ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT RELEASED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT

6 May 2004

The Environmental Impact Statement for Murrumbidgee Irrigation’s proposed Barren Box Storage and Wetland and en-route storage has been released for public display. The document provides full project details and the results of the environmental assessments that have been undertaken.

The community now has 30 days to review the document and lodge a formal response with the Department of Infrastructure Planning and Natural Resources. Any response lodged by the public in this manner will be incorporated with the documents submitted to the Minister. The Minister will then consider all aspects of the proposal before approving or rejecting the development.

The structural and operational changes to Barren Box Swamp proposed by Murrumbidgee Irrigation are part of the Company’s overall infrastructure development program designed to reduce system losses and improve the water use efficiency of the entire 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.”

The full version of the Environmental Impact Statement will be available from the Department of Infrastructure Planning and Natural Resources. A copy of the primary document is available on the Murrumbidgee Irrigation web site, www.mirrigation.com.au.