Fact sheet: Water-saving infrastructure in the Murray-Darling Basin
Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, November 2011
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Replacing irrigation channels with pipelines can reduce water loss through evaporation.
Governments are supporting irrigators, communities and industries across the Murray-Darling Basin to do more with the water they have
Through the Sustainable Rural Water Use and Infrastructure Program the Australian Government is providing $4.8 billion for infrastructure, improved rural water use and water management activities in the Basin such as:
- improving infrastructure planning so irrigation network operators and local governments can prioritise and plan potential asset upgrades
- improving distribution networks to fix old systems and reconfigure channel delivery systems
- investing in more efficient on-farm irrigation technology such as converting flood irrigation to sprinklers and drip systems
- environmental works and measures such as new regulators that deliver environmental watering outcomes more efficiently.
Infrastructure projects are modernising farm technology, making irrigation more efficient and productive with less water and helping to put water use on a more sustainable footing. They are supporting local businesses and increasing food security. These investments improve the health of our rivers and wetlands by returning water to the environment.
Progress to date
The Australian Government has provided funding for literally hundreds of infrastructure projects in the Basin from the Sustainable Rural Water Use and Infrastructure Program, some of which are already complete.
As a result of the total Investment from Sustainable Rural Water Use Infrastructure Program the Australian Government conservatively expects to recover about 600 gigalitres of water for the environment, especially the Basin's wetlands and biodiversity.
Water saved through infrastructure is generally shared between farmers and the environment
Infrastructure investment increases water efficiency and agricultural productivity
Communities benefit from job creation and productive irrigation industries
Infrastructure programs
The Australian Government is investing in a range of infrastructure programs to address the needs of irrigators, communities and the environment in the Basin. Some programs include:
Private Irrigation Infrastructure Operators Program in New South Wales $650m 
Projects to improve water use efficiency and management off and on-farm, including major renewal and rationalisation works by private irrigation infrastructure operators to secure a sustainable future for irrigation communities.
Private Irrigation Infrastructure Program for South Australia $110m
Irrigation infrastructure efficiency improvements for farmers along the Murray River in South Australia. A share of the water savings gained from projects is used for environmental watering purposes.
On-Farm Irrigation Efficiency Program $300 m
Assists irrigators in the Lachlan and southern connected system of the Murray-Darling Basin to modernise their on-farm irrigation infrastructure. Projects include installing new water meters, converting flood irrigation to sprinklers and drip systems, and installing soil monitoring equipment. The program uses local delivery partners to roll out hundreds of individual on-farm water efficiency projects.
South Australia Integrated Pipelines $120 m
This completed program has provided irrigators and communities at the end of the Murray River with a new source of water, independent of the Lower Lakes. As their new water source is not affected by salinity changes in the Lower Lakes, the local community and industries now have greater security of the quality of water.
Northern Victoria Irrigation Renewal Project Stage 2 $1 b
Landscape-scale reconfiguration and upgrades to irrigation systems in the northern Victorian 'food bowl' and a related on farm irrigation efficiency program. This is the largest Australian Government's largest investment in irrigation infrastructure and will result in a projected 214 gigalitres in water savings. These water savings will make an important contribution to reaching the sustainable diversion limits under the Murray Darling Basin Plan.
Queensland Healthy HeadWaters Water Use Efficiency Project $115 m
Supporting irrigation farmers in the Queensland Murray-Darling Basin to install efficient irrigation systems and technologies that reduce water loss on farm, deliver long-term economic benefits, and return a share of water savings to the Basin's rivers, wetlands and floodplains.
New South Wales Priority projects – pilots $29 m
Two pilots are being rolled out under the NSW State Priority Projects:
- NSW Irrigated Farm Modernisation Border Rivers and Gwydir Pilot — giving Border Rivers and Gwydir Valley irrigators the opportunity to upgrade irrigation infrastructure, improve productivity, adapt to reduced water availability, ensure the long term sustainability of local communities and return a share of water savings to the Basin's rivers, wetlands and floodplains.
- NSW Metering Scheme Pilot — involves the purchase and installation of high accuracy and tamper proof meters and telemetry systems to collect water extraction data.
KEY:
off-farm upgradeson-farm upgrades completed program
Current infrastructure funding rounds
A third round is open for applications under the Irrigation Modernisation Planning Assistance Program. This is designed to help irrigation water providers develop plans for their districts that identify ways to upgrade irrigation infrastructure and position their irrigation community for a future with less water. Applications under the program will remain open until 29 October 2012, unless all available funds are committed earlier. Enquiries can be made to:
- waterplanenquiries@environment.gov.au
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