Wheat

What Is the Farm Water Program?

Farm Water Program Logo A Northern Victorian consortium secured more than $170 million from the Australian Government’s On-Farm Irrigation Efficiency Program ($46 million); the figure comprised funding from Victorian Government’s NVIRP ($16 million); the Victorian On Farm State Priority Projects initiative ($43 million); and the Victorian Farm Modernisation Project ($70 million). The consortium administered the program through its Farm Water Program to assist irrigators to achieve water savings by improving on-farm irrigation systems. At least half the water saved was transferred to the Australian or Victorian governments for environmental purposes.

Victorian Farm Modernisation Project – ceased

The Victorian Government has announced it will no longer fund on-farm works which involve a transfer of water, following a report of the on-farm water program review. The report recommended against further funding of on-farm works as part of the Murray Darling Basin Plan. The review assessed the transfer of productive water from irrigation and concerns over negative impacts on irrigating communities. It found that further on-farm works, which involved the transfer of water to the Commonwealth, would have negative social and economic outcomes for irrigators and broader communities.The Farm Water Program consortium members will continue to work together to support irrigators and regional jobs and are looking at ways to develop and fund a program that will increase farm water efficiency without water transfer.

Support for irrigators to think through how to adapt their farm business and property in response to reduced water availability, supply modernisation and other drivers of change is available through the Plan2Farm and the current whole farming planning programs accessible through the Goulburn Broken and North Central CMAs.

Farm Water Program Consortium Partners

The current Farm Water Program Consortium Partners include:

Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority

Farm Water Program Consortium Partners

Return to the Farm Water Program main page

The Goulburn Broken CMA acknowledges and respects First Nations people and the deep connection they have with their land and waters.


We acknowledge the Yorta Yorta and Taungurung people and their ancestors/forbears as Traditional Owners of the land and waters in the Goulburn Broken Catchment (and beyond). We value our ongoing partnerships with Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation and Taungurung Land and Waters Council for the health of Country and its people.


We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge and recognise the primacy of Traditional Owners obligations, rights and responsibilities to use and care for their traditional lands and waters.

Shepparton
168 Welsford Street, PO Box 1752, Shepparton VIC 3630
T (03) 5822 7700
F (03) 5831 6254

Benalla
89 Sydney Road, PO Box 124, Benalla VIC 3672
T (03) 5822 7700

Yea
Shop 5/10 High Street, Yea VIC 3717
T (03) 5822 7700