The NWLLS currently have a Winter feral pig control program running. They are offering free grain for feral pig baiting and trapping programs. The program is only running until the end of August. For more information please contact the NW LLS on 1300 795 299

Last night’s Four corners story “Cash Splash” regarding water infrastructure programs to achieve the water recovery under the Murray Darling Basin Plan missed several important key messages which we would like to share with you. The environment has more water available to them to use for environmental outcomes during this drought because of the Basin Plan.  This water is only available due to buy-back or infrastructure programs and they have more than 2,106 GL of entitlement from across the Basin (76% of the targeted volume). Our rivers in the last three-months has been flowing because of this water. Willing participants have done their part with most of the water recovery complete. It’s now up to Governments to work with communities to achieve the last of the water recovery through projects and environmental water managers to manage their portfolios to achieve real outcomes.

The NSW Government will be hosting a water metering information session in Moree on Monday the 15th July 2019. There will be representatives from the Water Renewal Taskforce and the Natural Resources Access Regulator presenting on the new rules to help water users understand what they need to do to comply. The department will be seeking feedback on amendments to the Water Management (General) Regulation 2018, and provide an opportunity for entitlement holders to ask questions.
To register please follow the link following.

AgSkilled will be running a number of training courses in Moree in the coming months including forklift training, confined spaces, WHS and advanced chemical handling.  

NSW Department of Industry - Water today made their starting allocations in the Gwydir Valley for the 2019-2020 water year.  In the regulated system, only critical water supplies received a 100% allocation (this includes High Security water users) and with surface water reserves low, deliverability of remaining regulated allocations including carryover allocations will require cooperation between all water users to ensure deliveries are as efficient as practically possible as per the WaterNSW operations update.  Lower Gwydir Groundwater users also received 100% allocation, as well as unregulated and alluvial entitlements.

Copeton Dam is at 9% and steadying as the last of the environmental releases for the northern connectivity event for fish wind-down, however there is only 2,000 megalitres available to irrigators as carryover for next season.  Essential supplies including high security are secured, although below the targeted 2-year supply level which may impact deliverability without further inflows or natural flows. Dam capacity would still need to increase by 3% before an allocation could be made and this is to ensure security of essential supplies.

Groundwater usage on the three-year rolling average is tracking just below Plan Limit and this volume of usage should not impact starting allocations, when announced on 1 July 2019.

The Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate Scheme run by the NSW Government Department of Primary Industries, Rural Assistance Authority is currently available for  eligible Primary Producers to claim a rebate of 25% (up to $25,000 per farm) of the cost of purchase ,delivery and the labour cost to engage a person to install water infrastructure for animal welfare needs. The rebate can be applied to costs incurred from 1st July 2018 for new purchases, and installation of pipes, water storages and water pumps, de-silting dams, and associated power supply such as generators.

The GVIA has welcomed the extension of drought measures in the recent NSW Government Budget to waive fixed water charges for some members and local land services rates, this keeps money in farmers pockets that they can prioritise on other expenses during the drought. We encourage members to spend the equivalent dollars in their local communities and pass on this benefit to another small business doing it tough in the drought.  The GVIA also welcomed upgrades to regional telecommunications and infrastructure projects like roads and water supplies, which will help to ensure regional communities can remain competitive in business. More information on budge measures is available via the NSW Budget 2019-20 webpage.

NSW IPART have approved prices for WaterNSW bulk regional delivery for the 2019/2020 water delivery year, to take effect on 1 July 2019.  The decision has seen minor increases for inflation and CPI for WaterNSW customers in the Gwydir Valley.  More information is available from NSW IPART or click below to see our pricing webpage which includes a link to the WaterNSW billing calculator.  

AgSkilled together with Tocal College and NSW Dept of Industry will be running a new course "THRIVE - Productivity for Progress" in Moree and Dubbo in the coming months. The course is designed to help build skills in productivity, communication and leadership and is suited to   men and women involved in any sector of the cotton or grains industry, at any stage in their career.  For more information, see the flyer or contact Rebecca Fing for more details.

NSW Department of Industry-Water and WaterNSW were in Moree this week as part of their tour of drought-affected regions in the state. To talk with communities, providing an updates on surface and groundwater water availability and the proposed management measures if the dry conditions persist.

"In the Gwydir, we're not quite at record low inflows but we're certainly in the lowest per cent of years over the last 100 years or so," Mr Wrathall said.

"Storage still has some water in it, enough to keep the river running periodically over the next year or two and critical needs are still able to be met.

As GVIA members are also members of NSW Irrigators Council and now you can sign up directly to receive updates from the state-body for irrigators in NSW via http://www.nswic.org.au/newsletter-registration/, previous updates are available via the link below