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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 Online html versions are
available at:
Please feel free to pass this e-letter along to anybody who might be interested. To subscribe online go to http://mdbc.gov.au/communications/s-scribe To be removed from the mailing list, please reply to this message with “unsubscribe” in the subject heading. This newsletter currently has 1090 subscribers. (See also The Living Murray website at http://www.thelivingmurray.mdbc.gov.au)
At the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council meeting held in Sydney on 29 September, all ministers agreed to work cooperatively in the spirit of the Murray-Darling Basin Agreement 1992 to minimise the impact of the current low water resource availability on all the users of the system’s water resources. With the six months ending August 2006 being the driest in more than 100 years of record, the Ministerial Council released the September 2006 drought update (see below). They also noted that if there is another dry year in 2007-08, water availability might almost solely rely on inflows received next year. The Council asked the Murray-Darling Basin Commission to continue issuing regular drought updates while the current conditions continue. In another matters the Council:
In relation to The living Murray program, the ministers urged the MDBC to expedite programs, especially to deliver capital works for the Living Murray program and Salt Interception Schemes. Council also:
Latest MDBC
Drought Update sees no respite for Basin
RMW is a division of the Murray-Darlign Basin Commission (MDBC) which assesses the bulk water availability of the River Murray and advises each of the States of NSW, Victoria and SA of their expected shares. RMW also provide advice on the chances of improved water shares if wetter conditions eventuate. Each State then manages its share of water, determining allocations to the environment and consumptive users. The latest update reports that Rainfall over the nine months December to August 2006 has been in the lowest 10% of records for large areas of the Murray-Darling Basin – particularly the steeper high yielding parts of the catchments. Temperatures have generally been above average leading to drier catchments. River Murray System inflows over the autumn/winter period were the lowest on record for this time of year eclipsing records set previously in 1902 and 1967. However, RMW has been planning the 2006/07 operation of the River Murray System from May 2006 with the expectation that inflows could be at the lowest recorded levels throughout 2006/07. “Therefore, the recent news from the Bureau about a possible El Niño in 2006 should not automatically be treated as ‘more bad news’ for River Murray water users this year,” the Updates says. The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has recently advised of strengthening signs of an El Niño developing in 2006 with the message that “warming Pacific and a low Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) bias the climate towards being drier and warmer than average across eastern and northern Australia for the remainder of 2006” Under continuing drought conditions, total River Murray system storage could be drawn down to very low levels by the end of the 2006/07 season. Ongoing drought conditions would also have very serious consequences on the environmental health of those floodplains which are already seriously drought stressed. For a copy of the full Update go to http://www.mdbc.gov.au/__data/page/4/Drought_Update_September_2006.pdf MDB Community Advisory
Committee marks 20th Anniversary
The CAC is a formally appointed group of people with a wide range of expertise and with networks throughout the Basin. The CAC is advises the Ministerial Council, from a community viewpoint, on critical natural resource management issues including indigenous issues within the Basin. The CAC is composed of 20 members plus the independently appointed Chairman. Members of the CAC are appointed for four year terms and are selected on the basis of their skills, expertise and networks. At a CAC meeting in August, Murray-Darling Basin Commission (MDBC) President, Rt Hon Ian Sinclair discussed the range of activities likely to benefit from the $500m funding injection announced by the Australian Government in the May 2006 budget. MDBC Chief Executive Dr Wendy Craik gave the meeting an updated budget overview and an indication that the Australian Government review of the Murray-Darling Basin Agreement would be completed by July 2007. The MDBC’s Dr Sharon Davis provided updates of work currently underway in the northern Murray-Darling Basin and the meeting nominated representatives to attend a planning workshop on the 31st August to advise on the development of the work program for the Northern Basin. The meeting also heard that the The Living Murray Program’s Indigenous Partnerships Project was progressing well and noted the importance of indigenous engagement in further developing the Program. The CAC will meet again in October and November. For more information on the CAC and its work go to www.mdbc.gov.au/about/community_advisory_committee River
Murray community leaders visit Berri
The Living Murray Community Reference Group meets three times a year and comprises 35 members who represent a range of interests and regions relating to the River Murray. Local members include Jack Papageorgiou from Cooltong, Jeff Parish from Barmera and Paul Martin from Renmark. The Group was established to seek out a wide variety of community views and provide advice to influence decisions regarding The Living Murray program. The Group’s members are also an important point of contact for finding out about and providing input into The Living Murray. Prior to its meeting at Berri, the Group will tour Chowilla floodplain – part of a Living Murray ‘icon site’ - to see first hand how environmental benefits are being achieved through governments and community working together. The Community Reference Group Chairman, Myles Treseder from Woorinen (near Swan Hill) said this was the sixth meeting of the group, which will provide advice on all aspects of the Living Murray up until June 2009. “Community leaders want to be well informed and able to influence the future of the important community and environmental values of the River Murray,” Mr Treseder said. “The Living Murray Community Reference Group enables community leaders to get involved and work with governments to ensure community views are voiced in the implementation of The Living Murray,” he said. Media are invited to meet with CRG members or accompany the group on their tour of Chowilla floodplain on Wednesday 11 October. A colour brochure has just been released highlighting membership and the role of The Living Murray Community Reference Group. This is the first brochure of its kind produced - it can be found at http://thelivingmurray.mdbc.gov.au/whats_new For more information contact: Myles Treseder, The Living Murray, Chairman Community Reference Group, Phone: 0428-509-916. Or Linda Kelly, CAC Executive Officer, Phone: 62790532, Email: linda.kelly@mdbc.gov.au For more information on The Living Murray program go to http://thelivingmurray.mdbc.gov.au. A copy of the communiqué on the last meeting is available at http://thelivingmurray.mdbc.gov.au/__data/page/195/July06.pdf Youth forum
develops TLM teaching materials
Twenty-six Year 5 and 6 primary students and their teachers from Katamatite, Rutherglen, Wahgunyah, Corowa South, Howlong and Burrumbuttock primary schools took part in the forum in August. Working in school groups, students identified a huge list of materials and activities they would like to have available to be able to learn more about the Murray River and The Living Murray. Following this, the students have decided to start work on drafting a The Living Murray brochure, complementary poster, postcards and stickers that will be relevant to their peers along and beyond the River Murray. Once it has been drafted, the material will shown to other primary schools to ensure its relevance. More schools, students and teachers in NSW, Victoria and South Australia will be involved working with the MDBC to trial, fine-tune and finalise the material. The Corowa youth forum was organised and conducted by the Murray Darling Association staff with support from the MDBC and the NSW Murray Catchment Management Authority. Based on previous The Living Murray primary youth forums and the need to involve students with observational, analytical and writing/design skills, a teacher and “car-load” of students were invited from six schools to participate in the forums and to drive the process. Three more The Living Murray youth forums will be held in 2006-07. For more information on
The living Murray go to http://thelivingmurray.mdbc.gov.au.
Landcare
conference to focus on creating future landscapes
Hosted by the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment, organisers say the conference will provide an opportunity for people to:
The conference is aimed at: Landcare groups, farmers, land managers, indigenous land managers, the general public, government natural resource management agencies, researchers and anyone with an interest in landcare. A range of Australian and overseas speakers will look at the following topics:
Organisers say participants will be able to follow a theme, or target particular events and each day plenary sessions will focus discussion and tie together ideas from across the proceedings. There will also be an extensive poster exposition and key times to visit with poster authors and presenters throughout the conference. For more informationand to register, go to http://www.internationallandcareconference2006.com.au/Introduction.htm#179614 New Bookpurnong
salt interception scheme launched
The new scheme was officially opened on 14 September by the South Australian Premier, the Hon Mike Rann and SA Minister for the River Murray the Hon Karlene Maywald at Lock 4 near Berri. Funding for the scheme was shared between South Australian, Victorian, New South Wales and Australian Governments through the Murray-Darling Basin Commission (MDBC) and the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality through South Australia’s Integrated Natural Resource Management Group for the SA Murray-Darling. The SA Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation (DWLBC), as the representative of the constructing authority for MDBC works in South Australia, had the overall responsibility for the construction of the project. Construction project management and the ongoing operations and maintenance is provided through SA Water. The scheme follows the launch of a similar project at Victoria’s Pyramid Creek in April this year. Both schemes are part of the MDBC’s Basin Salinity Management Strategy $60 million program of salt interception works. Mr Rann said, “Salt interception is an investment for our future. These schemes underpin a sustainable Riverland economy and environment in an area of Australia that is at great risk of salinisation.” Minister Maywald said early action to counteract the potential impact of salinity is better than trying to pump salt from a saline landscape after irreversible damage is done. “Salt interception is not the only salinity management strategy. Managing the present risks involves better use of water and setting water use efficiency targets. “We need to continue to look for other strategies to reduce salinity risks such as dilution flow, timing of saline inflow to the river and reduced irrigation drainage.” Salt interception schemes are large-scale groundwater pumping and drainage projects that intercept saline water flows and dispose of them, generally by evaporation. For more information on salt interception go to www.mdbc.gov.au/salinity/basin_salinity_management_strategy_20012015/ SA Murray
River landscape amenity values surveyed
Survey responses will help to investigate how people value the landscape qualities of the Murray River and help to inform improved future management. People from all regions are encouraged to respond to the online survey which involves scoring photos from 1 to 10 and will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. The online survey will be available at www.scenicsolutions.com.au/murraysurvey up to Friday the 6 October 2006. For any general enquiries relating to the Landscape Amenity project, contact Scott Douglas on (08) 8463 6912 or e-mail: douglas.scott@saugov.sa.gov.au Planning
underway for Namoi State Landcare Forum
Regional Facilitator with Namoi CMA, Roland Breckwoldt said that the Namoi State Landcare Forum and Landcare Awards Ceremony will be a big boost to the region. “It will be held in the Tamworth Regional Entertainment Centre from October 25 to 27 and we believe it will attract over 500 delegates to the region. “The Forum will be supported by tours that showcase the entire Namoi CMA area. “The organising committee has chosen ‘Owning Our Future’ as the theme for the Forum. This theme reflects the importance that landholders and other natural resource managers play in managing change so that it reflects their needs. “A diverse range of speakers will be chosen to address the main issues people face in building on an economically and environmentally sustainable future that is appreciated by the wider public,” Mr Breckwoldt said. Four tours have been selected to support the theme. They are:
New Met
Bureau site on ‘land and water’ launched
The new major information resource was launched by the Hon Greg Hunt MP, Parliamentary Secretary with ministerial responsibility for the Bureau of Meteorology and the Hon. John Cobb MP, Federal Member for Parkes. It includes daily rainfall forecast maps and predicted rainfall totals across Australia. And the aggregate rainfall forecast for days one to four of the forecast period, and for days five to eight. A third type of map on the site shows the probability of daily rainfall reaching certain threshold totals. "The new 'Water and the Land' section of the website is a one-stop-shop for anyone who needs to be continually updated with weather information, be it people in the marine or agricultural industry or communities that are prone to severe weather events." "When people log onto the Water and the Land section they will also be able to view climate information such as long-term rainfall trends, seasonal predictions, and El Nino/La Nina outlooks." Mr Cobb said the new technology would greatly benefit rural and regional communities. "Local farmers will be able to survey the rainfall patterns and predictions at the click of a mouse." "They will be able to access the latest weather information at their convenience and this technology, in addition to the existing Bureau information on radio, in print and on television, will allow farmers and other people involved in the agricultural industry to plan their work more efficiently." Mr Hunt said the new rainfall forecast maps were produced by comparing the results of a number of different computer models of the atmosphere - by so-called ensemble forecasting. "The technique has been developed by the Bureau of Meteorology Research Centre over a number of years and has proved more accurate than relying on individual weather models and is part of ongoing upgrades to improve access to bureau information." The new site can be accessed via the 'Water and the Land' link on the bureau home page at http://www.bom.gov.au/ 2006
farm planning competition ‘Grand Champions’ announced
Run by the Border Rivers - Gwydir and Namoi CMAs the competition gives school and TAFE agriculture students first hand experience with strategic property planning. The Murray-Darling Basin Commission, along with NSW Department of Primary Industries, Westpac, Country Energy ESRI Australia and Department of Education and Training, is major sponsor of the competition, which is just one way that the CMAs are engaging with the community through the schools to provide natural resource education. Finalists gathered recently at Ag-Quip, Gunnedah for the presentations. The challenge set out in the competition was to develop a plan for the management of a real life property to make it both economically and environmentally sustainable. Michael and Kim Mather Belmore at Nullamanna and Peter and Judy Lee Beulah near Gunnedah generously allowed over 500 students from across the north west to invade their farms to develop property plans in an attempt to solve natural resource issues and improve on-farm profitability. Bruce Brown, General Manager of Namoi CMA said the high quality of entries received in the competition this year demonstrated a good understanding of problems like erosion, water quality and native vegetation management. “Through the development of property plans the students showed a capacity to think of innovative solutions to land management problems faced on the competition properties,” he said. For more information contact Col Easton (Namoi CMA) on 02 67 646819, col.easton@cma.nsw.gov.au or Liz Blair (Border Rivers-Gwydir CMA) on 02 6721 9848 or liz.blair@cma.nsw.gov.au Land
& Water Australia postgrad scholarships open
At the September 2006 Board meeting Directors decided to increase the stipend for the 2007 round from 25,000 per annum to $27,000 pa. On top of this increase the
postgraduate scholarship operating budget will increase from $5000
to $8000 per annum. This will mean greater support for activities
such as fieldwork.
Applications close on 5 October. For more information on how to apply and to download application forms go to http://www.lwa.gov.au/Apply_for_Funding/Postgraduate_Scholarships_2007/indexdl_2669.aspx Course
promises ‘absorbing’ studies in Box Ironbark country
Now its ninth year, the course is aimed at land managers, educators, naturalists, landholders, local government and those interested in better understanding the ecology of this unique ecosystem. Organisers say the course involves five “absorbing days of field studies in the heart of Box Ironbark country.” The course is a registered natural resource management training activity under the Farmbis Program. The program is a state and federally funded training initiative. It is supported by the Department of Sustainability and Environment, Parks Victoria, LaTrobe University, City of Greater Bendigo and the FarmBis Program Outcomes for participants, who will learn and work in the field in small groups, include:
Numbers are limited to 30 participants, and will include private and public land managers of Box Ironbark remnants and other key interest groups. For more information go to http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/DSE/nrenpa.nsf/FID/-9381C3B0D149B8C74A256930001A0E2D?OpenDocument Workshops to
show importance of sustainable behaviour
Sponsored by the Australian Water Association (AWA), Canadian environmental psychologist Dr McKenzie-Mohr will explain why he believes behaviour change is the cornerstone of sustainability. Organisers say he will show how sustainability requires individuals and businesses to act in such areas as increasing water and energy efficiency, reducing waste and preventing pollution. “To date, most programs have relied upon disseminating information to achieve these changes. Research demonstrates, however, that simply providing information has little or no effect on what people or businesses do. But if not ads, brochures or booklets, then what?” the AWA brochure on the workshops asks. “Over the last decade a new approach, community-based social marketing (CBSM), has emerged as an effective alternative for promoting sustainable behaviour.” Dr McKenzie-Mohr is a professor at St. Thomas University in Canada. He has assisted in Canada’s public education efforts on climate change and served as a member of Canada’s National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy. He is also the author of ‘Fostering Sustainable Behavior – An Introduction to Community-Based Social Marketing’. For more information and
dates and locations of the workshops go to BACK TO TOP
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