2nd October 2008

08/09 SEASON NEWS FOR MI CUSTOMERS

The announcement yesterday by the Department of Water and Energy (DWE) of 95% allocation for high security users, 80% for town and stock and domestic supply as well as general security (GS) receiving 5% allocation, their first for this season is good news for MIA irrigators. Whilst the initial 5% allocation offers little relief, it is worth noting that this announcement is the only GS allocation in the Southern Murray-Darling Basin and in that context is significant.

For Murrumbidgee Irrigation (MI) customers involved with the 2002/03 Snowy Hydro borrow, the 5% GS  allocation will be credited to the repayment of the borrow. This also applies to borrowers who converted water entitlement, however options for repayment will be advised in a letter to these customers shortly.
 
For Wah Wah irrigators without the 2002/03 borrow and who participated in the recent 6% advance on future company enhancements, the 5% GS allocation will be available in their account after the agreed diversion limit of 3,600 ML out of the Barren Box intermediate cell is reached. This is forecasted to be in the next few days.

MI advises customers that the next rostered stock and domestic supply for eligible customers outside of continuous supply zones on the Main Canal and Sturt Canals (excluding Wah Wah) will be postponed until end October. Feedback from recent discussions with affected customers indicates on-farm storages have sufficient water to maintain critical supply until the end of October. Customers who believe they are unable to maintain critical supply until that time should contact Irrigation Services. MI continues to investigate options for further supply to Wah Wah stock and domestic customers and will meet with them to discuss.

Customers located outside the continuous supply zones and who now have available allocation to irrigate winter crops should contact MI’s Irrigation Services team to determine system availability to meet their requirements. By registering their needs, there may be opportunity to aggregate supply with surrounding neighbours’ needs to make efficient supply possible.

MI staff will be surveying large area customers serviced by the Main Canal and Sturt Canal systems between the 17th and 24th October to confirm the following:

  • Consolidate the most suitable date for the next rostered stock and domestic supply
  • Confirm areas of winter crops irrigated this season
  • Determine customers wishing to irrigate summer crops and confirm location of supply


The survey information will be correlated and customers will be contacted to confirm ongoing commitments to supply planned summer crop programs and stock and domestic supply.

MI urges customers to take into account continued rostered supply arrangements when developing their water management plans for this season. Contact Irrigation Services in Leeton or Griffith for any further information required. Customers are also strongly encouraged to regularly check MI’s website www.mirrigation.com.au as well as to join its Quick Contact List for SMS messages, email and fax communications to stay informed of changes to conditions and allocations.

 

Ends
For further information regarding this media release, please contact David Heffer, Irrigation Services Manager Murrumbidgee Irrigation on 02 6962 0200.