Strengthening Central Murray irrigation communities
Berrigan Shire Council
Funding: $800,000
About the project
Berrigan Shire Council is the lead recipient for a consortium of Council's covering the regions of Berrigan, Conargo, Deniliquin, Jerilderie, Murray and Wakool.
The project will help six local government organisations in the Central Murray irrigation region of NSW plan for a future with reduced water in the communities. The Council will undertake an assessment of the current status of the region and how it has been shaped by changes in water availability and water policy.
- Stage 1 will consider socio-economic status, rural land use, water use and the viability of councils.
- Stage 2 will look at possible alternative scenarios and include trends and drivers of change, water trade, scenario planning and risk assessment.
- Stage 3 will address the question of how to provide sufficient water to industry and communities.
Project benefits
- Robust and insightful assessment of the Council's vulnerability to current and anticipated future changes in water security, communities and economy.
- Help develop plans to capitalise on available water resources and develop an economy and communities that will be sustainable with the quantity, quality and cost of water available to them.
- Position participating Councils with prioritised options for investment in water savings infrastructure.
- Identify a range of community adaptation options to allow communities to expand their economic base.
Project completion
This project was completed in May 2012 and enabled the Berrigan Shire Council to identify impacts on the local community of a future with less water. This project culminated in several reports that confirm the processes currently adopted by the individual Councils to aid their local communities to adapt to a future with less water are efficient and cost effective.
Further information
Further information on this project may be obtained by contacting the Berrigan Shire Council directly on 03 5888 5100.
The Strengthening Basin Communities program is funded by the Australian Government's Water for the Future initiative.