Thousands of hectares of land have been upgraded and 18 gigalitres of water saved as a result of Round 1 Farm Water Program projects.
Thousands of hectares of land have been upgraded and 18 gigalitres of water saved as a result of Round 1 Farm Water Program projects.
The Farm Water Program is delivered by the Goulburn Broken CMA on behalf of a consortium of Northern Victorian agencies and industry bodies. Round 1 of the program was funded though the Australian Government’s On-Farm Irrigation Efficiency Program ($21 million) and the Victorian Government’s Northern Victorian Irrigation Renewal Project ($16 million).
Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (CMA) chief executive officer Chris Norman said almost 70 per cent of the 147 projects funded through Round 1 of the program had now been completed.
“As a result of this investment we have seen more than 2600 hectares lasered and pipe and risers installed on 4000-plus hectares,” Mr Norman said.
Other works include installation of reuse systems, automation, channel works, fast flow and scheduling. Half the resulting water savings were transferred to either the Victorian or Commonwealth environmental water holder.
All Round 1 projects are due to be completed by March 2013.
The table below indicates the types of projects and works undertaken during Round 1 of the Farm Water Program in each of the water services areas in Northern Victoria (figures as of July 2012).
