snw - wii - final powerpoint nethercott-watson - dewha.pdf · water for the future 4 drivers of...

Suzy Nethercott-WatsonWomen In Irrigation - Albury - 22 October 2009

WATER for the FUTURE 2

Outline of Presentation

Drivers of Change

Water Reform Water for

the Future Overview

Irrig

atio

n In

frast

ruct

ure

Pro

gram

s



Drivers of Change


the Future Overview

Irrig

atio

n In

frast

ruct

ure

Pro

gram

s


Drivers of Change 118 year climate record

River Murray System Inflows 1891 -2009(Including inflows to Menindee & excluding Snowy Releases)

4,900

2,000 0

5 000

10 000

15 000

20 000

25 000

30 000

35 000

40 000

45 000

50 000

55 000

1892

1895

1898

1901

1904

1907

1910

1913

1916

1919

1922

1925

1928

1931

1934

1937

1940

1943

1946

1949

1952

1955

1958

1961

1964

1967

1970

1973

1976

1979

1982

1985

1988

1991

1994

1997

2000

2003

2006

2009

Year Ending May

Ann

ual I

nflo

w (G

L)

Average 1891- 2000/01 11,500 GL/y Average 2001/02- 2009

3,800 GL/y(33% of previous average)

Average 1891 - 2009 11,000 GL/y


0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

Barwon

-Darl

ingMoo

nie

Easter

n Mou

nt Loft

y Ran

ges

Wimmera

Campa

spe

Lodd

on-A

voca

Warrego

Paroo

Gwydir

Namoi

Lach

lanBord

er Rive

rs

Conda

mine-B

alonn

e

Macqu

arie-C

astle

reagh

Ovens

Aver

age

wat

er a

vaila

bility

(GL/

y) Historical climate

Median 2030 climate

0

1,500

3,000

4,500

6,000

Goulbu

rn-Brok

enMurr

umbid

gee

Murray

Drivers of change climate change

Impact of climate change on average surface water availability

CSIRO (2008) Water Availability in the Murray-Darling Basin


Drivers of change Environmental decline

12

34

5 6

River HealthGood

Moderate

Poor

Very Poor

Good Moderate Poor Very Poor

Paroo Border RiversCondamine

NamoiOvensWarregoGwydirDarlingLower MurrayMurray Central

Upper MurrayWimmeraAvocaBrokenMacquarieCampaspeCastlereaghKiewaLachlanLoddonMitta MittaMurrumbidgeeGoulburn

Source: MDBA Sustainable Rivers Audit

Paroo

Condamine

Border Rivers

Gwydir

Warrego

NamoiCastlereagh

Macquarie

Lachlan

Murrumbidgee

Darling

Lower Murray

Wimmera

Avoca

Loddon

Campaspe

GoulburnBroken Ovens

KiewaMitta Mitta

Upper Murray

Murray Central

ALBURY



Drivers of Change


the Future Overview

Irrig

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Pro

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s


15 years of water reform in the MDB

1995 Cap on MDB surface water extraction

2003 The Living Murray Initiative

2004 National Water Initiative (NWI)

2007 Commonwealth enacts the Water Act 2007

2008 Water for the Future


Water reform in the MDB


Audit in 1995 on water use in the MDB says if volume of water diversions continued to increase then problems





Limit imposed on extraction called the ‘cap’




2003 The Living Murray Initiative Delivering up to 500GL/year to the Murray to various iconic sites through various projects $400m jointly state and commonwealth governments and run Murray Darling Basin Commission (now the Authority) Why noteworthy here in this context? Continues the story of understanding consumption and value of water Where is it at now?

• 343GL expected to reach target• Next step is use






• More secure entitlements• Improved planning• Improved water markets• Water pricing to recover

costs• Environmental water use to

have same status as other uses

• Improve water accounting.

Phot

o: A

ndre

w T

atne

ll


Water Act 2007

• Sets up the Murray Darling Basin Authority to make a Basin Plan with new diversions caps.

• National water information role for the Bureau of Meteorology

• New ACCC powers over water trading and pricing in the Murray Darling Basin

• Sets up the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder to manage water entitlements owned by the government








Basin Plan Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder


Basin Plan

• Being prepared by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, to include:– new caps (‘sustainable diversion limits’) for each catchment and

aquifer– an environmental watering plan, and water quality and salinity

management plan– water trading rules

• To be ready by mid-2011– applicable to the next round of State Water Sharing Plans– from 2014 in NSW


The ‘CEWH’

Decisions on environmental water use• New independent Statutory position established to manage the

Commonwealth holdings to ensure that the holdings are managed for the best possible environmental outcomes from the available water.

• Required to perform its functions for the purpose of protecting or restoring environmental assets (including rivers, streams andwetlands) so as to effect relevant international agreements and take a Basin Wilde approach

• Total CEWH holdings in the Murray Darling Basin 213GL of which 78GL is in the southern-connected Murray. Allocations are currently very low (the same as other entitlements). Entitlements are bound by the same rules and fees.

• 10.9 GL has already been allocated for environmental use


The ‘CEWH’

2009-10 assessment of watering options based on five criteria

Assessment criteria1. The ecological significance of the asset2. The expected ecological outcomes from the proposed action3. The potential risks of the proposed watering action at the site

and at connected locations4. The long-term sustainability of the asset including appropriate

management arrangements5. The cost effectiveness and operational feasibility of undertaking

the watering action








Basin Plan Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder



Drivers of Change


the Future Overview

Irrig

atio

n In

frast

ruct

ure

Pro

gram

s


Water for the Future Overview

Water for the Future ($12.9 billion)

Taking action onclimate change

Securing water

supplies

Supporting healthy rivers

Using water wisely


Water for the Future

1. Sustainable Rural Water Use and Infrastructure $5.8b2. Restoring the Balance in the Basin ($3.1 billion)3. National Urban Water and Desalination Plan ($1 billion)4. Water Smart Australia ($937 million)5. Driving Reform in the Basin (DEWHA and ACCC) ($646 million)6. Improving Water Information (BOM) ($447 million)7. National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns ($256 million)8. National Rainwater and Greywater Initiatives ($250 million)9. Raising National Water Standards (NWC) ($214 million)10.Living Murray Initiative ($185 million)11.Great Artesian Basin ($85 million)12.Northern Australia Futures ($20 million)


Water for the Future Overview

Water for the Future ($12.9 billion)

Taking action onclimate change

Securing water

supplies

Supporting healthy rivers

Using water wisely

• Sustainable Rural Water Use and Infrastructure Program

• National Rainwater and Greywater Initiative

• National Urban Waterand Desalination Plan

• National Water SecurityPlan for Cities and Towns

• Restoring the Balance inthe Murray-Darling Basin program

• MDBA Basin Plan & Environmental Watering Plan

• Improving the Water Information Program

• Establishing Murray-Darling Basin Authority& Basin-wide Plan



Drivers of Change


the Future Overview

Irrig

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Sustainable Rural Water Use and Infrastructure Program

Sustainable Rural Water Use and Infrastructure Program (SRWUIP)

• Objectives: – Invest in infrastructure to improve the efficiency and

productivity of water use and management,− Help secure a long-term sustainable future for irrigation

communities, − Deliver substantial and lasting returns of water to the

environment, and− Deliver value for money.

• Program value $5.8 Billion over 10 years (2008-2018)


Sustainable Rural Water Use Infrastructure Program Components

SRWUIP

State Priority Projects $3.7b

Other Policy Announcements

13 State Led Projects

4 Commonwealth Led Projects

Numerous components Including

Vic $1.103b

SA $520M

QLD $160m

NSW $710m

ACT $85m

NSW PIIOP $650m

Other $540mIrrigation Modernisation Planning Assistance $5m

On-Farm $300mStrengthening Basin Communities $200m

Hot-spots $23m



SRWUIP



14 State Lead Projects

4 Commonwealth Lead Projects

Numerous componentsincluding

Vic $1.103b

SA $520m

QLD $160m

NSW $710m

ACT $85m

NSW PIIOP $650m



Hot-spots $23m


State Priority Projects - State led Projects

• NSW Water Metering Scheme Program ($221 million)

• Basin Pipe Stock and Domestic Program ($137 million)

• Irrigation Farm Modernisation Program ($300 million of which $100 million notionally targeted for the Southern Murray Darling Basin in NSW).

• Healthy Floodplains ($50 million)


State Priority Projects -Commonwealth Led Projects

• Private Irrigation Infrastructure Operators in NSW Program– $650 million for projects that improve the efficiency and

productivity of water use and management, both off and on-farm.

- Program is open to infrastructure operators

- Applications close November 27 2009.



SRWUIP






Vic $1.103b

SA $520m

QLD $160m

NSW $710m

ACT $85m

NSW PIIOP $650m



Hot-spots $23m


Victoria State Projects

• Stage 2 of Northern Victoria Irrigation Renewal Project (Food Bowl) (NVIRP) $1billionSubject to due diligence, the Australian Government will provide 90 percent of the funds, up to $1 billion, for stage 2.

• Sunraysia Irrigation Modernisation $103m Subject to due diligence, the Australian Government has made an in-principle commitment of $103 million to the program of modernisation of the existing Sunraysia irrigation system.



SRWUIP






Vic $1.103b

SA $520m

QLD $160m

NSW $710m

ACT $85m

NSW PIIOP $650m



Hot-spots $23m



• Irrigation Modernisation Planning Assistance Program– Assistance to identify options to improve efficiency and

plan for a future with less water.

• Hotspots Assessments– Hotspots assessments identify water loss ‘hotspots’ in

irrigation delivery systems.



• On-Farm Irrigation Efficiency Program– Commonwealth-led Program– $300 million to modernise on-farm irrigation

infrastructure. – Applications close 17 November 2009.

• Strengthening Basin Communities Program– $200 million for over two different phases - community

plans and water saving initiatives.– Successful planning projects expected to be

announced this month.– $180 million now available for water saving initiatives

that reduce demand on potable supplies. – Applications close 6 November 2009.


Wrapping Up

Water for the Future1. Better policy and planning, to assist in people to make

plans for the future with greater confidence

2. Investment in irrigation infrastructure, to improve water use efficiency

3. Purchase of water entitlement from willing sellers, to improve river health.


Wrapping Up

• Huge challenges posed by ongoing drought and climate change

• CSIRO forecasts suggest substantially less water availability in southern Australia by 2030

• Rural and regional Australia undergoing major change

• Water programs aim to help farmers deal with the impact of drought and climate change on farmers and food security

• Aim is to help smooth the transition to a future with less water

Key challenges


Average water use

Historical water use

2008 2011 2014 - 2019

Basin Plan specifies new sustainable diversion limits

Enforced when WSPs expire

If no intervention -sudden change when

WSP expires

Water purchases

Infrastructure savings

Wrapping Up



Contact:

• Karralee MeyerAssistant Project Manager02 6274 [email protected]

To access information or to apply for funding:

• www.environment.gov.au/water/programs.


QUESTIONS????????

snw - wii - final powerpoint nethercott-watson - dewha.pdf · water for the future 4 drivers of...

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