5 Challenges for Basin salinity management
- 5.1 TLM/BSMS linkages
- 5.2 Impacts of water trade
- 5.3 Catchment planning and implementation
- 5.4 Post-flood salt accession
- 5.5 Streamlining processes for more effective outcomes
This chapter provides an indication of the current challenges in implementing the BSMS in the short to medium term. Current activities (discussed in Chapter 6), are not only driven by long-term goals but are also in response to challenges both known and emerging. These challenges are an increasing focus for the next two to three years.
5.1 TLM/BSMS linkages
The Living Murray (TLM) aims to recover up to 500 GL for the environment, and has a commitment of $500 million by the New South Wales, Victorian, South Australian and Australian Capital Territory governments. In addition, a $150 million Environmental Works and Measures Program (EWMP) aims to provide the systems and structure required to deliver and manage environmental flows to improve the health of the six TLM icon sites. This involves making the best use of water currently in the system and optimising the benefits of any additional water.
TLM will have important interactions with the BSMS as the changed operations and additional watering of the floodplain will have significant impacts on salt accession and movement.
Work has been undertaken by the TLM/BSMS Task Force to scope out the complex policy and technical tasks. The policy tasks include a process to assess combined impacts and outcomes of both TLM and BSMS management actions, cost-sharing and accounting arrangements, reporting options, and mechanisms to address change, uncertainty and risk.
The technical tasks include developing quantitative assessments of the impact of management actions on ecological targets at the TLM icon sites, improving understanding of the river and floodplain interactions, and agreeing to evaluation methods such as cost–benefit analysis and environmental indices. A project is already underway to assess the salinity impacts of the EWMP.
5.2 Impacts of water trade
A key Commission task is to develop and implement open, barrier-free markets for water trading in the southern Basin. Schedule E to the Agreement has been revised to enable the geographic expansion of this trade. The Schedule permits both exchange rate and tagged interstate water trade between the three States of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. The Commission’s role is to maintain a register of permanent trades which uses data from the States’ approval process.
Managing vegetation and grazing, western New South Wales
Photo: A. Reid
Currently, entitlements and allocations can only be transferred if they are consistent with Schedules E and C. The Commission attributes salinity credits and debits arising from the dilution effects of interstate transfers on a principle of equal shares to both State of Origin and State of Destination. This is determined by assessing changes in salt accessions which occur as a result of trading water.
Ministerial Council has directed that the question of consistency between States in dealing with salinity impacts resulting from water trade be addressed as a matter of urgency. In response, an irrigation salinity accountability framework is being developed and is discussed in Section 3.7. The impacts of water management on salinity are complex and will be an increasing area of focus for the program.
5.3 Catchment planning and implementation
Schedule C requires each jurisdiction to set end-of-valley targets for their designated valleys. Targets for all valleys except the Australian Capital Territory were endorsed by Ministerial Council during 2005 and 2006. Once these targets are established, Schedule C requires that Programs of Actions are developed for each catchment to meet the adopted targets.
In fact, the regional delivery plans established under the NAP encompass a range of activities that will help meet end-of-valley targets. In line with recommendations by the IAG-Salinity, activities will include reconciliation of NAP and BSMS targets, monitoring and reporting.
Monitoring and reporting for BSMS requires robust models including assessment of Catchment Actions on end-of-valley targets.
A key element of the BSMS is the program of rolling five-year reviews of agreed salinity credits and debits entered onto the BSMS Salinity Registers. The process to manage these reviews is currently being strengthened (Sections 3.4 and 4.1).
5.4 Post-flood salt accession
The prolonged drought has had a substantial effect on salinity in the Basin. With reduced flows and an absence of flooding, an increasing amount of salt is being held in the floodplains. Indications are that, when a flood event next occurs, high salt loads will be mobilised as the flood level falls and groundwater primed by the flooding seeps slowly back to the river. At this juncture, the pattern of events is not clear, however, post-flood salt accession is a recognised risk and has been flagged by the IAG-Salinity.
A primary concern is that there is not enough known to predict post-flood salt accession, certainly not at the end of a major drought. Given the magnitude of the drought, it is difficult to estimate the impacts on salt storage, and the amount of this salt that will be mobilised in a given flood. The effects of post-flood salt accession may be more or less severe than experience to date indicates. This is a significant challenge for the program in the future with such an event dependent on the next major wet period.
5.5 Streamlining processes for more effective outcomes
With an increasing focus on water and water-related issues, the MDBC has recently undertaken a range of activities and reviews aimed to improve performance, process and enable a more strategic approach to natural resource management in the Basin. In relation to the BSMS, there are now a number of challenges to be met.
In general terms, the program implementation will need to embrace a Commission-wide procurement model, a changed project management and reporting system, a more strategic budget process and formalised key performance indicators.
The program will improve linkages between the NAP and BSMS, focus a line of activity on the Independent Audit Group for Salinity recommendations, re-establish SIS timelines, integrate with the TLM program, strengthen program capacity and progress the Mid-Term Review.