On-Farm Reconfiguration
Water Saved 30,000 ML (30GL)
NSW General Security Entitlement
Estimated Future Water Saving 20,000 ML (20GL)
Will include NSW General Security Entitlement and Victorian High Reliability and Low Reliability Entitlement
A recent focus of Water for Rivers Business Plan is on-farm reconfiguration, and rationalisation. On-farm projects embody innovative, reconstructive and economic adjustment that aligns with an increase in farm efficiency and productivity, long term irrigation modernisation and catchment management outcomes. There is a strong emphasis in leaving a positive legacy for regional communities.
Projects are about adjusting the irrigation farm enterprises in marginal and sometimes unreliable areas of irrigation supply and reducing their dependence on irrigation with the aim of improving farming and environmental sustainability. This is occurring in the following ways:
- Partnering with farmers to purchase neighbouring land or reconfigure their current irrigation systems to improve farm irrigation efficiency and capacity.
- Purchasing select properties, implementing changes and then selling the properties as working, viable entities.
- Working in partnership with irrigation companies to rationalise delivery assets to achieve conveyance water savings through property purchase, reconfiguration and rationalisation.
Water saved through property and infrastructure reconfiguration is used by Water for Rivers to enhance environmental river flows.
Examples of projects to date are:
- Purchasing non required water from a landowner to help assist a farmer finance the purchase of an adjoining property.
- Funding the conversion of rice irrigation layouts to border check configuration. This is occurring in the Deniliquin region and is a follow on to the Rice Growers' Projects funded under the Living Murray Initiative.
- Purchase of Madowla Park and the conversion of its rice contour irrigation areas to irrigated winter cropping. The reconfiguration has been developed whereby; in times of abundant water and with minor modifications, these areas can again be used for rice production.
- Working closely with Coleambally Irrigation to target property and water purchase with positive environmental outcomes. This has enabled farm expansion and diversification.
- Investment in Coleambally's infrastructure and technology improvement in return for water savings produced by the works. A similar project has been completed with NVIRP in Victoria and others are being with the N.S.W Irrigation Corporations.
A component of on-farm reconfiguration is the enhancement of environmental and farming benefits through re-vegetation and biodiversity initiatives.
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