Murray Irrigation Urban myths and inland River Health George Warne General Manager, Murray Irrigation Ltd, Deniliquin NSW.

Murray IrrigationUrban myths and inland River

HealthGeorge Warne

General Manager,

Murray Irrigation Ltd, Deniliquin NSW

Murray Irrigation Limited

• One of four or so large, gravity “group schemes” in the Murray- Darling basin-GMW, Coly’& MIA

• Up to 1.6 million megalitres per annum

• 750 000 hectares, 50% irrigable

• Annual turnover of $40 million

• Not part of government

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Victoria

MIL Area

New South Wales

Murray River

Murray River

Murray Irrigation LimitedA.C.N. 067 197 933

Murray Irrigation Ltd Area of Operation

Sydney

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Moama

FinleyBarham

Wakool

Mulwala

Barooga

Berrigan

TocumwalMathouraBunnaloo

Moulamein

Deniliquin

Jerilderie

WESTBERRIQUIN

EASTBERRIQUIN

Murray Irrigation LimitedA.C.N. 067 197 933

Victoria

New South Wales

Murray Land & Water Management Plan Areas

River Murray System Inflow Showing Extended Drought Periods

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5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

1892 1902 1912 1922 1932 1942 1952 1962 1972 1982 1992 200212 month period ending November

Ann

ual I

nflo

w (

GL)

Long-term Median Inflow (8 700 GL)

(truncated at 25000 GL/year)

Graph prepared by River Murray Water

Water available to NSW 2007/08

Myths and the Murray

• 1. Australian’s want pristine rivers that flow in sympathy with the varied seasons of this big wide land

Myths

• 2. “Water trading and vibrant free markets in water entitlements are the key to a truly healthier river”

Myths

• 3.“Water markets will lead to water moving to higher value industries”

Myths

• 4.“Most Australians just want our Rivers running in their natural state; without all the dams, locks and weirs ruining our rivers.......”

Myths

• 5.“There is no place for rice and cotton farming in the parched inland of Australia; Australian Irrigation farmers need to quickly and universally move to high value tree crops such as citrus, stone-fruit and vines”

Myths

• 6.“ for the sake of our native fish we need to address the salinity in the lower reaches of the Murray River”

Myths

• 7. “We all know the Murray-Darling basin is stuffed”

Myths

• “Piping is the only sustainable solution”

• “Evaporation and seepage from earthen channels makes them very inefficient”

Eureka, Ballarat, December 32004

George Warne

General Manager

Murray Irrigation Ltd