Employers in rural communities affected by drought are able to apply for assistance to help retain their apprentices and trainees.
Payments of $1,500 per apprentice or trainee enrolled in rural qualifications and in mechanical and electrical automotive trades that support agriculture production are available.

Employers must be in an Exceptional Circumstances (EC) designated area and must have retained their apprentices/trainees for a continuous period from 1 March to 31 August 2007 to qualify for their first instalment; and 1 September 2007 to 28 February 2008 to quality for their second instalment.

For more information contact the Drought Apprenticeship Retention Program on (08) 8226 3372 or visit: www.employment.sa.gov.au/employ/pages/default/darp/.

Free sessions to help farmers and small businesses complete application forms for Exceptional Circumstances (EC) support are being held in the Yorke Peninsula, Mid North and the Barossa and Light EC regions during September.

Rural Financial Counselling Service SA (RFCSSA) will have a team of counsellors available to assist at the temporary application centres.

Appointments are essential and can be arranged by phoning Free Call 1800 836 211. Those making appointments need to take their supporting information to sessions so applications can be completed on the day.

The extreme weather conditions in the latter part of August, with lack of rain, abnormally high temperatures and strong winds have seen crops lose significant yield potential in most districts as soil moisture reserves rapidly decline.

According to the latest PIRSA Crop and Pasture Report, prepared by Rural Solutions SA, in the driest areas on Eyre Peninsula and the Upper North, crops are dying off and will not recover, while other crops have been grazed or cut for hay if they have sufficient bulk.

Early sown crops which were able to establish healthy root systems and utilise soil moistures are generally fairing much better than those sown later.

Crop production estimates have been cut by over 20% from July. Total crop area is estimated to be 4.01 million hectares, with crop production currently estimated to be 5.50 million tonnes.

The Acting Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Paul Holloway, has urged people to access the wide range of measures from the State and Australian Government to assist producers and their families to get through these very difficult times.

A guide listing current national, statewide and locally available grants and other assistance measures such as concessions, community support grants etc. is available on the drought website www.service.sa.gov.au/drought.asp under Latest Information.

The full Crop and Pasture Report is available on www.pir.sa.gov.au/cropreport.

Workshops to inform farming and small businesses about Exceptional Circumstances (EC) applications will be held in Kangaroo Island during September.

The workshops will feature representatives from Primary Industries and Resources SA (PIRSA), Rural Financial Counselling Service SA and Centrelink explaining EC application guidelines.

Sessions will run for about two hours and be held:

For further information regarding venues and times, contact 1800 836 211 or visit www.pir.sa.gov.au.

PIRSA Grape and Wine together with the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation held a Drought Position Meeting for grape growers and winemakers in Adelaide on Monday 27 August.

The meeting was well received by the 25 industry leaders who attended. The meeting has ensured an open dialogue between government and industry in providing an update to industry on the drought forecasts and developing drought management strategies in the lead up to the next vintage.

With continuing drought conditions and the implementation of water restrictions, options such as the use of alternative water supplies (namely bore and rainwater) water cartage and recycled water use have generated strong interest.

The Department of Health has noticed a sharp increase in the number of enquiries received from the general public and Environmental Health Officers requesting further information and advice in relation to these and other water-related matters.

The Water Quality and Wastewater Management Sections have produced a series of fact sheets and guidelines on rainwater tank maintenance and water care, domestic rainwater quality testing, bore water testing, manual bucketing and temporary diversion of greywater and other topics. They can be accessed at: www.dh.sa.gov.au/pehs/topics/drought-package.htm.

A decision has been made to temporarily disconnect Lake Bonney from the main channel of the River Murray. It is expected that construction of the earthen bank will commence by mid-September and be completed by early-October 2007. A pipeline will also be constructed to provide a permanent alternative water supply to people currently extracting water from the lake.

For further information see the latest Lake Bonney Frequently Asked Question and Answer document at: www.dwlbc.sa.gov.au/assets/files/RM_Lake_Bonney_FAQ_31Aug07.pdf.

Information on forthcoming seminars, field days, and workshops for irrigators is available at www.pir.sa.gov.au/drought.

DWLBC compliance officers will visit holiday homes along the length of the river in coming months to remind owners/occupiers of their responsibilities under the current water restrictions. Under current restrictions, persons who draw water directly from the river for domestic use are subject to the same water restrictions in place for SA Water customers.

An information sheet outlining water restrictions applicable to the owners/occupiers of holiday homes along the River Murray can be found at: www.dwlbc.sa.gov.au/assets/files/RM_restrictions_domestic_wateruse_sep07.pdf.

A 24-hour hotline (8539 2110) has been established to allow members of the public to notify compliance officers of suspected breaches of restrictions. This hotline is staffed continuously, and callers can remain anonymous.

Anyone requiring further information about River Murray water restrictions should phone the Drought Link hotline (180 20 20) or the Water Restrictions Hotline (1800 130 952). Information about conditions in the River Murray system can be found at www.dwlbc.sa.gov.au.

The State Government is committing more than $2.5m to extend the Virginia Pipeline Scheme, with the Australian Government providing $2.035m under the National Water Initiative. The extension will provide an extra three billion litres a year of high quality treated wastewater through a 20-kilometre pipeline network to horticulturists and market gardeners at Angle Vale. The project will:

• Contribute to increasing Adelaide’s use of recycled water
• Reduce discharge of harmful nutrients into Gulf St Vincent
• Reduce demand pressure on the region’s over-allocated groundwater resources
• Contribute to reducing River Murray extractions

Construction of the Angle Vale extension means 35% of treated wastewater at the Bolivar treatment plant will be reused. It is expected to be complete by September next year, in time for the 2008-09 irrigation season.

A drought assistance information session open to all landholders in the Central & Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges region will be held at the Mount Torrens Football Clubrooms on Monday 17 September. Morning tea will be at 9.30 am and the session runs from 10 am to 11.30 am.

Speakers from Centrelink, the South Australian Government and the Rural Financial Counselling Service will provide information on available assistance. A bid for an Exceptional Circumstances declaration for the region was recently declined by the Australian Government, but the area has Prima Facie declaration for six months.

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