One of the main objectives of MIA EnviroWise is to protect and enhance our natural resources.
This objective is primarily aimed at protecting remnant vegetation, wildlife and habitat corridors, Aboriginal heritage sites, rare or threatened species and ecological communities/critical habitats such as wetlands.
MIA EnviroWise runs a number of programs to achieve these aims which include developing Property Vegetation Plans with the Landholder and providing incentives when implementing Property Vegetation Plans. These Plans outline areas on farms for planting native trees and shrubs and management actions to protect existing remnant vegetation on-farm, as well as areas such as Barren Box Storage & Wetland, Mirrool Creek and wetlands throughout the area.
BioTender
MIA EnviroWise recently launched the Biodiversity Stewardship Scheme known as 'BioTender' to encourage landholders to protect and enhance the biodiversity of the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area by providing annual stewardship payments for the maintenance and enhancement of the remnant vegetation on their property. The first round for BioTender was offered in May/June 2008 and has closed to applications. Subsequent rounds will be offered in the future and advise of closing dates and details will be advertised. More information
Photo by Earthcraft Photography
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Barren Box Storage & Wetland
Murrumbidgee Irrigation is the caretaker of Barren Box Storage
and Wetland, an 'icon' project in the MIA, which has the interim
aim to "create an ecologically alive and diverse wetland that
also respects, preserves and enhances the cultural significance
of the area."
Read more.
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Pitfall Trap used to survey small animals
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Biodiversity Monitoring
Biodiversity is the variety of all living things, including plants, animals and micro-organisms. MIA EnviroWise has a long term objective to improve the biodiversity and condition of the landscape and vegetation in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation area of operations.
Read more |
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Direct Seeding into grey clay
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Vegetation Implementation Project
Property Vegetation Planning (PVP) is an
important component for shareholders completing the FarmWise
education program under the MIA EnviroWise initiative with Murrumbidgee
Irrigation (MI). The aim of the property vegetation
plan is to incorporate the principles of biodiversity into farm
management practices. Landowners develop the PVP collaboratively
with a Biodiversity Officer at MI.
Read more |
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Photo by David Kleinert
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Wetlands
There are many definitions of what a wetland is. Described simply, it is a place where land is saturated on a temporary or permanent basis and the habitat is part land, part water. Wetlands include lakes, rivers and floodplains, estuaries, swamps, bogs and freshwater marshes. They are not always wet; wetlands often go through a drying and wetting phase. Read more |
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Mirrool Creek
The project involves improving the flow in Mirrool Creek to
improve the ability of Murrumbidgee Irrigation to deliver water
to Barren Box Storage and Wetland, Mirrool Creek pumpers and
downstream users. Additionally, the project aims to deliver
improved biodiversity outcomes through the creation of a healthy
biodiversity and vegetation corridor running through the middle
of the MIA. Read more
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MIA EnviroWise program has been made possible thanks to funding from the
Australian and NSW Government's National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality.
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