News
Good interest in SMP consultations
Wed, 17 Apr 2013 13:19:00
Community and irrigator groups are providing constructive input to plans for a $103 million modernisation of Mildura’s irrigation infrastructure in an initial round of consultation sessions that started this week.
A short-list of options has been developed by consultants working with Mildura Development Corporation, in a bid to secure Commonwealth funding for the once-in-a-lifetime upgrade of the rural water system.
MDC was asked by the Victorian Government in January to take the lead and develop a full business case to support the Sunraysia Modernisation Project, which has been on the table since 2008, when the Commonwealth agreed to provide $103 million.
Irrigator and community groups had their first look at the four short-listed proposals at a series of meetings with MDC and Lower Murray Water yesterday, and input will be taken from more organisations today.
The four options focus on delivering similar levels of service across all three of the Older Irrigated Areas – Merbein, Red Cliffs and Mildura.
Yesterday’s meetings involved a grower focus group put together to have input on the plans, as well as Murray Valley Winegrowers, Merbein irrigators and the VFF. Today’s meetings involve citrus, tablegrape and dried fruit organisations, and irrigators at Red Cliffs and Mildura
Consulting firm the Risorsa Group has been engaged to prepare and write the full business case. They have been working with MDC, Lower Murray Water, Mallee CMA, DSE and the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments to prepare the business case.
The four shortlisted options each focus on a different aspect of the Older Irrigated Areas, but all are focussed on providing 365–days-a-year access to irrigation water via the water ordering system for as many customers as possible.
“That’s, of course, the big positive for our horticultural industries, and that’s been the attitude of most of the groups we have spoken with so far,” said MDC’s project officer John Tesoriero.
“The project will open up the potential for diversifying land use in all the irrigation districts, because it’ll allow extended watering of late summer crops, continuous irrigation crops and winter-specific cropping.
“They’re opportunities most growers here just can’t contemplate at the moment without that year-round access to water.”
The SMP also aims to improve water quality and application rates for as many customers as possible, and to create a minimum of seven gigalitres of water savings.
Mr Tesoriero said all four proposed works packages delivered a different emphasis, and were derived from the Master Plans of the three irrigation districts.
“Some options will benefit some areas more than others, but we have been pleased at our consultation sessions so far most irrigators are taking the broad view, and welcoming of the benefits that the SMP will allow.
“That’s particularly pleasing for us, because demonstrating broad community support will be one of the key elements in the Commonwealth deciding whether we have met due diligence, and whether it will deliver its promised $103 million.
“It goes without saying that without that Commonwealth funding, nothing can happen.”
Mr Tesoriero said input on the four shortlisted options would be used by the Lower Murray Water board later this week in deciding on a preferred option for the development of a full business case.
There will be opportunity for input on that option at consultations beginning on May 6, including shed meetings and consultations with commodity groups and customer advisory committees at Red Cliffs, Merbein and Mildura.