Agriculture
14 July, 2024
Staged and steady, says Minister
THE FEDERAL Government will begin receiving offers to sell back water from Monday. Three months ago, entitlements of 1247.3 gigalitres had already been purchased from irrigators by the Government. It now wants another 70 gigalitres with Water...
THE FEDERAL Government will begin receiving offers to sell back water from Monday.
Three months ago, entitlements of 1247.3 gigalitres had already been purchased from irrigators by the Government.
It now wants another 70 gigalitres with Water Minister Tanya Pliberseck saying the Government had taken “a steady, staged approach to recovering water, prioritising non-purchase options”.
“We’re soon opening tenders for the voluntary purchase of up to 70 gigalitres of water from willing sellers in parts of the southern Basin, supported by a water trading strategy.”
Meanwhile, the Victorian Environmental Water Holder last week released its seasonal water plan. No deliveries of water for the environment are planned in 2024-2025 for the Boort wetlands.
“However, as the wetlands draw down, the North Central Catchment Management Authority has considered how the wetlands could support social, recreational and economic values and uses,” the report says.
For the Serpentine Creek, the priority will be to maintain a low flow throughout the year to provide habitat for native fish, waterbugs, water rats) and platypus.