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NSW Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald yesterday viewed first hand the commitments made by landholders in the southern Riverina to recover environmental flows for the Murray and Snowy rivers.
"I am impressed with the co-operative approach Water For Rivers has with landholders in developing more efficient water saving outcomes in the Forest and Yanco Creek systems without destroying its biodiversity," Minister Macdonald said after viewing, by air, both creeks in southern NSW.
"With this joint approach to improve the health of the river systems I can see Water For Rivers achieving their annual water saving targets for the Snowy and Murray rivers.
"Government knows that we can only achieve the water savings targeted as environmental flows for our icon rivers if we create strong partnerships to gain these significant improvements in water efficiencies. With this co-operative approach I can see we will achieve savings," Mr Macdonald said.
At Coleambally Irrigation he saw first hand the Rubicon Total Channel Control system that can monitor the flow of irrigation water from the Murrumbidgee right through to the water delivered onto one of their shareholder's properties. This computerised system is able to more accurately depict where or if, water losses are occurring.
The Minister spent time in the Murray Valley and Coleambally after the Cabinet Meeting held in Deniliquin yesterday (Monday). He toured with Water For Rivers' chairman Richard Bull to see the Barmah Choke and areas of the Edwards, Forest Creek and Yanco creek systems.
Minister Macdonald said the flow mitigation works on the Edwards River demonstrates a water saving focus instigated by the communities despite the current ongoing drought.
Special environmental work to maintain and improve the health of the creek systems is being financed by Water For Rivers with the savings being transferred to an environmental reserve. The abundance of willows in the Yanco creek is restricting flow and an eradication project is to be investigated to manage the water flow especially during irrigation seasons. It is expected that with improved flows and reducing water losses an estimated 36 gigalitres of water can be saved.
The NSW government is a joint partner with the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments in the enterprise Water For Rivers.
For information: Merrill Boyd, Water for Rivers, 0438 678 323
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