24
September 2008 - $20 million extra to improve
water information (PDF – 31 KB)
The Rudd Government is providing an extra
$20 million to improve water data collection
and water information networks across Australia.
Under the Modernisation
and Extension of Hydrologic Monitoring Systems
Program, an extra $20 million has been made
available this financial year to improve
water information networks in urban and
regional areas.
"The Rudd Government's
long-term water plan, Water for the Future,
has four priorities: tackling climate change,
using water wisely, securing our water supplies
and supporting healthy rivers," Minister
for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny
Wong, said today.
"To better deliver
on these priorities, we need comprehensive
and robust information about our water supplies.
"This $20 million
extra funding will help improve the coverage,
accuracy and currency of water information,
to help us get a clear and up-to-date picture
of our water resources.
"The aim of this
funding is to ensure that Australia has
a consistent approach to water measurement,
water data standards, and collecting water
data."
Senator Wong said the
provision of the funding was further evidence
of the Rudd Government's intention to work
co-operatively with states and territories
to achieve better water outcomes.
Managed by the Bureau
of Meteorology, the funding is available
for a range of activities including:
Improving co-ordination
of monitoring activities;
Improving accuracy and currency of existing
measurement networks of stream flow, meteorology,
groundwater and water storages;
Improving procedures for the management
of water data within agencies; and
Enhancing monitoring network coverage for
the purposes of water resources assessment
and water accounting.
Organisations listed in the Water Regulations
2008 can apply for funding, including state
and territory agencies that currently monitor
water resources, irrigation co-operatives,
urban water utilities and catchment management
authorities.
Applications can be
made through bids to be co-ordinated by
state and territory lead water agencies.
Bids must be received no later than 5pm
on 10 October 2008.
Information including
contact information, eligibility and how
to apply for the funding is available at
www.bom.gov.au/water/funding_program.shtml
+ More
Water purchase expands
to Southern Basin
26 September 2008 -
The health of the River Murray and of a
number of internationally-recognised wetlands
will benefit from the next tender to purchase
water entitlements in the southern Murray-Darling
Basin.
Minister for Climate
Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, said
the southern Basin tender would start on
7 October and would be open to willing sellers
of water entitlements.
"This expansion
follows the announcement of the northern
Basin tender in early September and will
provide water to protect and restore southern
Basin river systems and wetlands,"
Senator Wong said.
"Water purchased
for the southern Basin will boost the overall
health of rivers and wetlands that are extremely
stressed after years of over-allocation,
drought and climate change.
"It will also provide
environmental benefits to Ramsar-listed
wetlands along the River Murray such as
the Lower Lakes, Coorong, Chowilla floodplain
near Renmark, and the Barmah Millewa Forest
near Echuca.
"This tender will
be informed by feedback provided by a Stakeholder
Consultative Committee on the first-ever
direct Federal Government water purchase
tender held earlier this year."
The southern Basin buyback
will be open to willing sellers of water
entitlements from the South Australian and
Victorian Murray-Darling Basin, as well
as the Murray, Murrumbidgee, Lachlan and
Lower Darling rivers in New South Wales.
Purchases made in South
Australia will go towards achieving the
$80 million of water buyback in South Australia
announced by the Prime Minister on 14 August.
Through Water for the
Future, the Australian Government has committed
a total of $3.1 billion to buying back water
entitlements to give Murray-Darling Basin
rivers and wetlands a greater share of water
when it becomes available.
In addition to the northern
Basin tender, the new southern Basin tender
builds on other initiatives to return water
to the Basin’s rivers and wetlands including:
A program providing
special exit payments to assist eligible
small scale irrigators who want to exit
the irrigation industry but stay on their
farms. (More details to be announced in
coming weeks);
Working with irrigation communities to buy
out water entitlements from areas willing
to move out of irrigation, facilitated by
a price premium reflecting the value of
water savings from closure of infrastructure
such as supply channels;
Working with State Governments to co-fund
the purchase of appropriately located irrigation
properties and their water entitlements
to enhance environmental outcomes in the
northern Basin.
The southern Basin tender will begin on
Tuesday 7 October, and run until the end
of the financial year. The outcomes will
be made available on the Department of the
Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
website once trades are completed.
Detailed program guidelines
will be available from Tuesday 7 October
at www.environment.gov.au/water or by calling
1800 218 478.
