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21 October 2011, Tehran, Iran

Australian Showcase:Theme 1:

Australia and WaterWillem F. Vlotman

Outline Presentation

Background on climate, irrigation and drainageg , g gBackground on water management in AustraliaDrivers of the Water Act 2007 and why we are modernising our water management systemsGovernment investments; Mary Harwood

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Climatic Regions

Distribution of surface water run‐off

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Background of water management in Australia

1890’s – 1980’s Development era – ‘drought, royal commission, new d ’dams’

1915 NSW, VIC and SA, River Murray Waters Agreement.1987 Murray-Darling Basin Agreement.1994 COAG Agreement on Water Reform – environmental

flows, unbundling water and land ‘titles’, corporatisation and cost recovery

1995 MDB ‘Cap’ on more extractions2004 COAG National Water Initiative reaffirms commitments to

reform agenda, eflows and markets’ role in reallocating g gwater

2007 Commonwealth Water Act.2019 Murray-Darling Basin Plan in effect in all States

These formal processes have been underpinned by considerable effort by many people at local, regional, state and national levels

Main Objectives of the Water Act 2007

An Act to make provisions for the management of the water resources of the Murray Darling Basin and to make

The Murray-Darling Basin AgreementManagement of Basin water resources (MDBA)

Basin PlanWater Resource plans for particular water resource plan areasCritical human water needs

resources of the Murray-Darling Basin, and to make provisions for other matters of national interest in relation to water and water information, and for related purposes.

Audits by National Water Commission (NWC)Basin water charge and water market rules (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, ACCC)Murray-Darling Basin Water rights Information ServiceCommonwealth Environmental Water HolderWater Information (Bureau of Meteorology, BOM)Enforcement

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MDB Basin PlanVariability of available water; total inflows in Murray‐Darling 

basin

14,000

Development of diversions for consumptive use in the Murray‐Darling Basin

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

GL/

y

Period of above average inflows

0

2,000

1927 1936 1945 1954 1963 1972 1981 1990 1999 2008

MDB NSW VIC SA QLD ACT

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Murray-Darling Basin water resources

Interceptions Interceptions

Environment60%

Flow to sea40%

p

Diversions42%

Consumptive

Environment58%

42%Consumptive

Environment58%

Environment

Flow to the sea

p

Diversions

Environment

Flow to the sea

33 - 30%Consumptive

Environment67 - 70%

33 - 30%Consumptive

Environment67 - 70%

WITHOUTDEVELOPMENT

WITHOUTDEVELOPMENT CURRENTCURRENT FUTUREFUTURE

Balancing consumptive and environmental requirements

How much water is needed for a healthy river?yHow do we maintain productivity without compromising the environment?What is the most effective and efficient way to source water for the environment?

Reconciling environmental, social/cultural and

Ecological health: balancing extractive and environmental use of water resourcesResilient communities: with viable irrigation industriesSustainable food production: maintaining ( & increasing) production with less water

g ,economic considerations: triple bottom line

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The SRWUIP was established by the Australian government in 2008 with a total

Sustainable Rural Water Use and Infrastructure Program (SRWUIP)

The SRWUIP was established by the Australian government in 2008 with a total funding of $A5.8 billion. 

Much of the funding is focused in the Murray Darling Basin

$3.2 billion is committed to State Priority Projects under the Inter‐Governmental Agreement on Murray Darling Basin Reform.

Investment Objectives for State Priority Projects:

Invest in infrastructure to improve the efficiency and productivityof rural water use and management;

Help secure a long‐term sustainable future for irrigated agriculture and communities;

Deliver substantial and lasting returns of water to the environment; and 

Deliver value for money projects.

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SRWUIP ‐ Program Structure

SRWUIP “head program”

State priority projects (up to $3.2b) Other commitments

State led projects Commonwealth led projects

Major components include:

Victoria $1,103m NSW Private Irrigation Infrastructure

On-Farm Irrigation Efficiency $300m

South Australia $420mQueensland $160m

New South Wales$708m

Australian Capital Territory $85m

Infrastructure Operators Program $650m

South Australia Private Irrigation Infrastructure Program $110m

Efficiency $300m

Strengthening Basin Communities $200m

National Water Market System $56mCompliance and Enforcement $60m

SRWUIP - Who is delivering the projects?SRWUIP delivery partners include:

State government departments –

e g water primary industrye.g. water, primary industry, environment

Irrigation infrastructure operators 

Irrigation industry associations

Industry commodity bodies

e.g. rice‐growers, tomato growers

Individual irrigators

Catchment management (resourcemanagement) authorities                                                     Natural 

Local government 

Water utilities

CSIRO (sustainable yields studies)

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SRWUIP - What sorts of projects are being funded?Planning and investigationslocal governmentirrigation districts/corporationshot spots assessments (identifying areas of water loss and leakage)rural water re‐use resource assessment

upgrading irrigation systems off farmfixing/replacing leaky old systemslining channels, replacing channels with pipesreconfiguring and rationalising channel systems and farm off‐takesdecommissioning channels and providing alternate stock and domestic supplyImproving water delivery standards

installing compliant water metersInfrastructure and other works on farm to improve water use efficiencyworks and measures to improve ecological health and restore natural flows water saving municipal projects – e.g. storm water harvesting

SRWUIP – current issues

Spotlight on SRWUIP’s role in contributing water savings to ‘bridge the gap’ to the sustainable diversion limits under the Murray Darling Basin Plan

• Focus on water savings  for the environment vs. broader benefits, including industry and environmental outcomes

• What benchmarks are appropriate? …$/ML, multiple of water market price.

• Building and using local knowledge and capacity in rolling out projects

Timelines for infrastructure roll‐out – managing expectations, while i fit f l t d i bl j tsecuring fit‐for‐purpose, properly costed, viable projects

Integration of infrastructure investment (SRWUIP) with the water purchase program in the MDB

Supporting delivery system/footprint rationalisation for irrigation districts

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Closing remarks

On water management and reform in Australia:Long history of steps towards better water managementIn a dry, highly variable climate and water resourcesCurrent focus is on increasing water use efficiency andCurrent focus is on increasing water use efficiency and rebalancing water use (environment and extraction) in the Murray Darling for long term sustainabilityHow to ensure best results are achieved from investment in water saving technologiesThe Basin Planning process for the Murray Darling  – bringing together many aspects of water reformWater MarketsManagementGovernment investment in infrastructure and water buyback to assist transition to lower water extraction levels