South Australian River Murray water allocations will be lifted to 32% for 2007-08. The revised allocation is effective from 14 December.

Higher than expected inflows into the Murray-Darling Basin and its storages, along with lower than expected losses and increased releases from the Snowy Hydro Scheme, have resulted in an improved volume of water available to SA, NSW and Victoria.

Water allocations were lifted to 22% from 1 December. The latest 10% increase is the largest so far during 2007–08 but still well short of the 60% irrigators received in 2006–07.

The Premier, Mike Rann, and the Minister for the River Murray, Karlene Maywald, visited irrigators in the Riverland this week.

The Premier said that while there was now some extra water available for irrigation, the State Government was still expecting and planning for low flows to continue throughout 2007–08 and possibly into 2008–09.

River Murray system inflows during November 2007 were only 168 GL, which was well below the long-term median, but higher than November 2006, when only 55 GL was received.

The volume of water in storage remains extremely low at only 20% of capacity (about 1877 GL), compared with 26% capacity at the same time last year.

The Minister for the River Murray, Karlene Maywald, says carry-over water will again be offered for the 2007-08 water year, allowing unused water to be carried forward into 2008–09.

“We are currently working on finalising the details of the carry-over policy, which will be available early next year, but this advance notice will allow irrigators to continue planning for 2008–09,” she said.

“There is a high probability that storage volumes will be low by the end of May 2008. As a result, South Australia will continue to negotiate arrangements with other Murray-Darling Basin states to enable a starting allocation for next water year.”

The Murray-Darling Basin is continuing to experience the worst drought on record. If low inflows continue in 2008–09, water levels will continue to decline and salinity levels will increase. It is not known how the river will react to continued low flows and one of the biggest unknowns is how salinity levels might increase.

The Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation has produced two information sheets showing the water level and salinity forecasts for Lake Alexandrina for the remainder of 2007–08, and for 2008–09.

The information sheets have been developed to show what may happen to water levels and salinity under a range of different flow conditions. The 2007–08 forecast will be updated on a monthly basis. The information sheets are available from www.dwlbc.sa.gov.au/murray/drought/index.html

Country Health reminds people that with the prolonged drought and the changing nature of farming, both primary producers and the rural industries that depend on them are struggling with a whole new range of pressures and uncertainties. Prolonged stress should never be ignored because it is often associated with not only the onset of physical illness, but also problems such as depression and anxiety.

High levels of stress also tend to take their toll on relationships. Yet it’s in difficult times that we most need our relationships. If things aren’t going well, taking early action makes a whole lot more sense than "soldiering on" until mental health takes a turn for the worse, or relationships break down.

It is important that people talk to their doctor, or ring the Rural and Remote Mental Health Services on 13 14 65 any time of the day or night for support, advice and information.

The Rural Community Counselling service is one of a number of initiatives developed by Country Health SA in response to the particular needs of people in rural communities.

The aim of the service is to enable rural people, who are encountering personal or family concerns to access confidential general counselling.

Wherever possible, the Rural Community Counsellors will be co-located with other staff including Rural Financial Counsellors and Drought Counsellors, and possibly other non-government organisations.

The contact details for the five newly appointed Rural Community Counsellors and two existing counsellors are:

South East
Ron Ellis, based at Bordertown, phone 0428 541 114

Murraylands/Lower Lakes
Billie Jo Lowe (BJ), based at Murray Bridge, phone 0447 088 047

Lower Riverland (Waikerie/Blanchetown areas)
Keltie Grant, based at Waikerie. A number for Keltie will be published in the next edition of Drought E-News

Upper Riverland (Renmark, Berri, Loxton, Barmera and districts)
Valma Kollias, phone 0488 102 544

Mid North
Roger Kleinig, based at Booleroo Centre, phone 0420 101 206

Yorke Peninsula/Clare area
Warren Martin, based at Clare, phone 0437 794 338

Eyre Peninsula
Michael Hancock, based at Lock/Wudinna, phone 0437 329 190

The acting Manager of the Rural Community Counsellors, Michelle Clemow-Meyer, is based in the Riverland and can be contacted on 0488 141 811.

Port Stanvac has been identified as the preferred site for a new desalination plant as part of a $1.4 billion investment in water infrastructure to secure South Australia’s water supply.

The State Government has released the summary report of the Desalination Working Group, and a new water pricing structure to fund this major infrastructure investment.

South Australia will move to a new three-tier pricing structure in 2008–09 and water prices will increase on average by 12.7%  in real terms.

New pricing will mean an increase of less than $1 a week for 60% of households, and the State Government is increasing concessions for water bills, and extending them to eligible low-income tenants.

Final desalination plant site confirmation is dependent on environmental considerations. Discussions have begun with Mobil, and the government will continue to assess the options with them over the coming months.

With completion planned for 2012, water from the plant will be reticulated to the domestic water supply.

Full information is available on a media release on the drought website www.service.sa.gov.au/drought.asp

The State Government will establish a $400,000 Regional Communities Drought Fund to help country communities that are experiencing significant structural change because of drought.

The Berri Barmera Council is the first to secure money from the fund - a grant of $100,000 toward stage one of the Lake Bonney Foreshore Redevelopment project.

The fund will assist regional communities to help withstand the tough times by helping develop their economic and social infrastructure, by educating and training people in other skills and by protecting and improving local environmental assets.

Future applications will be accepted from councils. Community and business groups will be encouraged to work with local government in developing projects and applications.

More information will be available shortly on future funding application rounds for the fund. Submissions will be assessed through the Premier’s High Level Drought Task Force.

The Eyre Regional Development Board (ERDB) would like to determine the training needs of farmers and families and others in the region affected by the drought.

The ERDB in collaboration with the region’s nine District Councils and TAFESA is currently distributing a survey throughout the community of Eyre Peninsula.

The objective is to provide training and other assistance to improve employment prospects in local industry and elsewhere, such as plant ticketing, gap training, CV writing and other initiatives.

Survey forms are available from your local council and when completed are to be returned to the ERDB. The survey is confidential and will be used to refer respondents to appropriate services or training and employment opportunities.

This is a collaborative initiative between the ERDB, TAFESA, your local Eyre Peninsula District Council and the Government of South Australia’s South Australia Works Program.

The Australian and South Australian Governments have packaged together a number of drought assistance measures for irrigators, dryland farmers and small businesses severely affected by the drought. A summary of the available drought assistance measures is set out in a reference guide available on the drought website www.service.sa.gov.au/drought  under latest information.

Four more specific, formalised Exceptional Circumstances information sheets extracted from the Drought Assistance Measures document are currently being developed and it is anticipated they will be available within the next fortnight.

Another dry year in 2007 kept most foliar diseases at a low level. The main exceptions in some regions were powdery mildew in both wheat and barley and yellow leaf spot. SARDI’s Cereal seed treatments 2008 fact sheet, which outlines how to combat disease at sowing, compiled by Principal Plant Pathologist, Hugh Wallwork is now available on the Field Crops section of the SARDI website www.sardi.sa.gov.au/pdfserve/fieldcrops/publications/seed_treat_guides/seed_treat2008.pdf

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.

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