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MURRAY-DARLING BASIN COMMISSION
– DECEMBER E-LETTER NO 25
Welcome to the Murray-Darling
Basin monthly e-letter with reports of happenings across the
Basin.
Contributions are
welcome. Please send items (no more than 150 words) to the editor
at leone@netspeed.com.au
Please feel free
to pass this e-letter along to anybody who might be interested.
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(See also The Living
Murray website at http://www.thelivingmurray.mdbc.gov.au)
In this issue:
HISTORIC
FIRST STEP TAKEN ON RIVER MURRAY
An historic first
step towards restoring the River Murray to environmental health
was taken on 14 November,with
the announcement of a program to restore flows and upgrade local
environments along the river.
In a joint agreement
by the Australian Government and the states, the Murray-Darling
Basin Ministerial Council decided on the environmental objectives
for the first stage of its program to address the declining
health of the River Murray system.
The first
step will focus on achieving significant environmental benefits
for six key ecological assets:
Barmah - Millewa
Forest;
Gunbower and
Perricoota-Koondrook Forests;
The Hattah Lakes;
Chowilla Floodplain
(including Lindsay-Wallpolla);
The Murray Mouth,
Coorong and Lower Lakes; and
The River Murray
channel.
Meeting the environmental
objectives will require an average of up to 500 gigalitres of
carefully managed environmental water each year - an amount equal
to the volume of water in Sydney Harbour.
The proposal will
be discussed with local communities through a process that will:
inform communities
on the nature and rationale of the first step;
proposal seek
community input to refine the elements of the proposal including
the environmental objectives to be targeted, where the water
will come from and how it will be recovered and managed; and
involve communities
in planning and arrangements for implementing the first stage.
After the consultation
process has been completed and details of the funding package
are agreed by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG), a
final recommendation will be put to the Ministerial Council meeting
around mid-2004.
For more information,
read the complete joint Communiqué at www.thelivingmurray.mdbc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/16196/fromItemId/4440
And the State and
Federal media releases at:
CHANGES
TO MDB COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
At its Melbourne
meeting on 14 November, the MDB Ministerial Council announced
changes to the structure and operational arrangements of the
Community Advisory Committee. The CAC advises the Council
on Basin natural resource management issues from a community
perspective.
The decision follows
a review of the CAC and will take effect from March 2004.
The new CAC will
comprise two Indigenous members, three members each from NSW,
Vic, SA and Qld, one member from ACT, and five members with
expertise in each of the areas of dryland farming, irrigation
industry, environment, urban and local government. All members
will be chosen on the basis of their skills and networks.
People with a vital
interest in the well being of the Basin and its communities
are being sought for CAC membership.
Key selection criteria
include support from natural resource management and stakeholder
networks, understanding of natural resource management and ability
to communicate effectively.
Ministers agreed
that across the membership there will be the following range
of skills: governance, natural resource planning and management,
community engagement, business, scientific expertise, social
and economic expertise, conflict resolution and leadership.
CAC members will
have input to policy development, providing advice to government
agencies managing land and water resources, and working with
the Basin's communities to achieve sustainable management of
the Basin's natural resources.
For more information
and application packs contact Sue Vize, Community Advisory
Committee Executive Officer on (02) 6279 0116 or cac@mdbc.gov.au
- applications close COB Friday 2 January.
NEW
ENVIRONMENT PLAN APPROVED FOR GOULBURN BROKEN CATCHMENT
The Australian and
Victorian Governments have approved a plan for the State's Goulburn
Broken catchment region paving the way for better agricultural
and environmental sustainability.
The large and diverse
catchment covers more than 2.4 million hectares - or 10 per
cent - of Victoria and produces 11 per cent of the Murray Darling
Basin's water.
It is also home
to significant flora and fauna, and is a key food producing
area.
In a joint statement,
the Victorian Minister for Environment and Water, Mr John Thwaites,
said the strategy plan was developed through a comprehensive
community consultation and public engagement process.
"This strategy plan
is aimed at making farm land more productive while, at the same
time, delivering environmental outcomes.”
The Australian Minister
for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Mr Warren Truss said
the plan - known as the Goulburn Broken Regional Catchment Strategy
– was an exciting vision for the Goulburn Broken region.
"Value adding through
the food processing industry provides 25 per cent of the State's
export earnings. Production in the 1.4 million hectare dryland
area generates $1.9 billion each year,"
The Goulburn Broken
Regional Catchment Strategy plan provides the framework to protect
the sustainability of agricultural production worth $7.8 billion
a year across the region.
This framework will
provide strategic guidance for the development and implementation
of specific projects. Funding for these projects will be provided
in a subsequent investment plan.
For more information
read the joint statement at http://www.affa.gov.au/ministers/truss/releases/03/03345wtj.html
$30,000
REWARD FOR NATIONAL SALINITY PROBLEM ENGINEERING SOLUTION
Applications are open
for the 2004 Engineers Australia National Salinity Prize sponsored
by the Murray-Darling Basin Commission and the National Action
Plan for Salinity and Water Quality.
The award is open
to individuals, community-based groups or companies, who have
already developed and implemented an innovative technology or
methodology or have a working prototype. There is one open category
for all the entrants and entries close on Friday 5 March 2004.
Selection Criteria
for 2004 Engineers Australia National Salinity Prize are:
- The entry must
address an aspect of the current salinity problem. Aspects
include the impacts on productive farmland, river water quality,
terrestrial ecosystems, cultural heritage and the built infrastructure
(houses, roads, rail, bridges, pipelines or communication
structures).
- It must be based
on a realised outcome (not a plan to address certain issues)
and fix the impact of salinity on infrastructure and help
the Australian economy.
- It must have
provable outcomes for widespread applications.
- It must include
an identifiable engineering component that may include good
practice design and innovation.
Representatives of
Engineers Australia, the Murray-Darling Basin Commission and the
National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality will judge
the 2004 Engineers Australia National Salinity Prize.
Engineers Australia
is the common name of the Institution of Engineers, Australia.
Ken Mathers, the
Chair of the judging panel and National Vice-President of Public
Policy and Representation, Engineers Australia, said, "While
the federal, state and territory governments have committed
significant funding to help create solutions, salinity continues
to be a major problem for rural and urban Australia.
"Engineers Australia
is continuing with its commitment to assist in combating the
salinity disease by offering its second national prize and award
for a new technology or other practical outcome to address the
issue," he said.
"We were highly
appreciative of the Prime Minister's direct interest and support
for the initial prize that drew more than 30 high quality and
innovative entries from across Australia," Ken Mathers said
Full details
for entering the prize are available at the Engineers Australia
website www.ieaust.org.au
or contact John Bright – 0407 234 490 Email: jbright@ieaust.org.au
NEW MDBC
PUBLICATIONS
The following new Murray-Darling
Basin publications were published since the last newsletter. They
are available from our information officer
- Native Fish
of the Murray-Darling Basin card, (A4 double-sided information
brochure)
- New versions
of "Salinity' and 'Waterways" environmental education resource
folders (available from North Central Catchment Management
Authority on 03 5448 7124).
For more information
contact sheridan.lockerbie@mdb.gov.au
CONTRAST
OF FARMING CONDITIONS HIGHLIGHTED
The Parliamentary Secretary
for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Judith Troeth,
said recently that variable seasonal conditions across rural areas
in the wake of the drought were highlighting the vagaries of Australian
farming.
Speaking after the15th
Agricultural Finance Forum Meeting in Canberra, she said that
while record grain harvests in Western Australia, South Australia
and parts of the NSW's Riverina district would stretch water
storage capacity, much of the rest of NSW, along with southern
Queensland, was still struggling to shake the effects of drought.
"Low water storage
levels in many areas are also a concern, with sugar producers,
and farmers dependent on irrigation allocations for crops such
as rice and cotton, continuing to face tough business decisions,"
the Senator said.
"On the other
hand, overall farm finances are in sound shape, with lenders
reporting low levels of poorly performing loans, continuing
strong demand for rural properties and sharply appreciating
land prices.
"In spite of the
drought, land prices in the bush continue to rise underlining
the extent of Australia's willingness to buy property."
Senator Troeth also
said that the National Water Initiative - announced earlier
this year by the Council of Australian Governments - was making
steady progress in building a more secure and sustainable Australian
water system.
For more information
go to www.affa.gov.au/ministers/troeth/releases/03/03074t.html
NOMINATIONS
NOW OPEN FOR THE 2003 MCKELL MEDAL
Nominations have opened
for the 2003 McKell Medal, a national award that recognises excellence
in natural resource management and also honours the achievements
of a great Australian.
This prestigious
award is open to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution
to improve natural resource management in Australia through
on-farm action, scientific research or community involvement.
Sponsored by all
Australian governments, the medal commemorates the outstanding
contribution made in the area of soil and land conservation
by Sir William McKell, a former Premier of NSW (1941-47), and
Governor-General of Australia (1947-53).
People can nominate
themselves, a deserving colleague or anyone who has made a significant
contribution to better managing natural resources in this country.
Nominees should, however, still be working in their chosen field
and, if they win, be able to use the award to promote the ethic
of sound natural resource management.
Organisers are particularly
keen to recognise achievements that have helped change land-use
practices or community attitudes, and promoted a more sustainable
approach to managing Australia's precious natural resources
and biodiversity.
Nominees would need
to have demonstrated achievements in one or more of the following
areas:
- showing community
leadership in ethical land stewardship at the local, regional,
state or national level;
- developing and
implementing highly effective and innovative educational and
promotional programs; or
- undertaking
or promoting research activities, or applying research findings
that can significantly contribute to the above criteria.
The medal is only open
to individuals, or individuals working in a partnership. Groups
and organisations are not eligible to receive the award.
Nominations close
on Friday 19 December 2003, and should be sent to the McKell
Medal Advisory Panel, Australian Government Department of Agriculture,
Fisheries and Forestry, GPO Box 858, ACT 2601, or emailed to
mckellmedal@affa.gov.au.
More information
is available on the web site: http://www.affa.gov.au/mckellmedal
CASE
STUDIES SHOWCASE EMS IN ACTION
A new book allows farmers
to read about specific examples of the benefits to be had from
improved environmental management.
Launched at the
recent 3rd National Conference on Environmental Management Systems
(EMS) in Agriculture, the book “Adoption of Environmental Management
Systems in Agriculture” draws from 40 case studies throughout
Australia and New Zealand.
It was written by
Genevieve Carruthers, an environmental systems expert with the
NSW Department of Agriculture and published by the Rural Industries
Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC).
The studies reveal
the broad range of costs and benefits, including economic, that
can flow from enhanced environmental management.
The application
of EMS on farms is in its infancy worldwide, despite its wider
application in other industry sectors. This study provides an
important benchmark for future EMS implementation on the farm.
It also provides
a number of important pointers for supporting farmers who wish
to utilise EMS as a management tool in the future.
An EMS is a business
management tool that can improve competitiveness and productivity.
An EMS can also help primary producers meet emerging market
demands for quality and environmental assurance.
Using a “plan, do,
check and act” cycle to deliver continuous improvement in business
performance, farmers can use EMS to identify and manage their
impacts on the environment.
For more information
or a copy of the book ($40 including postage and handling) contact
RIRDC on 02 6272 4819.
VALUE
OF SEASONAL FORECASTING COMES UNDER MICROSCOPE
A symposium to be
held in Canberra on 16 December will assess the value of popular
forecasting approaches to agriculture in southern Australia.
Farmers use seasonal
rainfall forecasts to alter their management tactics to suit
weather conditions, but the quality of these decisions depends
on the accuracy of the forecasts.
The symposium will
also look at the past, present and future value of seasonal
forecasts and discuss the proposition that, at present, the
way to boost farm profits in our uncertain climate is to use
the historical weather record to set farming strategies.
Participants will
also look at the suitability of the Southern Oscillation Index
as a useful leading indicator of rainfall.
Speakers include
John Donnelly (CSIRO Plant Industry); Ross Cunningham (Australian
National University); Garry Anderson (University of Melbourne);
Andrew Vizard (University of Melbourne); David Buckley (Charles
Sturt University); and Libby Salmon (CSIRO Plant Industry).
The symposium is
free and will be held at the CSIRO laboratories on Barry Drive,
Black Mountain, Canberra.
More information
contact Emma Bond, emma.bond@csiro.au
CONGRESS
TO STUDY FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS
The function of freshwater
ecosystems, patterns of variability and their management, and
a range of spatial scales will be the focus of the Joint 42nd
Annual Australian Society for Limnology Congress and The New Zealand
Limnological Society.
Held at Warrnambool
in Victoria 1-5 December, the conference aims to encourage the
presentation of new, unpublished research giving managers and
scientists the opportunity of getting the latest research findings,
to identify knowledge gaps and to discuss research issues.
For more information
contact brobson@deakin.edu.au
DRYLAND
SALINITY FARMING SUCCESS STORIES
A new book tells
the success stories some farmers are experiencing in battling
dryland salinity.
The latest issue
of the "Innovate Australia" (www.innovateaustralia.com) newsletter
reports that the book, “Saltland Pastures in Australia – A Practical
Guide” by Dr Ed Barrett-Lennard, encourages livestock producers
to revegetate salt-affected land with saltland pastures.
"These pastures
can be profitable, sustainable and of benefit to the environment
and the broader community," says Dr Barrett-Lennard
Topics covered in
this second edition of the book include:
- designing pastures
to improve their nutritive value to grazing animals;
- the importance
of salinity, waterlogging and inundation as factors affecting
the ecological zonation of saltland;
- the benefits
of saltland pastures in lowering water tables;
- the value of
less salt tolerant plants, particularly in less severely affected
land;
- the economic
value of saltland pastures, and farmer experiences.
The publication of
the book was supported by the Land, Water & Wool Sustainable
Grazing on Saline Land (SGSL) sub-program.
SGSL is the only
national initiative that addresses the productive management
of land and water specifically for wool growers.
Copies of the book
can be obtained for $25 + $5 postage from CanPrint Communications,
Freecall (1800) 776 616 or by e-mail: lwa@canprint.com.au.
For more details,
visit Land, Water & Wool on-line: www.landwaterwool.gov.au
NEW
VERSION OF AUSTRALIAN RAINMAN SOFTWARE RELEASED
A new version of the
Australian Rainman computer software has just been released by
Land & Water Australia and the Department of Primary Industries
Queensland.
The new package,
called Rainman StreamFlow Version 4.3, was produced by the Queensland
Centre for Climate Applications in Toowoomba, in partnership
with other state and federal agencies.
3,000 free evaluation
copies will be distributed nationally by Land & Water Australia
until the end of the year.
Participants will
be asked to take part in an evaluation.
To order, ring 1800
776 616 or go to http://www.lwa.gov.au/rainman
and quote product code EC030609
Registered owners
of Rainman Version 3.3 who have not received their new copy
should contact Dr Jeff Clewett on 07 4688 1244 or email jeff.clewett@dpi.qld.gov.au.
For more details
about the product, see www.lwa.gov.au/media.asp.
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