Following the receipt of Expressions of Intent (EOIs) for the region's $25.8 million Farm Water Program, projects have been selected for inclusion into a Business Plan to be submitted to the Australian Government for assessment.
Following the receipt of Expressions of Intent (EOIs) for the region's $25.8 million Farm Water Program, projects have been selected for inclusion into a Business Plan to be submitted to the Australian Government for assessment.
"The Farm Water Program conducted an EOI process for irrigators across the Goulburn-Murray Water Service Area seeking financial assistance to modernise their farms. I'd like to acknowledge the support of DPI project officers who worked with landholders to submit EOIs and the irrigation surveyors and designers in assisting landholders to develop a Whole Farm Plan" said Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority Chief Executive Officer, Chris Norman.
"We received 179 eligible EOIs, totalling more than $40 million. Funding sought for the improved flood irrigation component exceeded the $22 million available for this activity," Mr Norman said. "Therefore, a ballot of eligible EOIs was conducted on 1 June 2010 to select projects for inclusion in the Farm Water Program Business Plan. All irrigators who submitted an EOI should have received notification by now regarding the status of their submission.
"For those irrigators who were unsuccessful in applying for this round of funding, further investment will be sought from the Australian Government's On-Farm Irrigation Efficiency Program for another funding round. If investment is secured, we anticipate that Round 2 of the Farm Water Program will be undertaken from late 2010 to early 2011," said Mr Norman. "Irrigators who are interested in Round 2 and do not have a Whole Farm Plan should develop one as soon as possible."
The Farm Water Program is currently funding water saving activities such as high flow surface irrigation, laser grading, irrigation tail-water re-use systems, automatic irrigation and irrigation scheduling on irrigated farms in the Goulburn-Murray Water Service Area (includes the Goulburn-Murray Irrigation District and regulated rivers, subject to trading rules [the Victorian Government has exempted farm water savings transferred to the Commonwealth Government as part of this program from the 4% trading rule]).
Funding for the $25.8 million Farm Water Program has been provided through the Australian Government's On-Farm Irrigation Efficiency Program. It is being delivered through a consortium that includes the Goulburn-Broken and North Central Catchment Management Authorities, Northern Victorian Irrigators Inc., Northern Victoria Irrigation Renewal Project (NVIRP), Department of Sustainability and Environment, Department of Primary Industries, Dairy Australia (including Murray Dairy) and Goulburn-Murray Water.
For further information, contact
Bill O'Kane, Farm Water Program Leader on 0417 101 426.