MURRAY-DARLING BASIN COMMISSION - AUGUST 2004 SUBSCRIBER E-LETTER No 33
Welcome to the Murray-Darling Basin monthly e-letter with reports of happenings across the Basin.
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(See also The Living Murray website at http://www.thelivingmurray.mdbc.gov.au)
In this issue:
WANTED: PROPOSALS TO IMPROVE ENVIRONMENTAL WATER RECOVERY
The Murray-Darling Basin Commission is seeking applications from irrigation system operators, irrigation industry associations, catchment authorities and other interested parties for pre-feasibility studies of cost effective infrastructure improvement projects.
Each proposal - for the southern Murray-Darling Basin - must result in the delivery of at least two gigalitres of new water for the environment.
In March 2004, the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council announced that $1.2m would be made available to support the investigation and development of water recovery projects.
Funding for each project under the $1.2m program will generally be $100,000 or less.
The projects could be listed on a “developmental register” held by the Murray- Darling Basin Ministerial Council for further analysis and consultation before the infrastructure improvement project is constructed.
Proposals for funding, which should be submitted on a special application form (see below) will be assessed competitively.
In many cases, project proponents will be expected to contribute towards the pre-feasibility study of the project (such as through matching contributions or on an in-kind basis).
A downloadable prospectus (see below) provides information regarding:
- eligibility to apply for the $1.2m program;
- required outputs from each pre-feasibility study funded under the program;
- the timeline for the program;
- an overview of contractual matters for successful applicants; and
- where to obtain further information.
Proposals will be received at the MDBC office until 12 noon on 30 August 2004 .
To download the prospectus and application form go to: http://www.mdbc.gov.au/TLM/TLM_prospectus.html
For more information contact Lindsay White on (02) 6279 0103.
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MDBC REPORT SCOPES LIVING MURRAY ECONOMIC ISSUES
The Murray-Darling Basin Commission released a report on “Scoping of economic issues in the Living Murray, with an emphasis on the irrigation sector” on July 20.
The report was prepared in the lead-up to the November 2003 meeting of the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council when the historic Living Murray First Step decision was made.
“This is an important record of past advice provided to Basin governments,” MDBC Acting Chief Executive David Dole said.
“It will be of interest to many in the Basin community. Its release follows completion of an independent peer review, which is now available along with the report itself,” Mr Dole said.
The report is based on a number of assumptions about water recovery which were made in 2003, many of which have been overtaken by the First Step decision, and more recently, by the National Water Initiative. Future economic analyses will better reflect the emerging thinking of Basin governments' on how water will be recovered for the environment.
“It is now important that the Basin community looks forward and grasps the opportunities from the $500m investment as a result of the signing of the National Water Initiative at the Council of Australian Governments (CoAG) meeting in June,” Mr Dole said.
“One example is $1.2m being made available to fund pre-feasibility studies of projects to improve infrastructure (eg. pipelines) that will recover water for the environment”.
Further information on the $1.2m program is available from the Living Murray website at: www.thelivingmurray.mdbc.gov.au
For a copy of “Scoping of economic issues in the Living Murray, with an emphasis on the irrigation sector” and the peer review of the report go to: www.mdbc.gov.au/TLM/TLM_ecomonic.html
For media inquries contact: Allison Hicks, Phone: 02 62790129 BH, Mobile (0407) 704609, Email: allison.hicks@mdbc.gov.au
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NEW PACKAGE BRINGS TOGETHER 10 YEARS OF DRYLAND SALINITY RESEARCH
Ten years of research into the causes, impacts, costs and management of dryland salinity in Australia has been synthesised by the National Dryland Salinity Project (NDSP) into a major new information resource package.
These resources bring together a wealth of information, including the outcomes of more than 50 major research projects that have been undertaken by the NDSP since its inception in 1993.
As part of this resource package, the following three reports have been developed:
- “Breaking ground: key findings from 10 years of Australia's National Dryland Salinity Program”;
- “Dryland salinity: On-farm decisions and catchment outcomes: a guide for leading producers and advisors”; and
- “Dryland salinity and catchment management: a resource directory and action manual for catchment managers”.
Also included in the package is an interactive CD which presents each of these reports in an easy-to-access format, together with around 400 references forming an electronic library of dryland salinity management information resources.
The resource package was developed over the past year, with extensive involvement from the individuals and groups who are most likely to be using this information at farm, catchment and policy levels.
The MDBC has been a partner of the NDSP program since its inception in 1993 and has carried out many research projects relevant to dryland salinity in the Murray-Darling Basin. Many of them are represented in the NDSP information package – such as the development of a groundwater flow systems framework to assist in planning for salinity management, and regional information packages developed to provide options for salinity management at a regional level.
Copies of the report “Dryland Salinity and Catchment Management: A Resource Directory and Action Manual for Catchment Managers” and the interactive CD “Managing Dryland Salinity in Australia: key findings, research directory and action manual from Australia's National Dryland Salinity Program” are available from the MDBC Information Officer on 6279 0141 or by email info@mdbc.gov.au.
They are also available from Canprint on 1800 776 616 or email lwa@canprint.com.au.
For more information on the MDBC's involvement in the NDSP contact Dr Sharon Davis on 02 6279 0100.
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INNOVATIVE WORKS SLOW DOWN RIVER MURRAY EROSION
River Murray Water, the operational arm of the MDBC, is funding innovative remedial works on the Hume Dam-Yarrawonga reach of the River Murray to slow down erosion and improve the river's flow.
The program, known as the Waterway Management Plan, will also bring benefits to native fish such as the Murray cod.
This stretch of the Murray is the most heavily affected by regulation of the system for water supply.
It is an area of naturally occurring anabranch streams (streams that run parallel with the “main stem' of the river) many of which carry up to 50 per cent of regulated water flows.
Regulation caused faster erosion which, in turn, enlarged the existing anabranches and created new ones. The remedial works are cutting the rate of erosion in the main and anabranch stems to more natural rates.
All the partner governments (including SA and the Austalian Government) are contributing via River Murray Water's funding arrangements, in recognition of the broader responsibility for the impacts of river regulation. The works themselves are being carried out by New South Wales and Victorian authorities as a “no borders” exercise.
Traditional river management tools such as willow trees and rock armouring are being phased out where possible in favour of innovative techniques, many of which have not been used before on the Murray.
These include:
- revegetation using native "long stem" plants;
- construction of timber pile groynes (devices that slow down water flow and which cut the impact of high energy flowing water on the stream banks); and
- timber pile bed-grade control structures.
In a reversal of past practice, snags (fallen trees) are being reintroduced in critical areas to help "roughen" the stream channels and cut water flow energy.
This will also help native fish such as the Murray Cod which use these snags as refuges.
The Hume to Yarrawonga reach of the Murray was heavily "de-snagged" in the 1960's and 1970's to reduce floodwater height. It is now widely accepted that too many snags were removed, contributing to greater erosion and a reduction in the numbers of native fish.
A proposal to extend the benefits of this program through additional re-snagging (with more benefits for native fish) are being investigated under the Living Murray Implementation Program.
Many of the anabranches in this reach of the Murray cross private land and the MDBC is negotiating easements with affected floodplain landholders.
For more information contact Bruce Campbell on 02 6279 0100
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TRANSFER OF WATER FROM DARTMOUTH TO HUME STARTS
River Murray Water (RMW) announced the transfer of water at low rates from Dartmouth Reservoir to Hume Reservoir beginning in late July.
The release is needed to supplement storage in Hume as part of the ongoing transfer of water to Lake Victoria.
Release was at close to minimum rates and was expected to be increased to between 500 and 1500 ML/day early the third week of July, subject to construction work underway downstream of Dartmouth Dam.
“It is expected there will be a need to further increase the rate of transfer in August to ensure we can meet the combined requirements of South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria this season”, RMW General Manager David Dreverman said.
Unless there is a significant change in inflow conditions, it is expected that release will be increased early in August to target an average flow of about 5 000 ML/day (or 2.4 m gauge height) at Tallandoon. However, variations can be expected as a result of inflows from tributaries downstream of Dartmouth.
The rate of transfer will be kept under review in the light of conditions across the River Murray System, and storage in Hume Reservoir and Lake Victoria. Should inflows improve significantly over the coming months, the volume required to be transferred would reduce.
RMW will provide regular updates throughout the season on the program of release from Dartmouth Reservoir.
For more information visit the wesbite: http://www.mdbc.gov.au/river_murray/river_info/river_info.html
For media inquiries contact: Allison Hicks, Phone: 02 62790129 BH, Mobile (0407) 704609, Email: allison.hicks@mdbc.gov.au
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CURRENT RECOMMENDED PRACTICES FOR DRYLAND AGRICULTURE
A new Murray-Darling Basin Commission report identifies the relationships between management practices and sustainability goals.
‘Current Recommended Practice - A Directory For Broadacre Dryland Agriculture' was developed with farmers, industries and scientists, and are adopted by leading farmers.
Farming practices operate in an ever-changing environmental, social, financial and technological situation.
Current Recommended Practices (CRPs) recognise that there are ways of managing farm management practice from an economic, social or an environmentally sustainable perspective.
Many of these Current Recommended Practices are likely to benefit water quality and river health and are relevant right across dryland agricultural regions.
The development of the directory of Current Recommended Practices is one tool to help farmers and industries move towards a more sustainable future.
This CRP directory is one part of the MDBC Landmark research project which has developed and tested methods to determine if current farming practices and CRPs achieve the environmental, economic and social sustainability and policy opportunities to achieve these outcomes.
‘Current Recommended Practice - A Directory For Broadacre Dryland Agriculture' is available from:
For more information contact Charlotte Keller at charlotte.keller@mdbc.gov.au
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MURRAY YOUTH VOICE CONCERNS AND VISION TO SA PARLIAMENT
Youth from South Australia presented the results of their investigations into the health of the River Murray catchment to key South Australian parliamentarians in July.
The presentation was hosted by the Hon Peter Lewis and attended by key members of parliament.
Students representing the 37 schools who undertook the MYRiveR Murray investigation reported on the outcomes of water quality testing and habitat assessments of 171 sites from Corryong to Coorong, 874 community surveys, their analysis of the situation, their vision for the future and their plans for action.
MYRiveR Murray is an Oz GREEN initiative that has involved schools from throughout the whole River Murray catchment in the biggest community led investigation into river health ever undertaken in Australia.
Since 2002, Oz GREEN has worked with over 1,000 young people from 73 schools in “taking the pulse” of the Murrumbidgee, Darling and Murray River catchments by undertaking community surveys, detailed environmental assessments of 400 sites and developing youth voice, vision and action plans to care for their waterways.
MYRiveR Murray was supported by AMP Foundation, Vodafone Australia Foundation, McLean Fellowships, Murray-Darling Basin Commission, NSW Murray Wetlands Working Group, Franciscan Friars and Imagination Media.
The outcomes of the their activities and their report on the health of the Murray is available at www.myriver.org.au.
For more information on MYRiveR Murray and the Oz GREEN initiative contact Sue Lennox at slennox@ozgreen.org.au
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COMMUNITY FELLOWSHIPS FOR ANYONE WITH A ‘STORY TO TELL'
Do you have a story to tell? Land and Water Australia's Community Fellowships provide people with the opportunity to tell their stories.
This is a non-academic award which will enable “ordinary” people who work within the natural resource management field to share their extraordinary actions.
The fellowship is intended to provide the time and resources for people to write their experiences down, to speak at seminars and workshops; or even the opportunity to invite others to come and see their work first hand.
Applications for Land & Water Australia's 2004 Community Fellowships may now be submitted.
Some examples of past Fellows include:
- a community Landcare facilitator who handled change management issues for regional communities and wanted to share those lessons;
- volunteers for environmental NGOs who have campaigned on community based issues and want to share their experiences;
- farmers who have adopted innovative farming practices and want to write up the results.
The Fellowship can cover travel costs, if for example they are looking to speak on their experiences at a number of workshops. However, if they choose to stay at home to write about their experiences this will be recognised as a valid contribution.
Land & Water Australia will handle all arrangements including the administrative costs, which will ensure that Community Fellowship Fund is totally focused on providing financial support to up to 10 successful applicants.
L&WA envisages that each Fellowship will be in the range of $5,000 to $15,000.
Please note: This fund is intended to provide awards to individuals who have knowledge to share. The fund is not intended to support professional writers.
Recipients of the award may choose to use these funds to obtain services of a professional writer to help tell their story.
For more information and an application form go to: http://www.lwa.gov.au/funding.asp?section=97
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COMMUNITY GRANTS ENSURE MURRAY AND CATCHMENT HEALTH
Did you know that each year the River Murray Catchment Water Management Board makes grants to support the community groups who work to ensure the health of the River Murray and its catchment?
The Board considers applications for projects that help to achieve its goals and target priority issues and locations, such as: on-ground works; education and awareness; monitoring and reporting; research and development; studies and investigations; and planning and engineering design.
This financial assistance enables more work to be done, providing greater benefits for the local and regional environment and communities. Anyone with a project relating to the River Murray catchment can apply to the Board for a Community Grant at any time.
So far in 2003/2004 the Board has contributed to over 65 projects within the River Murray catchment. The Board has invested almost $2.7 million into these projects, and this investment has been matched by the proponent and others to over $3.3 million.
The Board also provides support for local groups with in-kind contributions such as the provision of technical advice.
For more information and an application form go to www.rivermurray.sa.gov.au/about/funding.html or contact Amy Goodman at the River Murray Catchment Water Management Board office on (08) 8582 4477.
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NOMINATIONS FOR RAMSAR WETLAND CONSERVATION AWARD OPEN
Nominations have opened for the Ramsar Wetland Conservation Award for actions that have significantly contributed to long-term conservation and sustainable use of wetlands.
The Ramsar Wetland Conservation Award was established in 1996 to recognise and honour the contributions of individuals, organisations, and governments around the world towards promoting the conservation and wise use of wetlands.
It was awarded for the first time in 1999 and for the second time in 2002. The third awards will be conferred in Kampala, Uganda, in November 2005.
The 2005 Awards will be made in the three categories of management, science, and education and will be accompanied by the Evian Special Prize of US$ 10,000, courtesy of the Danone Group (France).
Nominations are encouraged from individuals and government or non-government organisations which have taken initiatives contributing significantly to the long-term conservation and sustainable use of wetlands - especially those initiatives which might serve as inspirational and practical examples for others.
Nominations should reach the Secretariat of the Convention on Wetlands by 31 October 2004.
For more information and the a copy of the application form go to http://ramsar.org/key_awards_index.htm
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