 MDBA Basin News e-Letter, Issue 1, February 2010
Basin News – The Murray-Darling Basin Authority eLetter 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 Contributions are welcome. Please send items of up to 300 words to the editor at medialiason@mdba.gov.au An online html version is available at: www.mdba.gov.au/media_centre/mdba_eletter
The latest Murray–Darling Basin Authority weekly river operations report says that, as a result, streamflows are continuing to slowly recede. For instance, at Biggara on the upper Murray, the flow receded from 210 to 170 ML/day in the last week of January. Murray system inflows (excluding Mindee Lakes and the lower Darling) in January were about 110 GL - higher than last year, but still well below the long-term average of around 230 GL. In the last week of January the Authority’s total active (usable) storage fell from 1,937 to 1,862 GL (22% capacity), well below long term averages. Storage in Dartmouth Reservoir fell by 4 GL to 1,187 GL (30% capacity) and storage in Hume Reservoir decreased by 52 GL to 591 GL (19% capacity) and with further falls expected over the coming weeks. To read the full report go to www.mdba.gov.au. For a report on the situation at Menindee Lakes go to: www.water.nsw.gov.au/Water-management/Water-sharing/Menindee-Lakes/menindee-lakes/default.aspx 155 submissions received on water extraction limits paper The paper was released in November and invited feedback from any interested groups or individuals. Authority chair Mr Mike Taylor said the new limits will form an essential part of the Basin Plan the Authority is developing to put the management of water resources throughout the Basin on a sustainable footing. The new limits are known as “sustainable diversion limits” or “SDLs” and will be set using the best available scientific knowledge and after extensive consideration of social and economic impacts. The Authority has received submissions from:
All non-confidential submissions will be published on the Authority website this month (February) at www.mdba.gov.au/sdl-submissions. The MDBA will publish a summary of the issues raised in submissions along with how the issues will be addressed in the proposed Basin plan. This activity is part of the Authority’s ongoing engagement program which aims to ensure good two-way communication and transparency with key stakeholders in developing the Basin Plan, The program also includes continuous website updating of feedback from regional meetings which can be accessed at www.mdba.gov.au/communities/meetings-events. If you do not have access to the internet or know of someone who would like to receive this information but does not have access to the internet call free phone number 1800 230 067 or contact engagement@mdba.gov.au. Basin Community Committee meets at Goolwa This was the committee’s fifth meeting and one of several held at regional centres in the Basin to encourage discussions with the Basin communities. The committee is a key component in the Authority’s preparation of the first plan to sustainably manage water resources throughout the Basin. The committee gauges the community’s reactions to Basin Plan elements, compiles views of the various stakeholders and community members and presents a whole of Basin perspective to the Authority. The Authority is represented on the Committee by Authority member Dianne Davidson who attended the Goolwa meeting. Following the meeting, members hosted an information session to inform local stakeholders on the developments of the Basin Plan. The session included presentations from the BCC Chair Joan Burns and MDBA staff and a question and answer session. A summary of the themes arising from the meeting will be published on the MDBA website at www.mdba.gov.au On 3 February committee members toured the Murray Mouth, the barrages at Ewe Island and Tauwitcherie and stopped at Raukkan to gain a greater understanding of the local Indigenous issues in that part of the Basin. For more information email bcc@mdba.gov.au or visit the MDBA website at www.mdba.gov.au Basin Plan update at Outlook 2010 Development of the Basin Plan has moved from research/inquiry to the analysis stage and will soon move into consolidation and drafting before the draft plan is released for public comment later this year. At Outlook 2010 Mr Taylor will participate on a panel discussing water policy and its role in climate adaptation. This is the fortieth anniversary of Outlook – one of Australia’s most important forums for discussion of issues covering agriculture, fisheries, forestry and natural resources generally. It is organised by ABARE (Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics) and this year more than 600 delegates are expected from around Australia and abroad. Overseas delegates will include representatives from the International Monetary Fund, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the International Cotton Advisory Committee. Sessions will discuss issues such as farm performance, productivity, future directions in trade policy, climate change and forestry, agriculture and greenhouse gas emissions, the outlook for key commodities, water policy, irrigation, food security and biosecurity. For more information on Outlook 2010 go to www.abareconomics.com/corporate/conferences/conferences.html For more information on the Basin Plan go to www.mdba.gov.au/basin_plan $40m engineering works will rehabilitate Chowilla floodplains The new ‘regulator’ and related structures valued at $40 million are part of The Living Murray’s Environmental Works and Measures Program. The Commonwealth Minister for Climate Change and Water Senator Penny Wong and the South Australian Minister for the River Murray Karlene Maywald announced the start on 29 January. The Living Murray program is a joint initiative funded by the New South Wales, Victorian, South Australian, Australian Capital Territory and the Commonwealth governments, coordinated by the Murray–Darling Basin Authority. The Chowilla floodplain, located in the Riverland, is part of the Chowilla Lindsay –Wallpolla icon site and includes part of the Riverland Wetland, recognised as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. The floodplain contains the largest remaining area of river red gum woodland in the lower River Murray and a significant population of Murray Cod. It is also home to populations of rare and endangered species, such as the nationally listed Southern Bell Frog. The works will reverse the environmental decline at Chowilla through construction of:
The works will allow inundation of between 5,580ha and 9,000 hectares or 30 to 50% of the floodplain, depending on the prevailing river conditions and will influence an even larger area by recharging groundwater systems. This will enable the maintenance and improvement of more than 75% of the river red gums and more than 30% of the black box on the Chowilla Floodplain. In addition to the vegetation benefits, the regulator will provide a number of other environmental benefits including:
“The floodplain is suffering from the combined impacts of river regulation and prolonged drought,” Senator Wong said. “Recent scientific advice suggests that without large scale intervention measures the health of the floodplain will continue to deteriorate and key elements lost.” “The remedial works will help maintain high biodiversity within the Chowilla floodplain and its complex system of creeks, wetlands and floodplain habitats.” Minister Maywald said the new works would allow water managers to restore a flooding regime similar in frequency and duration to that which existed before river regulation. “The project, which also includes upgrades to the Pipeclay and Slaney Weirs, will enable large areas of floodplain and wetlands to be inundated in a way that will support local animal and plant life including several threatened species.” Minister Maywald stressed the use of the regulator, which comprises 12 concrete piers and removable stop logs that will enable the water level in Chowilla Creek to be increased by up to 3.6 metres, will make no difference to allocations for irrigation. “This is possible because environmental water allocations available as a result of the Living Murray initiative will be used to operate the regulator,” she says. For more information go to www.samdbnrm.sa.gov.au or www.mdba.gov.au Hattah Lakes get environmental water The water will compliment previous environmental allocations watering up to 600 hectares of drought refuge for species such as waterbirds, turtles and frogs. The watering will also help avoid irretrievable loss of river red gums around five of the lakes. The Hattah Lakes icon site includes over 20 semi-permanent freshwater lakes. The site forms part of the 48,000 hectare Hattah–Kulkyne National Park. The lakes support river red gum communities and a variety of native plants and animals. They are also important breeding places for waterbirds. Hattah Lakes has not received natural floodwaters since 2000. Environmental water has been crucial to preventing the full effects of the long term drought on the icon site. Future environmental watering of the site will be made more efficient with the construction of water management structures that will enable flooding of up to 6,000 ha of lakes and surrounding floodplains. These structures will include three regulators and three levees, a pumping station and lowering of silt deposits in the main Chalka creek. The Living Murray is a joint initiative funded by the New South Wales, Victorian, South Australian, Australian Capital Territory and the Commonwealth governments, coordinated by the Murray–Darling Basin Authority. For more information visit www.mdba.gov.au/programs/tlm Forum to highlight native fish issues in Lachlan catchment The forum – part of the River Revival-Upper Lachlan Project – is being hosted by the Lachlan Catchment Management Authority (CMA), in partnership with the Murray–Darling Basin Authority, Industry and Investment NSW and the Upper Lachlan Council. The forum will walk through time from the “good old days” to today and will showcase what work is currently being done and what can be done in the future to protect and improve native fish populations in the Lachlan River. The first day will be held at the Crookwell Services Club. An important part of this day will be to discuss the range of issues that has lead to the degraded state of the river and work through the main threats that need to be addressed into the future. On the second day a field trip will give participants the opportunity of seeing first-hand the efforts being made to ensure the longevity of native fish in the Lachlan. Whether you enjoy the Lachlan River for environmental, recreational or production purposes, this forum is an opportunity to learn more about the importance of the river as a critical habitat to native fish. For more information contact Kerrie Edwards at the Lachlan Catchment Management Authority on 02 6851 9500. Authority presents its first Australia Day Achievement Awards Presenting the awards Chief Executive Rob Freeman said the past 12 months had been a busy and productive time for the Authority. “The success of the agency’s operations has been a result of the outstanding performance of many of our team members, amply represented by the handful of first Australia Day Achievement Awards winners,” he said. Australia Day Achievement Awards are an integral part of Australia Day celebrations around the country designed to honour and acknowledge outstanding achievements by Australians. Agencies also use this time to acknowledge internally their high performing individuals and teams. The recipients of the MDBA’s Awards this year:
For more information on the Murray-Darling Basin Authority and its operations go to www.mdba.gov.au Living Murray executive awarded Australia Day honour Jody was awarded the honour for outstanding public service in driving The Living Murray program - a joint initiative funded by the New South Wales, Victorian, South Australian, Australian Capital Territory and the Commonwealth governments, coordinated by the Murray–Darling Basin Authority. MDBA Chief Executive Rob Freeman said Jody had been an outstanding public servant, particularly in her contributions to water reform and the science underpinning this reform at both the Commonwealth and State level. She joined the then Murray–Darling Basin Commission (MDBC) for a short period in 1993, and then went on to spend six years working in the NSW environment protection area. “She rejoined the MDBC in 2000 and was instrumental in establishing and obtaining commitment from jurisdictional governments to the Sustainable Rivers Audit – a testimony to both her scientific and negotiation abilities,” Mr Freeman said. “Jody was promoted to General Manager, River Environment Management in 2007 and over the last few years has steered The Living Murray program through a lengthy national water reform, all the while building and reinforcing community, state and Commonwealth support for the environment to have an equitable share of the available water resources. “TLM has been a ground breaking program and much of Jody’s work has been pioneering in that there is nowhere in the world where a landscape scale river rehabilitation project of such significance has been implemented successfully, particularly given the challenges of record drought.” Jody transferred to the Authority in December 2008 and has continued to make significant contributions to environmental water and to the work of the Authority generally. “Jody is a role model for future public servants, demonstrating strong scientific and policy skills, excellent communication and negotiation approaches and adept networking, across Commonwealth and State jurisdictions,” Mr Freeman said. For more information on The Living Murray program go to www.mdba.gov.au/programs/tlm Applications for water trade legal issues paper prize open The winning paper will presented at the Water Leaders Congress in Sydney on 25 February and the winner will also receive the cost of registration at the conference. Law firm Lawlab hope the award will encourage law graduates and legal practitioners to consider specialising in water reform. The winner will be selected by a panel comprising Lawlab CEO Ian Perkins, director Richard Bootle, and Emeritus Professor Sandford Clark. “The Australian community will benefit from the development of mature water markets that facilitate trade across the jurisdictions,” Mr Perkins said. “We’re looking to encourage innovative legal thinking that builds on the National Water Initiative.”. For more information and entry conditions go to www.lawlab.com.au End |
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