murray irrigation urban myths and inland river health george warne general manager, murray...
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Murray IrrigationUrban myths and inland River
HealthGeorge Warne
General Manager,
Murray Irrigation Ltd, Deniliquin NSW
Murray Irrigation Limited
• One of four or so large, gravity “group schemes” in the Murray- Darling basin-GMW, Coly’& MIA
• Up to 1.6 million megalitres per annum
• 750 000 hectares, 50% irrigable
• Annual turnover of $40 million
• Not part of government
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EW
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20 0 20 Kilometres
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Victoria
MIL Area
New South Wales
Murray River
Murray River
Murray Irrigation LimitedA.C.N. 067 197 933
Murray Irrigation Ltd Area of Operation
Sydney
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Moama
FinleyBarham
Wakool
Mulwala
Barooga
Berrigan
TocumwalMathouraBunnaloo
Moulamein
Deniliquin
Jerilderie
WESTBERRIQUIN
EASTBERRIQUIN
Murray Irrigation LimitedA.C.N. 067 197 933
Victoria
New South Wales
Murray Land & Water Management Plan Areas
River Murray System Inflow Showing Extended Drought Periods
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
1892 1902 1912 1922 1932 1942 1952 1962 1972 1982 1992 200212 month period ending November
Ann
ual I
nflo
w (
GL)
Long-term Median Inflow (8 700 GL)
(truncated at 25000 GL/year)
Graph prepared by River Murray Water
Water available to NSW 2007/08
Myths and the Murray
• 1. Australian’s want pristine rivers that flow in sympathy with the varied seasons of this big wide land
Myths
• 2. “Water trading and vibrant free markets in water entitlements are the key to a truly healthier river”
Myths
• 3.“Water markets will lead to water moving to higher value industries”
Myths
• 4.“Most Australians just want our Rivers running in their natural state; without all the dams, locks and weirs ruining our rivers.......”
Myths
• 5.“There is no place for rice and cotton farming in the parched inland of Australia; Australian Irrigation farmers need to quickly and universally move to high value tree crops such as citrus, stone-fruit and vines”
Myths
• 6.“ for the sake of our native fish we need to address the salinity in the lower reaches of the Murray River”
Myths
• 7. “We all know the Murray-Darling basin is stuffed”
Myths
• “Piping is the only sustainable solution”
• “Evaporation and seepage from earthen channels makes them very inefficient”
Eureka, Ballarat, December 32004
George Warne
General Manager
Murray Irrigation Ltd