 |
 |
| SA Drought E-News, 26th July 2007 |
|
|
|
|
| River Murray allocations increased to 13% |
|
Minister for the River Murray, Karlene Maywald, has announced that irrigation allocations will increase from 4% to 13% from 2 August, and carryover water will be allocated in full (30 GL), following recent rainfall across the Murray-Darling Basin.
While a total of 260 GL flowed into the River Murray system during the first two weeks of July - double the inflows for the whole of July 2006 - significant persistent rainfall is still needed to break the continuing period of low inflows into the River Murray and storages.
Minister Maywald warned that allocation increases would now plateau over the next few months until the total water available increases to 1500 GL, or approximately double what has been available to date.
She also said that salinity levels are steadily increasing along the River Murray in South Australia because of significantly reduced flows across the border.
Water levels within Lake Alexandrina and Lake Albert remain low, and modelling indicates that levels will continue to decline without increased flows across the border.
Further information about the current drought conditions is available at www.dwlbc.sa.gov.au/murray/rivercond/index.html
|
|
| Outdoor watering suspension extended |
Top |
|
Temporary restrictions on outdoor household watering will continue during August 2007 to help conserve water for summer. The Minister for the River Murray, Karlene Maywald says these measures are necessary due to the ongoing impacts of reduced water availability from the River Murray.
"Rainfall and inflows in the River Murray system are promising but are still below-average so until we are confident that the drought is well and truly behind us, we need to continue to conserve water," Minister Maywald said.
More information: www.sawater.com.au or water restrictions hotline 1800 130 952.
|
|
| Reservoir levels update |
Top |
|
While Adelaide Hills’ reservoirs are currently at 75% of capacity, compared with 52% at the same time last year, nearly half of the water was pumped in advance from the River Murray for use in 2007-08.
Adelaide’s water consumption from 1 January 2007 to 20 July 2007 has been 80 billion litres, compared with 102 billion litres during the 2003 drought.
|
|
| Mt Lofty buffer zone backed |
Top |
|
State Cabinet has backed a push for a buffer zone to be attached to the Central and Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges prima facie Exceptional Circumstances (EC) area.
A request to include the five kilometre buffer zone will be forwarded to the Australian Government for its consideration. The Central and Eastern Mt Lofty Ranges was declared to have a prima-facie case for EC support on 25 June 2007.
Since that time there has been support from the community, particularly the Adelaide Hills Regional Development Board, and the SA Dairy Farmers’ Association, for the inclusion of a buffer zone on the western boundary of the region to support the capacity for larger holdings in that zone to demonstrate their eligibility for EC support.
The area takes in the Mt Lofty Ranges parts of the City of Playford, Tea Tree Gully, Campbelltown, Burnside, Mitcham and Onkaparinga.
Declaration of prima facie EC support enables producers and agriculturally-dependant small businesses to apply for income support for six months. Declaration of a prima facie case does not imply that full EC support will be declared.
The National Rural Advisory Council (NRAC) visited the Central and Mt Lofty Ranges EC region on Wednesday 25 July as part of its visits to SA to determine if full EC support should be extended to that area as well as Kangaroo Island (26 July) and will visit the Lower South East on 10 August.
|
|
| Fellowship a boost to recovery |
Top |
|
Young farmers wanting to boost their skills are encouraged to apply for the Peter Olsen Fellowship.
Feedback to the State Government Drought Program has highlighted the need to provide young farmers with more opportunities to raise their agricultural knowledge and on-farm skills.
The $7,000 fellowship, run by the Agricultural Bureau of SA, is awarded to one young farmer aged between 18 and 35 every year to fund courses, study tours or special projects.
Telephone the Agricultural Bureau on 1800 652 258 or 8226 0351 for application forms and copies of the guidelines. Applications for this year’s award close on 14 September.
|
|
| EC assistance information sessions |
Top |
|
A series of information sessions to inform people about the range of Exceptional Circumstance (EC) assistance that is available for producers and agriculturally-dependent small businesses in the recently-declared region of Yorke Peninsula, Mid North, Clare and Barossa will be held in early August.
Sessions will include speakers from Primary Industries and Resources SA and Centrelink, on EC entitlements, criteria, how to apply, and where and who is available to assist in the process. The Rural Financial Counselling Service will provide details on the assistance available to help people lodge applications in the coming months
Sessions will be held at:
| Minlaton |
10 am Wednesday 1 August, Minlaton Bowling Club |
| Bute |
2 pm Wednesday 1 August, Bute Sports Club |
| Crystal Brook |
10 am Thursday 2 August, Crystal Brook Institute Hall |
| Burra |
2 pm Thursday 2 August, Burra Town Hall |
| Clare |
10 am Friday 3 August, Clare Golf Club |
| Eudunda |
2 pm Friday 3 August, Eudunda Community Club |
Follow-up application centres will be established about a month after the first information sessions.
More information: Tia Walker, Rural Financial Counselling Services. Telephone 8362 1166 or email: tia.walker@rfcssa.org.au
|
|
| Succession planning workshops |
Top |
|
PIRSA and Country Health SA are presenting free workshops on succession planning for sustaining families and farms. The sessions which run from 9.30 am to 3.30 pm will be held:
| Karoonda Sporting Complex |
Thursday 2 August |
| Padthaway Bowling Clubrooms |
Friday 3 August |
| Lock Bowling Club |
Tuesday 7 August |
| Cummins Bowling Club |
Wednesday 8 August |
| Streaky Bay Sporting Club |
Thursday 9 August |
| Booleroo Centre Bowling Club, Stephens Street, Booleroo Centre |
Thursday 16 August |
Numbers are limited. Registrations are by contacting Rural Health Team, Yvette Atze. Telephone 8667 2458. Email: atze.yvette@saugov.sa.gov.au
|
|
Drought E-News is a regular newsletter updating the State Government’s drought response. If you’ve been forwarded this E-News and you would like to subscribe, click on the link below, complete the details and you will receive drought E-News in the future.
Feedback is always welcome, email Drought News.
|
|
|
|
|
|
