 MDBA Basin News e-Letter, Issue 2, March 2009
Issue 2, March, 2009 The Murray-Darling Basin Authority eLetter No. 2 March 2009 Welcome to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority monthly eLetter with reports of happenings across the basin. If you do not wish to continue receiving this eLetter please reply to this message with “unsubscribe” in the subject heading. Please feel free to pass this eLetter along to anybody who might be interested. To subscribe online go to www.mdba.gov.au/media_centre/mdba_eLetter/subscribe Contributions are welcome. Please send items of up to 300 words to the editor at sam.leone@mdba.gov.au An online html version is available at: www.mdba.gov.au/media_centre/mdba_eletter
Basin issues to feature at 5th Annual Water Summit Murray-Darling Basin Authority Chief Executive Mr Rob Freeman will speak at the plenary session on the first morning of the event. The summit is Australia’s most senior-level strategic water conference attracting more than 250 participants and 30 key industry speakers. The MDBA is a sponsor of the event. Other topics to be covered at the summit include:
Overseas guest speaker will be Maude Barlow, author, senior advisor on water to the United Nations and national chairperson of The Council of Canadians. For more information go to www.acevents.com.au/water2009/
New plan aims to improve Lake Hume and foreshore The Lake Hume Land and On-water Management Plan was developed by Goulburn-Murray Water with the assistance of State Water NSW on behalf of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA). MDBA Chief Executive Mr Rob Freeman said the plan set the direction for the management of land and on-water issues at the iconic Murray asset. “Lake Hume is a crucial asset for controlling water delivery down the river for irrigation, the environment, urban users, stock and for recreation and tourism,” he said. “The quality of the water is of utmost importance and must be managed in a way that ensures long term sustainability. This plan sets the general direction for achieving this.” “Many community members and groups, local and State government and other agencies were closely involved in developing the plan.” Mr Freeman said many of the issues raised during the consultations have been grouped into a number of key themes in the plan. These include:
“Within these themes the Plan outlines a number of key objectives and specific actions to be progressively implemented,” Mr Freeman said. “But this is just the first step. The plan will be treated as a dynamic process with experts continuing to work closely with community representatives so that it evolves along with the various actions and strategies as they are implemented,” Mr Freeman said. Goulburn-Murray Water will oversee the implementation of the Plan on behalf of the MDBA. Copies of the Plan will soon be available on the MDBA website at www.mdba.gov.au or contact project manager Shane Papworth on 02 6049 8234 or shanep@g-mwater.com.au
MDBA WetlandCare National Art Competition winners announced
The prizes were announced at the launch of the exhibition of the winning works on February 1 at the Boondall Wetlands Environment Centre for World Wetlands Day. Organisers said the event was very successful with many of the winners able to attend from all over Australia. MDBA Chief Executive Mr Rob Freeman awarded the MDBA prizes and representatives from the other major sponsors awarded prizes in their categories. For more information and to view the online gallery of the winning works go to www.wetlandcare.com.au/Content/templates/news_detail.asp?articleid=720&zoneid=1
‘Engaging visions’ of the Riverland environment Fifteen artists from The Australian National University joined six Riverland artists for a field study involving two ten-day field trips in July and September last year to portray the environmental state of that area of the Murray-Darling Basin. The field study was coordinated by the ANU Environment Studio as part of the Engaging Visions Research Project which investigates how best to engage artists and Basin catchment communities to help manage natural resources. “Engaging Visions” is an initiative of The Australian National University and the Murray-Darling Basin Authority and is funded by the Australian Research Council. Field Study convenor, John Reid, said the artistic collaboration emphasised the need for environmental sustainability and a "sense of place”. “Field procedures provide creative opportunities for artists by arranging for the community to assist them to understand and interpret what they see,” John said. “In response, the visual imagery produced helps the community to affirm values associated with where they live and work as an important part of sustaining a healthy environment. “Visual art informed by science, indigenous knowledge, local community wisdom and inspired by direct observation of the physical world can be powerful stuff. "When applied in conservation strategies, aesthetic statements that stem from such research can help narrow the gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it,” he said. For more information go to http://riverland.engagingvisions.com.au/ or contact John Reid, Environment Studio, School of Art, Faculty of Arts, The Australian National University, phone (02) 6125 2197, email john.reid@anu.edu.au
Rotary river forum prepares future water managers The annual forum, which is now in its 11th year, is organised by Rotary and the Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre. Organisers say the forum offers an exciting opportunity for students and future leaders to become involved in a weekend of activities designed to raise their awareness of the needs of, and ways of maintaining, an ecologically sound river system. Students will examine the importance of the River environment to their communities and the role that young people can play in educating the general public and changing attitudes to water. Students will work with scientific methods of water quality assessment to check the health of the environment. They will tackle the difficulties of sustainably managing water resources through role modelling various sectors of the community. Organisers say they can expect to participate in a range of water based activities that illustrate both the costs and benefits of water resource management. On the environmental side, the students will sample fish, bugs, aquatic plants and water quality and, in the process, learn about their biology and the impact of our use of the resource. The camp will culminates in the students giving a presentation on what river health means to them. For more information go to http://rotarnet.com.au/users/9/9520/index.html
Registrations open for SA Youth Environment Conference “The conference will provide students with skills in environmental education, and help build students who are optimistic, have a sense of future, are capable public speakers and can communicate ideas in many different forms. “Most importantly, the process is about promoting kids teaching kids as the highest form of learning and aiming for a cultural change in the way we view, use and perceive our natural environment. “The 2008 SA Youth Environment Conference is less about a Conference and more about a lasting commitment to our youth and the sustainable use of our land, freshwater, air, biodiversity, marine and coastal resources and environment,” he said. For more information contact Michelle Pipino 03 9329 3736 or go to www.onelifeoneworldourfuture.com/index.php?pageid=429
North Basin rain brings out ‘forests, fur, fins and feathers’ That’s the message from the Namoi Catchment Management Authority which has launched a photographic competition with the above theme. CMA spokeswoman Anne Ferguson says the competition aims to encourage people to research biodiversity by studying their local environments to learn about the diversity of native plants and animals in the Namoi Catchment. “Following the recent rain, many creatures are venturing out of their habitats in search of food and now is an ideal time to grab the camera and get some great shots. “For example pink slugs, which are only found on the upper peaks of the Mt Kaputar Plateau, were out in abundance recently because of the right mix of temperatures and moisture. “With areas now transformed to bodies of water that attract bird and animal life, as well as the wide range of plant life now appearing, there’s plenty of subject matter for budding photographers,” she said. “Images should capture the diverse array of animals and plants, landscapes and waterways. The competition has four sections: open colour, open black and white, secondary student (colour or black and white) and primary student (colour or black and white). Winners receive cash prizes of $250 for first place and $50 for runners-up. Entry to the competition is free and you can enter as many photographs as you like. Entries close Tuesday, 31st March 2009. Information packages and including entry forms are available at www.namoi.cma.nsw.gov.au or by phoning 6742 9202.
Water trading rules through Barmah Choke extended Chief Executive Rob Freeman said recently that the decision was based on the extended drought conditions and the lower than normal flows in the river for the 2008/09 water season. “The minimal net trades through the Barmah Choke at the end of January and the serious outlook for the Murray system means there is virtually no risk of exceeding the channel capacity of the Choke,” he said. “Extending the relaxation rule will continue to enable entitlement holders above the Choke to sell their water allocations to downstream users which will help them manage their irrigation businesses. “Allocation transfers downstream through the Barmah Choke are not normally However, because of the extended drought conditions and the lower than normal flows in the river, transfers of allocations are guaranteed. “If weather conditions change and we have more water within the river, we may need to cease this trading arrangement. However, any allocation transfers approved up until that time would be honoured,” Mr Freeman said. Trade in entitlements from above to below the Choke will continue to be prohibited. For more information contact Sam Leone on (02) 6279 0141
New Ovens River native fish demonstration reach inspected Members of Wangaratta Rural City Council and the new Community Reference Group for the demonstration reach joined the inspection. The Ovens River native fish demonstration reach is one of several being established across the Murray-Darling Basin to focus effort in restoring native fish and endangered habitats. Chair of the Community Stakeholder Taskforce of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s Native Fish Strategy, Mr Adrian Wells of Wodonga, said demonstration reaches brought together the very best and latest scientific, management and local knowledge to improve the chances for native fish across the Murray-Darling Basin. “Several such reaches are being established in each state in the Murray-Darling Basin to demonstrate how pooling resources and effort can have positive outcomes for native fish and communities”, Mr Wells said. “The Ovens River reach is one of the newer reaches but has already generated a lot of interest amongst the community including Aboriginal groups”, Mr Wells said. The native fish demonstration reaches are part of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s Native Fish Strategy introduced five years ago to reverse the decline in native fish numbers and river habitats. “As fish are a strong indicator of river health, the low numbers of native fish were telling us that all was not well with the rivers and wetlands which our communities and industries also rely on”, Mr Wells said. “This 50-year strategy has created a great deal of interest and support in the community. It has also attracted significant funds for a range of activities to improve native fish populations and habitats.” The Ovens River Demonstration Reach is particularly important as it runs through a large regional centre and has high visibility and access by the community. The Ovens River Demonstration Reach is a partnership project between the North East Catchment Management Authority, the Department of Sustainability & Environment, the Arthur Rylah Institute, the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, and the community. For more information contact Sam Leone on (02) 6279 014
Staying up to date on Gunbower-Koondrook and Perricoota The Gunbower-Koondrook-Perricoota Icon Site Community Update provides a snapshot of some of the great environmental work being undertaken by partners in The Living Murray program to protect and restore the natural values of these unique wetland forests. The update is intended to keep everyone informed about the activities planned for the Icon Site under The Living Murray – Australia’s biggest river restoration program. Subscribe to the Gunbower-Koondrook-Perricoota Icon Site Community Update by emailing ChristineT@sf.nsw.gov.au or by contacting Christine Thomson on (03) 5881 9975 for a hard copy. end |
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