First Projects For Water Savings Identified

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• News & Events
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• Coalition Commits to Snowy Environmental Flows
• Pipeline to Secure Water Supply in Hay PID
• 15 Gigalitres of Water to be Returned to Snowy System
• Snowy Health Check-up
• Primary Industry Minister Views Water Recovery Challenges
• State Government on Track to Meet Water Savings Targets
• Victoria on Track to Meet Snowy River Water Commitment
• First Projects For Water Savings Identified
• Snowy Joint Government Enterprise Now Open For Business
• Agreement On The Management Of Snowy's Future

Six significant projects have been identified in two states to save water for use in environmental flows in both the Snowy and Murray river systems within this water year.

Water for Rivers Chairman, Richard Bull said his group (which is a joint venture between New South Wales, Victoria and the Commonwealth Governments) was pleased to announce the proposed six projects that have been identified to produce water savings in excess of 65 gigalitres per annum while not impacting on irrigator's productivity.

The NSW sites are:

• Barren Box Swamp (near Griffith) - savings expected of 20 gigalitres
• The Wah Wah Irrigation District (west of Griffith) stock & domestic - savings 15 gigalitres
• Piping Forest Creek from Rhyola near Deniliquin to Moulamein - savings 11.5 gigalitres

In Victoria:

• Normanville (near Swan Hill) stock and domestic project - savings 3.6 gigalitres
• Piping the Woorinen (near Swan Hill) stock and domestic supply- savings 1.5 gigalitres
• Metering of irrigation and stock and domestic water supplies - savings 16 gigalitres (throughout the Goulburn Murray region)

"We have a very strong belief in the future of irrigation as well as providing water for environmental benefits in the Snowy and Murray rivers. This company, Water for Rivers, in partnership with Governments, Water Companies, Water Authorities and water users, will be identifying more projects that will provide long term water savings. Projects may take the form of reducing evaporation and channel seepage or more efficient methods of application, but will meet our vested charter to acquire water at the least cost for the benefit of a healthy river system and the sustainability of our regional economies.

"It is our responsibility to find water savings and turn them into solutions for environmental river flows and we are pleased to have created the partnerships for these first six projects which will produce a win/win for the water authorities as well as farmers.

"These projects will represent both in-stream and out-of-stream environmental benefits assisting to keep the rivers healthy as well as delivering water security options," Mr Bull said.

Media contact:
Richard Bull
Chairman Water for Rivers
Ph: 0407 401 343

Neville Smith
Chief Executive Officer
Ph: 02 6041 5467 Mob 0418 633 288

General Explanation On Projects Identified

• Barren Box Swamp - creating a living wetland and in the process saving 20 gigalitres per annum normally lost through evaporation.
• The Wah Wah Irrigation District - conversion of a small open channel delivery system which covers an extensive area supplying many dryland farmers to a more efficient pipe system. This will provide farmers with higher reliability of water and better quality water. Expected savings 15 gigalitres
• Forest Creek - this system which has been largely developed by the landholders. The project involves providing alternative stock and domestic water supplies to landholders and returning an artificial stream to its original wetland state. Savings 11.5 gigalitres.
• Normanville stock and domestic project is similar to the Wah Wah project. It involves piping water which has normally been supplied by small open channels. Savings 3.6 gigalitres.
• Woorinen stock and domestic project similar to Wah Wah and Normanville - again piping water which has usually been supplied by small open channels. Savings 1.5 gigalitres
• Metering - mostly in the Goulburn Murray region thereby identifying and accounting for water losses and providing improved water accountability over all to produce a 16 gigalitre saving.

Background

Water for Rivers was established in December 2003 and is a joint venture company between the New South Wales, Victorian and Commonwealth Governments to achieve water savings for use in environmental flows in the Murray and Snowy river systems.

The current drought, low water allocations and the continued debate about environmental flows for the Living Murray and the National Water Initiative has elevated water and water delivery to a very high priority at both state and federal government levels.

Water for Rivers has been vested with the power and financial backing of $375 million from the three governments to bring a wide range of stakeholders and business partners together to achieve water saving targets. These six projects have been initially identified as achievable targets to find some of the 280 gigalitres over the ten year life of Water for Rivers.

Joint Government Enterprise Limited
Suite 4A, Level One
520 Swift Street
Albury NSW 2640
PH: 02 6041 5467