Talking Water - Tuesday 22 August, 2023

This week's contents

Operations

  • Winter Works wrap-up
  • Chemical Free landholding register
  • Supplementary access
  • Water Delivery Performance
  • Talking Water data to 22 August


Business

  • MIL Board announces strategy for financial reset
  • Joint fish salvage program 



Industry

  • River Country Biolink Field Day
  • Landholder Association AGMs
  • Local rice award winners
  • Soils for Success workshop



Community

  • Riverbank erosion talk


Operational Update


2023 Winter Works wrap-up

Our 2023 Winter maintenance program is now safely completed on time, in spite of wet conditions. 
 
In another great effort, our teams and contractors worked more than 22,000 hours to complete Winter Works, with no major safety incidents or lost time injuries. 
 
The program comprised more than 3,000 work orders, with jobs including:


  • Life extension works on 171 assets (regulators, offtakes, access culverts)
  • 285 km of desilting
  • 2.6 km of channel re-construction
  • More than 50 gearbox replacements
  • 218 slip meter outlets cleaned
  • 1,505 regulators serviced
  • 276 assets inspected, and 
  • The completion of major regulator repair and erosion control works on the Mulwala Canal. 


Thank you to all our customers who assisted our team during drainage, maintenance and filling. 
 
And to the landholders where work was undertaken, your cooperation always helps in the successful completion of the maintenance program each year. Thank you.   
 
Tracks damaged during maintenance wet weather which are not yet repaired are planned to be reinstated over the next month. Please let us know if yours needs to be prioritised or if you have concerns. 

Chemical Free landholding register

We are currently updating our chemical free register, so we can use other means of weed control on or adjacent to your landholding. 
 
If your landholding is currently listed as being chemical free, or if you want your landholding to be added to the register, please let us know by emailing customersupport@murrayirrigation.com.au by 30 August 2023.

Supplementary access

WaterNSW has extended access to supplementary water delivery until Saturday 26 August, with a further extension likely. 

Customers have been notified via SMS of the change in access to supplementary delivery. 

Please note that normal water delivery charges apply. 

Water Delivery Performance - 14/08/2023 to 20/08/2023

Below is the first week of Water Delivery Performance data for the 2023-24 season.  

Talking Water data  22/08/2023

All the detailed data for Murray Irrigation allocations, delivery, channel flow and Water Exchange temporary trade data is available on our company web page below. 



View delivery, channel flows and temporary trade data


To see the latest data for Murray system storages and rivers, visit the Murray-Darling Basin Authority's River data page. 


View MDBA storage and river data



The information and data provided in Talking Water is for general reference purposes only. We take best endeavours to ensure accuracy. 


Business Update

MIL Board announces strategy for financial reset

As you would be aware, a full business review of Murray Irrigation (MIL) has found that a reset of the company’s financial model is necessary for MIL to continue delivering water into the footprint for generations to come. 

After examining a range of models, the MIL Board has announced details of the company's strategy to achieve long-term financial sustainability.     

You can read the Board's full announcement below:



MIL Board Business Review announcement


MIL will host three customer information sessions on 13 and 14 September in Deniliquin, Finley and Barham, to ensure shareholders and customers have an in depth understanding of the challenge, the Board's chosen solution to reset the company's finances, and what the solution will mean for you and your business. 
 
All customers will receive an invitation with information about times and venues, and will be asked to register their attendance at a preferred session. 
 
Shareholders and customers are encouraged to attend these meetings to obtain accurate information, and to hear directly from MIL how we plan to reset the company’s finances and secure water delivery into the future. 

Joint fish salvage program uncovers rare local river find

Almost 40 rare River Blackfish have been discovered and returned to the Wakool River in a collaboration between Western Murray Land Improvement Group, Watti Watti, Wamba Wamba (Barapa Barapa) Traditional Owners, the Edward Wakool Angling Association and Murray Irrigation. 
 
The River Blackfish were among 134 native fish captured and restored to the river as part of a joint fish salvage program that has been running during Murray Irrigation's winter maintenance program.
 
Local freshwater scientist, Dr John Conallin has described the discovery of the notoriously shy species, which were once common throughout the region's creeks and rivers, as "an unexpected find".
 
You can find out more about the fish salvage program by reading the article below. 



Local fish restoration operation nets rare find

Industry News

Introducing River Country Biolink

Join Western Murray Land Improvement Group (WMLIG) on 29 August for the River Country Biolink Field Day.

The group will bring together Western Murray farmers, Barapa Barapa representatives and experts in environmental markets, hydrology, archaeology, forestry and wetland restoration to co-design a 'hydrated biolink' to maximise economic, social and natural returns.

This event will be held at WMLIG's office at 27 Thule Street, Barham, commencing at 9.45am.

Places are limited, so please RSVP by 25 August. 


Click here to RSVP

Landholder Association Annual General Meetings

Denimein/West Berriquin LHAs
Date: Wednesday, 23 August
Time: 6.30pm
Venue: Deniliquin Ute Muster site 

Deniboota LHA
Date: Thursday, 24 August
Time: 4.00pm
Venue: Caldwell Hall 

Mayrung growers earn top rice award

A round of applause to Mayrung rice grower Justin Barker and wife Stevie on capturing the Port of Melbourne Highest Yield Award at the recent 2023 Rice Industry Awards.
 
The award-winning crop of cold tolerant VO71 grain yielded an amazing 14.38 tonne per hectare. This variety is a relatively newcomer to the Riverina, first released in 2021. 
 
Justin and Stevie were on hand at the awards ceremony in Griffith to collect the prestigious gong, together with Justin's agronomist brother Matt, who helped the couple accomplish this exceptional result.

Justin and Stevie Barker

Justin and Matt Barker

Soils for Success workshop

Soil experts will guide participants through soil management techniques, with a focus on regenerative and sustainable agricultural practices.

This free workshop will be held on 29 August at the Pretty Pine Recreation Reserve. 



Register for workshop

Community News

Learn about riverbank erosion - Free community event

Come along to the banks of the Edward River this Saturday morning, 26 August, and hear about the ecology of the river, what riverbank erosion is, the impact on our town and waterways and how you can make your local patch healthier.
 
Commencing at 8.30am, Deniliquin Kolety Lagoons Landcare Group volunteers Dr John Conallin, Roseanne Farrant, Dan Hutton and Josh Campbell will discuss: 


  • Riverbank and terrestrial plants including the best species to plant along the riverbank and in the garden.
  • How these plants protect the riverbank from erosion and provide habitat for native fish and animals.
  • The type of fish and animals that can be found along the river and how they can be protected.
  • Work that is currently being done to protect river and creek banks and in wetlands.


Reserve your spot

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