Transcript IAL Conference 2012 Presentation Farm Water Program Megan

IAL Conference 2012
Farm Water Program
Presented by Carl Walters (for Megan McFarlane)
Goulburn Broken CMA
26th of June 2012
Where are we?
Introduction
• The Farm Water Program developed in 2009 as a result of the
Commonwealth Government’s On Farm Irrigation Efficiency
Program (OFIEP)
• Generating water savings by improving on-farm irrigation
infrastructure.
• The Goulburn Broken CMA led consortium
– Dairy Australia,
Goulburn-Murray Water,
– Murray Dairy,
North Central CMA,
– North East CMA,
Northern Victorian Irrigators Inc
– Northern Victoria Irrigation Renewal Project (NVIRP)
– Department of Primary Industries
– Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE).
Background
Participation Criteria
• On-Farm Projects for FarmWater are assessed for a range of
elements before being eligible for the program.
 Connection to modernised system
 Whole farm plan that shows the project and the detailed
design.
 Water savings calculator based on 15 years of research
 Minimum standards for technologies.
 Detailed costings checked against industry ranges and used
by NVIRP.
 Quotes for all works.
• They are selected for inclusion in the program.
The Program
Round 1
• Round 1 of the OFIEP received $21 million for 76 projects in
2010.
• Heavily over-subscribed by irrigators 150 Projects.
• Only Funding for Improved Flood projects
• An additional $17 million from NVIRP that covered almost all
of the remaining Round 1 Projects.
• 148 projects in Round 1 with funding of $38 million.
• 18,000Ml of water will be saved and 9,000 Ml to the
Commonwealth and State Governments for the
environmental.
• Due to finish in March 2013.
The Program
Round 2
• Round 2 received $25 million of funding from the OFIEP in 2012
for approx. 90 Projects.
• Heavily Oversubscribed with 270 projects
• Additional $44 million was secured by DSE for 150 Projects
through the Commonwealth Government’s State Priority
Projects Program.
• 34,000 Ml of water saved and at least 17,000 Ml to the Federal
Government for environmental purposes.
• Due to finish in March 2014.
• 30 projects Unfunded.
Progress to Date
• For Round 1 around 60% of projects
are now completed
• Water Transferred to the
Government
• Remaining projects are around 75%
completed. Heavy rain and
flooding in summer 2012 has
delayed completion for at least 6
months.
• Round 2 projects rolling out
contract development, water
transferring, first projects starting
works.
Irrigator Feedback
• Completed Projects from Round 1 has been overwhelmingly positive.
• This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to undertake works they would not
otherwise be able to commit to financially.
• Labour, time savings and productivity improvements are key benefits.
• Demand is still high so need an on
going Program to support
modernisation.
• Completed projects are seeing the
water savings and are very happy
with the new infrastructure .
Review
Farm Water Process Review
• A well run program but the processes
are complex
• Alignment with NVIRP modernisation
has been good
• Tension has been around the eligibility
criteria to be connected to the
modernised delivery system and those
who may miss out.
• Different conditions for different
funding sources create confusion
Lessons learnt
Communications and Complexity
• Currently implementing four funding programs (in two Rounds) same
basic elements, with some different conditions and processes.
• Slight differences can easily make the program unfathomable for many
irrigators very quickly.
• Target the right information and level of detail to the right audience.
• The importance of good communications, developing relationships and
trust cannot be over emphasised.
• Aspirational target of “Elegant Simplicity” and is still aspirational
Conclusions
• The Farm Water Program is delivering
environmental outcomes in Northern
Victoria and to the Rivers .
• Overwhelming positive Feedback from
irrigators participating in the program
• It’s win for the environment and the
regional community.
• The Consortium running the program
must continue to ensure that the
program responds to feedback
• Need to adapt to drivers that impact
upon the successful program delivery.
What are the irrigators saying
What are the irrigators saying
• Irrigator Pat Quinn from Cohuna has installed about 280
hectares of pipes and risers on his property.
• The expected water savings are around 500 megalitres and
about 250 megalitres transferred to the environment.