The project was prompted by continuing growth in the amount of irrigation-reliant permanent plantings downstream of the Murray’s narrowest point — the Barmah-Millewa Reach.
NRAR priority programs manager David Thomas said increased permanent plantings in this region meant higher demand for irrigation water and this could exceed the volume of water able to pass through the choke point, especially during dry periods
“When you combine that water delivery issue with the likely high cost of traded water during dry periods, compliance problems could arise,” Mr Thomas said.
“The risk is that with all those pressures, people may not comply with the rules and that is exactly what NRAR hopes to prevent.
“When water is plentiful it is a good time for irrigators to take stock and make sure they’ve purchased water for future drier times.
“Being prepared, even under dry conditions, is the best way to avoid issues with the regulator.”
In recent months, members of NRAR’s priority programs team have been meeting with landholders to better understand their water needs and to determine how prepared they are to manage future water delivery shortfalls and price increases.
The survey is the next key step in the pilot project, and asks questions about:
- Type of crops grown and their water needs.
- Potential expansion plans.
- Water trading and future planning.
- Water management practices.
- Water demand risk mitigation.
“This project focuses on the prevention of harm at times of critical water shortage and peak water costs in the lower Murray River,” Mr Thomas said.
“The information we get from the survey helps us better understand the water-using community and support and assist licence holders to comply with the rules.
“We encourage water licence holders to complete the survey because, ultimately, we want to prevent unlawful activity that could cause harm to other water users or the environment.”
Many licence holders will receive the survey by email, but water users can also complete the survey at: https://www.nrar.nsw.gov.au/
