Response to network consultation process
Murray Irrigation Limited is required by the Water Charge (Infrastructure) Rules 2010 to develop a Network Consultation Paper (NCP) and Network Service Plan (NSP).
The NCP was completed in December 2011 and a copy was mailed to each customer inviting feedback prior to Monday 20 February 2012.
To view a summary of Murray Irrigation's response to the network consultation process, click here.
The NSP will be mailed to customers no later than 1 June 2012.
Commonwealth Government Budget
The Federal Government last night released its Budget for 2012/13. Information regarding the Budget can be found via the links below:
Media Release from The Hon Tony Burke MP - Investment in irrigation infrastructure to deliver water reform
NSWIC Media Release - Federal Budget Trouble for NSW Irrigators
NSWIC Briefing Paper - 2012/13 Federal Budget
Water availability and outlook communique
The NSW Office of Water has released a water availability and outlook communique for the NSW Murray and Lower Darling Rivers.
The six-page document features a water availability outlook for the 2012/13 season and also includes a rainfall, inflows and storage summary, and supplementary water access rules for the coming irrigation season (applicable to Murray Irrigation's bulk license).
It also includes information on water trade, urban water and town water availability and compliance.
To view the full document, click here.
NSW response to the proposed Basin Plan
The NSW Government's submission on the proposed Murray-Darling Basin Plan has been well received by the irrigation industry and communities.
The 73-page document outlines the fact that the NSW Government is committed to ensuring the sustainability of the Murray-Darling Basin and the communities it supports. Its main message is that the Basin Plan must achieve a balanced outcome and address environmental, social and economic needs.
To view the Government's submission, click here.
Murray Irrigation's Basin Plan submission
Murray Irrigation lodged a comprehensive submission on the proposed Murray-Darling Basin Plan. The submission asserted many of the concerns raised following the Guide to the proposed Basin Plan have not been adequately addressed and the target reduction is too high.
Murray Irrigation's submission highlights the key issues of concern including the science and modelling, economic impacts and deliverability. It also carefully analyses the legislative document and makes several recommendations that the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) could implement to achieve a more balanced and deliverable plan.
Murray irrigation's submission also includes a report compiled by Dr Lee Benson of Ecology Management which reviews the method of determining the 'environmentally sustainable level of take'.
To view the full submission, click here.
The Murray Group of Concerned Communities (MGCC) also submitted its own submission. This can be viewed by visiting http://www.mgcc-nsw.org/.
Menindee Lakes information paper
The NSW Office of Water has released an information paper on Menindee Lakes water savings opportunities.
The purpose of this paper is to give a brief overview of the Menindee Lakes, how they are currently managed, and how management and operations need to consider a complexity of issues. Importantly, the paper outlines the reasons the NSW Government does not support the changed operations of the lakes proposed by the Commonwealth Government that was recently the subject of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Commonwealth and NSW Governments.
To view the document, click here.
More detailed information about the management of the Menindee Lakes, including the management of the flood flows in the Barwon Darling and the Menindee Lakes system, can be found on the NSW Office of Water's website: www.water.nsw.gov.au.
Water Reform in the NSW Murray-Darling Basin
The NSW Department of Primary Industries has released a summary of regional water reform and enviromnmental water recovery from 1996 to 2011.
Water Reform in the NSW Murray-Darling Basin