Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities Annual Report 2011–12
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- Evaluation and conclusions
- Audit of the Private Irrigation Infrastructure Operators Program by the Australian National Audit Office
- Internal Audit Report–Good Start Review Function of the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder
- Case Study 1: First Private Irrigation Infrastructure Operators Program project completed
StrategiesIn 2011–12 the department continued to deliver the Water for the Future initiative to improve the sustainability of Australia’s water resources. Contributions to achieving this outcome included:
Evaluation and conclusionsDuring 2011–12 the following reviews of the department’s programs were conducted. Survey of water entitlement sellers under the Restoring the Balance in the Murray–Darling Basin ProgramIn 2011–12 the department commissioned independent research to evaluate the impact of the water buyback program and to gather information from participating irrigators about the administrative aspects of the program. The research was based on a survey of more than 500, or around 15 per cent, of participating irrigators. Results from the survey will be used to inform the government’s approach to future water buybacks. The completed survey, conducted by Marsden Jacob, is available on the department’s website at Internal Audit Report–Management-initiated Review of the Sustainable Rural Water Use and Infrastructure Program (SRWUIP)The purpose of the review was to provide an independent view of the administration of the program regarding government policy and best practice, to identify key risks to the program that may not be currently addressed, and to make recommendations for improvement to the administration of the program. The review was undertaken by PricewaterhouseCoopers and focused on three projects funded through SRWUIP. The final report, received in April 2012, provided findings on strengths within the program administration, including our use of the project management framework, file management, governance, and continuous improvements in monitoring and reporting. Areas identified as requiring further attention were also discussed in detail, and included documentation of policy positions, and the introduction of a monitoring and evaluation framework for SRWUIP. Audit of the Private Irrigation Infrastructure Operators Program by the Australian National Audit OfficeThe Private Irrigation Infrastructure Operators Program (PIIOP) is on track to meet its objectives when the program closes in 2019. The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) conducted a performance audit on PIIOP in 2011–12. The department accepts and will implement the three recommendations, which will strengthen administration of rural water infrastructure investment programs. The key findings were to:
Internal Audit Report–Good Start Review Function of the Commonwealth Environmental Water HolderThe overall objectives of the review were to determine whether appropriate governance, project management processes and supporting procedures are in place to support the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder function, and to determine whether sufficient progress is being made in accordance with implementation timeframes. The review was completed by PricewaterhouseCoopers in March 2012. Case Study 1: First Private Irrigation Infrastructure Operators Program project completedThe first NSW irrigation infrastructure modernisation project funded by the Australian Government under the Water for the Future initiative was completed near Warren, New South Wales. Marthaguy Irrigation Scheme Pty Ltd, in the Macquarie Valley catchment, received $9.4 million under the Private Irrigation Infrastructure Operators Program to rationalise its channel system and modernise its water management infrastructure. The culmination of five years’ work, the Greening the Marthaguy project will provide 4928 megalitres of water entitlements to the Commonwealth through water savings, which will be used to benefit Murray–Darling Basin rivers and wetlands. Marthaguy Irrigation Scheme is located 33 kilometres north of Warren and pumps water from the Macquarie River. The Scheme supplies general security water and stock and domestic water to 19 members, 12 of whom irrigate about 6200 hectares of land on 18 properties. As part of the project, a new enclosed 60 kilometres pipeline was installed, 16 kilometres of open earth channels that are no longer needed were decommissioned and the channels filled in. Remote monitoring systems were also installed to manage and control water use for both irrigation and stock and domestic purposes. The rationalised earth channel and new stock and domestic pipeline dramatically reduced previous problems with seepage, effectively drought-proofed a lot of properties, and now protects stock watering. ‘We have a rejuvenated confidence in our irrigation enterprise due to the ability of the Scheme to operate in a wide range of water availability scenarios,’ said Mark Beach, Bealcott Partnership owner. ‘With the increased efficiency and improved reliability of the new Scheme, we are now looking at ways to maintain a regular program and workforce.’ Completion of Greening the Marthaguy improved the long-term viability of the scheme and the district. ‘The new stock and domestic supply is the best thing that has happened for our farming enterprise,’ said Michael and Margaret O’Brien, who operate a mixed farming and grazing enterprise at the northern extremity of the Scheme. ‘Under the new arrangement we have permanent access to a good water supply, both quality and quantity. This provides a sustainable future for our stock operations and having permanently available water is a dream.’ Reconfiguring and concentrating water delivery to an efficient purpose-built channel network has meant the scheme is operable under almost all allocation years. In the long-term, this will allow members to irrigate crops in low-allocation years to maintain farm productivity and improve resource utilisation. Photo of a demonstration of the water pressure available to farmers following the upgrade of the stock and domestic system at the Marthaguy Irrigation Scheme. (DSEWPaC image). Directory: system -> files -> resources resources -> Environmental Best Practice Port Development: An Analysis of International Approaches resources -> The National Heritage List and Commonwealth Heritage List: 1 july 2008 30 june 2013 resources -> Reference list for water related coal seam gas and coal mining research resources -> Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators isd sections of Law resources -> Executive Summary 3 Background 4 Developing the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme 4 resources -> Threat abatement plan for disease in natural ecosystems caused by resources -> Sawfish and River Sharks Multispecies Issues Paper resources -> Wildlife Trade Management Plan – Queensland Crocodile Farming Download 5.6 Mb. Share with your friends:
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