The South Australian Government will push for Commonwealth support for more than $500 million in priority projects that could result in water savings of more than 100 gigalitres of water in the Murray Darling Basin system.

Premier Mike Rann will present SA’s projects - Murray Futures - on Thursday 3 July at the COAG meeting in Sydney as the State’s priority bid for funding under the $12.9 billion Water for the Future program.

Murray Futures focuses on three key areas - securing future water supplies, renewing industries and community, and securing improvements to the river’s health by providing flexibility in how the system is managed in SA.

At the top of the list is a project worth in excess of $100 million to completely re–engineer the water infrastructure within the townships, communities and irrigators that draw water from the Lower Lakes. Another priority project would be to secure more than $150 million to reinvigorate Riverland irrigation industries.

A media release has been posted on the drought website: www.sa.gov.au/drought

The Bureau of Meterology’s three month rainfall outlook for July to September reports that the chance of exceeding the median rainfall is between 30% and 40% across most of South Australia. The full report is on the bureau’s website http://www.bom.gov.au. Go to the Water and the Land section on the left hand side of the home page.

The Bureau of Meteorology has been given the responsibility for producing a National Water Account through its newly created Water Division. This new division will work toward standardising state based monitoring networks and improving water monitoring to gain a more comprehensive understanding of Australia’s water resources.

This is a very large task and improved understanding and availability of information will progressively be made available to all through regular reports and online access to data. More information on the new Water Division can be found at http://www.bom.gov.au/water/index.shtml

Australian rural, remote and regional women were represented last week at the two-day National Rural Women’s Summit in Canberra by 80 delegates from across the country. 

The South Australian contingent included Heather Baldock of Kimba and Marie Lally of Lock, along with Sheridan Alm (Riverland), Liz Connell, (Mid-Upper North), Gloria Jones (Fleurieu Peninsula), Jeanette Long ( Yorke Peninsula), Robyn McLean (Ernabella), Jane Moore (Clare Valley), Abi Spehr (South East), Pat Hamilton (Yorke Peninsula) and Anne Dunn (Adelaide) who was the chief facilitator for the event.

Topics for which 82 recommendations to the Government were developed included: health; education; climate change - environment and water; infrastructure, transport and telecommunications; youth; community building; vocational training, skill development and workforce participation; families and children; representation of women in decision making; and employment and business development.  Water as a “national state of emergency” topped the list.

Primary producers now have access to a new resource that can assist them to implement adaptation strategies to help them cope with climate change.

The CSIRO report, Overview of climate change adaptation in the Australian agricultural sector: impacts, options and priorities, brings together the latest science from research groups around Australia for the grains, cotton, rice, sugarcane, viticulture, horticulture, forestry, grazing, intensive livestock, aquaculture and water resources sectors.

The report suggests that farmers can potentially save money at the farm gate by implementing simple on-farm adaptations. Examples of changes that can be made to adapt to climate change include: changing crop management practices, planting new varieties, using alternative irrigation systems, soil moisture monitoring, erecting structures that provide animals with shade and relocating to higher rainfall zones.

To download a full copy of the report visit: http://www.csiro.au/news/AdaptionForFarming.html

The eight Country Health SA Rural Community Counsellor (RCC) and Manager positions have been extended for a further 12 months. Positions are located in the Far North, Mid North, Eyre Peninsula, Yorke Peninsula and Clare, South East, Upper and Middle Riverland, and lower Lakes/ Murraylands. They are part of the Premier’s Drought Response.

The Far North RCC has recently been filled. Trevor Middleton-Frew will be based out of CHSA headquarters in Port Augusta. The Mid North position has become vacant and has been advertised following the resignation of Roger Kleinig. Roger has been an RCC since the very beginning, in February 2007.

For more information contact Michelle Clemow-Meyer on 0488 141811 or michelle.clemow-meyer@health.sa.gov.au

Following the appointment of Mr Stephen Toon to the position of Program Coordinator of the Farmers Peer Support Program, a number of programs have been completed with plans for a further rollout of the Men and Communities Program in the coming months.

The program aims to work with farmers and key community members in local areas to provide men with the basic tools that can be used to help their mates through the tough times.

As part of a suite of programs under the auspices of Country Health SA, the farmers Peer Support Program has been well received and delivered on Eyre Peninsula, the Riverland, Mid North and South East. Feedback has been excellent. One participant commented that if the sessions had been available a few years ago, it would have saved him six months in hospital.

Plans for the program to run in the Far North, Eyre Peninsula, Murraylands and Lower Lakes areas presently are being developed. For further information contact Stephen Toon on 0488 936474 or stephen.toon@health.sa.gov.au

The use of River Murray Water will continue to be monitored to identify any cases of water theft.

The Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation (DWLBC) says it is critical that all River Murray water users adhere to water restrictions. DWLBC Chief Executive, Rob Freeman, says that while water theft is always of concern, during periods of low flows to South Australia, stealing water has a magnified impact on weir pool levels and compromises all users’ access to water.

During the past year, DWLBC’s Investigations Unit has investigated 70 complaints, issued 104 informal cautions, 113 formal cautions and 22 expiation notices.

Suspicions of breaches – you can remain anonymous - can be reported to the DWLBC Investigations Unit’s Murray Bridge Office on 85392110 (24 hours) or email dwlbc.investigationsunit@saugov.sa.gov.au. More information about River Murray water restrictions is at www.dwlbc.sa.gov.au/murray/drought/ or telephone the drought hotline on 180 2020.

A new SA Water three tier pricing structure for water to ensure high water use is properly costed begun from 1 July. The increase in real terms of 12.7% on average will be used to help fund the Port Stanvac desalination plant.
 
The new three tier structure for 2008-9 is:

• $0.71/kL for water use from 0-120 kL.
• $1.38/kL for water use from 120-520 kL.
• $1.65/kL for water use above 520 kL.

The average Adelaide household uses about 250 kilolitres of water per year. The new pricing will mean an increase of less than $1-a-week for 60% of households. Concessions available to assist pensioners and low-income earners have been expanded to 20% of the total bill a year, up to a maximum $200.

A world-wide call for contractors to design, build, operate and maintain Adelaide’s $1.1 billion desalination plant began this week.

As the first step in the procurement process, SA Water will issue a Request for Expressions of Interest from national or international consortia to deliver the project.

The plant, expected to be producing water by the summer of 2011-12 will initially deliver up to 25% of Adelaide’s annual water needs a year. However, the Minister for Water Security, Karlene Maywald, says the successful contractors will be required to incorporate design elements to ensure the plant can be upgraded – with minimal disruption - to deliver up to half of our city’s annual requirements.

The Murray-Darling Basin Commission has confirmed that the emergency measures being taken to avoid acidification in the River Murray Lower Lakes are proving effective.

Chief Executive Dr Wendy Craik said scientific and technical advice was already showing that short term emergency pumping from Lake Alexandrina to Lake Albert is effectively managing acidification risks.

The project began on 2 May and will continue at least until September this year. If needed it can be extended until Christmas and even possibly until spring next year. Detailed evaluation and assessment of longer term management options is underway.

A media release has been posted on the drought website: www.sa.gov.au/drought

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