6 Key activities for 2006–07
- 6.1 Mid-Term Review
- 6.2 Assessment of salinity impacts of irrigation
- 6.3 Salt interception works
- 6.4 In-stream salinity management
- 6.5 Ensuring Basin-wide accountability
- 6.6 Capacity building and other activities
Coordinating implementation of the BSMS during the year involves increasing collaboration with the partner agencies, responding to the recommendations of the Independent Audit Group for Salinity, and progressing activities under the provisions of Schedule C to the Murray-Darling Basin Agreement using the BSMS Operational Protocols. Key activities are listed below.
6.1 Mid-Term Review
Schedule C requires that a Mid-Term Review of the BSMS be undertaken by the end of 2007. It defines the minimum requirements as a review of the operation of Schedule C and its usefulness and effectiveness in implementing the Strategy. A suite of issues are being considered in the context of their importance to the BSMS over the next eight years. These include floodplain issues, evaluation of in-valley action scenarios, rationale for targets, role of the Benchmark Period and other modelling issues, flow management, market-based instruments for salinity management, risk assignment and outstanding Register issues.
The Mid-Term Review will include a summary of delayed salinity impacts, the salinity impacts of Accountable Actions undertaken to date, and changes to the Joint Program (investment in salt interception schemes). It will also consider any issues of non-compliance with obligations under Schedule C of the Agreement.
The process for the review will use a ‘stocktake’ approach for both policy and scientific work to consider what progress has been made since the Salinity and Drainage Strategy.
Having compiled the achievements of the BSMS, the Mid-Term Review will then identify the current and emerging challenges, consider the implications for the Strategy as it stands, and enumerate the critical success factors. Expected outcomes include the review of Schedule C, an assessment of BSMS progress, recommendations on future directions for the BSMS and enhanced BSMS public profile at a State and regional scale.
6.2 Assessment of salinity impacts of irrigation
The Riverine Plains of south-western New South Wales and north-western Victoria are the primary focus of investigation work to assess the impact of changing irrigation patterns on salinity. An assessment framework for the Riverine Plains is being developed. It includes irrigation and salt mobilisation history, analysis of land and water management plans, identification patterns and/or drivers of water trade, identification of recent and future water policy changes, and development of salinity impact assessment tools. This work is aimed at development of a framework and protocols to manage irrigation impacts on salinity in the Riverine Plains.
In the Mallee Zone, work is progressing on refinements to the existing framework, including revisions to the protocols and investigations into root zone drainage assumptions (Section 3.7).
Commensurate with this work are improvements to the land use, irrigation and salinity mapping capacities as well as enhanced linkages to the rolling five-year review program.
6.3 Salt interception works
For BSMS implementation, the funding injection by the Australian Government has meant that progress on the construction and maintenance of the salt interception works has been accelerated.
The focus for next year will be the finalisation of a proposal to rehabilitate and augment the Mildura–Merbein interception scheme, the development of the preferred regional disposal option, and an increased focus on investigating future interception opportunities in the Redcliffs and Dareton areas (see Section 3.5).
Upper Darling Salt Interception Opportunity (New South Wales)
Investigations have highlighted that there is an economic interception opportunity in the upper Darling that may provide a 3.54 EC benefit at Morgan.
A submission has now been developed and will be considered by the Technical Working Group on Salt Interception and the Commission early in 2006–07.
Murtho Salt Interception Scheme (South Australia)
Investigations have also highlighted that there is an economic interception opportunity in the Murtho area located opposite the town of Renmark and the Chowilla floodplain.
It has been estimated that, on average, about 129 tonnes per day of salt enters the River Murray in this reach. It could rise to as much as 471 tonnes per day by 2105.
The Technical Working Group on Salt Interception and the Commission are due to consider a submission early in 2006–07. The submission is being developed to target the estimated daily salt load and also to incorporate features that will afford significant floodplain health benefits for the region.
Salinity in the landscape, Buronga Salt Interception Scheme, Mourquong Basin
Photo: L. Kirk
Waikerie 2L Salt Interception Scheme (South Australia)
Investigations are currently being finalised for a Waikerie 2L SIS proposal that will present a number of interception options for the consideration of the Commission later in 2006–07. The proposal is intended to reduce salt loads to the Murray River, from the downstream end of the Waikerie IIA scheme to the downstream boundary of the area serviced by the Qualco-Sunlands Trust Groundwater Control Scheme.
6.4 In-stream salinity management
Activities during the 2006–07 year will focus on assessing existing knowledge and data, and developing projects to increase understanding of floodplain processes, including collaboration with TLM investigations. Existing work on TLM’s icon sites aims to assess the range of salinity impacts of proposed watering actions.
6.5 Ensuring Basin-wide accountability
Improved certainty in the Salinity Registers data, particularly in light of Audit recommendations, will be undertaken this year. A major project is the establishment of a Registers database that will contain the supporting documentation underlying each entry in the Salinity Register. This will also allow metadata, to be held in one central location, and will include any relevant current and historical information.
6.6 Capacity building and other activities
In the light of more robust Commission internal management and program oversight, the human resource capacity of Commission officers will be enhanced, particularly to support management of the Mid-Term Review. Stronger governance will enable improved monitoring and reporting of BSMS implementation activities. Recommendations by the IAG-Salinity will be specifically addressed.