Off-farm Efficiency Program

Goulburn Murray Water (GMW) Water Efficiency Project

On 23 March 2023, a transfer of 7,000 ML LTAAY from Goulburn Murray Water was registered to the Commonwealth as the first tranche of savings made through the Goulburn Murray Water – Water Efficiency Project. This transfer will be included in the department’s Murray–Darling Basin water recovery data when reconciled with the Murray–Darling Basin Authority and the Basin states.

Victoria’s Goulburn Murray Water – Water Efficiency Project was announced on 4 March 2021 as a successful project valued at $177.5 million, generating 15,900 ML LTAAY (long term average annual yield) of water recovery.

The GMW WEP was developed, assessed and submitted to the Australian Government before the closure of the Water Efficiency Program. It complies with the agreed socio-economic criteria.

The GMW efficiency project will modernise and rationalise infrastructure works across the Goulburn–Murray Irrigation District.

This project will save water, while also improving service delivery by:

1. modernising ageing water infrastructure
2. decommissioning old channels.

This project will offer an economic boost to northern Victoria. It also meets Victoria's obligations under the Murray–Darling Basin Plan.

The project is expected to benefit about 1,000 customers by modernising or decommissioning more than 250 km of channels and upgrading or rationalising more than 1,000 outlets.

For more information visit Engage Victoria.

NSW Murrumbidgee Irrigation Automation Finalisation Project

On 11 October 2022, a transfer of 2,427 ML LTAAY (2,790 ML conveyance entitlement) from Murrumbidgee Irrigation Ltd was registered to the Commonwealth as the first tranche of savings made through the New South Wales Murrumbidgee Irrigation Automation Finalisation Project.

The NSW Murrumbidgee Irrigation Automation Finalisation Project was announced on 17 January 2022 as a successful project under the state-led stream of the Off-farm Efficiency Program valued at $126.48 million.

The project will modernise and improve the efficiency of the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (MIA) through completing the automation of more than 360 control structures, replacing and converting 1,500 metered outlets, refurbishing and piping the remaining 20 km of open channels, and constructing a new 5,000 ML surge reservoir.

The project will return 6,290 ML/y of water, to enhance the environmental outcomes of the Basin Plan, as Murrumbidgee Conveyance Entitlements (a high security water product delivering about 5,472 ML LTAAY).

This project will offer an economic boost to the MIA with a modern irrigation infrastructure network better able to meet customer needs and increasing regional productivity. The infrastructure improvements will allow Murrumbidgee Irrigation to better meet water orders with reduced water delivery travel times. This will provide additional water saving of 0.957 GL/y retained in the system. While this is a small water saving for the system, it will help overcome delivery challenges during adverse weather conditions, such as for the delivery of stock and domestic water and town water, especially in situations where water allocations may be low (during drier years).

Murrumbidgee Irrigation undertook stakeholder engagement in designing and developing the project and NSW has undertaken public consultation during its socio-economic assessment.

For more information visit NSW Planning, Industry & Environment.

SA Marion Water Efficiency Project

The SA Marion Water Efficiency Project was announced on 7 July 2022 under the Off-farm state-led stream of the Off-farm Efficiency Program for $2.703 million. The project will generate 126.56 ML LTAAY of water recovery.

This project will substitute the River Murray water used for open space irrigation in metropolitan Adelaide with treated stormwater from an existing scheme at Oaklands Park by:

1. extending the existing supply network with around 10km of pipe to transport recycled stormwater to the irrigation sites
2. installing a new tank, aquifer injection system and recovery bore for additional above and below ground storage
3. installing new pumps to meet pressure requirements
4. implementing water treatment facilities to ensure water is of sufficient quality to meet future demands.

The infrastructure improvements will result in a positive contribution to the Government of South Australia’s wider integrated water policy strategy, benefits include providing a diversified water supply to support greening and cooling in the City of Marion. The project will support the environment by harvesting stormwater away from the Gulf of St Vincent at Glenelg, improving coastal water quality and sea grass habitat.

The Marion Water Efficiency Project is a pilot for potential future projects and funding arrangements. Further efficiency measures projects in other local government areas may be brought forward for funding under the Off-farm Efficiency Program. This project will also provide a pilot for how water saved in metropolitan Adelaide can contribute towards Murray—Darling Basin Plan water recovery arrangements.

For more information visit SA Department of Environment and Water.

Lower Murray Water (LMW) Water Efficiency Project

Victoria’s Lower Murray Water - Water Efficiency Project was announced on 7 July 2022 as a successful project for funding under the Off-farm state-led stream of the Off-farm Efficiency Program for $37.9 million. The project will generate 2500 ML LTAAY of water savings with 1800 ML LTAAY towards the 450 GL environmental water target under the Basin plan and the remaining to be shared between First Nations Peoples and securing urban water supply.

The LMW Project builds on the success of the previous Sunraysia modernisation projects to further support agricultural production, provide stimulus for the regional economy, and the environment. The project will achieve water savings by upgrading 27km of outdated irrigation channel network and 700 stock and domestic outlets will be decommissioned or replaced with modern meters.

The project will provide benefits for the local community and region including procurement of local labour and supplies, and the creation of 110 jobs that will contribute to the economic value of the region.

For more information visit Engage Victoria.

NSW Nap Nap Station Water Efficiency Project

NSW Nap Nap Station Water efficiency project was announced on 26 August 2022 as a successful project for funding under the Off-farm Efficiency program for $2.39 million. The project will generate 300 ML LTAAY of water savings with 143.6 ML LTAAY recovery towards the 450 GL environmental water target under the Basin plan.

The project will improve water delivery efficiency, provide economic benefits to the local community, and increase bushfire firefighting capability in the local area by:

• replacing 45 km of open channels used for Stock and Domestic purposes with pipes and extend the network with an additional 40 km of pipe
• installing two stock and domestic pump stations
• installing 31 tanks and 37 new troughs
• installing of tank fittings compatible with the New South Wales (NSW) Rural Fire Service.

The Project proposes eligible activities which will provide economic benefits to the local economy with over 80 per cent of capital expenditure projected to flow to local contractors and suppliers.