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| Productivity Commission hearing in Adelaide |
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The Productivity Commission held a one-day hearing in Adelaide this week as part of its public inquiry into the current government drought support arrangements in Australia. Regional meetings will be held later this month.
The Commission has been asked to identify the most appropriate way for governments to assist farmers, farm businesses and farm dependent rural small businesses improve their self-reliance and preparedness for drought events. Written submissions are due by mid August.
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Rory McEwen; PIRSA and SA Government representatives from the high level drought task force, regional chairs, and drought coordinators; SA Farmers Federation, Advisory Board of Agriculture, Regional Communities Consultative Committee, Regional Development SA and various financial institutions and representatives of agribusiness were among attendees.
More information, including an issues paper, is available from: http://www.pc.gov.au/inquiry/drought
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| Expert social panel examines drought |
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The Commonwealth Government has also appointed an expert panel to examine the social impacts of the drought on farm families and rural communities.
The expert social panel will hold public consultation forums across Australia. Four South Australian public forums will be held in late August. Mr Barry Wakelin is the SA representative on the panel, which is headed by Peter Kenny, the current President of AgForce Queensland.
Public submissions are due in early August.
More information, including an issues paper, is available from http://www.daff.gov.au/agriculture-food/drought/national_review_of_drought_policy/social_assessment
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| Latest rainfall map |
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A map detailing recent rain that has fallen across South Australia for the month to 15 July is available here.
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| Murray irrigation allocation stays at 2% |
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River Murray allocations will remain at 2% following record low inflows into the Murray-Darling.
The Acting Minister for the River Murray Rory McEwen says the basin received 95 gigalitres of inflows during June – the lowest on record in 117 years of data.
Allocations will remain unchanged and the percentage of approved carry-over water volume that irrigators can access will also stay at 50%.
The next announcement regarding water resources availability will be on 15 August and subsequent announcements will be made of the 15th of each month, or next business day.
A media release outlining carry over water information, flows, Lake Alexandrina and Albert water levels and salinity levels above and below lock 1 has been posted on the drought website www.sa.gov.au/drought
More information: www.dwlbc.sa.gov.au/murray/drought/index.html
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| Murray system drought update |
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Meanwhile the Murray Darling Basin Commission reports that the chance that upper Murray inflows will be above average for the remainder of winter and spring is very low. Until there is significant rain and run-off, the prospects for irrigation and the environment in 2008-09 are not positive.
The full Murray System Drought Update, issued July 2008 has been posted in the media section of the drought website www.sa.gov.au/drought
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| Less water likely for Murray - report |
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Acting Minister for the River Murray, Rory McEwen, has said that a CSIRO report outlining a future of fewer inflows to the River Murray catchment shows how vital it is for South Australian irrigation to adapt to climate variability.
The report is the latest in a series produced through the CSIRO Murray-Darling Basin Sustainable Yields Project, and covers the Murray region of southern New South Wales, northern Victoria and south-eastern South Australia.
In comparison to historical climate conditions, the report has found that by 2030:
- Under the best estimate of climate change, surface water availability in the Murray region would be reduced by 12% and flows to the end of the system by 24%. SA irrigation would lose 3%.
- If the dry conditions experienced between 1997 and 2006 continued, average surface water availability would fall by 27% and end of system flow by 50%. SA irrigation would lose 12%.
Minister McEwen said the report confirms that South Australia needs to position itself to use water smarter and do more with less. He said the $610 million Murray Futures project, approved at COAG, will help us to be prepared for a drier future and enable a change to be made in how the River Murray system and irrigation industries are managed.
Further information about the report is available from: http://www.csiro.au/partnerships/MDBSY.html
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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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