Hugh Schuitemaker, Murray Pioneer

Local mayors and a senior irrigation industry figure participated in discussions of how to approach South Australia’s future water use at a major conference.

Riverland Irrigation Trust CEO Rosalie Auricht, District Council of Loxton Waikerie (DCLW) Mayor Trevor Norton, and Mid Murray Council Mayor Simone Bailey, were among local attendees at the Securing South Australia’s Water Future event – hosted by the Committee for Economic Development of Australia – in Adelaide.

Ms Auricht said discussion of how to decrease reliance on River Murray water resources was a highlight.

“It provided an opportunity to hear from the State Government, public sector leaders and academia highly invested in the water space,” Ms Auricht said.

“A key announcement was that SA Water has committed to cap its reliance on the River Murray at the current level.

“This means that water for future growth across the State must be found in other ways. 31GL has already been found in the Adelaide area through better management, reduced evaporation, recycling and reuse of stormwater.

“Two desalination plants are planned to be commissioned for (the) Eyre Peninsula, an area that has had increasing reliance on the River Murray for its water supply.

“Anything that reduces reliance on the River Murray, while supporting state growth, is good news for our Riverland irrigation communities.”

An RDA statement on the event said “our region has been working with the SA Government on developing a business case for significant change under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, which was acknowledged in the keynote speech”.

“We look forward to the discussions we have helped to organise between SA Ministers, government agencies, and regional stakeholders,” the statement read.

“It is great to see our region coming together to transform the future of water security.”

This article appeared in the Murray Pioneer, 14 August 2024.