Waterfind
WATER INFRASTRUCTURE
Projects
ROUND THREE
On 10 December 2012 the Minister announced $100 million of in-principle funding for water infrastructure projects under Round 3 of the Programme.
Waterfind was successful as a Round 3 Delivery Partner and signed its first funding agreement (Agreement) on 16 August 2013 with the Australian Government for $13.5 million. Successful sub-projects aimed to improve irrigation management of rural enterprises by promoting positive environmental project outcomes, with the overall aim to increase environmental sustainability, reduce the reliance on the Basin’s water resources and promote food and fibre production.
All sub-projects under this agreement have now been completed. Waterfinds proponents reported positively in relation to the outcomes and performance of the systems post completion. Reports included comments on the increased crop yields and productivity in the initial irrigation after completion and the greater flexibility in their property layouts allows them to increase diversity changing crop types to reflect commodity prices in the market
It has been clear that the water efficiency outcomes have been met with proponents recording less over watering and the benefits of the ability to recapture water through recycle systems putting less demand on the requirement to source additional water for irrigation. Additional outcomes have included increased long term business sustainability, reduced labour and the ability expand their operation in many cases.
ROUND FOUR
On 1 April 2014 the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment announced $158 million of in-principle funding for projects under Round 4 of the Programme. Again Waterfind was successful in becoming a Delivery Partner and granted over $16 million in an Agreement signed in December 2014.
Initially we saw delays in project commencement due to wetter than average weather, however this round is well under way and all projects are likely be completed by mid 2017. Initial feedback on the impact of changes to farming systems have included increase simplicity in farm management, improvement in operational efficiency, reduced labour requirement and increased production.
ROUND FIVE
On 5 August 2015, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment announced $263.5 million of in-principle funding for Round 5 of the On-Farm Irrigation Efficiency Program. This round supports projects located in the Southern Basin New South Wales zone of the Murray-Darling Basin. All projects must be completed by 28 February 2019.
Waterfind extended its interest in participation in the programme successfully working to fund $32 million in its first funding agreement for this round signed 15 March 2016. In addition to this Waterfind has worked with proponents under a second call of funding under Round 5 to submit additional applications for assessment and inclusion.
Projects have commenced and progress with some delay due to the extended wet winter of 2016. Waterfind has been monitoring sub-project progress and has been impressed with the impact the changes the funding has enabled on the land and in the communities.