Murray-Darling Basin Commission – December 2005, E-letter No 49

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:

1. How the MDBC performed in 2004-05
2. MDBC end-of-valley targets signal major step in salinity fight
3. MDBC-DAFF land use maps now online
4. Dartmouth first dam to win coveted Senator Collings Trophy
5. Waterbirds flock to newly watered Hattah Lakes
6. Hume water releases increased
7. Young Rural Leaders' course now open
8. Have your say in managing the Murrumbidgee's natural resources
9. NSW Native Vegetation Act comes into effect
10. Biomass for Energy, the Environment and Society
11. Local land managers to receive $2.2 million
12. New monitoring bores help check Mallee dryland salinity

The report also will be tabled in the parliaments of each jurisdiction through the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council (Ministerial Council).

The online version contains all the information found in the hard copy version , but allows visitors to the site to navigate all its chapters. It is fully searchable and also allows visitors to download a complete version in PDF form.

This report describes the objectives and significant achievements of the MDBC during the 2004–05 financial year.

It also incorporates the annual report of the Ministerial Council's Community Advisory Committee, the primary community body advising the Ministerial Council on natural resources management issues in the Basin.

To view or download the report go to http://www.mdbc.gov.au/about/about_mdbc/ar0405/index.htm
 

MDBC end-of-valley targets signal major step in salinity fight
The recent adoption of the Victorian End-of-Valley Salinity Targets by the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council is a major step forward in the progress towards managing salinity within the Murray-Darling Basin.

According to Murray-Darling Basin Commission (MDBC) Chief Executive Dr Wendy Craik, this means that salinity targets are now in place for most of the tributary rivers in each of the Basin States.

New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia finalised their targets in 2004. (Targets remain interim for the Australian Capital Territory, and the Kiewa, Ovens and Wimmera Rivers).

Dr Craik said this key milestone for the Murray-Darling Basin Salinity Management Strategy 2001-2015 (BSMS) was reached at the recent meeting of the Ministerial Council in Brisbane, with Victoria submitting its End-of-Valley Salinity Targets.

"The End-of-Valley salinity targets are a key feature of the BSMS and effectively provide a "Cap" on increasing salt loads from each tributary valley," Dr Craik said.

"An interim set of end-of-valley targets for stream salinity and salt loads was developed by the partner Governments, and these were considered by catchment communities during the public comment period for the draft BSMS in 2000/2001.

"The salinity targets are an important means to prioritise within-valley catchment actions such as improved farming systems and targeted vegetation management," she said.

MDBC Salinity Manager Matt Kendall said the within-valley actions together with downstream actions, such as salt interception schemes and dilution flows, were also expected to contribute to meeting the Basin target at Morgan in South Australia.

"The Basin target is to maintain the salinity at Morgan at less than 800 EC for 95 per cent of the time. Morgan is located upstream of the major pipeline off-takes for Adelaide's water supply and 800 EC is the Australian limit for good quality drinking water," Mr Kendall said.

"The targets in themselves do not represent the full range of outcomes sought, but are a way of measuring progress towards achieving the Strategy's objectives. While the targets need to be adaptive and flexible, they will only be changed where there is adequate justification, and with the agreement of the Ministerial Council," he said.

"This will provide certainty and integrity for the strategy and will ensure that efforts are directed to finding creative and innovative ways to meet the targets. A network of continuous flow and salinity monitoring sites has been established which collect data to agreed standards and will be regularly reviewed, to assist in the complex process of assessing progress towards meeting the end-of-valley targets".

The design and delivery of outcomes from individual catchment plans will be essential to achieve the End-of-Valley Targets. Mr Kendall said that to assess the effects of various options and work through the trade-offs, predictive tools that can assess the effects of catchment actions such as land use on river flow and salinity will be required.

For more information on end-of-valley targets go to www.mdbc.gov.au or contact the MDBC Salinity Manager Matt Kendall on 02 6279 0132.
 

MDBC-DAFF land use maps now online
The Murray-Darling Basin Regional Land Use Mapping for 1993, 1996, 1998 and 2000 can now be downloaded from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry home page.

The regional land use mapping is a collaborative project between the Murray-Darling Basin Commission (MDBC) and the Bureau of Rural Sciences which has produced a time series of regional scale land use maps.

The MDBC's Basin Salinity Management Strategy 2001-2015 (BSMS) requires information on baseline conditions across the Basin.  This project has helped define baseline land use conditions at 1 January 2000 (Year 2000 map) and has provided an understanding of the variability in baseline conditions over the 25 year benchmark period 1975 – 2000.

These land use maps are created using SPREAD II, a modelling program that spatially interpolates Australian Bureau of Statistics agricultural commodity data using Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) satellite imagery.  AVHRR imagery has a resolution of 1.1 km, hence the regional scale.

The link to the project site is http://www.daff.gov.au/content/output.cfm?ObjectID=940DB55E-8DAA-4A50-87344CD669C1F820

Further information on the collaborative project is available from Dr Karuppan Sakadevan, on (02) 6279 0174 or e-mail karuppan.sakadevan@mdbc.gov.au
 

Dartmouth first dam to win coveted Senator Collings Trophy
The team managing the Dartmouth Dam has become the first dam team to win the coveted Senator Collings Trophy for 2004-05.

All winners in the 52 years of the award's history have been for a lock or weir in the River Murray system, although the major dams only became eligible for the award in 2002.

The award honours the best performing team managing River Murray Water storages from the Barrages near the Murray Mouth in South Australia to Dartmouth Dam, including Lake Victoria and Menindee Lakes.

The award criteria cover appearance, standard of maintenance and maintenance documentation, dam safety documentation and ability to complete the year's schedule of works at or under budget.

Murray-Darling Basin Commission President Ian Sinclair AC presented the award to Peter Liepkalns on behalf of the Dartmouth team.

He commended them on their commitment to safety, their standard of work across all areas of running the dam and, in particular, for their innovative approach to solving maintenance issues such as replacement of the Low Level Outlet Works re-filling valve.

In response, Peter highlighted the contribution of numerous people and noted how many of them had links with the River Murray going back two or three generations, well before the construction of Dartmouth Dam. For more information go to the website at www.mdbc.gov.au/river_murray/river_murray.htm
 

Waterbirds flock to newly watered Hattah Lakes
Thousands of waterbirds are flocking to the Hattah Lakes near Ouyen in Victoria as the latest environmental watering trial continues.

This financial year, around 3000 megalitres of water from the Murray River is being pumped into Lakes Lockie, Little Hattah and Yerang.

Hattah Lakes is one of six Significant Ecological Assets identified in the Murray- Darling Basin Commission's Living Murray initiative.

The water has been provided from the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment's Environmental Water allocation to benefit flora and fauna and address River Redgum health.

The trial builds on the emergency redgum watering program of the last financial year during which 1200ML of water, including 369ML of donated irrigation water, was delivered to the southern arm of Chalka Creek, which feeds the Hattah Lakes system.

Funding for the trial has been provided under the Victorian and Australian Government's National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality (NAP), the State Government's Our Water Our Future initiative and Rural Water Reform package and the State and Federal Government's emergency redgum watering package.

Most of the money will pay for pumping with local contractors employed to deliver the water. Pumping recommenced in mid-September and the 3000ML is expected to be delivered by mid November.

Mallee CMA Environmental Watering Officer for Hattah Andy Wise said Hattah Kulkyne National Park rangers had reported there were around 25 species of waterbirds now present on Lake Lockie including up to 5000 Grey Teal.

The large, water-stressed River Redgums around Lake Lockie are also getting their feet wet for the first time in three years providing a tremendous boost to their health.

For more information go to www.malleecma.vic.gov.au/
 

Hume water releases increased
In response to increased irrigation demand, River Murray Water (RMW) has steadily increased water releases from Hume Dam, RMW General Manager Mr David Dreverman announced in his latest Weekly Report of operations.

Releases in late November were running at about 16 000 ML/day. However the majority of the water being released from Hume Dam was from the Barmah-Millewa Environmental Water Account (B-M EWA) to help waterbird breeding, fish spawning and watering floodplain vegetation throughout the Barmah-Millewa Forest wetlands.

Mr Dreverman said that since early October, about 320 GL of the B-M EWA had been released from Hume Dam which, in conjunction with several natural higher inflow events from the Ovens and Kiewa Rivers, had resulted in the most extensive flooding of the forest for five years (over 50% of the forest area has been flooded).

"Following the advice of NSW and Victorian natural resource agencies, the release of the B-M EWA is now gradually being reduced with a target flow of about 15 000 ML/day downstream of Yarrawonga Weir by 24 November.

"Further gradual reductions in the release from Yarrawonga are planned for December, however flow rates over the coming weeks will be depend on weather conditions, the volume of water remaining in the B-M EWA and the nature of the ecological responses occurring within the forest," Mr Dreverman said.

Together with the natural higher inflow events from the Victorian tributaries, the release of the B-M EWA has also boosted flow levels along the length of the River Murray providing "supplementary" water for irrigators and additional water to downstream wetland systems.

For more information and to read the latest River Murray Water reports go to www.mdbc.gov.au/river_murray/river_info/river_info.html
 

Young Rural Leaders' course now open
Applications are now open for the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry's (DAFF) 2006 The Industry Partnerships - Young Rural Leaders' Course to be held in Canberra in March 2006.

The course offers young rural people (aged from 18-35) an opportunity to benefit their industries by learning the skills needed to work with industry and government at the national level.

Organisers say the four and a half day course will give participants a greater understanding of the complexities of rural Australia and build their skills and confidence.

It will improve young people's capacity to contribute to policy and program development.

The course will give the successful participants an opportunity to:

Costs associated with travel, accommodation, meals and course materials are included in the course.

Applications are open to 18-35 year olds working in agriculture, fisheries, forestry, natural resource management, food or related industries.

Applications close Friday, 16 December 2005.

For more information call (02) 6271 6411, email youngleaders@daff.gov.au or visit www.daff.gov.au/youngleaders
 

Have your say in managing the Murrumbidgee's natural resources
The Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority is calling for formal submissions on the Murrumbidgee Catchment Action Plan.

The Murrumbidgee Catchment Action Plan is a 10 year plan to manage the natural resources of the Murrumbidgee catchment.

Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority Chair and local farmer, Mr Lee O'Brien said, "The Draft Murrumbidgee Catchment Action Plan has been developed building on the Murrumbidgee Catchment Blueprint. Community, agency and local government focus groups across the region have assisted us in developing this Draft"

This Catchment Action Plan will set direction for our projects, incentives and other activities including targets for healthy land, water, vegetation and the local community."

Copies of the draft Murrumbidgee Catchment Action Plan are available during office hours at the following locations:-

Public submissions are invited on the Plan in writing or by email by the close of business on the 19th of December 2005 to:

Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority
PO Box 5224
WAGGA WAGGA NSW 2650
Email: Murrumbidgee@cma.nsw.gov.au

The Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority will consider all submissions in the finalisation of the Plan.

For further information phone the Authority on 02 6923 0470.
 

NSW Native Vegetation Act comes into effect
The Native Vegetation Act 2003, which aims to end broadscale land clearing in NSW while providing long-term certainty for farmers, came into effect on December 1.

The Native Vegetation Act 2003 sets a framework for:

It is the most comprehensive and practically focussed system available in Australia and has the potential to lead to a revolution in the way we manage native vegetation across NSW.

For more information go the website at: www.western.cma.nsw.gov.au/Nativevegmangement.html
 

Biomass for Energy, the Environment and Society
That's the theme for Australia's premier bioenergy conference, Bioenergy Australia 2005, to be held in Melbourne on 12 - 13 December

Also included is a conference tour on 14 December taking participants to the site of a biodiesel/synthetic diesel from waste facility and a cement works where waste and biofuels form part of the fuel mix.

Organisers say the conference includes the cooperation of an alliance of some 50 government and private sector organisations with an interest in the development of sustainable energy and products from biomass.

The conference will bring together biomass feedstock producers and suppliers, waste management organisations, project developers, energy companies, equipment suppliers, investors, government agencies, research and research funding bodies to address factors crucial to the development of bioenergy in Australia.

This year's conference is being coupled to an International Energy Agency Bioenergy Task meeting on "Energy from integrated solid waste management systems." Several international experts will give presentations at the conference, including the keynote address.

The conference program will cover policies and programs, bioenergy projects and project development case studies, bioelectricity, liquid fuels, gasification and pyrolysis and their applications, anaerobic digestion, energy from waste, plus overarching aspects such as green house gas emissions and life cycle analyses of bioenergy systems.

The program will also include an extended panel discussion, facilitated by Professor Ralph Sims of Massey University, New Zealand on boosting the role of bioenergy in our future economy.

The Hon. John Thwaites, Victorian Minister for the Environment, has been invited to provide the official opening of the conference.

Keynote speaker is Dr Juergen Vehlow, Institute for Technical Chemistry, Karlsruhr, Germany. The conference dinner speaker will be Rob Jolly of Greenworld Energy and a former Victorian Treasurer.

For more information and a registration form go to: www.bioenergyaustralia.org/
 

Local land managers to receive $2.2 million
62 land managers across the Western Catchment in north western New South Wales will share $2.2 million for on-ground works and training to improve natural resources through the Western CMA's first round of incentive funding.

The recipients represent the successful applications in the CMA's first round of incentive funding , Round 1 which closed in September. Another 19 applicants have been placed on an eligibility list.

Successful projects include:

Another round of funding is scheduled for Autumn 2006. Individuals, groups and organisations in the Western Catchment can apply.

Projects must be targeted at land within the Western Catchment boundary. Joint projects with neighbouring Catchment Management Authorities that operate across regional boundaries are encouraged.

For more information go to www.western.cma.nsw.gov.au/Whatcanidonow.html
 

New monitoring bores help check Mallee dryland salinity
A new drilling program in the Mallee will provide a more accurate picture of groundwater trends to help manage salinity.

Mallee Catchment Management Authority Natural Resources Project Officer Sarah Whitfield says the program had been identified as necessary after a technical review of groundwater information in the Mallee revealed some areas were not being adequately monitored.

"Monitoring bores have been progressively installed in the Mallee and the data has been invaluable in determining groundwater trends in some areas."

Ms Whitfield said the Mallee CMA had recently obtained funding from the Victorian and Federal Government's National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality to install the additional monitoring bores.

"Installation of these bores will lead to a better understanding of geology, hydrogeology and determination of groundwater trends that will enable more accurate predictions on the rate of increase of salted land.

"Information gathered from the ongoing monitoring of the bores will include groundwater levels, groundwater quality, flow patterns for vertical and regional inflows and salinity risks in these areas," she added.

Ms Whitfield said Watson Drilling had been contracted by the Mallee CMA to undertake the drilling program.

GWMWater will manage the project with technical input provided through environmental consultant's Sinclair Knight Mertz.

"Over the next six months, drilling of two deep bores and 36 shallow bores will occur across the Mallee from west of Swan Hill through to Meringur and Murrayville, and south to Beulah West."

For more information contact Sarah Whitfield, NRM Project Coordinator on (03) 50514 377 or John Tottenham, Headworks Engineer at GWMWater on (03) 5362 0200.

ends