managing river basins: finding the right balance€¦ · middens, quarries, rock shelters with...

Managing River Basins: Finding the Right Balance AGTA Conference Perth 2013 Sarah Bellamy 10 January 2013

(Draft) Geography outcomes

• This presentation will provide you with content to help address core knowledge and understanding from a number of Australian Geography Curriculum elements.

The Murray-Darling Basin Located in the south-east of Australia, the Murray–Darling Basin covers 1 059 000 square kilometres, equivalent to 14% of the country's total area.

The Murray-Darling Basin Quick Facts about the Murray Darling Basin •Australia’s largest river system and the total land area is over 1 059 000 km2

•Australia's longest rivers are the Darling (2740 km), Murray (2530 km) and Murrumbidgee (1690 km) •The Basin passes through five states and territories •The region produces over one-third of Australia’s home-grown food

The Murray-Darling Basin

•At the time of the ABS 2006 Census of Population and Housing there were 2 004 560 people living in the Basin - 10% of Australia's population.

•Most of the Basin population lived in New South Wales (39%) and Victoria (29%).

•Agriculture is a significant employer in the Basin. In 2006, 10% of all people employed in the Basin worked in Agriculture, compared to 3% Australia-wide.

•Almost two-fifths (38%) of Australia's farmers resided in the Basin.

The Murray-Darling Basin The Basin is home to the people of over 40 Aboriginal Nations whose spiritual and cultural connection to their land, water and environment has extended over many thousands of years. Aboriginal people maintain this strong relationship to the land and are influential in natural resource management strategies implemented in the Basin.


The Aboriginal history in the Basin extends over at least 45 000 years to the present day, with archaeological evidence from such things as shell middens, quarries, rock shelters with archaeological deposits (e.g. stone artefacts), open camp sites, rock paintings and engravings, axe grinding rocks with their grooves, burial grounds, and the sacred and ceremonial sites.


Drought and flood are a natural phenomenon in the Murray–Darling Basin – we oscillate between periods of drought and flood, with relatively short periods of ‘normal’ rainfall periods in-between.

The Murray-Darling Basin Climate Change The Basin Plan recognises climate change as a significant risk, and so MDBA is committed to increasing our knowledge of the effects of climate change on environmental water needs, other water requirements and water availability. We are doing this in a number of ways, including through a partnership with the South Eastern Australia Climate Initiative.

• Source: Senate Inquiry 2011, Water Act 2007 An explanatory Guide, 2011; Tisdell, J et al. Cooperative Research Centre for Catchment Hydrology, The Development of Water Reform in Australia, Technical Report 02/5, 2002

1871-81 Severe drought and clashes between miners, agriculturalists and urban users created impetus for reform

1886

Victoria’s Irrigation Act was the first state legislation to define ownership of water and rights to water use

1902 Interstate Royal Commission on Murray Waters to inquire into the “conservation and distribution of waters in the Murray and its tributaries for the purposes of irrigation, navigation and water supply.”

1915 River Murray Waters Agreement between first ministers regulated states’ shares of water and built dams, locks and weirs

1960s River Murray commission investigated salinity and the River Murray Waters Agreement was amended to address water quality

1994 A COAG water reform agreement reformed water pricing, facilitated cross-border water trading and returned water to the environment

1992 Murray-Darling Basin agreement between Basin States coordinated planning for the equitable, efficient and sustainable use of water, land and other environmental resources

2007 Commonwealth Water Act established the Murray Darling Basin Authority to develop a Whole of Basin plan with enforceable sustainable diversion limits and rules to facilitate water trade

2004 The National Water Initiative was signed by all governments and sought to establish a nationally consistent water market. States committed to address overallocation.

2004

Living Murray Initiative

1870s Competing

needs

1886-1920 Separation of land and water rights

1960s Growing

environmental awareness

1980s Water demands

increase

1990s Basin-wide approach

2000s

2008

The MDB intergovernmental agreement represented an undertaking by governments to implement the reforms necessary to meet the current and long term social, environmental and economic values

1995

Basin cap Cap on water diversions in the Murray-Darling Basin

The Murray-Darling Basin The Murray-Darling Basin Plan- The need for reform.

2. Achieve a balanced outcome

The Basin is culturally, environmentally and economically important.

Use of Basin water has supported local economic growth but has also damaged the environment and threatened the long-term viability of the local economy.

Governments and communities have an opportunity to work together to create a healthy working Basin.

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority is considering the needs of the environment, industry and communities in recommending a sustainable level of water use.

Rebalance water use • The Commonwealth is

funding measures to achieve a more balanced distribution of water, including purchasing water, infrastructure and environmental works and measures investment.

• The Government will work with states and communities to get the balance right.

Use water well • Commonwealth and state

governments will work with communities to deliver recovered water carefully and efficiently to meet environmental needs.

• The water market encourages users to reap the benefits of efficient water use; governments will work together to maximise the benefits of trade.

How is water reform achieved?

Support communities to thrive • Communities that are highly

dependent on irrigation will face challenges with sustainable diversion limits.

• Governments will work with communities to support them throughout the transition.

1. Determine the right balance of water use

The Murray-Darling Basin is one of Australia’s most important river systems.


Land and water degradation in the Murray-Darling Basin

Erosion Salinity Acid Sulphate Soils Algal Blooms Blackwater


Salinity The amount of salt in the Murray–Darling Basin is not increasing, however, naturally occurring salt is being 'mobilised' and concentrated in certain parts of the landscape.

The Murray-Darling Basin Acid Sulphate Soils

The Murray-Darling Basin Algal blooms •Blue-green algae have always been present in the river system and blooms are a natural phenomena. •The frequency of algal blooms within the system as a whole has not changed markedly over the last 30 years

The Murray-Darling Basin Blackwater •Blackwater is oxygen-depleted water caused by the decay of organic matter. •Blackwater events can occur naturally as a result of floods and are a natural phenomenon due to the convergence of a number of conditions.

The Murray-Darling Basin Invasive species

Carp separation, Blanchetown SA Fish ladders allows native fish to

swim through while carp are caught


Indigenous and cultural values have been taken into account of in the way we will manage the basin in the future

http://www.mdba.gov.au/files/images/River-country-ceremony.jpg


• The Balance • Social • Economic • Environment


Social- • rural communities urbanisation and

industry shifts • Indigenous communities, values and

knowledge


Economic- • irrigation, reliance, infrastructure • Buybacks • Agricultural production • Employment

http://www.murrayirrigation.com.au/media/water-resources-updates/


• Water for the environment

• The Sustainable Diversion Limits

• Water Resource Plans'

The Basin Plan


• Educational resources • Education officer details and

business cards • Posters • Education supplements


Questions?

managing river basins: finding the right balance€¦ · middens, quarries, rock shelters with...

Documents