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| SA Drought E-News, 10th July 2008 |
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| EC declarations closing in two regions |
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Applications for interest rate subsidies under the Exceptional Circumstances (EC) program in two of the state’s drought affected regions are due to close shortly.
Applications for the first year of interest rate subsidies assistance in the North West Rangelands will close on 6 August and on Kangaroo Island on 16 August this year.
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Rory McEwen, urged drought affected farmers and farm-dependent small business operators in those regions not to self assess their eligibility, but to contact experienced financial counsellors to find out what help is available.
Appointments with a Rural Financial Counsellor can be made by phoning 1800 836 211. Application forms can be downloaded from www.pir.sa.gov.au and submitted direct to PIRSA.
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| $610 million for River Murray |
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South Australia has secured $610 million for priority projects that could result in water savings of more than 100 gigalitres of water in the Murray Darling Basin system at the COAG meeting on 3 July.
The Intergovernmental Agreement between all Murray Darling Basin State and the Commonwealth was also signed at the COAG meeting that will trigger the start of $3.7 billion in infrastructure works along the length of the basin.
A media release has been posted on the drought website: www.sa.gov.au/drought and more information on the COAG outcomes is at http://www.coag.gov.au/meetings/030708/index.htm#water
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| Early crop potential tempered |
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South Australian farmers are pinning their hopes on substantial rains in July and August to help revive this year’s crop.
PIRSA’s latest June Crop and Pasture report, complied by Rural Solutions SA says growers faced tough conditions during June, with monthly rainfall generally below average, temperatures mostly cool to occasionally cold with few frosts, and some regions facing strong to gale force winds on several occasions, causing significant drift in drier areas.
Despite the harsh conditions, many crops were still doing well, but all needed considerable rain to keep them going. More information: www.pir.sa.gov.au/cropreport
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| Recent rainfall welcome |
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| Meanwhile, recent rain across most of southern South Australia in early July has been welcomed. A Bureau of Meteorology Map outlining rainfall for the four days to 9am Tuesday 8 July has been posted on the PIRSA website: http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/pirsa/drought/recent_rain |
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| Allocation outlook projections |
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A series of projections have been produced for irrigators outlining possible monthly increases to River Murray water allocations under various inflow scenarios.
Developed by the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation, they show the likelihood of receiving different levels of allocations during the 2008-09 water year. The projections are based on the best information currently available, but will be subject to change with each monthly update.
The latest projections can be found at ‘Water Availability diagrams’ on the DWLBC website at www.dwlbc.sa.gov.au/murray/drought/index.html. A media release from the Minister for the River Murray, Karlene Maywald has been posted on the drought website.
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| Garnaut climate change report released |
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The Garnaut Climate Change Review has been commissioned by Australia’s Commonwealth, state and territory governments to examine the impacts, challenges and opportunities of climate change for Australia. A Draft Report was released on 4 July 2008, and the Final Report is due by 30 September 2008. A Supplementary Draft Report will also be released in late August 2008.
All materials released by the Review to date, including reports, papers and transcripts from public addresses are available at: http://www.garnautreview.org.au
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| Report predicts increased drought |
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Australia could experience drought twice as often and the events will be twice as severe within 20 to 30 years, according to a new Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO report.
The Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Foresty Tony Burke has released the report titled An assessment of the impact of climate change on the nature and frequency of exceptional climatic events. It is part of a review of national drought policy.
As of June, there were 74 drought-declared areas across Australia receiving Exceptional Circumstances drought support. South Australia and the southern Murray Darling Basin region are among the worst affected regions in Australia.
The report is available at www.daff.gov.au/droughtpolicyreview or freecall 1800 200 876.
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| Filtered water for Moorook |
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The regional community near Moorook will soon receive filtered water under a $7.3 million extension of the State Government’s Country Water Quality Improvement Program.
About 380 regional customers in the Moorook Country Lands water district will receive filtered River Murray water.
The project, which starts in September and will be completed in February, includes the construction of a water treatment plant near the Woolpunda pumping station.
The Moorook project is part of the State Government’s commitment to deliver improved water quality to regional communities and safeguard supply against any potential water quality issues as a result of the current drought.
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Access and equity
The information in this publication can be provided on request to those who need it in an alternative format or another language. Contact PIRSA Communications and Marketing. Telephone (08) 8226 0539.
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