3 March 2009 |
Outlook 2009 – DAY 1 |
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| Water reform could benefit from more flexibility |
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| Giving irrigators more flexibility in water management choices could reduce the costs associated with adjusting to increased water scarcity ABARE Productivity and Water Manager, Peter Gooday, told delegates at the Outlook 2009 conference. Mr Gooday said a median climate change scenario developed by CSIRO showed that surface water availability could reduce by 11 per cent across the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) by 2030. “ABARE modelling indicates that this will result in a relatively modest fall in irrigator’s incomes of 3 per cent across the MDB,” Mr Gooday said. However, there are different effects depending on MDB land use and production, with the gross value of production for irrigated dairy, grains, rice and other broadacre activities estimated to experience declines ranging from 8 to 14 per cent. “Governments can help to reduce the effects of climate change on irrigated agriculture by reducing barriers to inter-regional water trade and providing irrigators with increased flexibility in managing their own water through systems such as capacity sharing,” Mr Gooday said. SunWater’s Corporate Strategy Manager, Tom Vandebyl, said capacity sharing had generated positive outcomes for irrigators and the environment in Queensland. “Existing water sharing rules in many parts of the Basin [MDB] may be impeding agricultural production and efficiency. “Queensland’s experience suggests capacity sharing may offer significant economic and environmental benefits,” Mr Vandebyl said. CSIRO’s, Dr Bill Young, said the environmental implications of climate change depended strongly on amounts of water used in the MDB, water sharing rules and any future policy changes. “Active management of environmental water could increase the efficiency of environmental watering. “Environmental water entitlements and trading can offer improved security and control of environmental water,” Dr Young said. Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s Chief Executive, Rob Freeman, said the MDBA would be developing a new Basin Plan by 2011. Mr Freeman said it would involve setting new sustainable diversion limits as well as the preparation of an environmental watering plan. He said the environmental watering plan would involve prioritising the water needs of environmental assets and would be updated every five years. |
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Session – Water future: Supply and reform For media interviews and comment, please contact ABARE’s manager of productivity, water and fisheries, Peter Gooday, on 02 6272 2138, mobile 0419 682 641. For general media enquiries, contact Maree Finnegan, Media Coordinator on 02 6272 2260, mobile 0417 689 567 or email mfinnegan@abare.gov.au |
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