 MDBA Basin News e-Letter, Issue 5, June 2009
Basin News – The Murray-Darling Basin Authority eLetter No. 5, June 2009 Welcome to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority monthly eLetter with reports of happenings across the basin. Please feel free to pass this eLetter along to anybody who might be interested. If you do not wish to continue receiving this eLetter please reply to this message with “unsubscribe” in the subject heading. To subscribe online go to www.mdba.gov.au/media_centre/mdba_eLetter/subscribe An online html version is available at: www.mdba.gov.au/media_centre/mdba_eletter
The Council comprises the Commonwealth Minister for Climate Change and The Ministers recognised that extreme drought conditions are continuing to severely impact on irrigation farmers, towns and cities and rivers and wetlands across the Murray-Darling Basin. They expressed deep concern for all people and communities throughout the Basin who are suffering as result of this extended drought and the emerging impacts of climate change. Ministers welcomed the appointments to the new Basin Community Committee announced on the same day. The members and chair, who will play a crucial advisory role in the development of the Basin Plan, bring a comprehensive mix of skills and knowledge on irrigated agriculture, Basin communities, Indigenous matters, environmental management and water use. Ministers extended their congratulations to all members of the new Basin Community Committee and wished them well in the start of their significant role at their first meeting in July. Ministers acknowledged the importance of developing the new Basin Plan which will, for the first time, ensure sustainable levels of diversions from rivers and aquifers across the whole Basin. They stressed that the Plan will be based on rigorous scientific principles and will require a comprehensive process of community consultation and input, and socio-economic assessment. Ministers welcomed yesterday's release of the Basin Plan Concept Statement as the first step in this process. When the Plan is finalised in 2011 and after consultation with Basin State Ministers, the Authority will provide the Plan to the Commonwealth Minister for final decision. Once adopted, the Plan and its new sustainable diversion limits will be put in place once existing state water plans expire. The key challenge of the Basin Plan is to put the future of the Basin, its communities, and its environmental values on a sustainable footing and that requires some tough decisions. The Ministers were united in the view that the process of adjusting to the new, lower sustainable diversion limits expected in the new Basin Plan should start now and that the combination of investments in irrigation efficiency and water purchase are key to this adjustment process. Ministers agreed the next meeting would be held in Brisbane in November. New Murray-Darling Basin Community Committee announced Minister for Climate Change and Water and Chair of the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council, Senator Penny Wong, welcomed the apointments sayin the Committee will provide a valuable community perspective in advising the Murray-Darling Basin Authority and Ministerial Council on a range of water resource, environmental, cultural and socio-economic matters. “Collectively, the new Committee brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to advise and assist the Murray-Darling Basin Authority through the process of developing the new Basin Plan, including sustainable limits on surface and groundwater use across the Basin,” Senator Wong said. Comprising members with a diverse mix of knowledge and skills from all Basin states and the ACT, the committee will be chaired by Joan Burns from Victoria. “This is an outstanding group of people from all Basin States and the Australian Capital Territory. They bring a comprehensive mix of knowledge and skills relevant to Basin communities, irrigated agriculture, environmental management, Indigenous issues, and water use.” The members are:
The MDBA will be represented on the Committee by the four part-time Authority board members on a rotational basis. They are Ms Dianne Davidson, Dr Diana Day, Mr David Green and Professor Barry Hart. The Basin Community Committee will form three subcommittees on irrigation, environmental water, and Indigenous matters. The first meeting of the Basin Community Committee will be in Canberra in July and the Committee will also meet in regional areas to encourage discussions with the Basin community. For more information go to www.mdba.gov.au How the new Murray-Darling Basin Plan is being developed The release follows the first meeting of the new Authority members in Canberra on 1 and 2 June. MDBA Chair Mr Michael Taylor AO said this was the first document about the Basin Plan to be published by the Authority. “As part of the process for resolving the Basin's water challenges, the Authority has been given the historic task by the Commonwealth Parliament of preparing a strategic plan for the integrated and sustainable management of water resources across the whole Basin,” he said. “This is planning at a scale and complexity that have never been undertaken anywhere else in the world. The Basin is under enormous stress as a result of past water-allocation decisions, prolonged drought, natural climate variability and emerging climate change. “The plan will provide a fundamental framework for future water-planning arrangements. It will be based on the best and latest scientific, social, cultural and economic knowledge, evidence and analysis.” Mr Taylor said the Concept Statement sets out the purpose of the Basin Plan, what it will contain, how it is being developed and when the Proposed Plan will be released. It describes the key elements of the Plan, how it will be developed and how it will affect the three million people who directly depend on it resources. It also details the complexity of managing the Murray-Darling's vast surface and groundwater resources. Read the media release and download a copy of the Concept Statement at www.mdba.gov.au Murray-Darling Basin suffers through ninth dry autumn The latest Murray-Darling Basin Authority Drought Update reports that Murray system inflows for May were only 90 GL, slightly above the record low of 75 GL (in 1902), but well below the long term average of 390 GL. Chief Executive Mr Rob Freeman said that for the June 2008 to May 2009 water year, Murray system inflows were the third driest in 118 years of records. “Autumn is a critical time for wetting of the catchment before winter rainfall, but unfortunately, this did not eventuate. “The prospects for irrigation allocations in 2009-10 will be highly dependent on future rainfall and system inflows,” Mr Freeman said. “Overall, the outlook for the 2009-10 water year remains grim, and is similar to the previous two years.” He said the Bureau of Meteorology's recent June to August rainfall outlook for south-eastern Australia indicated average rainfall, but also an increased risk of an El Niño developing during winter and spring. MDBA active (useable water) storage for the Murray system at the end of May 2009 was 11 per cent of capacity (980 GL), which was well below the May long term average of 4,670 GL. The total volume of water in all Basin storages managed by the MDBA or by State governments, was about 3,940 GL, or 17 per cent of capacity. Mr Freeman said the northern Basin had received some rain in May which resulted in only a small streamflow response and very little of that water was expected to reach Menindee Lakes. He said the prolonged and severe dry period continued to severely impact on wetlands and floodplain ecosystems across the southern half of the Basin. “Small amounts of environmental water were made available during autumn to avoid critical loss of threatened species, reduce the risks of irretrievable damage and provide drought refuges at certain sites. “Salinity along the Murray, upstream of Lock 1, remains relatively low due to the successful operation of salt interception schemes, a gradual reduction in saline groundwater levels during the prolonged drought, and a predominance of river flows originating from the fresher headwater storages in the Murray. A copy of the MDBA Drought Update is available at www.mdba.gov.au First Murray-Darling Basin Authority meeting They approved a Basin Concept Statement and the 16 members of the Basin Community Committee (see above). They received a detailed briefing on the priorities and activities of the Authority office across the Basin. Minister for Climate Change and Water Senator Penny Wong welcomed the th first meeting and it as a key milestone in the 92-year history of managing the water resources of Australia's food bowl. She said that for the first time since Murray water began to be regulated in 1914, there was now a single agency responsible for planning for the integrated management of water resources across the whole Basin. “The Authority will play a crucial role in getting the Basin back on a sustainable footing as we deal with the huge challenges posed by drought, climate change, over-allocation and a legacy of neglect,” Senator Wong said. The Authority comprises Chair Mr Mike Taylor and members Ms Dianne Davidson, Dr Diana Day, Mr David Green and Professor Barry Hart. Chief executive Mr Rob Freeman was appointed in September 2008. (Photos of the Authority members are available at www.mdba.gov.au ) The Authority absorbed the functions of the Murray-Darling Basin Commission from December last year when the Commission ceased to exist. “The new Authority's main function is to develop a Basin Plan that will, for the first time, set a long-term sustainable limit on the use of both surface and groundwater in the Murray-Darling Basin. “In developing the plan, the Authority will consult widely with Basin state and territory governments, key stakeholders, and rural and regional communities across the Basin. “The scientific basis for preparing the Basin Plan includes the CSIRO Sustainable Yields project and the Sustainable Rivers Audit, which provide extensive and detailed information on every river valley in the Basin.” Senator Wong said the independent Authority is responsible for finding the right balance between the water required to sustain irrigation communities, and the water needed to return the Basin's rivers and wetlands to health. “The Authority members will draw on a breadth of expertise and experience in water, the environment, natural resource management and agriculture. Under Mr Taylor's leadership, they will prepare a proposed plan by 2010 for public discussion and consultation and the final plan by 2011. “Importantly, the final decision on the Basin Plan rests with the Commonwealth Minister for Water alone.” The next meeting will be held at Wentworth, New South Wales. MDBA Youth Environment Conference studies drought, climate change The event involves kids teaching kids on river health, the impacts of the drought, climate change and environment issues. South Australian Minister for Environment and Conservation Hon Jay Weatherill MP and MDBA Chief Executive Rob Freeman will launch the conference. They will then be joined by the students in what organisers say will be a “frank discussion quizzing SA experts on water security and ways they can secure a sustainable water future for SA.” Panellists include Rob Freeman, Chair/Chief Executive MDBA, Professor Mike Young, The Adelaide University and Judy Goode, SA Murray-Darling Basin NRM Board. Students will also travel to the Murray River at Murray Bridge for hands-on environment workshops such as plant propagation and bat box building. Conference convenor Arron Wood says the children will have an opportunity to experience an original Australian conference event that more than 13,000 Australian kids have been through. “Adults take a back seat at this unique event as the Year 5 to 11 kids teach each other about the environmental issues they are dealing with at home, and learn from each other about the most effective ways of dealing with these problems. Arron was the 2007 Environmentalist of the Year and was recently appointed as an Ambassador for the Clean up the World Campaign. “The kids learn that as individuals and as members of schools and communities, they can make a real difference, despite the magnitude of problems facing the environment.” Guest appearances will be made at the conference by Anna Meares, Olympic Cycling Champion and Port Adelaide football players. Students will come from rural, regional and metropolitan schools including: Adelaide, Elizabeth, Barmera, Bedford Park, Belair, Berri, Black Forest, Christies Downs, Edithburgh, Ethelton,Glossop, Golden Grove, Goolwa, Kangaroo Island, Kent Town, Meadows, Medindie, Morphett Vale, Murray Bridge, Netherby, One Tree Hill, Port Vincent, Rosewater Scott Creek, Stansbury, Victor Harbor, Waikerie, Wasleys, West Beach, Whyalla Norrie, Woodcroft. For more information contact Michelle Pipino on (03) 9329 3736 or go to www.onelifeoneworldourfuture.com/index.php?pageid=429 Strong response to Murray water purchase offer Chief Executive Mr Rob Freeman said the Authority was very pleased with the strong response. “But we do look forward to more offers,” he said. “Interested willing sellers can propose a price to the MDBA for all or part of their water entitlement. “However, purchase prices will be based on independent market advice.” Mr Freeman said the purchase was being made under The Living Murray program and would buy up to $50 million worth of water entitlements. The latest purchase offer follows a strong response to a 2007 pilot which closed only four weeks into its eleven week timeframe. The Living Murray is a major Authority river restoration program which aims to ensure that the Murray is a healthy working river into the future. It is a collaboration of the Australian Government and the governments of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory. “The purchase will contribute to The Living Murray's target of recovering a long-term average of 500 GL of water for the environment”, said Mr Freeman. “While there is little water available immediately due to the record low inflows to the Murray River system, these entitlements will go towards providing water to maintain the health of Living Murray icon sites.” These are: the Murray River, the Coorong and Lower Lakes, Barmah–Millewa Forest, Gunbower-Koondrook-Perricoota Forest, the Hattah Lakes, Chowilla Floodplain and Lindsay–Wallpolla Islands. The entitlements bought under The Living Murray Water Purchase will add to the 213 GL already available on the Environmental Water Register. Mr Freeman said the investing governments are continuing to work towards realising water from projects approved for investment for the delivery of more water under The Living Murray. Expressions of interest will be accepted until the offer is fully subscribed. Information and expression of interest forms are available on the MDBA website www.mdba.gov.au/water/waterpurchaseproject or by phoning 1800 687 044. Innovative fish counter to help monitor Murray fish migration The trial is being conducted and funded under the Murray-Darling Basin Authority's award winning ‘Sea to Hume Dam' program which aims to improve fish migration along the full length of the river. “Sea to Hume Dam” is part of the Authority's Native Fish Strategy which aims to help restore depleted native fish populations to 60 per cent of their estimated pre-European settlement levels. A four-state team of Murray River fishways researchers from NSW (Department of Primary Industries), Queensland (DEEDI), Victoria (DSE) and South Australia (SARDI) is undertaking the study, which will provide the first field-based assessment of an infrared fish counting system in Australia. NSW DPI research scientist based at Narrandera Fisheries Centre, Dr Lee Baumgartner, said current methods of trapping fish within fishways had certain limitations. “Some fish show a natural shyness to traps, others behave differently after being handled. So scientists are always interested in innovative counting systems that may offer a less invasive alternative to more traditional sampling methods,” he said. Dr Baumgartner said an innovative system developed in Iceland is the Vaki Riverwatcher. The system has been successfully used in Northern Hemisphere rivers, where it has shown greater than 95 per cent accuracy when quantifying upstream migrations of up to 500 fish an hour. The system counts fish by establishing an infrared grid around a point of known fish migration, such as within a fishway. When fish migrate through the grid they are counted and measured. Information obtained on each fish passing though the infrared scanner includes: date, time, upstream or downstream direction and body depth. As fish pass through the grid, the system is also able to map an outline of the shape of the fish. This is converted into a picture file as a silhouette diagram, which is being used to help identify different species. In July 2008, NSW DPI took possession of a Vaki Riverwatcher Infrared Fish Counter. Field trials took place at Lock 10 (Wentworth) in late 2008 and more than 400 hours of data was logged. Dr Baumgartner said despite particularly turbid water during the study, the Vaki Riverwatcher successfully provided information on hundreds of migratory fish during a five-weeks period. Scientists hope that further development of the technology will lead to a long-term method to monitor fish migration in the Murray-Darling system. For more information contact: Sarah Chester on (02) 6036 2110 or 0417 207 669. For more information on the MDBA's Native Fish Strategy go to www.mdba.gov.au/programs/nativefishstrategy Is Australia's water reform on track? Mr Freeman will be part of a panel discussing water. The other panel members include Dr Richard Davis of the National Water Commission and agribusiness executive Mr Peter Corish. Federal Agriculture Minister the Hon Tony Burke MP will officially open the national congress on Monday, with the keynote address by Professor David Hughes (UK) exploring international and consumer-driven trends, requiring more responsive food and fibre production to meet ever-changing demands and fill the demand/supply breach. The congress theme is 'Modern Farmers – growing opportunities today... meeting the challenges of tomorrow'. Organisers say it will be a timely examination of world food needs and Australia's important part in filling the order. The congress will bring together farmers, agribusiness, agricultural teachers and students, federal government ministers, senior departmental officials, whole-of-chain participants, and leading international and national experts together to discuss and debate the major issues, challenges and opportunities ahead of Australian agriculture. Other speakers include:
For more information go to http://congress.nff.org.au/ Water Leader Scholarships applications open The scholarships cover full tuition costs of AU$36,000. Partial tuition scholarships are also available for full-time and part-time study. The program integrates all aspects of water management using a whole-of-water cycle approach. It offers hands-on, practical experience for solving the complex problems of water, and is taught by an interdisciplinary team from our universities and international practitioners and academics. The program is a co-badged degree of The University of Queensland, Griffith University, Monash University and The University of Western Australia. The four Australian universities joined to create the International WaterCentre to answer the following questions based on the premise that continued life on earth depends on us changing the way we think about water:
The Centre unites water professionals from diverse fields such as education, engineering, environment, law, anthropology and social science to change the future of water on earth. Because we do want to live. Applications close on 1 August. For more information and to apply go to http://watercentre.org/education/programs/scholarships or email: scholarships@watercentre.org ends |
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