Water Recovery Progress Report

July 2008

Important information on water recovery

The overall target for water recovery through The Living Murray first step is an average of 500 GL of water per year, by 30 June 2009. Significant progress has been made in recovering water for the environment, although it is expected that most of this water will only become available between 2008 and 2009.

There is currently 133 GL of water listed on the Environmental Water Register, however the actual volume of water available is dependent on allocations.

Projects to recover a further 471.4 GL are listed on the Central Register of Water Recovery Measures. These projects are in various states of development or implementation. Some of these projects may not be implemented completely, or at all. It is expected that further projects may still be brought forward for implementation.

Summary of water recovery progress

The graph and tables below highlight the status of water recovery projects in relation to achieving the average 500 gigalitre (GL) target of The Living Murray's first step by 30 June 2009. The indicative target for each jurisdiction is shown on the right-hand side of the graph, and shaded in blue.

For a larger PDF version of the graph, click here.

The following table represents raw data used in the above graph. All figures are in gigalitres (GL)
(Please note that the preceeding graph has been populated using the minimum figures where a range is defined.)

State / Territory	Projects under investigation	Projects in development	Ready to be implemented	Recovered water	Recovery Target
NSW	30	0.7	237.2	0	249
VIC	0	0	91	120	214
SA	17	0	5	13	35
ACT	2	0	0	0	2
AUS GOV'T	0	0	0.5	0	None
MDBC	0	20	70	0	None
Total	49	20.7	375.7	133	500

Water Recovery Project Details:

(Estimated recovery based on total of 500GL by June 2009)

Projects under investigation: (Feasibility Assessments)

It is expected that the majority of proposed water recovery projects will not be financially or logistically viable. Those project proposals considered feasible can be submitted for investment and further development.

State / Territory	Type of project	Recovery Source	Range of Recovery (GL)
NSW	Infrastructure	Various infrastructure projects	Up to 40 GL
SA	Infrastructure	SA Infrastructure Measures (Wetlands)	2
SA	Market-based	2 MDBC Funded Feas. Assessments (Innovative market-based measures & on-farm efficiency)	20
ACT	TBA	TBA	2
		Total Expected Water Recovery:	Up to 64 GL

Projects in Development: (Developmental Register)

Following investigation, these project proposals have been considered viable and will be further developed before they are implemented.

State / Territory	Type of project	Recovery Source	Expected Recovery (GL)
NSW	Infrastructure	Wetland Water Recovery - Stage 1	0.7
MDBC	Market-Based	Pilot Allocation Leaseback Measure	20
		Total Expected Water Recovery:	Up to 20.7GL

Projects ready for implementation or currently being implemented: (Eligible Measures Register)

Development has been finalised for these projects, and they are ready to be implemented, or currently being implemented. Once complete, projects will contribute to The Living Murray's water recovery objectives. Not all of these projects will be implemented, and some will not be implemented completely.

State / Territory	Type of project	Recovery Source	Expected Recovery (GL)
NSW	Market / Inf.	Package B	62
NSW	Market-based	Package A	9
NSW	Infrastructure	Ricegrowers Association - On Farm Water Efficiency A1	2.5
NSW	Infrastructure	Ricegrowers Association - On Farm Water Efficiency B1	3.7
NSW	Infrastructure	Ricegrowers Association - On Farm Water Efficiency C1	6.2
NSW	Market-based	Murray Irrigation Limited Supplementary Water Access License	17.8
NSW	Market-based	Market Purchase Measure	125
NSW	Infrastructure	Pipe It	1
NSW	Infrastructure	Ricegrower's Association - On Farm Water Efficiency Round 2	10
VIC	Regulatory / Inf.	Goulburn Murray Water Recovery Package	25*
VIC	Infrastructure	Lake Mokoan Water Recovery Package	36
VIC	Infrastructure	Shepparton Modernisation Project	30
SA	Market-based	Purchase from willing sellers - Stage 1	5
AUS GOV'T	Infrastructure	Water Through Efficiency Tender	0.5
MDBC	Market-based	Pilot Environmental Water Purchase	20
MDBC	Market-based	Environmental Water Purchase Project	50
		Total Expected Water Recovery:	Up to 403.7 GL

*Remainder of 145 GL total for this project. 120 GL listed on the Environmental Water Register.

Projects on the Environmental Water Register

These projects (or components of projects) have been completed. The recovered water is available for environmental use, subject to allocations.

State / Territory	Type of project	Recovery Source	Range of Recovery (GL)
VIC	Regulatory / Inf.	Goulburn Murray Water Recovery Package	120
SA	Market-based	Securing Government held water for environmental use	13
		Total water on the Environmental Water Register:	133 GL

Other Environmental Water
In addition to water recovery projects currently being developed and delivered through The Living Murray, the River Murray has received other environmental flow entitlements. The availability of these entitlements varies from year to year and are subject to prevailing environmental conditions.

The following table indicates only some of the entitlements, and will be updated with further information as it becomes available.

Allocation name	Year approved	Responsibility and when water becomes active
Barmah-Millewa Forest EWA	1993 2001	100 GL/yr shared by NSW and Victoria is paid into the account every year (provision to carryover up to 700 GL) An additional 50 GL/yr is shared by NSW and Victoria when Victoria sales water reaches 30%
Lower Darling River ECA	2002	30 GL/yr (MDBC control = Menindee Lakes mustbe>480 GL, and have been >640GL since the last time it was <480GL)
NSW Murray Wetlands EWA	2000	30 GL/yr
Moira Lakes Savings	2000	2.027 GL/yr (for use in NSW Murray wetlands)
Murrumbidgee ECA	1998	25 GL/yr (additional volume of 25 GL/yr when allocations are <80%, increasing up to 200 GL for allocations 80% - 100%)
Murray Additional Environmental Allowance	2000	5.4 GL/yr whenever the high security allocation is equal or less than 97%
Victorian Murray Wetlands EWA	1987	27.6 LG/yr (2600 ML/yr allocated to Hird and Johnsons Swamps)

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Page Last Updated: 07 Oct 2008 13:33

Water Recovery Progress Report

July 2008

Contents:

Important information on water recovery

Summary of water recovery progress

Water Recovery Project Details: