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In this issue:

1. Historic Basin agreement notes high level of MDBC expertise and experience
2. Basin drought briefing for Water Summit
3. Wentworth’s Lock 10 to close for repairs and upgrade
4. New studies of northern Murray-Darling Basin released
5. Water purchase to boost Narran Lakes environment
6. New salt interception scheme considered for Riverland’s Pike region
7. Lake Hume temporary boat speed restriction introduced
8. Climate change solutions prize applications open
9. New online climate tools to benefit farmers
10. Enviro 08 prepares to ‘Face the Challenge’

Historic Basin agreement notes high level of MDBC expertise and experience
On 26 March Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and First Ministers from across the Murray Darling Basin signed an historic agreement to secure water for households, farmers and the long-term health of the Basin.

In Adelaide for the first COAG meeting of the year, they announced that the Murray-Darling Basin Commission (MDBC) and the Murray-Darling Basin Authority would be brought together as a new, single authority.

“All existing staff of the Office of the MDBC will be transferred to the new Authority, noting that their high level of expertise and experience will make a valuable contribution to the work of the new Authority,” the Ministers said in the memorandum of understanding attached to the communiqué issued at the end of the meeting.

The new MDBA will have two roles: it will be responsible for developing and implementing the Basin Plan, as provided for in the Water Act and it will be responsible for the current functions of the MDBC.

Basin member states will report to the next COAG meeting in July on more detailed functions set out in the existing Murray-Darling Basin Agreement and the MDB Acts to be transferred to the MDBA and reflected in the Water Act or the Inter-governmental Agreement.

Other aspects of the Basin plan agreed to in Adelaide included:

• arrangements giving the Commonwealth Minister power to approve a new Basin-wide plan, including a new cap on the amount of water used in the Basin, based on independent advice from the Authority;
• a commitment to provide for critical human needs and arrangements to allow South Australia to store water in upstream dams to ensure there’s enough water for Adelaide and towns reliant on the Murray for drinking water;
• continuation of the States role in setting annual water allocations, decisions on natural resource management across the Basin and a new role to provide input to the Basin-wide plan;
• an in-principle commitment from the Commonwealth to invest up to $1 billion in Stage 2 of the Foodbowl Project in Victoria to return 100 billion litres of water to the Murray River and an equivalent volume of water to farmers in the Goulburn region; and
• adoption of new reform outcomes and investment priorities for Commonwealth spending in the Murray Darling Basin.

To read the communiqué and its attachments go to www.coag.gov.au/meetings/260308/index.htm

To read Senator Penny Wong’s media release on the Agreement, go to www.environment.gov.au/minister/wong/2008/index.html

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Basin drought briefing for Water Summit
Murray-Darling Basin Commission Chief Executive Dr Wendy Craik AM will brief delegates at the Annual Water Summit in Sydney at the end of the month on the impacts of the ongoing drought.

Dr Craik will speak on likely water availability into the next year, the condition of the Lower Lakes in South Australia and how the MDBC is working towards meeting the future challenges of climate change.

The summit is a major national forum on water issues and a flagship forum for Australia’s $90 billion water industry.

Speakers include leading political, industry, scientific and community figures.

Discussion topics will include:

• attract investment for water infrastructure projects
• manage urban and regional water use
• ensure security of supply this century
• protect against drought and climate change
• build a world class water business
• quantify your roi for reuse and recycling
• improve access and pricing
• assess the potential of desalination
• strengthen public-private partnerships
• clarify water trading reforms
• streamline customer care and billing
• improve water asset management
• benefit from water management technology

For more information go to www.acevents.com.au/water2008/

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Wentworth’s Lock 10 to close for repairs and upgrade
Lock 10 at Wentworth on the Murray River will be closed to boat navigation between 26 May and 26 September for major refurbishment works.

The MDBC Chief Executive Dr Wendy Craik said the works were part of planned, necessary maintenance and upgrading of structures along the Murray.

“While boating navigation through Lock 10 will need to be suspended, the works are necessary to be able to continue operating the lock safely,” Dr Craik said.

“Some components of the lock have been in place since it was built in 1929 and are nearing the end of their useful life.”

Dr Craik said the works were not expected to have any impact on the water levels in the adjacent weir pools.

State Water New South Wales would carry out the work which includes emptying the lock, removing and repainting the gates, refurbishing the valves and evaluation of any further work needed.

“We and State Water have chosen this time of year as it is the quietest period for tourist craft, the main users of the river,” Dr Craik said.

“State Water will directly inform local councils, visitor centres, boating associations, boat hire companies and registered owners of houseboats in the area.

“State Water will adhere to the schedule as far as possible subject to river conditions and other circumstances that might arise.

“The aim will be to re-open the lock ahead of time, if at all possible,” Dr Craik said.

These sorts of repairs and maintenance are done only every 20 years or so.

For more information on Murray navigation and boating inquiries contact NSW Maritime’s Infoline on (02) 9563 8557.

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New studies of northern Murray-Darling Basin released
The Murray-Darling Basin Commission has released two new studies on the northern part of the Basin.

One study examines the potential gains from on-farm water use efficiency measures and the other details the social, economic and resource characteristics of the northern Basin.

On-farm Water Use Efficiency in the northern Murray-Darling Basin concluded that more investment in evaporation technologies and in-field application techniques could result in significant savings.

The publication brings together current knowledge of on-farm water use efficiencies in the northern part of the Basin where most of the irrigation is applied to broadacre annual crops, mainly cotton.

Chief Executive Dr Wendy Craik AM said the study identified 1480 GL of potential on-farm water use efficiency gains throughout the study area.

“However, this estimate is based on 100 per cent adoption of technologies from all irrigators and represents the upper limit for uptake of efficiency measures.  Not all of these savings may be economically feasible,” she said.

“The study indicates that the greatest gains to be made are in the mitigation of losses from farm dams (48%), mainly through actions which reduce evaporation losses.  Significant gains (45%) can also be realized through improvements to the infield performance of irrigation enterprises.”

The second report Diversity of the north: Socio-economic profiles of Northern basin, will help policy makers and the community understand the similarities and differences between the northern and southern parts of the Murray Darling Basin.

“The publication details the socio-economic profiles of 12 major river basins in the Basin’s northern areas,” Dr Craik said. “It provides a better understanding of the role of the northern Basin’s water resources on the social and economic well-being of communities there,” she said.

The report provides a reference in tackling issues such as drought response, structural adjustment, climate change, water allocations, groundwater and surface water management in the northern part of the Basin.

Both reports are available for download at www.mdbc.gov.au/news

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Water purchase to boost Narran Lakes environment
The Murray-Darling Basin Commission bought 11,000 megalitres of water over the Easter weekend to boost the natural watering occurring at the Narran Lakes system in
north central New South Wales.

Chief Executive Dr Wendy Craik AM said the one-off purchase would boost environmental benefits for the flora and fauna in the internationally important Ramsar
wetland site.

“We moved quickly to take advantage of nature’s window of opportunity to supplement recent natural flows into the area,” Dr Craik said.

“We are pleased to have reached a commercial arrangement with a seller to secure the water which began to flow on Easter Saturday and will continue to be delivered over the
next six weeks.

“The water will bring strong environmental benefits and we hope it will ensure the success of a colonial water bird breeding event that is happening there now - the first
major breeding event in Narran Lakes in nine years,” Dr Craik said.

Dr Craik said the water was being drawn from off-river storages on the Narran system to be returned to the river. It is passing through an automated gauging station which will accurately and continuously monitor the transfer.

For more information on Basin wetlands go to www.mdbc.gov.au/nrm/water_issues/wetlands

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New salt interception scheme considered for Riverland’s Pike region
A new salt interception scheme and management system is being considered for the Pike region in the Riverland.

South Australian Minister for the River Murray Karlene Maywald said recently that the new scheme would cost $27 million and would prevent up to 100 tonnes of salt from entering the river each day.

“South Australia is finalising an approval and funding submission to the Murray-Darling Basin Commission,” Minister Maywald said.

“The Pike floodplain has suffered for decades due to poor management and salinisation.

“This is an exciting time for the Pike community, as it is the community that has driven these changes through establishing a partnership with the SA Murray-Darling Basin NRM Board.

“In addition, a new management system is being developed combining salt interception with improved flows for environmental and water supply purposes, and a floodplain management program of sustainable grazing, pest management and revegetation.

“The floodplain management program will include provisions for sustainable grazing, pest animal and plant management and revegetation.”

The Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council last month approved the construction of the $30 million Murtho Salt Interception Scheme.

“Up to 670 tonnes of salt per day will be stopped from entering the River Murray with the addition of the Pike and Murtho schemes, the approved Waikerie Lock 2 scheme, the Loxton scheme which is currently under construction, and the Bookpurnong, Woolpunda, and Waikerie schemes already in operation,” Minister Maywald said.

“This is nearly 245,000 tonnes of salt per year which is vitally important in addressing long-term salinity management in South Australia.”

For more information salt interception schemes on the Murray go to www.mdbc.gov.au/salinity/salt_interception

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Lake Hume temporary boat speed restriction introduced
Goulburn-Murray Water (G-MW) has advised boat operators, water skiers and operators of personal watercraft that due to low lake levels, a temporary five-knot boat speed restriction has been introduced to some areas at Lake Hume.

The five-knot speed restriction, effective from Monday 31 March 2008, has been introduced in the interests of public safety, with low water levels making conditions hazardous for high speed boating.

G-MW and the Victorian Water Police will enforce the speed restrictions for the Victorian waters of Lake Hume.

Manager Murray and North East Dams, Stuart Richardson said, “When the water level drops below the 10% level, large sawn off tree stumps emerge or hide just below the water’s surface, and a speed restriction is required to protect the safety of water users.”

However the restricted zone had been reduced from the more severe restrictions which applied across all of the Victorian waters at Lake Hume last summer, enabling normal boating activity across most areas of the lake.

“With the very low levels reached last summer, we now have a very good understanding of where the hazards are, and hence we have been able better define where the speed restrictions need to apply.

 “Hence this time the restrictions will only apply in a defined area including all waters immediately south of Bethanga Bridge, and extending south to an imaginary line extending across the lake from the southern end of the dam wall embankment, as marked by red buoys and shore beacons.” Mr Richardson said.

“All other areas remain subject to normal boating rules, but we remind boat operators of the need for responsible boating and to navigate with caution.” Boat speeds will be limited to five knots in the restricted area for as long as the lake level remains below 10% capacity.

“In any case, we urge all boat operators to be mindful of all navigation hazards when the lake level is low and reduce boat speeds accordingly.

“G-MW continues to support recreational activities at its storages and is aware that even though greatly reduced in area, these boat speed limited areas may still inconvenience to some water users.”

“However, ensuring the safety of all water users and the general public is paramount, and we strongly urge all boat operators to adhere to these temporarily changed conditions.”

For more information contact Shane Papworth on (02) 6049 8234

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Climate change solutions prize applications open
Applications have opened for the 2008 IAG Eureka Prize for Innovative Solutions to Climate Change.

The $10,000 prize is awarded to an Australian individual, group or organisation for work that demonstrates a commitment to pursuing innovative solutions to the challenges posed by climate change.

The IAG Eureka Prize for Innovative Solutions to Climate Change is designed to highlight outstanding work by an Australian individual, group or organisation that demonstrates a commitment to pursuing innovative solutions to the challenges of climate change.

Work entered may be research; development of new technologies or practices; new markets, products or services; or advocacy that addresses the challenges of climate change.

Entries must address specific criteria such as:

• In what way is the work and/or its results innovative?
• To what extent has the work developed or extended techniques or methods not normally used?
• In what way does the work demonstrate commitment to pursuing solution(s) to a challenge of climate change?
• What particular challenge of climate change is addressed by the work? What is, or is likely to be, the impact of the work on this challenge?
• How has the work been effectively communicated to appropriate audiences?

Online entry forms close 5pm AEST Friday 2 May 2008. Hard copy entries will not be considered until and unless an online entry form has been completed.

Completed entries must be received by the Australian Museum no later than 5pm AEST on Friday 9 May 2008.

For more information and entry forms go to www.amonline.net.au/eureka/

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New online climate tools to benefit farmers
Two recently released tools as part of a Bureau of Meteorology project, sponsored by the Managing Climate Variability program, will help farmers wanting to know more about rainfall and climate.

The first tool shows a range of rainfall scenarios for most rainfall recording stations in Australia.

Farmers can also use a new online product to find out what factors are influencing the climate in their region by clicking on an interactive map.

The Rainfall Ranges product uses graphs to compare the current rainfall with historical values for every Bureau weather station that has at least 20 years of records. It also shows a range of potential rainfall scenarios based on past climate information recorded at each site.

“It is important to note that the scenarios are not forecasts; rather they provide a range of rainfall potential based on historical data. Farmers can see, at a glance, what rainfall occurred in the past for a specific location,” says Dr Andrew Watkins, senior climatologist from the Bureau’s National Climate Centre.

The products are the first in a series of new climate products being developed by the Bureau and the Managing Climate Variability program in response to a study on farmers’ seasonal forecasting needs. They aim to make seasonal forecasts more reliable, more useful and more accessible to farmers.

For more information and to view the products http://www.bom.gov/watl

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Enviro 08 prepares to ‘Face the Challenge’
The theme for this year’s Enviro 08 to be held in Melbourne from May 5 to 7 is “Facing the Challenge”.

Organisers say they are expecting record crowds of more than 6000 delgates and visitors.

Conference Chair Max Spedding said Enviro was aimed at leaders and practitioners working in manufacturing, government, service industries and planners.

“These are the people at the front line of a universal challenge, and many are desperately
seeking innovative and sustainable responses to climate change,” he said.

“With greater political consciousness, international dialogue and media attention on the dilemma of global warming, this year’s theme recognises the huge shift in public interest in regards to climate change, since the last Enviro conference two years ago.”

Enviro 08 aims to be a platform for promoting change through ideas, the sharing of knowledge, information and practical resources to better equip those facing the challenges of climate change.

It has been convened five times over ten years and is expected to attract delegates and visitors from across the region.

“Enviro 08 is not only a conference and exhibition but a ‘must’ for those in the serious business of delivering sustainable best practice environmental management, in this part of
the world,” Mr Spedding.

The exhibition will have an emphasis on business-to-business transactions and showcase new innovative technologies, products and services.

For more information go to www.enviro08.com.au

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