11 August 2006

$28M BARREN BOX PROJECT COMPLETED
– FROM SWAMP TO WATER SAVING STORAGE AND WETLAND

Ian Macdonald, Minister for Natural Resources, Minister for Primary Industries and Minister for Mineral Resources will today officially commission the Barren Box Storage and Wetland site. The completion of the $28m works at both Barren Box and Bray's Dam sites in the Riverina will achieve significant water savings and environmental benefits for both the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (MIA) as well as the Snowy from where the water originates.

“Today marks the beginning of a new era in water management for the MIA,” says Dick Thompson, Chairman of Murrumbidgee Irrigation. “It's a project that had to be done and is a win for all parties involved including our local landholders, government, indigenous groups, the environment both here and in the Snowy, and our community.”

The idea was first raised by Murrumbidgee Irrigation back in 1992 when Australia wasn't suffering from the water shortages it is today. It wasn't until the 1998 Snowy Hydro Inquiry which proposed that 5% of the Murrumbidgee irrigators' water entitlements be given back to the Snowy that the Barren Box project became financially viable and a far better solution to the Snowy problem, as well as improving the sustainability of the MIA food bowl.

Not only will the $28 million infrastructure investment at the Barren Box and Bray's Dam sites generate expected annual water savings of 20,000 megalitres which can be returned to the Snowy, but the irrigators can keep their productive water, water quality for all users will be improved and significant environmental benefits gained, both in the MIA and the Snowy.

The works included splitting the degraded 3,200 ha Barren Box swampland into three cells, two of which will store and recycle water for irrigation and the third cell will be rehabilitated as an ephemeral wetland. An en-route storage cell adjacent to Bray's Dam was also constructed. The massive project was completed in ten months, over a year ahead of planned schedule.

The project saw collaboration between many interested parties and stakeholders. In particular, the local Wiradjuri indigenous community provided invaluable support and expertise in locating and retrieving important indigenous artefacts, some carbon dated at 450 years old.

“The Barren Box project is an example of irrigation, natural resource management and local community working together for mutual benefit,” concluded Mr Thompson.