Water

Irrigated farming faces more threats

Victoria’s irrigation industries and related communities seem to be ending 2019 with a potential threat of even more water leaving our agriculture. I sense Canberra and city-centric sympathy to adjusting water sharing in the Murray-Darling...

Country News

17 Dec 2019

Water

Trading rules and constraints measures top of agenda at MinCo

Basin states have acknowledged concerns around foreign ownership and monopoly behaviour in the water markets and agreed to ask the ACCC to look at whether changes to trading rules are required and consider registration of brokers across state...

Rodney Woods

17 Dec 2019

Water

MinCo meeting on today

An independent report commissioned by the Victorian and New South Wales governments has found a key element of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan has “a high chance of failure” if changes are not made.

Rodney Woods

17 Dec 2019

Water

MinCo meeting on today

Rodney Woods

17 Dec 2019

Water

One Nation plans to fix the Murray-Darling Basin

3. Save the Menindee Lakes wetland

Jamieson Salter

17 Dec 2019

Water

Groundwater levels dropping in dry conditions

Groundwater levels have dropped across the region due to prolonged dry conditions from 2018 to 2019. Goulburn-Murray Water drainage systems manager Simon Cowan said groundwater was linked to below average annual rainfall over the past 18 months...

Jamieson Salter

16 Dec 2019

Water

Water for Fodder program opens

Farmers in the southern Murray-Darling Basin can apply to purchase water at a discounted rate from 10am today. Eligible farmers can buy up to two 50Ml parcels at $100 per megalitre and Federal Water and Drought Minister David Littleproud said the...

Rodney Woods

11 Dec 2019

Water

NVIC criticise VFF’s leadership

The VFF has launched a 10-point plan to help restore the balance between irrigated agriculture and the environment in the Murray-Darling Basin. VFF Water Council chair Richard Anderson said the new 10-point plan provided solutions to major problems...

Rodney Woods

11 Dec 2019

Water

MPs call for CEWH to release water for irrigators

Federal Member for Nicholls Damian Drum plans to break from party policy with a proposal to shift water from the environment to productive agriculture.

Rodney Woods

10 Dec 2019

Water

Dry conditions trigger water quality concerns

Continuing dry conditions in the Murray-Darling Basin have triggered water quality concerns. Murray-Darling Basin Authority chief executive Phillip Glyde said recent rainfall in the northern basin was not enough to significantly impact water storage...

Jamieson Salter

09 Dec 2019

Water

Littleproud calls for leadership as NSW discuss pulling out of basin plan

Federal Water Minister David Littleproud has called for calm, leadership and common sense in the water debate in NSW. Mr Littleproud said it was important the NSW Government understood the full ramifications of withdrawing from the Murray-Darling...

Rodney Woods

03 Dec 2019

Water

Irrigators receive date for water trade rules

Victorian Water Minister Lisa Neville has confirmed an interim regulation for tagged water use to begin on Thursday, December 12, pending final approval. “These changes will create an even playing field for northern Victorian irrigators...

Jamieson Salter

01 Dec 2019

Water

Tagged water decision urged

The Victorian Farmers Federation is calling on the Victorian Government to announce the closing date for tagged water trades from the Goulburn to the Murray system. It comes on the back of Water Minister Lisa Neville’s announcement of an...

Geoff Adams

01 Dec 2019

Water

G-MW pricing submission lodged

Goulburn-Murray Water recently lodged its Pricing Submission 2020-2024 with the Essential Services Commission. Every four years, G-MW propose fees and charges to the ESC for approval. During a consultation process, the corporation reached more than...

Geoff Adams

29 Nov 2019

Water

Wimmera farmer named on North Central CMA board

Wimmera farmer Mary Bignell has been appointed to the board of the North Central Catchment Management Authority. North Central CMA’s chair Julie Miller Markoff said Ms Bignell’s farming experience and working in natural resource management was...

Rodney Woods

19 Nov 2019

Water

Littleproud’s journey down the Murray

Readers may recall the Federal Water Minister’s effigy was launched into the Murray River at a water protest rally at Tocumwal in September.

Geoff Adams

18 Nov 2019

Water

Regional communities to take water fight to Canberra

Food producers and their supporters demanding action to save farmers and rural communities will converge on Canberra early next month. A Convoy to Canberra is the latest event hosted by several water lobby groups across the Goulburn, Murray and...

Rodney Woods

14 Nov 2019

Water

Politicians want more details on 100Gl allocation

State Member for Shepparton Suzanna Sheed said news that the Federal Government would release 100Gl of water for fodder production would be welcomed by the farmers who are able to use it. “My view is that it will be very welcomed by farmers...

Rodney Woods

14 Nov 2019

Water

Call to attach conveyance losses to CEWH

Barham’s Neil Eagle has a simple solution to give northern Victorian and southern Riverina farmers immediate access to irrigation water. Mr Eagle is calling for 1000Gl of conveyance losses to be immediately attached to the Commonwealth...

Sophie Baldwin

12 Nov 2019