Water talk october 2014 (low res)

ountry News Co

Water Talk Reaching Australia ’s richest agricultural region

E 12-PAUG RE T 2014 FEcA tober O

A flood is coming How man-made floods are being created — page 4

Catchment management authorities ask for longer term funding — page 10 Where the environmental water is going — page 8 | Upgrade brings efficiency — page 3

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PAGE 2—‘Water Talk’, October, 2014

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Works get under way for pipeline he $6 million Cosgrove T Stock and Domestic Pipeline project is under way,

A reunion weekend will bring together former Dartmouth Dam workers.

Dam builders to return

reunion of people who A worked and lived at Dartmouth during the

construction of the dam and power station is being held on October 17, 18 and 19.

The Dartmouth Dam, the highest in Australia, was officially opened in October 1979, after taking seven years to complete.

A range of activities has been planned over the three days, with an informal gathering on the Friday night at the Dartmouth Hotel and a formal welcome to take place on Saturday at 11.15 am.

Other activities include tours and presentations at the dam

and power station, with lunch at the town centre.

The Dartmouth Dam project was managed by the former State Rivers and Water Supply Commission of Victoria and the main contractor was Thiess Bros Pty Ltd. The construction of the Dartmouth Power Station, completed in 1981, was managed by the State Electricity Commission of Victoria.

Storytelling and poems about the construction time can be enjoyed at the dinner at the Dartmouth Hotel on Saturday evening.

Prizes will be awarded for

incidents such as: the worst driving incident, best swimmer, biggest catastrophe, and many other amusing happenings.

Forms will be available on arrival to write your stories down over the weekend.

In recognition of those who lost their lives during the construction of the dam, or workers and family who have died in the past 35 years, a church service will be held on Sunday morning around 10 am, followed by a barbecue lunch. ➤ For further information, phone Robyn Scales on (02) 6072 4233.

Bookings are essential.

with construction works beginning recently to upgrade the Tungamah pump station.

Victorian Water Minister Peter Walsh visited the site last week and said the project would replace the current 120-year-old open channel system. ‘‘I was in Cosgrove to announce this project in April this year and it is great to be back again so soon to mark the start of construction works,’’ Mr Walsh said.

Nationals candidate for Shepparton Greg Barr said the Victorian Government had recognised the importance of upgrading Cosgrove’s water supply and provided $5.4 million to the project. ‘‘It is vital that farmers have access to a reliable and efficient supply of water in order for them to grow their operations and

invest confidently in the future,’’ Mr Barr said. ‘‘This in turn supports the economic development of the region.’’

The Cosgrove Stock and Domestic Pipeline will source water from the Goulburn system through an extension of the existing Tungamah piped water district, servicing the area currently known as the Shepparton Stock and Domestic Community Water Supply Scheme.

Mr Barr said the pipeline would also save 830 Ml, to be cancelled out of the Broken system. ‘‘This will provide irrigators in that system with a more reliable supply as well, and provides the potential for more unregulated flows to be passed through the system to benefit the environment in wet years,’’ he said.

The pipeline is expected to be completed and commissioned in December 2014.

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All Victorian systems are now on 100 per cent allocation for high-reliability water.

Water outlook good

s most irrigators A know, the water markets are very much

influenced by the allocations granted to the various licence types across the basin, Ruralco Water says in its latest allocation update.

The allocations determine the supply of water in the temporary market which in turn sets the price.

The timing of allocations is also important for irrigators when assessing whether or not to commit to annual crops such as rice or cotton.

The following is a summary of the current allocations and outlook for the 2014-15 water year.

➤ Murray Valley outlook:

For NSW Murray high

security entitlement, the current allocation is 97 per cent and the general security allocation is 34 per cent.

The outlook (per cent allocation on December 1) is: very dry — 55 per cent, dry — 100 per cent, average — 100 per cent.

So while it has been a slow start for general security allocations, there should be a significant increase in the next few weeks.

This will be of some comfort to rice growers who must commit to planting a crop in the next couple of weeks.

➤ Victorian systems outlook: The Victorian allocations this season have been relatively strong with all systems currently on 100

per cent allocation for high-reliability entitlements.

This season there is also the possibility of allocations against lowreliability entitlements with the outlook as follows: Murray: 30 per cent by mid-February under average inflow conditions.

Goulburn: 25 per cent by mid-December under average inflow conditions.

Should an allocation against low-reliability occur it will be the first time since these entitlements were created.

It is likely this would have a significant impact in the temporary allocation market. ➤ For more information, contact Ruralco Water.

‘Water Talk’, October, 2014—PAGE 3

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Rod Knee on the Cobram East cherry orchard that is part of Goulburn-Murray Water’s Connections project.

od and Warren R Knee’s new irrigation connection will triple

their irrigation capacity.

The Cobram East cherry growers are being connected to the backbone through Goulburn-Murray Water’s Connections project.

Rod Knee said the connection would provide many benefits to their farming operation. ‘‘We’ll be piping the spur channel from the main supply channel and building a new dam on the property to hold 5 Ml,’’ Mr Knee said. ‘‘Because we irrigate through micro-jets, water is pumped from the dam into the micro-jet system to the orchard. ‘‘Previously we had about 18 hours of supply. ‘‘The new dam will triple

this capacity and stop any restrictions.’’

The brothers purchased the Cobram East property 10 years ago because they wanted to ‘‘spread the risk’’ from their Yarra Valley orchard.

The increased capacity will also allow them to mitigate risk because it offers greater protection from frost. ‘‘When there’s frost we start the pump and the micro-jet system to alter the temperature around the cherries,’’ Mr Knee said. ‘‘It also doesn’t allow the frost to settle as well.’’

The farm is 54 ha with 10 ha planted to cherries.

G-MW’s Connections project is connecting landowners to the backbone.

The water corporation is investing more than $2 billion from the Victorian and federal governments to improve the delivery of water to irrigation businesses across the GoulburnMurray Irrigation District.

G-MW managing director Gavin Hanlon said a key benefit to the project was water savings. ‘‘G-MW’s Connections project aims to increase irrigation water-use efficiency,’’ Mr Hanlon said. ‘‘G-MW’s water savings are independently audited each year with the results submitted to both the state and federal governments via the Department of Environment and Primary Industries.’’

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PAGE 4—‘Water Talk’, October, 2014

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Coping with high flows

By Geoff Adams

urchison irrigator M Gerard Ryan will be looking for help if minor

flood level environmental flows are pushed down the Goulburn River.

Mr Ryan is one of the people who have sought out the Murray-Darling Basin Authority after discovering that proposed over-bank flows to improve the river environment could impact on his pumping operation.

Mr Ryan raises cattle on a small farm on the banks of the Goulburn River and has attended a public forum to give feedback on the impact of higher environmental flows. ‘‘When it gets to 9.2 m it goes above minor flood level — it starts to inundate my top land,’’ Mr Ryan told Country News.

By the time a flood gets to that level it would also have covered his pump.

He is one of more than 200 diverters along the banks of the Goulburn River. ‘‘It would cut off about eight acres (3 ha). ‘‘Even if it comes off after two days, for example, the land will still retain the water.

I wouldn’t be able to put stock back on.

Simmental cross cattle on the lower lying areas near the Goulburn River.

‘‘The feed would have to be cleaned by an irrigation before the stock would eat it. And the ground would be soft. Fences can be destroyed as well.’’

Mr Ryan said he had already had to lift his pump level to get it clear of other environmental flows (called refresh flows). ‘‘Raising the level has made it less efficient.’’

Mr Ryan said he was impressed by the MurrayDarling Basin Authority team that visited the town recently but was also aware that in future other people may be

making decisions about the ultimate flow regime.

The authority is considering timing small over-bank flows in winter and spring (June to November).

This matches the time of year when rain and unregulated tributary flows typically occur in the Goulburn River, and when floodplain plants and animals need the water most.

The duration for the peak of a small over-bank flow is expected to be less than a week.

‘‘Flow rates of this size already occur in the Goulburn, but what is missing is how often they occur,’’ the MDBA Goulburn Reach report said. ‘‘In pre-regulation conditions, flows at Shepparton of 25 000 Ml/day (9.4 m) occurred nine times a decade on average; they now occur six times a decade. ‘‘Flows at Shepparton of 40 000 Ml/day (10.3 m) occurred seven times a decade on average, and now occur four times a decade. ‘‘The proposed change, based on current frequencies, is seeking an extra one to two small over-bank events in a decade to maintain in-valley environmental outcomes.

Typically, such releases will occur at times when inflows to Eildon are exceeding the rate of release.

The pattern of release will aim to ensure that flows at Shepparton remain below the upper flow threshold set for Shepparton — further analysis will be needed before this is possible.

The Goulburn River Reach Report, which includes early feedback on environmental flows, is on the Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s website.

Submissions are being taken until January.

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Janet Pritchard from the Murray-Darling Basin Authority was visiting Goulburn River towns recently.

Janet Pritchard with landowner Gerard Ryan and project officer David Sprinkle. They were examining Mr Ryan’s pump site on the Goulburn River.

What they said: ‘‘The lower Goulburn has been extensively modified. The floodplains have been cleared for agriculture and grazing right up to the levees. ‘‘The south side includes established irrigation and drainage infrastructure with its network of roads. Dryland agriculture and grazing occupy the floodplain to the north with a small proportion of irrigation. ‘‘Following several flooding episodes, a committee was set up on the eastern side. A petition to government was prepared requesting assistance to construct a levee scheme. ‘‘When landholders on the western side awoke to the fact that levees were being considered, they had the government veto the scheme. ‘‘Several years followed, where a local dispute over a levee in Yambuna occurred. Mr George Stickels saw this to be an opportunity to call for a conference of the interested shires of Deakin, Rodney, Shepparton and

Numurkah. ‘‘Within a few days of a deputation asking that the unemployed be set to work to construct levees, men with barrows and tools were at work constructing levees. ‘‘According to the 1936 Nathalia Herald news article, the engineers were instructed to save all the land they could. ‘‘The engineers Messrs Muntz and Bage set out the levee scheme whereby no levees were to be nearer than seven chains (about 140 m) from the river and in no case were the river bends to be followed. The levees constructed, as they exist today clearly do not conform to the engineer’s criteria.’’ ➤ Excerpt from SMEC (1998) reproduced in the Goulburn River Reach Report compiled by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority. ‘‘There are benefits to a flood, but there are issues as well. ‘‘We may be able to live with a

few inconveniences — shifting a few cattle is not too big an issue if we get enough notice. ‘‘However, although there is a level of inconvenience that we can all tolerate, there are flow events that are just too big and too damaging that should not be considered.’’ ➤ Cattle farmer near Molesworth.

Feedback from landholders has already identified some specific potential issues: ➤ If unregulated and unpredictable tributary flows and/ or rainfall events coincide with environmental releases from Eildon Dam, this may result in higher than planned river flows and unintended adverse consequences.

Unregulated tributaries are a significant influence on the regulated Goulburn River and should not be underestimated. ➤ Inundation of areas of private land around Alexandra and

Molesworth is highly likely, as the channel capacity is very limited in this reach and even small increases in water levels downstream of Eildon Dam will start inundating private land. ➤ A flow of 40 000 Ml/day at Shepparton is too close to triggering the statutory release formula for opening the Loch Garry flood protection scheme (removing bars and allowing water to enter the Deep Creek floodway to reduce pressure on downstream levees). This is highly undesirable. ➤ A flow of 40 000 Ml/day also presents a risk of over-topping levees in some places. ➤ Extended environmental water releases from Eildon Dam could affect private properties in tributaries due to backing-up effects, with high river flows in the main Goulburn River preventing tributary flows from draining freely. ➤ From the Goulburn River Reach Report, MDBA.

‘Water Talk’, October, 2014—PAGE 5

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PAGE 6—‘Water Talk’, October, 2014

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Project boosts irrigated area obram East dairy C farmer Mark Edwards milks more than 1000

cows a day in three different milkings.

It’s why anything that makes his job quicker or more efficient is welcomed.

Mr Edwards is the farm manager at Oxdale Dairy, a property being connected to the backbone through Goulburn-Murray Water’s Connections project.

The farm is 400 ha with 260 ha currently under irrigation.

When the connection is complete, a further 40 ha will be available for irrigation.

The property will be connected through 265 m of 560 mm high-density polyethylene pipe, and 3.8 km of G-MW channel will be backfilled with a new 30 Ml channel created around the farm with 26 bay outlets. ‘‘The new supply for the farm will be a huge benefit to us,’’ Mr Edwards said.

‘‘It will allow more land to be irrigated and it will be faster. We’re hoping irrigation time will be halved. ‘‘At the moment it takes us about a week to irrigate the property. We’re aiming to reduce this to about four days. ‘‘We’ll also be able to irrigate a further 40 ha of land that was previously rushes and weeds and just wasn’t viable.’’

Oxdale Dairy milks a 1250-strong mixed herd of predominantly Friesian cattle and about one-third crossbred in a 50-stand rotary dairy.

The team milks three times a day with about 600 in each herd. ‘‘Cows under 150 days are milked three times a day and anything over 150 days, or that drops below certain fat and protein levels is milked twice a day,’’ Mr Edwards said.

G-MW managing director Gavin Hanlon said the Connections project aimed

to increase irrigation wateruse efficiency from about 70 per cent to at least 85 per cent. ‘‘Modern channel automation technology is sensitive enough to detect discrepancies in water delivery and to identify where maintenance is required,’’ Mr Hanlon said. ‘‘Critical water level and flow monitoring via automated gates ensures precise amounts of water are delivered when and where they are needed, shortening ordering times and providing more consistent and reliable delivery of water to irrigators.’’

G-MW currently operates and maintains more than 6300 km of channel and about 24 000 outlets and meters.

When the Connections project is complete in 2018, it expects to operate about 3500 km of channels supplying water to about 12 000 irrigation outlets.

Ben and Mark Edwards are looking forward to a more efficient irrigation system.

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‘Water Talk’, October, 2014—PAGE 7

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Basin plan updates hroughout early September, T Murray-Darling Basin Authority held meetings across the southern

basin to provide an update on the basin plan and to discuss the draft basin-wide environmental watering strategy, which is currently out for public consultation.

The authority was joined by staff from the Federal Environment Department, the Commonwealth Environmental Water Office, state governments and local natural resource management organisations who gave updates on their programs.

Some of the topics covered at the meetings included: ➤ The constraints management strategy, which was released in November 2013. The aim of the strategy is to find better ways of running the river to achieve higher environmental flows.

Work has been continuing with communities and an annual report will be released in November. ➤ The new water trade rules which came into effect on July 1. These rules mainly affect state governments and irrigation infrastructure operators and are aimed at making trade easier across the basin.

The evaluation framework, which was released last month, outlines how the MDBA is going to evaluate the outcomes and effects of the basin plan. ➤ Two groundwater sustainable diversion limit reviews that have been carried out and completed recently and upcoming environmental watering at Hattah Lakes, Gunbower Forest,

MDBA Natural Resource Management Division executive director Jody Swirepik was on the panel that gave an update on the Murray-Darling Basin Plan in Shepparton.

Picture: Cathy Walker

Koondrook, Chowilla, Mulcra Island and Lindsay Island. ➤ The Commonwealth water recovery strategy and progress. ➤ The South Australian Basin Plan implementation strategy.

In the north, general updates about the

basin plan and broader water reform were also held recently, so the MDBA will focus discussions on the draft basin-wide environmental watering strategy.

It has also scheduled meetings at Goondiwindi, Dubbo, Bourke and Dirranbandi.

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Victorian Environmental Water Holder staff Mark Toomey, Chloe Viesenfeld, Tory Perrin and Caitlin Davis in Moodie Swamp with Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority’s Jo Wood who is inspecting the waterlife. See the full story opposite on page 9.

Pictures: Cathy Walker

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‘Water Talk’, October, 2014—PAGE 9

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Secret life of a hidden swamp

By Cathy Walker

here’s a world of wildlife T out there, but Moodie Swamp is a destination

fringed by trees with a grey cloud of cane grass over much of it that could make the driver passing between Tocumwal and Benalla not give it a second glance.

Meet Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority’s environmental water project officer Jo Wood and you quickly develop a better appreciation for this habitat gem.

The swamp — formally Parks Victoria Moodie Swamp Wildlife Reserve — covers 196 ha opposite Katandra Rd at Waggarandall.

Ms Wood described it as a significant breeding site for the threatened brolgas, providing abundant nesting sites thanks to the cane grass, plus plentiful water at the moment to provide food for the rather elusive birds. ‘‘The cane grass is ideal for brolgas, they build it up into hummocks that make a perfect nest well off the ground,’’ Ms Wood said.

Other bird species in the swamp include pelicans, spoonbills and black swans and pied cormorants.

Joining Ms Wood on her expedition to monitor Moodie Swamp recently were staff from

Moodie Swamp Wildlife Reserve on Benalla-Tocumwal Rd is a surprise package of biodiversity.

the Victorian Environmental Water Holder, who took an opportunity to see the results of the environmental watering that is planned and authorised from their Melbourne office.

VEWH team leader of planning and delivery Tory Perrin said a 500 Ml environmental watering that had just made its way from Lake Nillahcootie comprised both Victorian and Commonwealth water. ‘‘We create a plan every year for environmental water outlining what we want to do, based on advice from the catchment management authorities,’’ Ms Perrin said.

Moodie Swamp was also given

a smaller environmental watering of 121 Ml in May. The VEWH staff watched as Ms Wood used a net to randomly scoop down into the 10 cm deep water and deliver the bounty into a flat dish.

The finds included tadpoles, spiders, bugs and stonewort, which add oxygen to the water.

Nearby, birds were calling but did not leave the safety of their nests to be seen by the visitors. ‘‘We put together an annual report with all the monitoring results and they are used to compare the results of environmental watering deliveries,’’ Ms Wood said.

Mark Toomey tests the springy cane grass favoured by the threatened brolga for nesting.

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PAGE 10—‘Water Talk’, October, 2014

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CMAs want funding security oulburn Broken G Catchment Management Authority has joined with

other CMAs in asking the Victorian Government for a longer-term funding commitment.

While the CMAs are being asked to develop long-term catchment management strategies, they have not been able to secure funding over periods to match.

In March, the CMA chairs submitted a proposal to government to move to a fouryear state funding cycle to better support implementation of CMAs’ regional catchment strategies.

The CMAs believe there can be efficiency gains in moving from an annual to a four-year investment cycle and it would remove some of the difficulties in developing programs with longer-term outcomes and accountabilities. ‘‘Annual funding does not align with the need to match funding with natural growth and climate cycles,’’ a summary of the case said in a report released by the Auditor-General John Doyle.

In his report, Effectiveness of Catchment Management Authorities, Mr Doyle said the CMAs faced significant and escalating challenges in fulfilling their roles. ‘‘While existing catchment

Short-term funding by the state may be restricting the catchment management authorities in longer-term planning for rivers and streams.

management approaches are delivering some gains, they are inadequate to meet these challenges,’’ Mr Doyle said. ‘‘Statewide catchment conditions are poorly understood because of inconsistent assessment methods and a number of deficiencies in the adequacy and quality of data collected. ‘‘The limited information currently available suggests that the condition of catchments across the state is continuing to deteriorate.

‘‘The Act prescribes an integrated, long-term approach to catchment management. ‘‘However, the existing statewide approach is fragmented and short-term in focus, with no expectations regarding the quality of land and water resources needed to meet the Act’s objectives.’’

Goulburn Broken CMA, with a revenue of $131 million, is the biggest CMA in Victoria, although the figures have been inflated by projects associated with the Murray-Darling Basin

and the on-farm efficiency grants.

The region generates 11 per cent of the Murray-Darling Basin’s resources and 26 per cent of Victoria’s rural export earnings.

Goulburn Broken CMA chief executive officer Chris Norman said the report highlighted some good processes in place.

He said the CMA’s history and culture had contributed to positive experience in community engagement. ‘‘We go back to the days of

SPAC (Salinity Program Advisory Committee) 20 years ago, so we have had a fair bit experience in that. That’s just the way we do business,’’ Mr Norman said.

The CMA’s strategy contains a statement of commitment signed by 30 regional partners, an achievement which Mr Norman said was unique in Australia. ‘‘It was hard work to get there.’’

He said the CMA highly valued the work of Landcare and other natural resource management groups and worked closely together to support them as well as industry stakeholders including bodies like Murray Dairy.

Looking ahead, Mr Norman said maintaining the level of investment in the catchment was a major challenge.

The priority areas included the irrigation modernisation program which had implications for efficient water use, water quality and salinity.

Managing the growing bank of environmental water and getting the best out of environmental flows was also a priority. ‘‘We are just as accountable as farmers in getting the most efficient use of water for the environment with outcomes for vegetation, fish and bird-life breeding.’’

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‘Water Talk’, October, 2014—PAGE 11

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Radio upgrade supports irrigation project $1.2 million upgrade A to radio firmware as part of the GoulburnMurray Water Connections project will ensure more efficient water delivery to irrigators using the system’s modernised equipment.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Federal Environment Minister Simon Birmingham and Victorian Water Minister

Peter Walsh recently visited farms near Kerang that are being supplied by upgraded irrigation infrastructure under the Connections project.

Senator Birmingham said when Connections was completed, there would be about 18 000 automated devices in the network — such as meters, gates and regulators — so it was important the radio

firmware supporting the system was of a high standard. ‘‘This upgrade was initiated after G-MW identified that communication could be lost to automated irrigation assets when radio traffic was high,’’ Senator Birmingham said. ‘‘This meant there was potential for a loss of channel control during those high-traffic periods

— and water deliveries could have been adversely impacted. ‘‘Through this project, radio firmware — which can be described as a transmitter that receives operating instructions from a central control — at 6800 automated sites has been upgraded.’’

Mr Walsh said the Connections project was delivering water faster and more efficiently, and the

radio firmware upgrade was yet another step forward. ‘‘The Connections automated system is creating countless benefits for farmers, and is a quicker and more efficient way of moving irrigation water,’’ Mr Walsh said. ‘‘The Connections radio communication network was one of the biggest in the world, and the upgrade

ensures the stability and reliability of the communication network. ‘‘The radio firmware upgrade was jointly funded by the Victorian and Commonwealth governments through stage two of the Connections project, and was delivered under budget.’’

Works were done during the 2013 and 2014 winter shutdown of G-MW’s irrigation network.

National focus on water national water conference A dedicated to the sustainable and efficient use of water will be held on

October 15 and 16 in Melbourne.

The Inter-Water Australia Conference and Exhibition is focused on the end users of water in the private and public sector and across a wide range of activities, from food production and viticulture, to chemicals and semiconductor manufacture and the built environment.

It is free for all those with a professional and/or commercial interest in sustainable water use.

The exhibition will include a number of key players in water technology innovation, while the conference features two days of expert presentations covering areas such as the growing role of information and communications technology, the waterenergy nexus, satellite remote sensing in water use management, water use in agriculture and water risks to investors.

Companies presenting at the conference include Arup, BASF, IBM, Lorentz and National Australia Bank, and there are cutting edge contributions from CSIRO, Geoscience Australia, the University of Melbourne and others.

Complementing the conference and exhibition will be sessions on the inevitability of drinking recycled wastewater, an investment session where nine innovative ideas will pitch investors for funding and an Austradesponsored visit by a delegation of international buyers from China, India and the Philippines.

A special workshop, organised by Water Stewardship Australia, will address the topic ‘Managing water risk in food and beverage supply chains: Combining a catchment-based water stewardship approach and advanced technological solutions’. ➤ For more information, go to: www.inter-water.com.au

Catchments get check-up University of New England A researcher is leading an Ecohealth program that aims to measure river

and catchment health throughout northern NSW. As part of the program, led by Darren Ryder from UNE’s School of Environmental and Rural Science, a report card on the health of the Clarence River system has been released.

Water quality, waterbugs, fish and riverbank vegetation were assessed over 12 months from 88 sites in 37 individual river systems in the Clarence catchment. ‘‘Overall the Clarence catchment received a score of C+ or a fair rating,’’ Associate Professor Ryder said. ‘‘This score was consistent in rivers throughout the 22 600 sq km Clarence catchment although there were differences in scores for each indicator with some rivers having good water quality, some better vegetation, and most having excellent fish scores.’’

The record floods in 2013 provided an opportunity to measure the resilience of the Clarence River to the large and frequent flooding that occurs in the catchment.

The health of the freshwater sites all improved following the flood, showing these rivers bounce back quickly with improved water quality and waterbug communities.

The study also highlighted the revegetation of riverbanks throughout the region to minimise erosion as the most important restoration strategy for improving river health. ‘‘The Ecohealth program provides the scientific basis for targeted management actions to restore the riverbank vegetation that will prevent erosion, provide habitat for fish and improve water quality,’’ Assoc Prof Ryder said. ‘‘These actions are important for river health, but also for the region that has commercial fisheries and floodplain agriculture that rely on a healthy river.’’

The Ecohealth program is a partnership between the University of New England, Office of Environment and Heritage, Local Land Services, Department of Primary Industries and local councils and is being rolled out across the north coast of NSW. The team at UNE has completed the Ecohealth program in the Bellingen, Clarence, Coffs and Port Macquarie regions; it is currently under way in the Richmond catchment; and will start in the Macleay catchment later this year.

By applying a standardised approach to monitoring the health of coastal catchments and returning to catchments every four years, the program can assess the effectiveness of restoration actions and develop new priorities.

• Manufacturers of Axial Flow & Turbine Pumps • High Flow Pipelines • Dam Site Design • On-farm Project needs • Repairs to all makes of pumps

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Our state of the art welding system ensures: • No wind chill, dust or moisture contamination of weld joins.

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reducing unnecessary stress on joins.

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FACTORY TO FARM PIPE SUPPLIER 0488 506 171 steve@polyfect.com.au www.polyfect.com.au

PAGE 12—‘Water Talk’, October, 2014

Come see our range and talk to us about your irrigation needs at

Elmore Field Days site 308

6387 Murray Valley Highway, Cohuna Phone (03) 5456 2233 Fax (03) 5456 4715 Graham Webb: 0428 562 233 Michael Bicknell: 0427 504 154 www.gmpoly.com.au