Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
integrated into the 15-year Basin Salinity Management Strategy. The strategy guides
communities and governments in working together to control salinity in the basin and to
protect key natural resource values within their catchments. It reflects the responsibility
for action between valley communities and states, by targeting river salinity of each
major tributary valley in the Murray-Darling Basin. Progress of jurisdictions in
implementing their responsibilities with the salinity strategy is independently audited
each year.
The cap
In 1995, recognising the importance of a more holistic approach to basin
management, the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council commissioned an audit of
water use in the basin, which confirmed the increasing levels of diversions and the
consequent decline in river health. The Audit found that by 1994, 11,000 GL per year
was being diverted from the Murray River, out of a possible 24,000 GL per year. A cap
was introduced to limit further water diversions based on the 1993-94 levels of
development.
The cap has not limited development; rather it has encouraged the more efficient use
of water. It has also provided a framework to support the establishment of a water trading
scheme. The cap serves the dual purpose of preventing further erosion of water access
reliability for existing water users and protects river systems from further reductions in
flow. The cap is independently audited each year with reports to both to the Ministerial
Council and the public.
The Living Murray
In response to the substantial evidence that the health of the River Murray System
was declining, the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council established the Living
Murray Initiative. Concerns had been expressed about algal blooms, stranding of trees,
drowning of trees, salinity and the possible closure of the Murray mouth.
In 2002-03, significant work was undertaken by the MDBC to investigate the options
for contributing to the improvement of the health of the Murray through the provision of
additional water for the environment. The work included scientific, economic and social
analysis together with community consultation.
An agreement was reached in late 2003 by the Ministerial Council, and ratified by the
first ministers of the Council of Australian Governments in June 2004. The agreement
involves investing $500 million over five years commencing in 2004-05, to reduce the
level of water over-allocation by recovering 500 GL of water. This water will be directed
to achieve specific environmental outcomes at six significant ecological sites: Barmah-
Millewa Forest, Gunbower, Koondrook-Perricoota Forests, Hattah Lakes, Chowilla
Floodplain (including Lindsay-Wallpolla), Murray Mouth and Coorong and Lower Lakes
and the River Murray Channel. The $500 million was additional to $150 million of
funding for environmental works and measures (i.e., infrastructure and strategies to
deliver environmental water more effectively). To date, proposals have been received to
recover some 240 GL of water at a cost of $179 million. A number of feasibility studies
are under way investigating other water recovery projects.
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