 MDBA Basin News e-Letter, Issue 2, March 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 Murray-Darling Basin Authority recently reported that the Murray system (excluding the Darling) received about 80 GL during February. This was nearly twice as much as last year, but the long term average is 170 GL. February was a wet month through most of the eastern two-thirds of Australia, with all three states receiving more than double their normal February rainfall. MDBA active (usable) storage at the end of February was about 1,920 GL or 21 per cent capacity. This was higher than last year at 1,170 GL but well below the long term February average of 5,300 GL. Estimates of water volumes flowing from the recent Queensland floods should be known in about two weeks. To read the latest weekly report of river operations go to www.mdba.gov.au Authority meeting reviews progress on developing Basin Plan Chief Executive Rob Freeman said the Authority reviewed progress being made as the Authority worked towards a mid-year release of the draft Plan for public consultation. He said the meeting had detailed discussions on vital flow modelling that the Plan will need if it’s to deliver its environmental outcomes. The flow regimes will help set the overall environmental water requirements of the Basin. They will also be a vital input in establishing long term sustainable diversion limits. The meeting also reviewed the substanial progress made on socio-economic issues and on the balance between economic, social and environmental requirements. The Authority is developing the first Basin-wide plan to strategically manage water resources in an integrated and sustainable way. The Authority members are: Mike Taylor (Chair); Dianne Davidson;Dr Diana Day; David Green; Professor Barry Hart; and Rob Freeman (Chief Executive). For more information on the Basin Plan go to www.mdba.gov.au/basin_plan Summary of issues raised in sustainable diversion limits submissions The Authority asked five questions for contributors to consider about the proposed approach to setting sustainable diversion limits (SDLs):
The Authority received 155 submissions from governments, groups and individuals. Further details can also be found in the original submissions www.mdba.gov.au/sdl-submissions. The Authority is considering the issues raised in the submissions and has commissioned a detailed technical analysis to ensure that key elements and information from the submissions are fully understood and can be used to inform the ongoing development of the proposed Basin Plan. The Authority has also commissioned extensive social and economic research to better inform the development of the Plan. For more information go to www.mdba.gov.au/programs/engagement. Basin Community Committee workshop focuses on strategic issues The workshop also highlighted the priority issues in response to the five questions outlined in the SDLs issues paper. The next meeting of the BCC will be held in Canberra on 9 and 10 March and provide members with opportunity for further input into the Basin Plan. The Committee will receive briefings from Senior Basin Plan staff and will formulate and consolidate advice to the Authority. The Authority will be represented by Authority member Dianne Davidson. A meeting summary will be published on the MDBA website post-meeting. For more information, email bcc@mdba.gov.au or visit the MDBA website. The Basin Community Committee (BCC) advises the Murray–Darling Basin Authority about the performance of its functions, including in relation to:
For more information go to www.mdba.gov.au/communities/basin_community_committee Basin Plan update at Brisbane’s Ozwater 2010 Development of the Basin Plan has moved from the 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. The Authority is working towards a mid-2010 release of a draft plan for the sustainable management of the Basin’s water resources. The final plan will be submitted to the Commonwealth Government in 2011. The Basin Plan will be complemented by water resource plans prepared by Basin states and provided tothe Murray-Darling Basin Authority for assessment and advice to the Commonwealth Minister on accreditation. The Basin Plan will also play an important role in identifying responsibilities for managing risks related to reduced water availability and changes in reliability of supply. Water-sharing arrangements that are provided for in existing water resource plans will remain in place until these plans cease as outlined in the transitional arrangements set out in the Act. For more information on the Basin Plan go to www.mdba.gov.au/basin_plan the Ozwater 2010 conference website is at www.ozwater10.com.au Irrigation conference and expo egistrations open This year’s theme is One Water Many Futures and will look at the future of irrigation and its role in food and fibre production, our lifestyles and its interaction with the environment. The Conference is jointly hosted with Cooperative Research Centre for Irrigation Futures, which will be showcasing the tools, processes and knowledge it has developed. The two-yearly event brings the irrigation industry together, mixing irrigators, suppliers, equipment manufacturers, researchers, water supply organisations, consultants, advisors and policy makers. More than 500 people are expected to attend the conference and more than 3,500 people are expected to visit the 2010 Exhibition. Overseas keynot speakers are exptecte from South Africa, the USA and Canada. The exhibition will feature more than 100 companies from Australia and overseas showcasing a huge range of irrigation equipment, technology and knowledge. For more information and to register go to www.irrigationaustralia.com.au Expert panel affirms actions on Murray algal outbreak The panel, set up last year by Commonwealth and State governments, reconvened on Tuesday (2 March) to discuss the worsening outbreak of bloom in the Murray River. The panel included experts in water quality, river ecology, public health and animal health/toxicology and senior Commonwealth and state officials. Chair Ms Jody Swirepik said that, at this stage, the the Murray Regional Algal Coordinating Committee was doing all it could to tackle the latest outbreak. However, the panel has asked the Murray-Darling Basin Authority to undertake a study comparing the current algal bloom outbreak with last year’s. The study will look for similarities and differences in the events to better understand the drivers of algal blooms along the Murray. This study will be a collaborative project combining data and knowledge from all Basin States and the Commonwealth. The panel agreed to reconvene as necessary over the next few months. A large part of the River Murray on the New South Wales and Victorian border is currently affected by algal blooms and the NSW Murray Regional Algal Coordinating Committee has issued several red alerts to date. It is most important that people avoid contact with water in the river in affected areas and follow advice from local authorities. Information updates about blue-green algae blooms and Red Alert areas can be obtained from the Regional Algal Coordinating Committee freecall Algal Information Hotline on 1800 999 457 or visit www.water.nsw.gov.au New water education portal for teachers and students launched Funded from the Australian Government’s Water for the Future initiative, the new portal aims to help raise awareness and understanding in the classroom about all aspects of this vital resource. The site allows teachers and schools to access a wide range of water curriculum and resource material to learn about water issues and incorporate water smart behaviour into their everyday lives. The Water Education Toolkit brings together more than 650 national, state, territory, regional and urban water education resources. Teachers and students will be able to find case-studies, lesson and unit plans, visual aids, in-class activities, Indigenous cultural resources, informational resources, games, experiments and more. To use the Water Education Toolkit go to www.environment.gov.au/water/education/index.html Construction of Mulcra Island Living Murray project to begin The project is part of The Living Murray program – one of the largest environmental works program of its kind in Australia. Mulcra Island is part of the Chowilla–Lindsay Wallpolla Living Murray Icon Site, and will soon be part of the extended Murray-Sunset National Park. The Mulcra Island project has been developed by the Mallee Catchment Management Authority in partnership with the Department of Sustainability and Environment, the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Parks The Project will help restore a more natural flooding regime to the island, similar in frequency and duration to that which occurred before river regulation. The project, which includes the installation of a series of environmental regulators, introduces a targeted and efficient way to deliver environmental water. The infrastructure has been designed to operate under a range of water availability scenarios and flow conditions. Tenders are now being assessed for construction of the works and the project is expected to be completed by October. For more informationwww.premier.vic.gov.au/component/content/article/9563.html for more information on The Living Murray program go to www.mdba.gov.au/programs/tlm |
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