Matters of Interest

On-Farm Irrigation Efficiency Program

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (15:28): I rise to talk about an event I went to representing the Hon. Ian Hunter, Minister for Water and the River Murray, at the Wurst family farm at Waikerie to announce the signing of the fourth and final round of the On-Farm Irrigation Efficiency Program. Senator Anne Ruston representing the Hon. Bob Baldwin, parliamentary secretary for the Minister for Environment, the federal member for Barker, Tony Pasin, and the state member for Chaffey, Tim Whetstone, also attended.

The program is a funding agreement between the commonwealth government and the South Australia Murray-Darling Basin Natural Resource Management Board. Sharon Starick, presiding member of the board, outlined the aim of the program which is to support projects that will modernise and improve the efficiency of irrigation on South Australian farms whilst returning water savings to the environment and to secure a long-term future for irrigation communities in South Australia. This is very important because, as we all know, when it comes to the health of the River Murray, every drop of water counts.

This is the final round of funding. We will see an additional $31.5 million invested in these important programs. The natural resources management board conducts an assessment of each individual irrigator's project to determine water savings generated by improving on-farm irrigation and/or management. A minimum water saving of 20 megalitres must be generated for each irrigator's project of which at least 50 per cent or 10 megalitres must be returned to the environment for environmental purposes.

The types of projects funded by this program include converting sprinklers to drip irrigation, modernising existing drip irrigation, laser levelling of paddocks, converting to centre pivot irrigation systems as well as installation of on-farm automation, monitoring and control technologies. This popular program has been delivered by the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin Resource Management Board since 2010 for an impressive three rounds already—the only organisation to win funding in all four rounds. To date, 293 projects are underway across the southern connected system of the Murray-Darling Basin. The fourth round will fund a further 122 projects, resulting in 14,300 megalitres of water being saved.

Once the fourth round has been completed, the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin Natural Resources Management Board will have completed over $81 million worth of funding through the on-farm irrigation efficiency program, which represents investment in 421 projects. These projects are spread across the southern connected basin, with the majority of funding having been invested in irrigation areas in the River Murray in South Australia.

By sustainably managing our water resources, supporting and providing greater certainty to our irrigated agriculture sector, which is worth $1.4 billion annually, and using our natural resources efficiently and sustainably is an essential part of safeguarding our world-renowned food and wine producers for generations to come. Improving efficiency of on-farm irrigation systems not only saves water but it also can result in lower nutrient run-off, increased crop quality and yield, and provide crop rotation flexibility.

I was fortunate to see and understand the practical benefits of the program firsthand at the Wurst family farm, owned and run by Tony, Lyn, Paul and Alison Wurst. The Wursts were kind enough to open their home for this event and share their experiences. I understand this farm has received funding through rounds 1 and 2 to convert, among other things, their existing micro irrigation to a fully automated drip irrigation system with soil moisture monitoring.

Since the first project commenced in 2012, the family has noticed a huge water saving and their citrus crop yield has significantly increased, with fruit being larger and of better quality. It is fantastic to see a third-generation family farm like the Wursts' prospering and contributing to South Australia's premium horticultural and wine industries. I congratulate everybody for this important and ongoing program, and in particular I thank the Wursts for hosting the event.