GWYDIR VALLEY IRRIGATORS ASSOCIATION

Events

The South Australian Royal Commission into the Murray Darling Basin Plan is holding public consultation on their investigation at the Max Centre on Thursday 17 May 2018 between 10:30am - 12pm.  This is an opportunity for the community and not only irrigators to demonstrate to the Royal Commission how the Basin Plan has impacted our community and how environmental outcomes have been achieved but that we can always improve but that doesn't mean just adding more water.  You will need to register via their website https://www.mdbrc.sa.gov.au/.

Gwydir regulated water availability remains unchanges following April's resource assessment.  Use of environmental water for the northern connectivity event and minor orders for irrigation have occured reducing water available to irrigators to 42GL and 154GL to environmental water users (plus any high security water).  There is a minor shortfall in delivery loss account which will need to be balanced prior to any water being available for sharing.  

The NW LLS are hosting a Native Vegetation information session at the Moree RSL on Monday 30th April 2018 between 9am and 5pm. The day will provide producers an opportunity to talk through the new regulations with your local land services representives. For more information or to reserve a time that suits you please contact: Sally Poole Local Land Services Moree 0409 707 623

The GVIA wishes to inform all members that the NSW and Commonwealth Governments are trialling a coordinated, multi-catchment environmental flow event for downstream outcomes using held environmental water from Copeton Dam.
This delivery event will start on 17 April 2018 for up to 15-days with flows to be delivered to the Barwon at least to Wilcannia, via...

Deliveries of NSW and Commonwealth environmental water have begun from Copeton Dam in the Gwydir Valley, as part of a coordinated effort to deliver held environmental water from northern catchments.  Deliveries are anticipated to also be released from the Border Rivers and Namoi storages with up to 31 gigalitres being planned for delivery.

The GVIA and CottonInfo Field Day in February 2018 provided Growers a great opportunity to hear from irrigation and Nitrogen researchers about optimised irrigation and automation of irrigation. See our updated project page with our new video releases on why this research and field days are important to the industry.

In a rare opportunity, Moree Real Estate will auction a total of 1596ML Water Access Licence shares of Lower Gwydir Groundwater, in 15 x 100ML parcels plus one 96ML parcel from 11am, Friday 18th May 2018 at the Royal Hotel, Moree.  For more information visit their website or contact Paul Kelly.

NSW Department of Industry — Lands & Water announced new key appointments to the team, including Rachel Connell the Executive Director - Water and Liz Moore as Executive Director - Strategy and Policy.  More information on the appointment can be accessed from their media release.

A Department organisation chart is available on our website plus key contacts for programs like the Healthy Floodplains Project or Water Sharing Planning.  We will place up key contacts for other organisations like the Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) when it begins operation and transformation of compliance services from WaterNSW.

Thank you to all our members who were able to attend the consultation session in Moree earlier this month.  We've heard that the Moree consultation was one of the best attended and with the most engaged discussions from around the state.
A reminder that submissions are due to the NSW Government's Water Reform Action Plan consultation papers on Sunday, 15th April 2018 via the online portal.  We are now in the final stages of integrating the feedback received and incorporating contributions from our peak bodies, industry colleagues and local technicians in preparing our final response.  We encourage you to review our recommendations and principle positions on the NSW Water Reform Action Plan page on our website and provide feedback directly to Zara at the office or use this information to build your own submission.  As many voices with a common thread will be a powerful message to government.

Gwydir regulated allocations remain unchanged following this month's resource assessment with Copeton Dam holding steady at 29%.  This will see irrigators carrying over 45GL and the environmental water users 134GL for late season delivery or for use into next water year.  WaterNSW provide weekly water availability reports here.

Local Land Services NSW are seeking feedback on regional pest plans currently on exhibition until 20 April 2018.  These plans aim to identify the risks in each region, set regional pest animal management priorities, and provide for the coordinated management of pest animal risks within and across Local Land Services regions.  Pests identified include, wild dogs, feral pigs, foxes and goats and high priority areas highlighted.  The LLS are seeking comment on how to improve strategic management to reduce the impact of these species locally.

Water is precious, that’s why irrigators make every drop count and irrigators in our valley, have strived to produce more cotton socks and jocks than we did 10-years ago, grow the best nuts, produce fine olive oils and make the tastiest fresh orange juice, with less water! 

In celebration on #WorldWaterDay lets think about how important it is that we use water efficiently for the benefit of our nation and our local community and thank those that turn this scarce resource into food and clothes for everyone to share.

Local community consultation opportunity into the NSW Governments approach to water reform in NSW on Tuesday, 27th March in Moree from 2pm at the Max Centre.

“The discussion papers and consultation, are the start of a wider conversation with government and the community...

The NSW Minister for Regional Water has announced the NSW Water Reform Action Plan.  This plan includes a series of strategies to reform key policy areas in the management and administration of water, of which all are relevant to water users in the Gwydir Valley.  This page provides you as a member, access to our current analysis and strategy to address these reforms.

With the end of the summer irrigation season drawing to a near, water availability in the Gwydir has been revised in the February resource assessment with irrigators likely to carryover 46,000ML into next season whereas, environmental water managers holding the majority of water with 164,000ML.  We have updated our current availability to reflect usage to-date, this is reported on an annual basis covering the water year.

The GVIA and CottonInfo Field Day in February 2018 provided Growers a great opportunity to hear from irrigation and Nitrogen researchers about optimised irrigation and automation of irrigation. See the latest Video release.

The GVIA are requesting all members to assist us to better understand the valley's water measurement status.  To do this, we're asking if you can please complete this short survey: CLICK HERE

There are 4 - 6 questions and you only need to know your water licence volumes, types and numbers of meters, or your alternative water monitoring mechanisms.
The information will be anonymous and aggregated, to help guide future policy dicussions and our industry messaging.

Click the link above to start the survey and thank you for your participation!

We have a 36.9 ML parcel of General Security River water allocation for trade.  Please provide a bid in dollar/megaltire and the volume required to the GVIA office before 5pm, Tuesday 20th February 2018.
This trade has a minimum value attached to it.

The annual GVIA Irrigation Field Day continues to draw big crowds. The 2018 event was run in conjunction with the CottonInfo Optimising Irrigation and Nitrogen tour. It was wonderful to see so many young growers and consultants, and to have 24 irrigators from southern regions at the field day.

On Wednesday, 14th February 2018 the Federal Senate rejected an amendment to the Murray Darling Basin Plan which will see the northern recovery target return to 390 gigalitres, rather than the revised 320 gigalitres.

We’re looking to the Commonwealth and NSW Government to negotiate a speedy resolution that puts people, communities and the environment back as the priority.

We have a 24 ML parcel of Lower Gwydir groundwater allocation for trade.  Please provide a bid in dollar/megaltire and the volume required to the GVIA office before 5pm, Tuesday 20th February 2018.

Local Gwydir Valley Agronomist Kate Lumber has been selected as one of two showgirl finalists at the zone four final on the weekend. Kate will represent Moree at The Land Sydney Royal Showgirl competition next month. For more information see the Moree Champion article following.

The Gwydir Valley Irrigators Association (GVIA) together with Stahmann Farms hosted the new Federal Agriculture Minister, David Littleproud on Monday, 29 January 2018 at “Trawalla” east of Moree.  The visit was organised by local Federal Member for Parkes, Mark Coulton and the opportunity was used to showcase the innovative work of our local agricultural industries.

We have 330ML of Gwydir general security allocation for tender until 5pm Sunday, 21st January 2018.  You can enter a bid in price per megaltire before the closing date and time, for more details on process and requirements, click the link.

A reminder we have a number of tenders for Gwydir general security and Lower Gwydir groundwater allocation currently open.

The GVIA have two new water tenders open; 19ML of Lower Gwydir Groundwater allocation and 200MLof Regulated general security allocation with bids due 5pm Friday, 19th January 2018.

We have a total of four tenders currently open and are updating our water market information daily.

The Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder is due to make a formal announcement on the environmental water tender results.  We understand there are 2 successful applicants, which have been contacted.  We continue to be in discussion with them regarding future options and feedback but to our knowledge there are no plans for further tenders at this stage.

We have two parcels of Lower Gwydir groundwater allocation for sale on separate accounts:

  • 20 megalitres
  • 31 megalitres
Please contact the office via email with your requested volume and price per megalitre by 5pm, 18 th January 2018.

The buyer will be required to cover the WaterNSW fees of $326.49 and the GVIA $55 water trade transaction fee.

CottonInfo will be hosting a weather webinar on Wednesday 10th January at 12.30pm.

There will be detailed discussion around the La Nina we are having, when we are not having a La Nina and also, what is the Madden-Julian Oscillation system and its impact on the second half of January.

You will need to register via the CottonInfo website.

The recording will be posted onto the website afterwards.

Our tender of 300ML (in two 150ML parcels) closed at 5pm, Tuesday 9th January with a winning bid of $388.20/ML.  We've elected to provide this figure as it is unlikely to be available on the register prior to the closure of the CEWH tender.

Reminder, that the CEWH tender opened at 10am, Tuesday 9th January and you can lodge electronic bids up to 2pm on Thursday, 11th January.  You need to visit the CEWH water trade website to access the documentation.

We also have a 20ML parcel of Lower Gwydir groundwater allocation for trade, all bids need to be received before 5pm on Thursday, 11th January.

We have 20 megalitres (ML) of Lower Gwydir groundwater allocation is for sale by tender.

Please provide your bid in price/ML by 5pm Thursday, 11th January 2018 to gvia@gvia.org.au.

We have two parcels of 150ML each of Gwydir General Security allocation for tender.

Please contact via email, the volume and price per megatire offered by Tuesday 9th January 2017 at 5pm.

Optimising Irrigation and Nitrogen is the theme of the 2018 Gwydir Valley field day to be held at Keytah. This season the Keytah system comparison site has been upgraded to included automation of siphons, bankless channel, lateral move and drip. The aim is to identify options which are suitable for growers looking to automate irrigation on a large scale.

Growers Inspect Cover Cropping Trial

The Dryland Cotton Research Association Field Day provided growers the opportunity to inspect the cover cropping trial which has been running since early 2015.

There has been a strong turnout to the Gwydir Valley CGA Silverleaf Whitefly workshops this week. The workshops were made possible through a CRDC Grassroots Grant. Thank You to our presenters Dave Parlato, Iain MacPherson, Arthur Spellson and Brad Anderson.

Area Wide Management Meetings

The 8th and 9th of November saw good turn outs for the first incrop Area Wide Management meetings in the Gwydir. This was a great opportunity to hear form other growers and consultants about planting, establishment and insect pressure.

Irrigation in the Gwydir is in full swing which brings a range of water birds to the region; a family of Pink-eared Ducks recently spotted west of Moree. For more information on birds on cotton farms visit the link following.

Irrigators and farmers in the Gwydir Valley will tonight at 5pm launch a video campaign to highlight the negative impact that cold water pollution has on our river system and others across the Murray-Darling Basin.

Gwydir Valley Irrigators Association (GVIA) Executive Officer Zara Lowien, who was also the Executive Producer on the film, says the ‘Cold Fish’ video has been launched ahead of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s determination on the Northern Basin Review – due this week.

Local ag conference co-hosted by Young Aggies

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