Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to search

Queensland and NSW floods 2022

Visit recovery.gov.au to see what help is available.

Close
Home

Top navigation main

  • News & media
  • Jobs
  • Ministers
  • Contact us
Main menu

AWE Main

  • Climate change
    Climate change Driving climate action, science and innovation so we are ready for the future.
    • Climate science and adaptation
    • Australia's climate change strategies
    • Emissions reduction
    • Emissions reporting
    • International commitments
    • Climate Active
    • Climate change publications and data
    • Australia’s National Greenhouse Accounts (Emissions Data)
    Stronger action on climate change

    Stronger action on climate change

    See how the Australian Government is committed to taking more ambitious action on climate change.

    Find out more

  • Energy
    Energy Building a secure and sustainable energy system for all Australians.
    • Energy policy in Australia
    • Energy and Climate Change Ministerial Council
    • Renewable energy
    • Energy publications
    • energy.gov.au
    • Energy Rating
    • Commercial Building Disclosure Program
    • Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS)
    • Your Home
    Decorative image

    Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme

    Guiding energy-efficient design and construction for a net-zero future

    Find out more about NatHERS

  • Environment
    Environment Improving stewardship and sustainable management of Australia’s environment.
    • Bushfire recovery
    • Climate change and the environment
    • Biodiversity
    • EPBC Act
    • Environmental information and data
    • International activities
    • Invasive species
    • Land
    • Marine
    • Partnerships
    • Protection
    • Report a breach of environment law
    • Threatened species & ecological communities
    • Waste and recycling
    • Wildlife trade
    Decorative image

    Read our Nature Positive Plan

    Our plan sets out the Australian Government’s commitment to environmental law reform

    Find out more

  • Water
    Water Improving the sustainable management of Australia’s water supply for industry, the environment and communities.
    • Coal, Coal seam gas (CSG) and water
    • Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder
    • Water policy and resources
    • Wetlands
    Water matters

    Water Matters

    Keep up with the latest news on the department's work in managing Australia's water resources.

    Read the latest edition here

  • Parks and heritage
    Parks and heritage Managing Australia’s iconic national parks, historic places and living landscapes.
    • Australian Marine Parks
    • Australian National Botanic Gardens
    • Booderee National Park
    • Kakadu National Park
    • Christmas Island National Park
    • National parks
    • Norfolk Island National Park
    • Heritage
    • Pulu Keeling National Park
    • The Great Barrier Reef
    • Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park
    The reef

    Great Barrier Reef

    Australia is protecting and conserving this World Heritage Area.

    Find out more

  • Science and research
    Science and research Undertaking research and collecting data to support informed decisions and policies.
    • Climate change
    • Australia's biological resources
    • National Environmental Science Program (NESP)
    • Office of the Science Convenor
    • Australian Biological Resource Study (ABRS)
    • State of the Environment (SoE) reporting
    • Bird and bat banding
    • Supervising Scientist
    Our climate is changing

    Our climate is changing

    Find out more about how climate science helps Australians with the impacts of climate change.

    Find out more

  • About us
    About us We lead Australia’s response to climate change and sustainable energy use, and protect our environment, heritage and water.
    • Accountability and reporting
    • Assistance, grants and tenders
    • Fees and charges
    • News and media
    • Our commitment to you
    • People and jobs
    • What we do
    • Who we are
    Decorative image

    Juukan Gorge response

    Read the Australian Government's response to the destruction at Juukan Gorge and the recommendations

    Read the response

  • Online services
    Online services We do business with you using online platforms. This makes it easier for you to meet your legal requirements.
Department of Climate Change, Energy, Enviroment and Water

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Water
  3. Water policy and resources
  4. Water programs and initiatives
  5. Completed programs and initiatives
  6. Irrigation Modernisation Planning Assistance
  7. Sample irrigation modernisation plan

Sidebar first - Water

  • Irrigation Modernisation Planning Assistance
    • Sample irrigation modernisation plan

Sample irrigation modernisation plan

This sample modernisation plan was produced for the Irrigation Modernisation Planning Assistance Program.

The Modernisation Plan

The purpose of this sample plan is to provide project proponents with an indication of the Department's expectations as to the content and structure of a modernisation plan. It is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather to illustrate the kinds of matters a modernisation plan should ideally cover.

The main point to note is that the reader should be able to draw from a modernisation plan a good understanding of an Irrigation Water Provider's district, system and the challenges and opportunities facing it in the light of the data and information gathered during the planning work and the potential for reduced future water availability. From this, the reader would be readily able to understand the rationale of the modernisation/reconfiguration options that are developed, analysed and ranked by the report.

1. Endorsement of the modernisation plan by the Board of Management

Endorsement of the modernisation plan by the board of management or its equivalent should be at the front of the plan. This would see the board endorsing that the options identified in the mod plan are feasible and acceptable to the board as a basis for the future direction of the organisation. However, it is important to note that it also leaves it to the board to make decisions on future investments in accordance with the statutory responsibilities of the Board members, or in line with any other legal/regulatory obligations devolving upon the organisation.

2. Executive summary

3. A description of the grantee's irrigation district

In reading this section of the Plan, the reader should be able to understand the landscape in which the proponent is working and provide context to appreciate the rationale for the modernisation plan. This section would cover natural resource characteristics of the irrigation region, such as soils, salinity, climate, rainfall, biodiversity; key environmental features, nature of the agronomic activities and trends within the region, including farm size, irrigation practices; customers; water extractions and use; water balance etc.

4. The Irrigation Water Provider (IWP)

This section will describe the proponent's management structure; work force and skills; legal/regulatory framework; water entitlements; financial data including revenues and sources, outlays on the system.

5. The IWP's irrigation system

This section will provide the reader with a description of the IWP's irrigation infrastructure and how it meets the current needs of its customers and other stakeholders. It would also cover how the delivery system developed over time, how it is configured, the quality, age and efficiency of the infrastructure including metering. How suitable is the current system (including water availability and entitlements) to the production of various types of crops/pastures as well as crops not traditionally grown in the area? An assessment of water losses and the findings of 'hot spots' assessment or equivalent should be included in this section. In brief, the reader should be able to derive an appreciation of the extent and efficiency of the IWP's irrigation infrastructure.

6. Consultations with customers and stakeholders

From reading this section the reader should be confident that the proponent's customers and stakeholders have had their concerns and views heard and understood, including their input on the future of the IWP and the range of modernising options before it to assist it adapt to the future. The report should describe the consultations undertaken and report upon the stakeholders' views and ideas. The consultations should cover all issues relevant to the region and its future including the preferences of irrigators/farmers based on scenarios of future water availability (such as winter vs summer irrigation for example; how do farmers see agronomic and irrigation practices developing in the district; do they have any plans/intentions regarding future farming practices and how to transition to these practices).

7. Challenges and issues

In reading this section, the reader should be able to come to a full appreciation of the current trends in the region in terms of agronomic and irrigation practices, as well as other short, medium and long-term factors. This would include the scope and impact of water trading both within and out of the district. The viability of agriculture based on various alternative water availability scenarios is an important consideration as well as the viability of any local or national processing or downstream industries dependent upon the district's output. Are there any other contingent factors that might have an impact, such as transport costs into and out of the region?

The chapter will outline the challenges facing the proponent and its irrigation region out to as far as a twenty year horizon. This might include the results of other studies carried out by the proponent but we would expect a full appraisal including results/findings of other studies of the system and district. The section should deal with the possibility of reduced future water availability; trends in agronomic and irrigation practices; non-farm development trends in the district which might generate competition for water in the future; and ability to meet new metering standards. It should also cover issues for the future of the IWP and the irrigation district/region that have been identified in the consultations with customers and stakeholders.

8. Options for the future

This section will set out in some detail the options available to the IWP identified for the IWP in the light of current trends within the IWP's district/region and the consultant's research and consultations. This would include such issues as improvements to the efficiency of infrastructure, systems and the management of water. It might also include options to respond to significant changes in agronomic practices in the district resulting from reduced water availability and other factors in the future. Changes to system infrastructure including rationalisation and reconfiguration should also be looked at.

9. Analysis and rankings of investment options

This section will provide the reader with an analysis of the options identified, in particular drawing together the social, economic, financial and technical aspects of the project options. In this context the analysis should include: technical feasibility; analysis of costs and benefits; identification of lasting water savings, nature of entitlements attached to water savings, timing of their availability and their costs in terms of the estimated investment requirements; identification of mechanisms and issues associated with the transfer of water savings, e.g. constitution, registers, fees; the contribution of the options to the long term financial viability of the IWP; and the capacity of the IWP to recoup costs through a transparent charging regime.

This chapter will also rank the options in terms of economic returns and capacity to address climate change. The ranking criteria should be explicitly identified as well as the relative weightings (where used) accorded to water volume/reliability/cost/community impact as well as any other issues identified. This chapter need not make specific recommendations to the IWP management and board as to the preferred option.

​
Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks! Your feedback has been submitted.

We aren't able to respond to your individual comments or questions.
To contact us directly phone us or submit an online inquiry

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Please verify that you are not a robot.

Skip

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI
Last updated: 04 July 2022

© Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.