Implementing the Basin Plan – commencement of ACT Water Management Legislation

Commonwealth Government legislation comes into effect today that transfers to the ACT Government responsibility for all water abstraction in the ACT. “The ACT Water Management Legislation is an example of one of the many ways in which our Government is improving governance of water within the Murray-Darling Basin,” said Senator Simon Birmingham, Parliamentary Secretary of…

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Waterproofing Western Adelaide

A new stormwater harvesting and reuse project in Adelaide will save more than 500 million litres of Adelaide’s drinking quality water per year. Through the construction of significant infrastructure, including 23 kilometres of mains pipelines, Waterproofing the West – Stage One will use treated stormwater to irrigate parks and gardens in the City of Charles…

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Basin watering strategy completed

The long-term strategy to guide watering activities across the Murray–Darling Basin is being released today. The Basin-wide Watering Strategy is one of the key pieces of work to be completed as part of the implementation of the Basin Plan. The Australian Government has committed to implementing the Basin Plan in full and on time. “It…

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$1 million boost for River Torrens

The Australian Government is delivering on its election commitment to improve the health of the River Torrens with a $1 million injection of funding under the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme. Federal Environment Parliamentary Secretary and Senator for South Australia, Simon Birmingham, today officially launched the River Torrens Recovery Programme, saying the funding will be…

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Constraints work moves to next phase

The annual progress report on the constraints management strategy has been released today, pointing the way forward to the next phase of this important part of the Murray–Darling Basin Plan. “Local information provided by basin communities form the backbone of the report’s findings,” said Senator Simon Birmingham, Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment. “The good work…

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Basin Plan on track to be delivered in full and on time

Today marks the two-year anniversary of the Murray–Darling Basin Plan. “There has been strong progress on the plan in its first two years of implementation,” said Senator Simon Birmingham, Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment.   “These two years have seen an impressive level of commitment and coordination between the Commonwealth and the basin state governments to…

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$125 Million available for NSW irrigation efficiency

The fifth and final round of the On-Farm Irrigation Efficiency Program has now opened with $125 million of funding available to irrigators in southern New South Wales. The Australian Government will work together with the NSW State Government, delivery partner organisations and irrigators to deliver a programme to implement on-farm irrigation efficiency projects.  “The funding…

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Review of Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) scheme announced

The Australian Government today announced an independent review of the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) scheme and its Water Efficiency and Labelling Standards (WELS) Act (2005) and other associated legislation. Due to report in June 2015, the review will pay particular attention to identifying opportunities to simplify red tape and regulatory requirements placed on…

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Dredging to start at the Murray Mouth

Federal Environment Parliamentary Secretary Senator Simon Birmingham and South Australian Water and River Murray Minister Ian Hunter have announced the decision to start dredging the Murray Mouth to remove sand build-up. “It's vital that the Mouth remains open to keep the ecosystems in the Coorong healthy, as well as maintain connectivity between the River Murray,…

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