Talking Water - Tuesday 27 February, 2024

This week's contents

Murray Irrigation General Meeting

• Update to shareholders

Operations

• December Quarter invoices
• Casual usage charges
• Discharging water into drainage system
• ICT Modernisation
• Water Delivery Performance
• Talking Water data

Business

• Community Sponsorship Program
• Murray and Lower Darling WSP review submission
• Chair Update - Canberra visit   

Industry

• RiceX Field Day
• Dam safety guide
• Irrigation and cropping pre-season discussion

Community

• Denimein LHA AGM

Murray Irrigation General Meeting

Murray Irrigation released to shareholders earlier today a statement from Chair Phil Snowden, outlining the company's position on the resolutions to remove Non-Member Directors from the Board. 

This statement follows confirmation sent to shareholders last Friday 23 February that Murray Irrigation is proceeding to a General Meeting in early April.

You can read copies of both company updates by following the below links:

Company statement - Resolutions to remove Non-Member Directors - 27 February 
Shareholder Update - Murray Irrigation General Meeting - 23 February

If you would like to speak with any Murray Irrigation Directors about these resolutions, you can find their contact details on the following company webpage:
www.murrayirrigation.com.au/general-meeting

This webpage will be updated with details of the General Meeting as soon as they are available.

Operational Update

December 23 Quarter Invoices

Just a reminder, December 23 Quarter invoices are due by 29 February 2024. 

If you haven’t already paid, please remember to process your account payment/s to the new ANZ bank accounts.

Casual usage charges

To avoid casual usage fees, remember to check your 'DE Transfer Limit' available on the Water Allocation page of your Customer Portal. 

If your DE transfer limit is negative, you can trade in or purchase annual delivery entitlements on the Water Exchange.

If your DE limit is negative and purchases are not made by 31 March, you will incur the casual usage charge on your Quarter 3 invoice.
 
Casual usage fees are applied to your quarterly invoice when the megalitre usage is greater than 120% of the annual Delivery Entitlements on your account. 

For more on tiered usage fees, please see our Schedule of Charges. 

Discharging water into drainage system

A reminder to customers that you must seek approval to discharge water into Murray Irrigation’s drainage system. 

Discharge must be via a drainage inlet and is subject to approval after completion of an application form. 
 
The application form can be found here.

Business Development at Murray Irrigation - ICT Modernisation

As mentioned in previous editions of Talking Water, Murray Irrigation is in the process of identifying priority needs to bring our technology into the 21^st century. 

This week we have Assistant Accountant, Meg Shanbag, providing a quick summary on how this modernisation will improve the layout and functionality of our customer statements and invoices. 

Water Delivery Performance 19/02/2024 - 25/02/2024 

Talking Water data 27/02/2024

All the detailed data for Murray Irrigation allocations, delivery, channel flow and Water Exchange temporary trade is available on our company web page below. 

To see the latest data for Murray system storages and rivers, visit the Murray Darling Basin Authority's River data page. 



Additional resources 

MDBA weekly report
NSW Water allocation statements
Rainfall and evaporation
Barmah Choke trade balance

The information and data provided in Talking Water is for general reference purposes only. We take best endeavours to ensure accuracy. 

Murray Irrigation Sponsorship Program

Deniliquin High School is using funds received through Murray Irrigation's annual grants program to create a sensory garden for students to visit to relax and unwind. 

The new space will also be used as an outdoor learning space. 



Murray Irrigation is proud to assist projects like this within our community each year thanks to the company's customers, whose support makes this annual sponsorship program possible.

You can read more about the Deniliquin High project in the media release below.

Murray and Lower Darling WSP review submission

Murray Irrigation has made a submission to the Natural Resources Commission's review of the NSW Murray and Lower Darling Regulated Rivers Water Sharing Plan. 

You can read a copy of the submission by clicking the button below. 

Chair Update - Canberra visit

Industry News

RiceX Field Day this March

RiceX, the annual rice industry Field Day, is back and better than ever!

Being hosted by Rice Extension on Thursday 7 March, this Field Day program will be packed with innovation, exploration, and some serious insights into the rice industry. 

Take the opportunity to network and learn from fellow rice growers, industry executives and advisors. 



RiceX is being held at Rice Research Australia Pty Ltd, located at 1850 Conargo Rd, Coree. 

Who is responsible for dam safety?

The NSW Government has developed a guide to help small dam owners (whose dams are not declared by Dams Safety NSW) understand their obligations in managing their dams safely.

For the purposes of this guide:

• A small dam with a wall less than 10 metres in height and stores less than 1500 megalitres.
• The term ‘dam safety’ refers to the risk of failure or uncontrolled releases from a dam, rather than risks associated with drowning by falling into a dam.   

Are you considering an irrigation restructure or are you just interested to hear what others are doing?

Local Land Services is hosting an irrigation discussion session and cropping pre-season meeting at Bunnaloo on Thursday 21 March. The topics covered will include: 

• A cropping pre-season update
• NSW DPI's headloss in surface irrigation model
• Design, implementation and return on investment considerations for travelling irrigators.

There will also be a farmer panel discussing their irrigation systems and what works well.

The session will include a farm walk and talk, followed by a barbecue at Bunnaloo Hall.

Please RSVP by 19 March for site visit details and catering at the following link: 

https://regionalnsw.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2u7eqmTKQoL5mdg?Q_CHL=qr.