Pollack watering showing signs of success
The first of three environmental water deliveries planned for areas within Koondrook-Perricoota Forest F21-22 commenced on August 7. This year marks the seventh consecutive year of managed deliveries to the Pollack, as of August 13 ... The first watering has already made a positive impact on the site with new shoots and leaves appearing.
Relief for Cecil Plains as Toowoomba Regional Council winds back water restrictions
Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) will wind back restrictions in Cecil Plains from Medium Level to Low Level effective immediately. The decision comes after localised winter rain increased water levels at Leslie Dam near Warwick along with good upstream flows and a full Cecil Plains’ weir.
MDBA starts small releases from Hume Dam as storage reaches 90 per cent
The Murray–Darling Basin Authority has started releasing a small volume of water from Hume Dam to maintain airspace for the inflows expected from rain forecast by the Bureau of Meteorology over the coming months.
Pumps started in Guttrum
Diesel irrigation pumps started pumping into the Guttrum Forest last week ... Australia’s most endangered bird, the Australasian bittern, is now part of the public relations push for watering the reed bed. There is only one official documented sighting of the bittern in the swamp from December 1960, and anecdotal reports up until the 70s ... “As farmers, the proof has to be in the pudding. If things don’t work, we go broke, what skin do they have in the game?”
“Let’s invest in our future, not in water profits” – SRI
“Last week it was revealed in media reports the chair of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists is a significant shareholder in Duxton Water. This is the organisation that gloats about the investment potential of water, with the price naturally increasing as more is taken from farmers. So, we have a situation where the Wentworth Group is calling for more water buybacks, while its chairman is investing successfully in a company that benefits from more buybacks. That is a massive conflict,” Darcy Hare, Deputy Chair of Southern Riverina Irrigators.
Beating a pathway to water security at Lake Wyangan
The Lake Wyangan Water Sustainability Project is among 40 water infrastructure projects nationwide which will share in $108 million in federal funding under the National Water Grid Connections funding pathway ... Senator Davey said Lake Wyangan is located ten minutes north-west of Griffith and is a popular location for tourists and locals to enjoy the best nature has to offer.
Basin Inspector-General must deliver improved outcomes for farmers, communities & the environment
The National Farmers’ Federation has welcomed the formal appointment of Troy Grant as Inspector-General of Water Compliance for the Murray Darling Basin. "We expect the role of Inspector-General will deliver improved outcomes for Basin farmers, communities and the environment," NFF CEO Tony Mahar said.
Dunoon Dam and future water- editorial
The Rous County Council decision to remove the proposed Dunoon Dam from our region's water security options has again sparked controversy, as you will see from some of the articles and letters to the editor in this edition. It is perhaps unfortunate that we may have lost an opportunity for many social, environmental and community benefits that could have been developed alongside the dam project. It is quite possible to ‘do dams well’, with a vision for 21st-century water security that mitigates or compensates for any losses experienced.
River on the rise
The mighty Murray is experiencing high flows from a rain event further up the catchment. On Wednesday, the river had 17,200 megalitres per day flowing past Koondrook Barham at a height of 4.748m. Alarmingly the riverbanks compromised under the last nine years of river regulation, Murray–Darling Basin Authority management, are falling away before our eyes.
Landholders brace for another flood
Rob Locke. Hume Dam is already at 76 per cent capacity and rising, with predictions it will spill. There have been calls for the Murray-Darling Basin Authority to release water to reduce the possible impact of flooding. And, this all comes at a time when local irrigators have a meagre 10 per cent allocation, which Southern Riverina Irrigators chair, Chris Brooks, describes as ‘disgraceful’.
Completed Albany to Denmark pipeline secures Denmark’s water future
WA Water Minister Dave Kelly has announced the official completion of the Albany to Denmark pipeline, securing Denmark's long-term water supply in the face of climate change.
Prices set to remain low across the southern Murray-Darling Basin in 2021-22
The latest ABARES Water Market Outlook report indicates water allocation prices in the southern Murray-Darling Basin are likely to remain low in 2021–22.
Great Artesian Basin water bore testing returns positive result for Clifton
The Clifton community is at the receiving end of some positive news with recent quality testing of the town’s Great Artesian Basin (GAB) bore returning good results.
Tatiara Council withdraws Murray Darling support
Tatiara District Council has voted to stop providing funding and councillor representation for an organisation that supports the sustainability of Keith’s water supply. Councillor Miles Hannemann made a recommendation that council cease to attend monthly MDA meetings and stop paying the $2,200 annual subscription fee. “They keep saying we’re ‘paying a fee so we might as well be at the table’,” Cr Hanneman said. “I recommend we stop paying money and let them know we’re not coming.”
State intervenes on Dunoon Dam
Rous County Councillors voted 5–3 to keep the Dunoon Dam out of the region’s future water strategy and instead tap into ground water aquifers in Alstonville and Tyagarah ... “The community feedback on the council’s strategy was overwhelmingly in favour of the Dunoon Dam project with more than 10,000 of the 13,000 submissions received supporting the dam being investigated as a future water project. It is outrageous that the majority of elected councillors have completely ignored the community consultation process and Rous County Council staff recommendations”: NSW parliamentary secretary for Water Infrastructure, Sam Farraway.
Bellingen council back’s CVC’s anti mining stance
Geoff Helisma. Bellingen Shire Council is the second council to support Clarence Valley Council’s anti-mining stance ... "So, this is asking that we don’t mine areas of high rainfall where there is a chance that it will have lasting effects on the environment and our economic opportunity. We do protect those things that are so valued in our community, so I have no qualms about putting this motion up to support what the Clarence Valley councillors have put” : Bellingen mayor, Dominic King.
Development of the modern air battery
With today's technological advances and some insightful design, Leaper Innovate Green Energies have developed and patented the LiGE Air Battery. A zero-emissions CAES system that can be hooked up to the electricity grid or to renewable energy sources to provide clean energy as well as clean water.
New NT water licence portal to make doing business easier
Easily accessible information about ground and surface water licences is a key priority to ensuring business keeps moving in an environmentally sustainable way. From today, the new water licensing portal will open – making it a one stop shop for water licensing questions.
Water deficiency declarations revoked in the Shire of Esperance
Improved water availability has allowed Western Australia's two remaining water deficiency declarations to be revoked in the Shire of Esperance.
Rural Funds goes nuts, raising $100m to buy macadamia orchards
Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF) has launched an equity raising, as the group bets on macadamias, cattle and water in central Queensland. Rural Funds Group is looking to raise $100 million, at an issue price of $2.47, through a fully underwritten 1-for-8.4 accelerated non-renounceable entitlement offer.
Increase fines for big irrigators who haven’t installed pump meters: Greens
Revelations that nearly half of New South Wales’ biggest irrigators have made no effort to install compliant meters six months after the deadline is yet another example of the National Party’s special treatment of corporate irrigators and shows that the penalties for non-compliance aren’t tough enough, says Cate Faehrmann Greens MP and water spokesperson.
Splash of Colour to brighten electrical cabinets and pump station in Yanchep and Mandurah
Water Minister Dave Kelly today celebrated the work of local artists who have brightened three electrical cabinets and a wastewater pump station in Yanchep and Mandurah as part of Water Corporation's Splash of Colour Program.
