MAJOR MILESTONE IN BARREN BOX SWAMP PROJECT IS REACHED

19 April 2004

Murrumbidgee Irrigation is proposing to implement structural and operational changes to Barren Box Swamp to reduce overall water losses in the irrigation system. These changes form part of Murrumbidgee Irrigation’s sustainability vision for the MIA.

“We expect the Barren Box works, combined with works at Brays Dam will reduce evaporative losses from the swamp and achieve water savings of approximately 20 gigalitres per annum. In addition the works will improve security of supply water to the Wah Wah Irrigation District,” said Lilian Parker, Environmental Services Manager, Murrumbidgee Irrigation.

“The proposed works will include splitting the swamp to create three cells, two of which will store water for irrigation use and the third cell will be rehabilitated as an ephemeral wetland. It is also proposed to construct an en-route storage adjacent to Brays Dam to capture rainfall rejection water.”

Murrumbidgee Irrigation has commissioned URS to develop the Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed works. The EIS considers the environmental impacts associated with the proposal and is one of the major steps in the approval process. It will detail how the proposed works will achieve the project aims and identify the expected impacts of these works.

Preliminary results indicate a number of positive outcomes by implementing the project. These include water savings, potential for lowering groundwater levels in the swamp vicinity, improvements in flora and fauna by rehabilitating the wetland, and improvements in system efficiencies to name a few.

“The EIS studies also confirmed Murrumbidgee Irrigation’s estimates of savings in the vicinity of 20 gigalitres per annum,” said Ms Parker.

“We expect the full results of the EIS to be released by the Department of Infrastructure Planning and Natural Resources in the next week or 10 days. The public will then have an opportunity to review the outcomes and provide comment to the Department for consideration by the Minister,” concluded Ms Parker.