GWYDIR VALLEY IRRIGATORS ASSOCIATION

News

This is a great opportunity for our local community to inform the Senate Select Committee inquiry into Jobs for the Future in Regional Areas about the opportunities and challenges in our region. The Committee inquiry will cover a number of matters including: new industries and employment opportunities for regions; existing jobs in regions in clean energy technology and ecological services and their future significance; lessons learned from structural adjustments and privatisation and their impact on labour markets and local economies; the importance of long-term planning to support the diversification of supply chain industries and local economies; and measures to guide the transition into new industries and employment.
Submission closing date is 6 September 2019. 

Pig Management Project

The Gwydir Strategic Pest Management initiative that brings landholders and National Parks together in the management of feral pigs is well underway now. Despite the dry conditions there are still significant feral pig numbers out there, and they are still breeding, so we all need to remain vigilant in our control of these feral pests.
Critical to managing feral pigs is to use all control mechanisms. The LLS have a Winter Feral Pig Control Program running until the end of August, producers who are working with their neighbours trapping or baiting are encouraged to contract the LLS on 1300 795 299 to source grain for trapping and baiting.

Soil Health Workshop is to be held in Moree from 10:30am on Thursday 29th August 2019 at the Town and Country Club. The workshop is aiming to improving knowledge on microbes, rotations, visual assessments and all things soil health. It will include a daytime discussion and theory session, followed by a visit to a soil pit and dinner to finish the day.
Presenters and panel representatives include Oliver Knox, Mike Stone, Brendan Warnock, Guna Nachimuthu, David Freebairn and Pathologist Duy Le.

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

The NSW Water Reform Taskforce has put together the following tool, to help determine your approach which is available here with other factsheets.  
Despite a lot of effort to scenario test and iron out implementation challenges, there remains a number of areas that still require further detail despite the Department being confident that have provided clear guidelines on how to proceed.
Whilst we acknowledge there are a number of challenges, there will be some of you that can meet the following criteria and you must make efforts to meet the 1 December 2019 deadline for larger than 500mm pump off-takes.  These being:

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.

Many of you may have watched last night’s Four Corners episode “Cash Splash” regarding water infrastructure programs to achieve the water recovery under the Murray Darling Basin Plan.   The story 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. Our rivers in the last three-months has been flowing because of this water.

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

The April 1 cutoff to install non-pattern approved, AS4747 compliant meters has now past.  As an industry, we now must focus on our next key date for implementation which is for large pump offtakes, greater than 500mm diameter by 1 December 2019.

There remains a number of challenges and unknown requirements with the implementation of the metering regulations which require rectification before we can confidently provide you advice on how to proceed further.  One of the major roadblocks is water! Which means we cannot insitu test any existing meters.

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 rollercoaster that is the NSW Healthy Floodplains project continues to roll-on following the NSW Election and the new Minister, Melinda Pavey being appointed.   The NSW Government has released its independent peer review into the implementation of the NSW Healthy Floodplains Project which is aimed at determining FPH licences in the Gwydir Valley (and the other four northern valleys).

In response to this review, as well as decreasing confidence in the model's performance and application to determine FPH licence volumes and mounting stakeholder pressure regarding how the Government will regulate and monitor floodplain take we have prepared the following update with a request for all eligible floodplain harvesters to complete an internal GVIA data survey.

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.

We have prepared the following key facts which you can use if needed on social media or in conversations.  Remember to engage respectfully with factual information you can substantiate - in the absence of fact, all we have remaining is opinion and emotional debate and we must work together to rebalance the discussion.

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. 

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.

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