GWYDIR VALLEY IRRIGATORS ASSOCIATION

News & Events

Criticism of the NSW Government’s socio-economic assessment included in part of the public release of the Murray to Broken Hill pipeline Business Case[1] outlining the decision to build a pipeline for an alternate water supply for Broken Hill (finished earlier this year) is trying to lay blaim on northern irrigators without justification once more.
Zara Lowien said “It seems there is no shortage of drought-deniers that claim we are either not in drought or that we’ve never had a critical water supply issue before” she said.
“They simply miss the fact that when it doesn’t rain, our rivers don’t flow and there’s no water for anyone.” she said.

Current water availability in the Gwydir Valley has been updated following the July Resource Assessment.  The region remains in Stage 3 for Drought Management with Copeton Dam steady at 9%.  Current resources are secured for essential supplies, with limited carryover remaining (2,000ML for irrigators and 35,000ML for environment), although with loss accounts in deficit by 39,000ML, WaterNSW will work with water users to ensure coordination of releases or to utilise any natural inflows, if they occur.  This means that delivery of water allocation is not on demand and unlikely to provide for water deliveries west of the township of Moree.

IAL are running a two day Meter Validation and Installation course in Moree on the 25th & 26th of September 2019. The course covers the new Australian Standards for control of rural water meter installation and validation, an explanation of the pattern approval process for meter manufacturers and what installers need to know when validating installations, site preparation, component installation, site reinstatement and commissioning and the field assessment of meter installations.
At completion of the course participants will have three units of competency towards certification for Meter Validation and Installation;
NWPIRR014  Install meters for rural water supplies,
NWPIRR022  Maintain meters for rural water supplies and
ACHWHS301 Contribute to work health and safety processes.

The LLS are supporting a series of workshops designed to increase understanding of risks and opportunities in your farm business, identify gaps and improve the financial basis and natural assets or check the direction of your farm business. There will also be information on accessing funding for on-ground works or training.
A session will be held at Garah on Wednesday 21st August, for more information or to register contact Keith Walker on 0428 432 784 or keith.w.walker@lls.nsw.gov.au

Submissions are due on Monday, 12 August to provide feedback on the NSW Metering Regulations.  The GVIA is providing a number of   recommendations around on-the-ground challenges with implementation of regulations, including amending the telemetry roll-out date to 1 December 2020 and a legislative process to address lack of water to undertake wet-testing of new and existing meters.  We are asking for individual submissions to be made via the NSW Government's Have your Say website. For more information click below to see our video.   

Mimosa Management trial

The Mimosa Management Demonstration site to the east of Moree has had its final assessment. The two strongest performing applications were treatments 11 (Grazon Extra,Lontrel Advance, Stinger and Pulse) and 12 (Graslan). The site has recently been slashed, and new signage will be installed in the near future, so it is easy to see how each of the treatments have performed. Site maps and summary results are available on the GVIA Mimosa page.

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

NSW Department of Industry - Water and WaterNSW are holding the second public session on water management during drought. These sessions will provide an update on water availability, groundwater and the proposed measures to help manage the river systems if the dry conditions persist.

A session is scheduled for Moree on the 24th May, 12-2pm, at the Max Centre, Moree.  Please see the link below to find out more and to RSVP.

Zara Lowien, our Executive Officer, recently contributed to the Australian Farm Institute's May Insights Newsletter on 'The Changeing Landscape of the Murray Darling Basin Plan'.  Zara outlined answers to three key questions, regarding climate change, water markets and community disruption  and what a reset of the Plan would look like.  She summed up the current frustrations with the Basin Plan with this closing comment "The vitriolic debate about who is responsible for low water availability, rivers ceasing to flow and unfortunate fish deaths during this current drought exemplifies that we’ve failed to manage expectations about the MDBP; what it is about for communities and the broader Australian public and what it can achieve now and into the future."

The Federal election campaign draws to a close this Saturday, 18th May. To lend a line from former Prime Minister John Howard when asked whether a candidate was fit for Parliament, he said “It is a matter not for you or me... The Australian people will decide whether somebody is fit to be in parliament”.

With that in mind, we have provided a comparison of party policies around water predominately but we have also provided links to other tools on a range of regional and rural issues and candidate information, for you to review and consider prior to exercising your right to vote. To make your vote count and ensure you help decide who's fit for Parliament, be aware of voting requirements (the Senate process has changed) but also exercise your full preferential voting.   

With the joint-environmental water event in the Gwydir and Border Rivers catchments underway, there are community information sessions to talk about the flows and what they are aiming to achieve: in Moree: 17 May 2-4pm Lyle Houlahan Park (near tourist information centre), Alice St and Collarenebri: 22 May 2-4pm Boat Ramp on Barwon River, Cnr Wilson and Walgett St at Barwon River Bridge or more information on #northernconnectivity fish flows via  Commonwealth Environmental Water Office.

Water will again flow down the Mehi River through Moree this week, following the decision by environmental water managers to re-start the river and provide flows for a fish flow event. Flow events like this are a great opportunity for everyone to see what can be achieved with judicial use of environmental water.  An update from the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder is available via bit.ly/2IsLn79

New project to be launched

Over the next 12-months the GVIA will be working in partnership with a range of organisations and local landholders to implement a strategic feral pig management program in the Valley. The program will involve monitoring feral pig populations and the damage they cause to natural ecosystems and crops in and around the Gwydir wetlands and is due to start the initial stages of planning for implementation.  We are currently seeking interest from landholders in the lower reaches of the valley around Moree and further west, to work on the project steering committee. 

The final balances of water remaining in the Gwydir Valley have been confirmed in the February resource assessment with remaining water for critical needs the majority of water stored in Copeton Dam, along with the last of general security (2,000ML) and environmental holdings (69,000ML).  Environmental water is likely to be used for drought management strategies.

GVIA Executive Officer, recently made a statement to the Moree Champion regarding the release of two independent reports into the fish kills at Menindee Lakes saying that the continued focus on a number or volume to be recovered for the environment, from irrigation [for the Murray Darling Basin Plan], has meant that the outcomes to be achieved and how it would be used, are not well understood.
Photo: Dead fish in the Barwon River in 1958, before irrigation.

Water NSW have issued a blue-green algal alert for Copeton Dam, which is at 12% capacity and holding critical water supplies and environmental holdings only.  Water quality issues like this will continue to be an issue in the dam and the regions rivers and creeks until fresh inflows occur.

Total inflows into the Copeton this year have been at our lowest historical records.  Capacity would need to increase by at least 5% before consideration of any additional supplies other than the valleys critical water needs.

Today is Women and Girls in Science day and we thought we would celebrate the great work of our team! Lou (L) who has a Bachelor of AgSci from UNE and Masters in Business is representing the GVIA and the CGA at UNE GRASS Industry Placement celebrations having co-hosted a high school student earlier this year, also a budding female scientist. Zara (R) who has Hons in LWSci from Sydney Uni, is monitoring water usage across the valley and fulling out key facts and developing policies on water measurement. That is just today's snippet of what they are doing but it's exciting to see where science can take you! Lou and Zara work with a great group of men and women at the GVIA to help ensure our work is well researched and well communicated. To find out more of what they do and the GVIA, visit our website.

The NSW Government are hosting drought water availability outlook drop in sessions, tomorrow at the Max Centre Moree from 2pm (after the Siphon-less irrigation field day in the morning).  Drop in and ask questions about water availability in the region, the GVIA will also be there.  Sessions are around the state.

The South Australian Royal Commission's report into the Murray Darling Basin Plan has been released and is now available via their website.  The MDBA have provided a response via https://www.mdba.gov.au/media/mr/mdba-response-south-australian-royal-commission-final-report.  There are many recommendations which will take time to review and with headings like the 'triple bottom line myth' this report will get much media attention, particularly with the upcoming elections.

Water availability in the region has been updated following recent resource assessments outlining a 32,000ML shortfall that will need to be topped up before an allocation is available.  There is less than 8,000ML available in general security accounts and groundwater will be relied on heavily for the remainder of the season.  Groundwater users are encouraged to provide updated meter readings via iWAS to allow for monitoring of valley usage.

Wednesday 6th February 2019 at Deer Park, Combadello Rd, Moree
Join us for the 2019 GVIA field day Siphon-less Irrigation where you can learn first hand from growers and designers who have made the change to bankless or siphon-less irrigation.
It is being held on Wednesday the 6th February 2019 at Deer Park. Buses will leave from the Moree Racecourse at 7:30am  returning at 2pm. 

The Gwydir Alluvium WRP covers groundwater within the main alluvial deposits associated with the Gwydir River from approximately 20 kilometres downstream of Copeton Dam, continuing north-west through Bingara to Biniguy through to approximately 45 kilometres west of Moree.  The NSW Government is undertaking public consultation on this plan, which includes the Gwydir alluvium and Lower Gwydir Groundwater Water Sharing Plans.  All groundwater and alluvium members are encouraged to attend one of the sessions; Moree 4th December, 10am-1pm at the Services Club and on the same day Bingara, 3pm-5pm at the Bingara Returned Services Club.  Information on the water resource plan will be provided or can be reviewed from the Department's website.  The GVIA will be making a submission by the due date, 14th December 2018.

Essential to the release of floodplain harvesting licences (scheduled for late 2019), is the development of a monitoring and auditing strategy. The strategy will apply to those landholders who are eligible to receive a floodplain harvesting access licence under the Floodplain Harvesting Policy and will form part of their respective license conditions. To ensure the final strategy is practical, robust and can be implemented effectively, feedback is sought from stakeholders and the community. You can have your say by making a written submission or coming to a public information session in Moree on Monday 3rd December, 10:30am - 12pm at the Max Function & Conference Centre.  RSVP to fph.monitoring@dpi.nsw.gov.au.

The Gwydir Valley Irrigators Association (GVIA) is hosting an Innovation in Irrigation: Water Measurement and Metering Field Day on Thursday 29th November 2018 at “Keytah” Moree. Executive Officer of the GVIA, Zara Lowien said...

Please RSVP by 26th November for catering to gvia@gvia.org.au or 02 6752 1399.

NSW Department of Industry - Water have announced 0% allocation for October in the Gwydir Valley.  With Copeton Dam at 20% and falling with current deliveries, inflows greater than 27,000ML are required prior to any allocations to be made due to shortfalls in targeted water supplies. The full resource assessment is available via the water availability and allocations hub here.

Reminder the GVIA AGM and General Meeting is on Wednesday, 14th November 2018 at 9 o'clock in the morning.  Following the meeting, the GVIA is hosting with the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder and the NSW Office of Environmental Heritage to the Gwydir Wetlands to see first-hand outcomes from recent water deliveries and discuss water delivery strategies. Please RSVP for the meeting and the bus tour, to Zara via zara.lowien@gvia.org.au.

Irrigation Australia Limited with NSW Sustaining the Basin Irrigated Farm Modernisation are holding a meter validators and installers course next week 6th & 7th November in Narrabri, at ACRI.  The course covers the

  • New Australian Standards for Control of Rural Water Meter Installation and Validation
  • Explanation of the Pattern Approval process for meter manufacturers and what installers need to know when validating installations
  • Site preparation, component installation, site reinstatement and commissioning
  • Field assessment of meter installations
See the website and contact the STBIFM team to see if, as an irrigator, you are eligible for the subsidy.  This course will help to inform you of your requirements under the developing NSW Metering Regulations.
 

GVIA Annual General Meeting

A reminder that the Gwydir Valley Irrigators Association will hold their Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, 14th November 2018 at the GVIA office, 100 Balo Street Moree.  The AGM will start at 9 o'clock in the morning with a general meeting following directly afterwards.  RSVP to Zara Zara.Lowien@gvia.org.au.  Committee nominations are also due by the 7th November.

The GVIA will be hosting an Innovation in Irrigation: Water Measurement and Metering Field Day on Thursday, 29th November 2018 from 9am - 1pm to provide information to irrigators regarding NSW Water Metering regulations to take effect on 1 December 2018.  The day will include information from the NSW Water Reform Action Taskforce as well as local irrigators and service providers on approaches to assess your requirements and ways to ensure you are compliant. 

The NSW Government is holding public consultation sessions for the Gwydir Surface Water Resource Plan, which includes all regulated and unregulated water sources in the Gwydir Valley.  The Water Resource Plans are a package of documents included Water Sharing Plans, Long-term Environmental Watering Plans and cultural values for example.  The package can be viewed at the Department of Industry - Water website and consultation sessions are in Bingara 31 October and Moree 1 November 2018.  The GVIA will be attending but members are also encouraged to ensure direct feedback on individual Water Sharing Plan or other water management issues can be tabled.

Water releases under the bulk water release strategy continue with approximately 750 ML/day being released from Copeton Dam.  Current water availability sees 41,000ML for General Security irrigation use with orders in the system now and 113,000ML for environmental purposes. Essential supply forecasts and delivery loss accounts remain 23,800ML below target and hence, inflows will be required prior to a new resource assessment being made available. For detailed resource assessment see the NSW Department  of Industry - Water website and for Water Availability reports and dam releases visit WaterNSW.















The NSW Government are seeking feedback on new draft metering framework released on 27th August 2018.  The GVIA's current position on water take measurement is available on our water policy section and we've provided a quick decision tree to support you in understanding what may be required of you, as entitlement holders under the draft framework.  Members can access for detailed advice in the member section of the website.  Comments on the framework are due to the NSW Government by 30th September 2018 via the online portal.


A Farm Health and Safety Day will be held on Thursday 20th Sept 2018, at "Midkin" 1957 Carnarvon Hwy, Ashley between 10am - 2:30 pm
DEMONSTRATIONS AND SHORT TALKS WILL INCLUDE
Information on services available from SafeWork NSW, Local Lands Services, NSW Farmers and CWA, Improving understanding of your responsibilities and obligations and how to build work, health and safety innovation into farm management practices. Key topics covered will be: Mental health, Hazardous chemicals, Quad bike safety, Rural crime prevention and Safe management of plant.
RSVP by Friday 14 September 2018; 02 67928720 or email louisa.burns@safework.nsw.gov.au
Small Business may be eligible for a $500 small business rebate

Young agricultural innovators from across the Parkes electorate are being invited to submit their research project ideas for a chance to share in up to $286,000 in funding through the 2019 Science and Innovation Awards.
Member for Parkes Mark Coulton said there is an abundance of initiative among young scientists, innovators and researchers in his electorate. “Many of the best new ideas I’ve seen come directly from passionate young people already working in agricultural industries,” Mr Coulton said.
Each winner from the 13 industry award categories will receive a grant of up to $22,000, which could go a long way in making these ideas a reality and helping to advance prosperous careers in agriculture.

The community are invited to public consultation meetings on the Great Artesian Basin Strategic Management Plan 2018. Executive Director Water, Rachel Connell, is urging farmers, landholders, industry groups and the community to comment on the draft plan before the public exhibition period finishes on the 5 October 2018. “All feedback will be considered in the finalisation of the plan so it is important to visit the exhibition and have your say.  Ms Connell said. To register for a session, see a copy of the draft plan, and make a submission visit the Department of Industry website here.
10.30am on Tuesday 11 September at the Moree Services Club,
10am, Wednesday 12 September at the Walgett RSL Club
10am, Thursday 13 September at Diggers on the Darling, Bourke

The NSW Environment Minister, Gabrielle Upton on Sunday announced the upcoming trade of excess environmental allocation in the Gwydir Valley, amongst others in NSW.  We welcome this opportunity to provide genuine win-win for our local community and others during this dry time.

The NSW and Federal Governments have expanded their drought assistance packages with 100% of the state declared in drought.  One component of this is the automatic waiver of Local Land Services rates and fixed charges for general security and supplementary water licence holders, which are capped at $4,000.  To make the most of these waivers, available to everyone please visit your nearest town and spend those savings in a shop or business, to pass on that benefit to others.  

This week Rabobank are hosting farmers from Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria in northern NSW and Southern Qld. It was  a wonderful opportunity to show farmers innovation in irrigation as demonstrated at Keytah where Sundown Pastoral Company, CRDC, the Federal Government and the GVIA have been conducting trials on irrigation efficiency for the last 10 years.

The NSW Government will be releasing draft regulations and policy for non-urban water metering to enable the draft metering framework developed in June 2018.  These regulations will provide the detail by which all irrigators, prioritised under the framework will need to comply.  The Government will undertake a 5-week consultation period starting with the first of six, state-wide meetings in Moree on Thursday, 30 August 2018 between 3-5:30pm at the Max Centre.  The GVIA will be in attendance but we also encourage members, as well as metering and telemetry service providers, to attend so that we can seek feedback from a range of stakeholders prior to preparing our submission to Government.

Pump and Irrigation Specialist Ryan Hunt is one of scores of skilled youth who will continue to advance the rural sector into the future. He is just one of the scores of youth returning to rural Australia, keen to forge a meaningful career, without having compromising on lifestyle.

Thank You to Business who supported #jointheagrevolution

The Join the Ag Revolution Campaign has only been possible with the support of local business. To each and everyone of you a big Thank You from the GVIA.
We have launched in the last week and yesterday released the first of our videos. Which can be found on our webpage or on the Join the Ag Revolution facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/jointheagrevolution/

Join the Ag Revoluti

We are really happy to have launched the first of a series of videos on Innovation and Opportunities in Australian Agriculture. This is an industry predicted to be worth $100 billion in the comming years, but to get there we will need people. There are so many career opportunites now and there will be more in the future. If you are interested in resource management, robotics or irrigation, then agriculture is the industry for you.
Join the AG Revolution is a community of people who are proud to be a part of Australian agriculture visit our webpage or Facebook page to keep up to date with whats happening in ag, #jointheagrevolution

Australian Agriculture is on the cusp of a revolution, with renewed enthusiasm fuelling a transformation.  Precision ag, increased production capabilities, water savinginnovations are all reflective of an industry brimming with opportunity.

The forums are being held in regional towns and are designed to bring together great ideas and success stories.
Moree is on Thursday 5th July at 5:30pm at the Moree Services Club The focus is on community members and aims to promote regional towns as great places to live and build a career.
Discussions will include: Setting realistic short and medium term ambitions around jobs growth, population growth and services. Engaging and support both young and older members of the community, Securing investments, and Encouraging and supporting local entrepreneurs.
visit https://www.theland.com.au/news/next-crop/

The Department of Industry - Water announced starting allocations for the 2018-19 water year on 1 July 2018.  Essential supplies for town water, stock and domestic and high security users all received 100% allocations for all plans.  Groundwater, alluvial and unregulated users also received 100% allocation with alluvial and unregulated access limited by flow availability.  General security users did not receive an allocation as there were no additional resources available for sharing in Copeton Dam, an updated assessment is due next month.  Supplementary users received a 125% allocation, with access dependant on flows and flow sharing rules.  Click to view the full statement.

Join the ag revolution

Never has there been a more exciting time to be working in Australian agriculture. Innovation in drones, robotics and mechatronics are just a few of the developments currently changing the face of farming in Australia today.
We initated a new campaign to form a collective community of people that are proud to be a part of Australian agriculture visit our webpage or Facebook page to keep up to date with whats happening in ag, future opportunities and events and #jointheagrevolution

The CCA will be hosting their Cropping Solutions Seminar on Thursday, 21 June, 2018 and Friday, 22 June, 2018 1:00 PM at The Crossing Theatre
117 Tibbereena St, Narrabri, New South Wales 2390, Australia.
 

NSW DPI Nitrogen Trials
CottonInfo invites you to hear the latest results from the trials at “Norwood”, Moree and ACRI, Narrabri over the 17/18 season.
Have your say on future N research in the Gwydir. 

1pm Tuesday 12th June 2018, Gwydir Valley Irrigators Assoc. Board Room, 100 Balo St Moree
RSVP Janelle Montgomery, M. 0428 640 990

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