Water, Land and People - Goulburn Broken Catchment ...

PROGRAM REPORTS
14
Drainage Re-use System Project
A total of 63 drainage re-use systems were installed
as part of the Drainage Re-use System Project in
2006-2007 servicing 3,507ha. Since the project
started in 2001-2002, a total 10.64% of the irrigated
area of the Goulburn Broken component of the SIR
is serviced by a drainage re-use system installed as
part of this project. A total of 20 drainage re-use
systems were installed in areas covered by a Local
Area Plan servicing over 1,283ha.
Grants totalling $593,711 (excluding GST) were paid
to landowners for installing drainage re-use systems.
This was below the budgeted target of $650,000.
When separated into the three components of
the grant, expenditure was as follows: $210,546
for earthworks, $273,070 for pumps and motors,
and $110,095 for electricity. Landowners paid
$1,147,167 (excluding GST) for the installation
of the re-use systems on their properties. There
was an increase in the average grant payment from
$10,344 in 2005-2006 to $10,601 in 2006-2007.
Automatic Irrigation Project
A total of 11 grants have been paid as part of the
Automatic Irrigation Project covering an automated
area of 570ha. This number was lower than the
previous year’s figure of 14 systems installed and the
budgeted figure of 19. Over 2.3% of the irrigated
area of the SIR has now had an Automated Irrigation
System installed with assistance from this project.
A total of six systems were completed in areas
covered by Local Area Plans, covering 310ha.
Farm Program Review
The Farm Program Review was conducted to assess
the performance of the Farm Program for the
period July 2001 to June 2006 against the targets
that have been set as part of the SIRCIS. This review
has focussed on the effectiveness and the efficiency
of the Farm Program in delivering the activities.
The effectiveness of the program is measured
by how well the intended targets, outputs and
outcomes of the program have been achieved. To
determine the efficiency of the program, the delivery
process of the program has been examined and
has focused on the satisfaction level of participants
with the Farm Program. The review has found that
the Farm Program has been successful in meeting
the targets set and in some cases exceeding these
targets. There has continued to be a high level
of satisfaction by landowners to Farm Program
activities. The review has found that the use of
extension projects and financial incentives has been
an important factor in the success of Farm Program
activities.
The review showed that the government and
community have played a significant role in working
together to bring about irrigation efficiency in
the area. It also indicates that the investment by
the government to the program has led to major
improvements in water use efficiency and has
leveraged a huge investment in improved water
management by landowners. The strengthening of
this partnership approach between the government
and the community has been recognised and
acknowledged in the review.
One of the significant changes to the Farm Program
since the previous review in 2000 has been the
introduction of water use efficiency as an important
driver in the projects being implemented. The Farm
Program now includes projects to encourage the
development and use of drainage re-use systems and
automatic irrigation systems. While these projects
are compatible with management practices of the
previous drivers of minimising salinity and control
of nutrients from leaving properties, water use
efficiency also raises landowner awareness of the
need to manage irrigation water efficiently.
The Local Area Plan project, while not clearly
increasing SIRCIS activities, has brought about an
increased capacity of the community in these local
catchments to develop and implement activities in
their communities.
The Farm Program has been pro-active in working
in partnerships with other programs to bring about
synergy to achieve outcomes relevant to the goals of
the program. The involvement of the Farm Program
in the “Efficient Irrigation Project” has been hailed
as a model for further projects with a research and
extension partnership.