CATEGORY
Inland waterways
River People’s Forum
A diverse range of views were heard at the River People’s Forum held in Swan Hill on September 2. What do we want our river communities and river to look like? What is the balance between regulated flows and floods and natural ones? Do we want concrete giants like the KP regulators? Nothing was out of bounds.
Underwater drone inspects Tweed’s water reservoirs – New drone technology saving Council time and money
Drone technology is being used to inspect the Tweed’s 40 water reservoirs, saving Council time and money. The new technology has been introduced in recent weeks as a way to more easily scan for information about the structure and quality of the water held in each reservoir ... “We can now conduct inspections of the reservoirs ourselves, on the ground, straight away and at very low cost,”: Water and Wastewater operations manager Brie Jowett
Ultimate authority
There has been much said about the Murray-Darling Basin Authority over the 10 years of Basin Plan implementation ... The latest attempt by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority to justify the hydraulic land clearing and loss of capacity of the Murray River needs to be called out for what it is – mismanagement in breach of the 2007 Water Act.
Reconnecting River Country Program
A plan to have community at the forefront of co-design was the feature of Western Murray Land Improvement Group’s (WMLIG) Reconnecting River Country Program (RRCP) Wakool presentation ... During the night, attendees were walked through the RRCP mapping tool. The maps are generated through computer modelling for various flow options from 15,000 megalitres per day up to 40,000ML/D.
Dangerous levels of lead in wild ducks
It took a recent Freedom of Information request for documents to be released from the EPA stating that dangerous lead levels in wild ducks have been found in tests at four of 23 Victorian shooting waterways across Victoria. The documents were obtained by a not-for-profit group called Regional Victorians Opposed to Duck Shooting.
Naracoorte Creek in the news
Sheryl Lowe. Passionate about nature and the natural flow of waterways, local retired farmer Mr Peter "Huck” Shepherd presented his findings about the potential flooding of the Naracoorte Creek and the possible damage to buildings, businesses and homes in the lower lying areas of the town, to the Naracoorte Lucindale Council meeting ... “If I were to give a rating on the creek’s wellbeing and capacity to handle a decent flood and observing the mess it is in and the lack of maintenance since the 2000 report, out of a ten rating I would give it a minus 5,” he told council.
Voices for the Bush amplified in Alice Springs this week
Australian Water Association (AWA) and Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) are excited to present the first-ever Voices for the Bush Conference at the Alice Springs Convention Centre this week on Tuesday 9 and Wednesday 10 August. The conference will bring together over 200 water professionals from across Australia to the country’s heart. Together they will resolve the challenges faced by regional, rural, remote and Indigenous communities.
Licensing, legalities and loonies
Water politics in Australia’s $13 billion political plan to save the Murray-Darling Basin is rapidly deteriorating as political drivers rip apart what remains of meaningful engagement, sustainable water industries and communities reliant on a balanced plan. Despite all the promises and shiny beads, sadly, politics and bureaucracy show little interest in change.
Certainty for the environment, farmers and water users: Anderson, Griffin
There is more certainty for farmers and the environment after the NSW Government’s licensing and measurement reform became law in Water Sharing Plans for the Border Rivers and Gwydir Valleys. Minister for Lands and Water Kevin Anderson and Minister for Environment James Griffin have approved changes to the Border Rivers, Gwydir and Macquarie Water Sharing Plans.
Commonwealth Government ignores Basin Plan facts and history: VFF
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has raised concerns that the Commonwealth Government is rewriting history in an attempt to buyback and deliver water to South Australia under the Murray Darling Basin Plan. VFF Water Council Chair Andrew Leahy said the response from Water Minister Tanya Plibersek to South Australian MP Rebekha Sharkie’s question in Parliament this week ignored the history behind the 450 GL up-water target.
Government’s gift to irrigators will kill the Darling River: The Greens
The NSW Environment Minister has just approved Water Sharing Plans that will enable floodplain harvesting licences to be handed out in the Northern Basin. Cate Faehrmann, NSW Greens MP and water spokesperson, says this is a gift for big irrigators in the northern basin and will spell the end of a healthy Darling-Baaka River and Menindee Lakes.
Regulator sets sights on irrigators
The Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) has released its regulatory priorities for FY 2022-23 and has set its sights on the irrigated agriculture industry in the Murray, Murrumbidgee and the Far North Coast ... “Our regulatory priorities identify and target problem activities, areas and industries that may have high levels of non-compliance with water laws or the potential to cause harm to the environment or surrounding community”: NRAR’s Director of Regulatory Initiatives Ian Bernard.
Full throttle on Choke
The Barmah Millewa Choke is in the MDBA’s sights as the pesky sand slug slithered its way out of the pages of gold mining history, to now find itself lodged fairly and squarely in the road of supplying the mounting downstream demands for the precious water stored in Hume and Dartmouth. According to the MDBA, this particular sand slug must not be confused with the Cobram beach sand slug.
ABC’s Basin Plan reporting slammed
An advocacy group has slammed what it calls “inaccurate and harmful” reporting of an issue that is crucial to rural communities and the national prosperity. Speak Up Campaign chair, Shelley Scoullar, said rural Australians are ‘fed up’ with unacceptable media standards and the lack of effort to ensure crucial issues are reported accurately and with balance. Mrs Scoullar said the latest example was from the ABC’s national environment and science reporter, Michael Slezak, and his reporting of Australia’s State of the Environment document, in which he used selective information that presented a false picture of Murray-Darling Basin Plan progress in broadcasts and online, including ABC National News.
Money drives madness
Australia’s $13 billion Murray-Darling Basin Plan is yielding some unintended consequences as decades of sage warnings went ignored ... Money is the motivator. “Almonds, citrus, and table grapes can all be grown above or below the Barmah Choke, but horticulturalists believe they can each be grown more profitably below the Choke.”
Post disaster workshops will help landholders restore waterways
Landholders in Myrtle Creek, Busby’s Flat, Upper Cherry Tree, Mongogarie, Pikapene and surrounding areas are invited to Fire and Flood Restoration Workshops at the Rappville Pub this month. All Richmond Valley landholders can join in the workshops which will focus on building community capacity and resilience to extreme events.
This year water for the environment will boost resilience for the drier times: MDBA
Making more out of the recent wet conditions and strengthening the resilience of the Murray–Darling Basin's ecosystems is the focus of this year's Annual Basin Environmental Watering Priorities ... MDBA's General Manager of Applied Science, Dr Matt Coleman said with more water in rivers and storages now was the time to capitalise on the fantastic fish and bird breeding events that have occurred and set our plants and animals up for even greater success.
Water projects deliver off-farm savings: Davey
“I commend the new Water Minister for getting on with business, but the truth is, these projects were well on their way to being signed off before the change of Government ... What we really need now is a Basin Management Plan rather than a water recovery plan. There are plenty of ideas about ways to achieve good environmental outcomes without the need for further water recovery and they should all be on the table as a way to offset any further water recovery,” Senator Davey said.
Government gets to work delivering on Basin commitments: Plibersek and Shing
The Australian Government has announced $37.9 million towards the Lower Murray Water Efficiency project to better equip the Sunraysia water delivery network to combat a changing climate. This project delivers 2.5 Gigalitres (GL) of water savings back to the environment, First Nations Peoples and securing urban water supply.
Recycled stormwater projects will help future-proof iconic Basin sites: Plibersek and Close
The Australian and South Australian governments have announced $2.7 million to improve water infrastructure in South Australia, while delivering 126 ML of water savings to the environment. The Marion Water Efficiency Project will enable the City of Marion to reduce water use from the main Adelaide water supplies, which are often pumped from the Murray–Darling Basin, and help future-proof iconic sites like the Coorong and Lower Lakes.
Huge gap in State funding for roads and flood recovery
Last week’s council meeting was a big one. The last for the financial year so it included the budget. The State Government’s lack of action on flood recovery was a theme throughout the meeting. Here’s the summary of the Richmond Valley Council meeting on June 28.
Plaques lead the way to new tourism experience
Two new walk trails offering an eco tourism experience have been launched in Denmark in time for the winter holidays. Plaques installed at the Denmark River mouth and Lights Beach lookout feature a QR code linked to the Waterways website, and a wealth of local stories designed to enrich the visitor experience.
