Water leaders get a glimpse into the region's irrigation industry

16 November 2023

Murray Irrigation and its neighbouring Irrigation Infrastructure Operators (IIOs), Murrumbidgee Irrigation and Coleambally Irrigation, came together this week to host a group of senior executives from the NSW Department of Planning and Environment's Water Group and Biodiversity and Conservation Division on a two-day tour of the region.

Over Monday and Tuesday, the delegation - which included Water Group Deputy Secretary Amanda Jones, Acting Chief Operating Officer Ash El-Sherbini, Chief Knowledge Officer, Water Management, Mitchell Isaacs, Grants Program Director Kirsty Fenton and Senior Environmental Water Management Officer (Murray Lower Darling) Paul Childs - received a firsthand look at the innovative water saving projects and infrastructure the IIOs are implementing within the Southern Connected Basin, and spoke with local landholders about issues that are most important to them.

This week's visit formed part of the series of joint quarterly meetings that have been taking place between the Southern Connected Basin IIOs and the Department throughout the year.

NSW Government officials join Murray Irrigation, Murrumbidgee Irrigation and Coleambally Irrigation representatives and local farmers at the Mascotte Escape.

Day one of the tour focused on the Murray Irrigation footprint. The itinerary began with a visit to the Mascotte Escape where Mr Childs explained how improvements to infrastructure has enabled greater capacity of water to flow through the escapes.

In 2017 the NSW Government contributed to the cost of upgrading this crucial environmental delivery outlet (and others located within the footprint) to enable more efficient delivery of environmental water to the Jimaringle-Cockran creek system. This upgrade was the precursor to the $33.5 million Commonwealth funding toward Murray Irrigation's Restoring Murray Waterways environmental watering project.

The guests also visited a local farm and were taken on tour of the Wakool Tullakool Sub-Surface Drainage Scheme site.

The visitors headed north on Tuesday to explore Coleambally Irrigation and Murrumbidgee Irrigation sites and to meet local farmers and see the infrastructure development across both IIOs.

Murray Irrigation CEO Ron McCalman acknowledged the efforts of Ms Jones and her team in making time to visit the local footprint to better understand the work Murray Irrigation is undertaking, with a particular focus on environmental watering.

"It was also a great opportunity for our local farmers to raise genuine concern they have in relation to supplementary water conventions, and to explore options for the Wakool Tullakool Salt Abatement Scheme," Mr McCalman said.

(ends)

Media contact - Murray Irrigation

Steph Buller

M: 0447486934

E: stephanie.buller@murrayirrigation.com.au

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