GWYDIR VALLEY IRRIGATORS ASSOCIATION

Events

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. 

Australian National University in Canberra is investigating the potential for a different water management option for the cotton irrigators. Our project, funded by the Cotton Research and Development Corporation, is titled “Feasibility study of managed aquifer recharge for improved water productivity for Australian cotton production”.  They are looking to talk with irrigated cotton growers to discuss your interest in the concept.  Please contact: Jenifer Ticehurst, Research Fellow, The Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, (02) 6125 6751 jenifer.ticehurst@anu.edu.au. 

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.

The GVIA has three parcels of Lower Gwydir Groundwater allocation for trade: 38ML, 31ML and 10ML.  Please email your price per megalitre bid for one or both parcels to gvia@gvia.org.au by 12pm Friday, 15th February 2019. 

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.

Members should note that due to increasing demands for downstream town water supplies and the north-west flow plan rules, there will be significant pressure to restrict future supplementary events, should they occur.  We will continue to monitor triggers and have discussions with the NSW Government.

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.

The NSW Government are taking expressions of interest for the issuing of new groundwater entitlements in specified catchment under the NSW Controlled Allocation Amendment Order 2018.  This includes groundwater in the NSW Murray Darling Basin Fractured Rock and Porous Rock Water Resource Areas that including the New England Fold Belt and the Gunnedah-Oxely Basin, both of which are located within the Gwydir region.  For landholders with active irrigation in these groundwater areas, this announcement provides an opportunity to express your interest in additional entitlements.  Check with the NSW Department of Industry regarding your eligibility, via the website and hotline and register your interest prior to 6 November 2018.  Note this order is for specified water sources and not for Lower Gwydir Groundwater or Upper Gwydir Alluvial Water Sources.

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.

Following on from the August announcement by the NSW Environment Minister, Gabrielle Upton of the trade of excess environmental water.
The GVIA have been notified that the tender process is currently open and that it will close at 11am on Thursday 13th Sept 2018.
The Gwydir Valley volume is 2,900ML and is available in various parcles of 100ML, 200ML and 500ML lots. For more details associated with this trade please contact MRE or your preferred water broker.

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 Government has released their draft metering framework and the GVIA are seeking direct feedback from members about whether it is practical and achievable or what barriers to implementation you may have.  We've prepared the following summary and questions to guide your advice to us.  We are holding face-to-face meetings next week in areas where the timeframes for implementation are prioritised, we ask that all feedback to the GVIA is received by 28th September.

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.

Following from a number of inquiries regarding the use of environmental water in the Gwydir Valley this season and the lack of accessible information from environmental water managers on water delivery strategies, we thought it opportune to provide members with an update on actions in the Gwydir.  We are also proposing a number of strategies for members to consider implementing, to help support conversations we are having, regarding the use of environmental water and what Government's should do with excess water for the environment.

As part of the Regional Growth project, we have funds set aside to place "Join the Ag Revolution" themed imagery in empty shop windows in Moree.  The concept is to dress up, any empty shop fronts with positive imagery and text promoting the value of irrigated agriculture in the region as well as, the opportunity for jobs.  As a first option, we would like to see if any members have any vacant shops in and around the Moree CBD. Please contact either Lou or Zara to discuss further and provide samples of what we have planned.  We have a number of vinyl adhesives pre-purchased to install.

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.

Survey on fit of online irrigation support tool

NSW DPI Water and Irrigation Research Team would like your feedback on a potential project looking at water productivity.
There are 5 questions to gather feedback on the proposal: The proposal is to build an online water productivity information system to facilitate informed decision making to improve water productivity and water stewardship  in NSW.

Link to the questions:  https://goo.gl/forms/Oww4XJSgDShM05Ml1    

The GVIA has been made aware of several inconsistencies with water access licence conditions, works approval conditions and water sharing plan access dealing rules.  We recommend members, particularly unregulated members, to review their conditions and report to WaterNSW any inconsistencies or changes.  Licence registers are located at the WaterNSW website.

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.

Have your Say on Moree Airline

The Moree regulated Air Service is open again now. If you use the air service we recommend you write to the minister outlining what you need as a user. Key points you might include are a Mascott landing slot, connectivity, reliability and safety. If you have any specific preferences, please state them in your letter.
Please email letters to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Hon. Andrew Constance; office@constance.minister.nsw.gov.au
To ensure your opinions are heard, please copy in our local member the Hon Adam Marshall;  northerntablelands@parliament.nsw.gov.au
and the MPSC Mayor, Katrina Humphries; Katrina.Humphries@mpsc.nsw.gov.au

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

The Department of Industry - Water released the May resource assessment for the Gwydir Valley with no allocation provided to general security licenses.  There is a small shortfall of 3.15GL for delivery loss that must be secured prior to any further allocations being made.  See the NSW Water Availability Hub.

Minister for Regional Water, Niall Blair presented on 6 June 2018 his proposed Water Management Amendment Bill (2018) signalling the NSW Government's approach to key water reforms as consulted on in March and April.  This bill highlighted key positions of which the Government must now prepare the details in regulations to allow for their implementation.

The GVIA supports the better management of environmental water provided that all water rights are equally respected.  Environmental water holders own 28.5% of High Security entitlements, 29% of General Security including the ECA and 13% of Supplementary.  We need to better share the outcomes being achieved on environmental water and ensure these outcomes are not undermined by ignoring non-flow complementary measures. Non-flow complementary measures include things such as fish passages at weirs or riparian management. 

The Keytah Irrigation System Comparison trial has just been completed for the fifth season. Yield performance this year has been really strong with the highest yield for each of the systems. The yield estimates based on module weights indicate that the Bankless Channel has produced the highest yield this year.

The GVIA are disappointed with recent media reports and commentary around the management of floodplain flows and have provided the following statement and facts about the program, which was designed to incorporate this legitimate historical access into the current regulatory framework as required by legislation.    We want people to know that this is not new water and that implementing this program will have many benefits.  Most importantly it will protect the environment and users from further growth, providing certainty to all communities who rely on it. Restricting future growth will maintain and improve floodplain flows and build on Basin Plan outcomes, not detract from them.

Water for irrigation is limited and the volume has been decreasing over-time due to government reforms.  WaterNSW information indicates 66% of all river flows are reserved for the environment and another 5% is actively managed by environmental water holders who have approximately 29% of regulated general security river entitlement and another 28.5% of high security entitlement has been either purchased or diverted from irrigators in the Gwydir Valley for the environment.  A further 13% of supplementary entitlement has been purchased, this is on top of the 50% share already received during each unregulated event. Unregulated events occur when there are inflows into the river below the dam. 

On 17th May 2018 the SA Murray Darling Basin Royal Commission held a public hearing in Moree which was attended by community members. It provided an opportunity to discuss community impacts of buybacks, the adoption of the highest standard of measurement by Gwydir irrigators and the limited connectivity of the Gwydir, which means there is minimal ability to provide contributions downstream. The GVIA will be preparing a submission to the commission. The commission also meet with other organisations such as MPSC.

Gwydir Valley Area Wide Management Group

The Gwydir Valley Area Wide Management Groups will meet next week to wrap up the cotton season. Everyone is welcome to attend these meetings.
The Telleraga meeting is earlier at 3pm and the Ashley/Midkin meeting has been moved to the Ashley Hall.

  • Gwydir West AWM - 3pm Wednesday 23rd May at Telleraga Woolshed
  • Gwydir North East AWM - 7:30am, Thursday 24th May at Ashley Hall

With up to a third of NSW experiencing drought conditions the NSW Government have released an information sheet with details of loan options and organisations who can offer assistance if required.

The GVIA has been busy addressing government inquiries and investigations into water management and use including our submission to the NSW Water Reform Action Plan, the Productivity Commission's 5-year review into the Basin Plan and the Lower House Standing Committee inquiry into the management and use of environmental water.  Not to mention that a few inquiries have wrapped up with recommendations to government now lodged and responses due in coming months.

The CEWH and OEH northern connectivity event has moved through the Gwydir system and flow has now passed into the Barwon Darling with a peak of 1,200ML/day at Collarenebri.  A variety of monitoring tools have been used to observe flows and undertake an assessment of effectiveness including river gauging and satellite imagery.  More information is available to members...

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