NORTHERN Victorian irrigators will receive a share in water recovered from the Connections Project, which the state’s peak farming body welcomes.
The largest irrigation modernisation project in Australian history has exceeded its water recovery target of 429 gigalitres by 4GL.
Minister for Water Lisa Neville announced all water committed through the project in the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District (GMID) − for irrigators, the environment and the Melbourne retail water corporations − can now be delivered, with Traditional Owners to also benefit with 1.36GL.
In October 2021, irrigators received 77GL as part of the irrigation water share distribution and 279GL were recovered for the environment – avoiding the need for buy backs under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
The remaining 2GL will be distributed equally to the original partners in the project – irrigators, the environment – represented by the Victorian Environmental Water Holder (VEWH) – and Melbourne retailers.
The Connections Project water savings have been achieved by decommissioning spur channels, upgrading backbone channels with plastic lining and clay remodelling, automating meters to provide significantly better accuracy and automating the operation of irrigation channels.
Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) water council chair Andrew Leahy said the VFF strongly advocated for irrigators to receive their share of the additional water recovered under the project.
“The VFF has been in discussions with Ms Neville over recent weeks regarding the distribution of additional water savings from the Connections Project,” he said.
“An additional 2GL was found at the final audit of the project beyond the target of 429GL. The VFF argued strongly that irrigators must receive their share of this additional water.”
The Murrabit dairy farmer said the VFF was pleased the government honoured the original intent of the project and that irrigators would receive their third.
“This project first started in 2007 and it’s a great result to actually over-deliver on the water savings that were achieved,” Mr Leahy said.
Mr Leahy said the VFF would work with the government to ensure the extra water for irrigators is used in the best way for their benefit.
“We understand that it is too difficult to distribute 681 megalitres across 11,000 delivery shares and the VFF is keen to work with government on how the proceeds will be distributed.”
Mr Leahy also said the VFF would carefully watch the water that Melbourne retailers and the VEWH would set aside for Traditional Owners.
“The costs associated with water for Traditional Owners cannot be met by existing entitlement holders,” Mr Leahy said.
“We believe the Commonwealth should acknowledge the Traditional Owners’ 1.36GL towards Basin Plan water recovery targets.”
“Water for Traditional Owners is an emerging issue and is a complicated issue for the farming community that needs more clarity and transparency.
“The VFF will continue to work with the government to ensure irrigator interests are protected.”
Ms Neville said the VEWH and the Melbourne retailers agreed their additional water would be set aside for Traditional Owners in northern Victoria.
“This is the first time that Traditional Owners in northern Victoria will receive a water entitlement as part of the government’s commitment to Aboriginal values and aspirations for water. How that water is distributed will be determined by the Traditional Owner groups,” she said.
The government said it would work with irrigators on distributing the benefits of irrigators’ additional 681ML share, with the expectation that proceeds from the sale of the water would be distributed to delivery shareholders.
