Shepparton Irrigation Region Implementation Committee (SIRIC)
The Shepparton Irrigation Region (SIR) covers more than 500,000 hectares or one third of the Goulburn Broken Catchment and the eastern area of the North Central Catchment.
The SIR includes the municipalities of City Of Greater Shepparton, Moira and Campaspe and the regional centres of Shepparton, Cobram, Echuca, and Kyabram.
The irrigated area of 317,000 ha uses 1.5 million megalitres of water a year and in 2000-2001 had a gross value of production of about $5.5 billion. The main primary industries are horticulture, dairying, cropping, viticulture, wool, forestry and grazing.
The SIR is a centre for food processing that contributes 25 per cent of Victoria's export earnings. Companies include Kraft Foods, Fonterra Cooperative Group (Bonlac), Snow Brand Australia, Cedenco, Simplot Australia, Nestlé Australia, Unifoods, Henry Jones Foods (IXL), Tatura Milk, Murray-Goulburn, Meiji-MGC Dairy Company, SPC Ardmona, Campbells Soups Australia and Girgarre Country Foods.
Capital investment in food processing in the five years to December 2003 was more than $630 million while at the same time Goulburn-Murray Waterspent $2.6 billion on infrastructure.
The SIR has a population of about 115,000 people with more than 20 per cent from a multicultural background. The region is also home to the largest Aboriginal population in rural Victoria.
The SIR Implementation Committee (SIR IC) sits under the Goulburn Broken CMA Board delivering natural resource management programs under the SIR Catchment Strategy (SIR CS).
Members of the SIR IC are selected for their specific skills and links to community networks. The committee includes eight community representatives and representatives from DPI and G-MW.
Working Groups operate for the four action program areas overseen by the SIR Implementation Committee -
- Farm and Environment;
- Surface Drainage;
- Sub-surface Drainage; and
- Waterways.
The working groups comprise community and stakeholder representatives.
Agency staff provide technical input through a Technical Support Committee, the working groups and project teams.
The SIR Catchment Strategy is a partnership between the local community and all levels of government. Community members and agency staff are committed to the strategy because they had input into the evolution of the Strategy.
The SIRCS provides the framework for land, water and biodiversity management. The 30 year SIRCS has been underway for more than 10 years.
The SIRCS covers a wide range of issues such as:
Salinity
Salinity has increased in the SIR through rising watertables and salt mobilisation, resulting in significant environmental, social and economic losses. Clearing of land and inefficient application of irrigation water has increased watertable levels. 260,000 tonnes of salt is exported to the Murray River annually.
Research and Development, together with the on-ground works undertaken by the Farm, Sub-surface Drainage and Community Surface Water Management programs are the major thrust against salinity under the SIRCS in reducing accessions to groundwater and other salinity threats.
Click here to download "Balancing the salt budget in the SIR", a reference document for enhancing agency staff knowledge and understanding of Salt Disposal Entitlements. Underpinning the capacity to dispose of a quantity of salt from a catchment is balancing the need to dispose of the salt whilst minimising the impact to the environment and communities dependent on a healthy Murray River. This paper documents the management principles, accountability and aspirations of the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority to meet this balance.
The Sub-Surface Drainage Program
The SSDP employs private groundwater pumping, public groundwater pumping, and tile drainage to manage groundwater levels for salinity control and salt disposal within the region.
Private groundwater pumping for farm re-use and for winter disposal is encouraged and assistance is available in the form of capital grants, as well as the Farm Exploratory Drilling Scheme (FEDS). The costs of pumping from private irrigation bores (including operation, maintenance and replacement) are met by the landholder.
Public groundwater pumps for salinity control may be installed where:
- Private groundwater pumping is not feasible;
- The area is affected by high watertables;
- There is sufficient landholder support.
The feasibility investigations and capital costs for new public groundwater pumps are jointly funded by the Victorian Government and the National Action Plan through the sub-surface drainage component of the SIRCS. Operating and maintenance costs of the public groundwater pumps are met by the direct and indirect beneficiaries of the scheme - landowners and local government.
 | Key Performance Indicators for the Sub-Surface Drainage Program Annual Report for period ending 30th June 2006. | |
 | Key Performance Indicators for the Public Salinity Control Pump Program Annual Report for period ending 30th June 2005 | |
| Sub-surface Drainage Program Frequently Asked Questions [FAQ] | |
| Water salinity tolerance of difference crops and stock in the Shepparton Irrigation Region | |
| Public Pump Operation Criteria for the Shepparton Irrigation Region | |
| Irrigating with Groundwater - Top Ten Tips | |
| Management strategies for groundwater use in drought conditions in the Shepparton Irrigation Region |
Water Quality
Contaminants including salt, nutrients from irrigation drainage, sewerage treatment plants, sediment mobilisation, urban stormwater and intensive animal industries effect the Water Quality in the SIR. The management of these contaminants are being addressed under action programs within the Strategy.
Biodiversity
All actions that impact on land and water impact on native biodiversity. The Strategy aims to ensure that all impacts are considered in decision-making and that biodiversity needs are an integral part of all the SIR's natural resource management programs.
River Health
Storing and delivering water for urban and agricultural use has altered flow patterns of rivers and creeks and impacted on aquatic biodiversity, water quality and the waterway environment. The SIRCS target threats to stream health including effects from agriculture, land clearing and urbanisation; changes to stream environment; river regulation and water extraction; and poor river frontage management.
Water Savings Project - Natural Heritage Trust
In conjunction with funding from the Australian Government’s Water Savings Project (a component of the Natural Heritage Trust) and the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment, local landholders are working to speed-up the adoption of Best Practice in the Shepparton Irrigation Region. Visit our news section to learn more about this partnership.
Pest Plant and Animals
Pestplants and animals have a negative impact on ecosystem function and the productive capacity of land and water resources. The SIRCS targets declared noxious weeds. Priority pest animal species are foxes and rabbits and in the waterways European Carp are a major problem, causing turbidity, damage to stream habitat and depletion of native fish populations.
Climate Change - Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The region has opportunities to assisting in reducing greenhouse gas emissions that are consistent with salinity, biodiversity and water quality programs. Through revegetation programs and improved agricultural practices multiple benefits can be achieved.
Under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 the strategy is reviewed every five years with an extensive review of natural resource management programs engaging in consultation with community based committees, State agencies, partner organisation and local government.
Annually, the SIR IC attracts funding of about $20 million with most of this going directly to on-ground works. The SIRCS is funded by the regional community and all levels of government.
The regional community has a major commitment to implementation of the SIRCS, both to capital projects and ongoing operation and maintenance. In 2000-2001, this was estimated at $43 million. Government funding is provided through annual integrated budgets prepared on the basis of bids submitted by the SIR IC. Private industry also plays a role in the program. Powercor Australiaprovide substantial support to the Sub-Surface Drainage Program in the form of a rebate on the cost of a pole and substation.
SPC Ardmona contributes significantly to the East Shepparton Salinity Project.
Partnerships
Goulburn-Murray Water(G-MW) manages water storages and supply and drainage channel infrastructure in the SIR. G-MW is the major partner in the delivery of the Salinity Program through the Sub-Surface and Community Surface Drainage Programs.
The Department of Primary Industries delivers natural resource management under the strategy. It implements the Farm and Environment Programs and, in conjunction with G-MW, the Community Surface and Sub-surface drainage programs. The Agriculture Victoria Division of DPI carries out research and development programs and provides scientific advice and direction.
Local government provides statutory and strategic planning, participating in cost sharing for the strategy and providing a link with the broader community. The municipalities of Greater Shepparton, Moira and Campaspe part fund a coordinator to ensure that the partnership operates effectively.
Goulburn Valley Water provides urban water supply and wastewater services in the SIR. Goulburn Valley Water, in conjunction with the CMA, works to minimise phosphorous (to <1mg/L) exports from wastewater treatment plants to river systems, improved water quality and for full reclaimed water reuse to land. They develop waste management plans to meet State Environment Protection Policy (Waters of Victoria) and the SIRCS.
Goulburn Valley Wateralso houses the catchment stormwater officer and Waterwatch co-ordinators.
The GMLN is a voluntary community-run forum, networking 35 Landcare groups in the SIR. A number of projects are undertaken by the GMLN in partnership with the SIRIC. The network coordinates and funds projects such as drain and water table monitoring, weed and rabbit programs, and primary school education.
Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District Inc
The Ethnic Council represents more than 26 culturally and linguistically diverse communities who live across the region. The Council supports programs to service the needs of these communities in land management issues. The EC is represented on committees and in policy development forums.
Private Farm Forestry Program
The SIR Farm Forestry Network (SIRFFN) facilitates and coordinates development and management of Private Forestry and Eco Services in the SIR. The network works with landholders to integrate private forestry into farming systems and rural landscapes and is closely linked to environmental and farm tree projects.
Murray Dairy
Murray Dairy leads the economic and social development of the dairy industry in northern Victoria and southern NSW. It invests in research programs and regional development activities that benefit the dairy industry and the wider community.
Murray Dairy and its partners invests around $2 m annually in natural resource management R&D.
SIR Communication Strategy
A communications strategy for SIR IC has been developed for June - December 2006. The strategy aims to promote SIR IC's key objectives and is in line with the Regional Catchment Strategy.
| Communication Strategy July – December 2006 For the Shepparton Irrigation Region Implementation Committee |