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.
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.
Based on strategic whole-farm planning, the project is (i) assisting 10 farmers to install farm drainage systems to recycle and reuse irrigation water and (ii) demonstrate the benefits of adopting automated irrigation systems. Significant improvements in irrigation efficiency are expected as automated systems will allow farmers to apply water at the appropriate rate according to the soil type and properties.
This project will accelerate the implementation of the Shepparton Irrigation Region Catchment Strategy – a land and water management plan targeting farm-driven natural resource management outcomes such as reduced salt and nutrient loads entering waterways, reduction in accessions to the watertable and improved farm water use efficiency. The overall plan is currently in its fifteenth year of implementation.
The ‘Irrigation into the future’ project is due for completion around the end of 2005.