking for facilitators keen to help students gain an understanding of these important concepts. North Central CMA Education facilitator Nicole Howie said River Detectives was fun, healthy and a great way to learn and this year was also available online. ‘‘It enables students to gain an intimate knowledge and love for their local waterway through a variety
of hands-on activities, including regular waterquality testing, water-bug sampling and habitat surveys,’’ Ms Howie said. ‘‘River Detectives aligns with the Australian curriculum framework, offering cross-curricular activities to promote understanding of waterways as integral features of a healthy ecosystem and healthy community. ‘‘Students develop skills in monitoring and enhancing riparian habitats and are encouraged to become custodians of their local waterway.’’ Ms Howie is searching for locals to help facilitate the program in their school or youth group. And by ‘‘locals’’ the facilitator is talking a broad area: from Swan Hill as far south as Daylesford and Creswick, and from Watchem and Marnoo in the west across
Bullarto Primary School students test water quality in Kangaroo Creek near Malmsbury. Picture: Sandy Scheltema to Echuca, Rochester and Heathcote. ‘‘If you are a teacher, a parent or a community member with a passion for your waterway and environment, you’re invited to get involved,’’ she said.
‘‘The program can be tailored to meet the needs of schools and facilitators. We will provide training to equip you with the required knowledge, skills and materials. ‘‘What better way is there
to inspire children to protect their environment than by giving them hands-on experiences?’’ ➤ To register a school or become a River Detective facilitator, phone Nicole on a Tuesday or
Wednesdays on (03) 5440 1892 or email Nicole.howie@nccma. vic.gov.au Further details about River Detectives are available at www.nccma.vic.gov.au
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he Murray-Darling Basin T Authority will lower Lake Mulwala between late
autumn and mid-winter to undertake structural works and manage the aquatic weed Egeria densa. It has warned communities around Yarrawonga Weir as well as people who use the lake such as boat operators, recreational users and pumpers, that they should consider adjusting their plans to take in changed water levels. MDBA River Management head David Dreverman said the lake draw-down would start in late April and the lake would be refilled to its normal operating range by late July. ‘‘We are very aware of the importance of Lake Mulwala to the community, so we’ve been
Water levels in Lake Mulwala will be drawn down and MDBA has advised people to reconsider their recreational plans for the lake. Picture: Simon Bingham for the start of the irrigation season. ‘‘This draw-down will allow routine testing of the weir structure and work to control erosion on the lake foreshore. ‘‘It’s also an opportunity to prevent the invasive water weed Egeria densa from becoming a problem. ‘‘Subjecting the exposed weed to frost is the best way to
stop it spreading to the extent that caused problems in 2009.’’ The MDBA will issue further advice in the coming weeks. The works plan may be altered in response to a survey of Egeria in March, and changing weather and river conditions. ➤ More information will be available in the River Operations Weekly Report at www.mdba.gov.au/riverdata/ current-information-forecasts
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talking with people in the area to limit any disruption to local activities,’’ Mr Dreverman said. ‘‘Starting in late April, the water level will be gradually lowered by 1.2 m, reaching about 123.5 m Australian Height Datum (AHD) by midMay. ‘‘We’ll adjust the rate at which the lake is lowered to make sure supply is maintained to the major irrigation offtakes.’’ Mr Dreverman said the second phase of the draw-down, from mid-May, would see the water level lowered to about 121.7 m AHD, 3 m below the normal operating level. It would be held at that level until about mid-July. ‘‘We expect to start refilling Lake Mulwala by mid-July, ready
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Bloodworth at Bega Cheese’s Strathmerton factory. Shawn Padman said the course has been life-changing for him and employees after the company quickly expanded from 12 to more than 50 staff within three years. ‘‘We got so busy, all the responsibility fell onto me so I allocated good and honest guys to look after the different
departments. But there was no skills or training,’’ he said. ‘‘The course has given the leadership team skills to make them more responsible and to change the culture at Padman Stops, because we had an unhealthy culture.’’ Mr Padman said the team had learned communication skills that had been passed on to other employees.
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‘Water Talk’, March, 2015—PAGE 7
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Fabrication
Helping rivers harles Sturt University launched two C water monitoring projects last month as part of the Australian Government’s
$30 million Long-Term Intervention Monitoring Project. CSU is one of a number of universities and research institutions involved in the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder’s long-term monitoring program, designed to provide all Murray-Darling water managers with greater insights and knowledge into the effectiveness of environmental watering. The University’s Institute for Land, Water and Society secured $6.9 million in funding to lead two of the seven projects. The institute’s director, Max Finlayson, said: ‘‘These projects address a vital part of the national program to restore the river systems of the Murray-Darling and provide a basis for a sustainable future for our communities in unison with the wider environment. ‘‘We are proud to be part of the current initiative and to be able to launch the projects alongside our collaborators.’’ The Long-Term Intervention Monitoring Project for the Edward-Wakool River System ($3.36 million) is led by Robyn Watts with the NSW Department of Primary Industries (Fisheries), Monash University, Griffith University, the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, and Murray Local Land Services. ‘‘The main focus of the Edward-Wakool project is the fish community, movement, breeding, and recruitment responses to Commonwealth environmental watering,’’ Associate Professor Watts said. ‘‘In addition we are examining water quality, primary productivity, vegetation,
James Hearn from Murray Local Land Services, CSU’s Robyn Watts who will lead the Edward-Wakool project with Ben Docker from the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office. and reproduction and recruitment of other organisms. The long-term data we collect through this project will enable us to undertake statistical modelling to predict and evaluate responses to Commonwealth environmental watering.’’ The project for the Murrumbidgee River System ($3.5 million) is led by the Institute’s Dr Skye Wassens with the NSW Department of Primary Industries (Fisheries), University of NSW, Riverina Local Land Services and the NSW OEH. ‘‘The Murrumbidgee Selected Area contains three nationally significant freshwater systems; the Murrumbidgee River, the mid-Murrumbidgee wetlands and the Lowbidgee floodplain,’’ Dr Wassens said.
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Irrigation and Energy Expo showcasing industry innovation
ATTENTION EXHIBITORS
Shepparton Showgrounds – May 20 & 21, 2015
Showcase your business at the 2015 WTC Irrigation Expo With a hugely successful event in 2014, the 2015 expo promises to be even better. The expo provides the perfect opportunity to promote your products and services to a targeted audience. Many previous exhibitors have commented that ‘the right people’ attend and buy their products.
If you’re participating in the On-farm Water Progams or Goulburn-Murray Water Connections Project, this Irrigation and Energy Efficiencty Expo is for you.
To book your exhibition space please complete the prospectus documents available from our website, www.wtcexpo.com.au and email To be held again at the Exhibition them to andrew.chittick@totaleden. building at the Shepparton showgrounds, which is a purpose-built com.au or mail to Andrew Chittick at undercover venue with extensive car Rob Rye Irrigation, 19 New Dookie Road, Shepparton, parking. With competitive site fees and a guaranteed audience, exhibitors Victoria 3630. will receive excellent value for money. Book early to secure your site!
Contacts Sponsorship Wendy Buck Chair WTC Irrigation Expo wendy@wtcexpo.com.au
Exhibiting Andrew Chittick Expo Treasurer andrew.chittick@totaleden.com.au
Phone: 0438 052 630
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PAGE 8—‘Water Talk’, March, 2015
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Carry-over rules must change OPINION
’
environmental water held by the Commonwealth to be traded on the temporary market. To date the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office has only allowed limited trade onto the temporary market, and under Commonwealth legislation any money raised from the sale of temporary water must be used to
buy more water. The Nationals resolved this inequity at a state level by changing carry-over rules to ensure that the Victorian Environmental Water Holder and urban water authorities were required to operate under the same rules as irrigators. This resulted in the Melbourne Water authority trading some 50 000 Ml of water back onto the temporary market last year which could be used for productive agriculture. It is imperative that Ms Neville now acts in the best interests of Victorian food producers by
pursuing similar changes with the Commonwealth. Currently 545 302 Ml of highreliability and 43 423 Ml of lowreliability water shares are held by the Commonwealth in Victoria. The bulk of that water is from the Murray and Goulburn systems. Irrigators have no access to that water, even when it is not needed for environmental purposes. This is disastrous for irrigators who are being forced to buy temporary water at inflated prices. Many irrigators are now more heavily reliant on the temporary market, having sold their permanent water during the
GMW’s Connections Project allowed Mr Thornton to decommission the spur channel and install a fully pumped fast flow system and 4km of pipe and risers. Now with good yields off this year’s corn and his faba beans and canola also looking good, he is considering moving into other crops, such as poppies. “The biggest plus is the greatly reduced water logging - the water is on and off very quickly. I’m also using slightly less water - 6ML instead of 7ML on corn- and it takes one and half hours to irrigate a bay rather than four.” The project was completed early 2014 and Mr Thornton couldn’t be happier with the results. For more information, please go to the Connections website www.gmwconnections.com.au
“
I can irrigate all parts of the farm whenever I need to and I’ve got a flexible, steady flow
“
Previously the property was gravity fed and with clay loam soils, getting the water on and off his corn and other crops quickly could be a challenge.
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drought to stay afloat. One irrigator I spoke with recently has purchased more than 100 Ml of water this summer. While water remains at $125 to $130/Ml on the temporary market, many producers will have no choice but to scale back production next year. That Labor has chosen to lump water in with the environment and climate change portfolio speaks volumes about the fact the new government does not understand that water, first and foremost, is an economic portfolio. — Steph Ryan, Member for Euroa, deputy leader of the Nationals
Connections Project
Waterlogged crops are a thing of the past for Yalca irrigator Ray Thornton. Now Mr Thornton’s entire 240ha property has a pumped supply thanks to the Connections Project done in conjunction with the Farm Water Program.
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Member for Euroa Steph Ryan is calling for changes to the rules controlling the Commonwealth Environmental Water office.
130 120 110 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10
Price ($)
Goulburn – Murray Zones Price per Ml 1600 1500 1400 1300 1200 1100 1000 900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 05/11/14
northern Victoria is alarming. So far Ms Neville has been mute on where Victorian Labor sits on the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. She has also failed to say whether she intends take up the case for Victorian irrigators seeking access to environmental water held by the Commonwealth. Before the state election, Nationals Leader Peter Walsh proposed changes to the Commonwealth which would have seen revenue raised from the sale of temporary water used to fund environmental infrastructure. This would reduce the amount of water required for the MurrayDarling Basin Plan by using infrastructure to achieve the same environmental outcomes without taking water away from productive use. He also sought the creation of a mechanism to allow
‘
That Labor has chosen to lump water in with the environment and climate change portfolio speaks volumes about the fact the new government does not understand that water, first and foremost, is an economic portfolio.
29/10/14
he silence of Labor’s new T water minister, Lisa Neville, on issues affecting irrigators in
Water Pool
Pooled Exchange Season 29/10/2014 – 14/01/2015
Volume (Ml)
Steph Ryan is a former senior policy adviser to the Minister for Water in the coalition government who worked through the Murray-Darling Basin Plan process, the renegotiation of the Victorian desalination plant and the closure of the North-South pipeline.
‘Water Talk’, March, 2015—PAGE 9
y lle Va ear an e Y 13. si la th 0 ra of 2 s t e r nd Au eal 12 a D 0 2
water talk OPINION
Farmers hit by high temporary water prices
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o-one doubts that we need to have water for the environment. We all have an interest in having sustainable working rivers. But has the cost of this been fully considered? The price of temporary water in the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District is currently close to $125/Ml. This is about 40 per cent higher than the same time last year. Farmers who are reliant on temporary water are feeling the pinch. In a free market, price is a matter of supply and demand. As part of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, the Federal Government has bought 425 Gl of highreliability water entitlement from Victorian irrigators. Until the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder starts temporary trade in the Southern Basin, this water has left the area. Currently the CEWH can only use the revenue from temporary trading to purchase other water allocations. So temporary water may become available in one area, but will need to be balanced with purchases in another area. The recent review of the Commonwealth Water Act 2007 recommended that revenue be used for other environmental activities which are directed at maximising environmental outcomes such as fish ladders and cold water curtains. The impact of this is that some temporary water could re-enter the market. The Federal Government is still
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Survey Richard Anderson considering its response to the review. On the demand side the key difference this year is that with no spring rain, farmers started irrigating earlier and as a result there is expected to be limited carry-over in some areas because irrigators are close to exhausting their allocations. So, with reduced supply and increasing demand, prices are being pushed up. The VFF is continuing to
lobby that further water to be recovered for the environment is done through works and measures projects. We are also committed to ensuring that any trading by the CEWH needs to be conducted with the objective of managing environmental water, not expanding the size of the environmental entitlements. — Richard Anderson VFF Water Committee chairman
Grants under scrutiny n audit of the Office of Living Victoria’s grants program will follow the money to see if funded projects actually exist. Former Victorian auditorgeneral Des Pearson will head an independent inquiry into the now-abolished water authority. Water Minister Lisa Neville said Mr Pearson would investigate the grants and contracts awarded by the OLV. ‘‘We’ve asked him to basically follow the money,’’ Ms Neville said. She said $11 million had already gone out the door
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on projects, with another $19 million committed. ‘‘Do these projects exist or not?’’ Ms Neville said. ‘‘We had concerns about one that was reported about a month ago, where nothing has happened yet but most of the money has gone out the door.’’ An Ombudsman’s report released in August found the OLV failed to comply with government policies and conflicts of interest were poorly handled. The OLV was set up in 2012 by former water minister Peter Walsh, who is the leader of the Victorian Nationals.
Labor abolished the office in December, after winning government. Ms Neville denied the investigation into the $50 million grants program was a witch hunt. ‘‘The ombudsman . . . recommended that we undertake a specific audit looking at these grant programs and looking at the contracts,’’ she said. Mr Walsh said he would co-operate fully with the inquiry. ‘‘Des Pearson will do his job and I’m sure he will find that the money has actually gone to deliver good outcomes,’’ he said.
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PAGE 10—‘Water Talk’, March, 2015
water talk
Working to control willows he North Central T Catchment Management Authority is
working on willow control along Gunbower Creek as part of the National Landcare Program-funded Gunbower Forest Key Asset Protection (KAP) project. In its second year, the Gunbower KAP project is funded to deliver environmental enhancement activities within Gunbower Forest and Gunbower Creek, including terrestrial and aquatic weed control, revegetation, native vegetation protection and rabbit and fox control. This project is also funding the continued treatment of the pale yellow water lily. Project manager Adrian Martins said the removal of willows was a high priority of the project. ‘‘They are incredibly
invasive, resulting in the disruption to hydrological processes of waterways and wetlands, competing with native flora species and threatening the unique ecological character and environmental values of the internationally important Gunbower Forest,’’ he said. ‘‘The impact of willow species in the landscape is reflected in their status as a Weed of National Significance (WoNS).’’ In 2012, the Gunbower Creek Invasive Weeds Community Reference Group identified and agreed on a willow-control program that did not conflict with the communities’ cultural and amenity values of willows, particularly at public sites. The majority of works will be to re-spray sites already treated. All new sites will occur in areas where the adjacent landholder has
Removing willows is a high priority of a project by NCCMA on Gunbower Creek. already been contacted and signed consent has been received. ‘‘The willow control works being undertaken in the coming weeks remain compliant with the agreed community action plan from
2012,’’ Mr Martins said. ‘‘Works will comprise retreating previous work sites through foliar spraying of regrowth as well as treatment of emerging willow infestations on both private and public land in
partnership with specific landowners and land managers along Gunbower Creek.’’ The North Central CMA has already made contact with public and private land managers to undertake the
Picture: Sophie Bruns agreed willow treatment work. This project is supported through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program. ➤ For inquiries about willow control, phone Mr Martins on 5448 7124.
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‘Water Talk’, March, 2015—PAGE 11
water talk
Water sale cash use is disputed n argument has A erupted about the distribution of money
raised by the sale of a recreation reserve’s former water allocation. Campaspe Shire has announced it will distribute $480 000 to community groups. But the Rochester Racecourse Recreation Reserve is opposed to the idea, saying it alone has the right to decide how the money is spent. ‘‘The shire told us the money was ours to use,’’ Rochester Racecourse Recreation Reserve president Naida Belot said. ‘‘All of a sudden, we’d lost that money and it was now being allocated to the Rochester district. ‘‘We now have to apply to be considered to get some of our own money back.’’ The money came into the reserve’s hands through the sale of the reserve’s water allocation under the defunct Campaspe irrigation system. The disagreement about rights to the money stems from the way ownership of the reserve’s land has changed. Until the 1980s, the land was owned by the now defunct Rochester Jockey Club; which made the then
Shire of Rochester its trustees when the club was disbanded. This trusteeship was transferred to Campaspe Shire after amalgamation. But the trust and its transfer came with conditions: primarily the shire was not allowed to sell the land and it had to be used for recreational purposes for the benefit of the Rochester community. ‘‘The shire seems to think it owns the land and not that it holds it in trust,’’ Ms Belot said. ‘‘We have all these people in town who agree the money should benefit the reserve.’’ When Campaspe Golf Club was established, it took over management of the water attached to the land, leading to the current situation where it feels a sense of ownership. Further muddling the situation is a change in water transfer rules which took place in the late 1990s, which meant water could be sold separately from the land. At the time of the transfer of the land from the jockey club to the shire, the land already had an existing water allocation, but this was increased in 2000 after
lobbying by the reserve’s user groups. Councillor Greg Toll, who worked with the club at the time its water allocation was increased, said there was an argument that clubs using the land owned the water. ‘‘I believe the proceeds from the water acquired 15 years ago are the property of the clubs on the land,’’ he said. ‘‘However, there is an argument the shire has jurisdiction over the original water allotment in place at the time of transfer.’’ This is an argument council has flatly rejected. ‘‘Council has twice performed freedom of information searches for paperwork to corroborate the reserve’s story,’’ Mayor Leigh Wilson said. ‘‘We have searched for title information supporting its case and found nothing. ‘‘The reserve committee was tasked to manage that land on behalf of all ratepayers, not just themselves.’’ Cr Wilson compared it to the local football club staking legal ownership of its clubrooms. ‘‘They’ll say they own the clubrooms and grounds but that’s crown land, managed by the shire,’’ he said.
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Fog catchers to fill water need in Peru mid the hilly desert A landscape to the south of Lima, in Peru, a project
is under way to establish 1000 ‘‘fog-catchers’’ to collect up to 400 000 litres of water per day and supply the povertystricken people living there. Last month the Peruvians Without Water Movement set up the first three fogcatchers, devices that collect water from the fog that regularly covers the Peruvian capital, particularly in winter. They will channel it into reservoirs so it can be used for human consumption and irrigating small agricultural plots. The systems were installed at the Humano Villa Lourdes Ecologica settlement, a povertystricken neighbourhood in the Villa Maria del Triunfo district in southern Lima, the second-largest city in the world — after Cairo — located in a desert zone. ‘‘One hundred to 200 fog-
catchers will be placed in this community,’’ Peruvians Without Water president Abel Cruz said. ‘‘The final goal is to have 1000 functioning with their reservoirs and tanks, which will allow us to be able to capture between 200 000 and 400 000 litres of water per day.’’ This project will open up ‘‘a range of opportunities for these families in extreme poverty to be able to have water and drainage,’’ and also for them to be able to work small farm plots. Villa Lourdes Ecologica general secretary Pablo Lliuya said water was expensive for the local residents and filling a small reservoir cost up to 40 soles (about $A17) every 15 days, when the monthly cost in other parts of the city with potable water networks was much lower. ‘‘Thank God, (the group) is helping cover the costs. With this project we’re spending less, we’re really
helping 500 families,’’ he said. The promoters of the project are getting help from private companies and the first three ‘‘fogcatchers’’ set up last month were sponsored by Walter Geiger, an Austrian who works in the United States, and his son Lukas Geiger. The Peruvians Without Water Movement is working on several projects to provide water to local residents. Its aim is for the families who are benefiting to become self-sufficient in vegetables, fruit and spices, to save money on buying water from April to November and to make extra income by selling their farm produce. The movement began working with ‘‘fog-catchers’’ in Lima in 2010, but it was not until 2012 that it got the financing to set up 20 of the systems in the Los Tunales neighbourhood. — David Blanco Bonilla
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PAGE 12—‘Water Talk’, March, 2015
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