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May 2009 |
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More benefits with less waterFlagship researchers have developed a quantitative approach that supports planning to maximise Australia’s irrigation potential for a future with less water and to improve local environments. Using spatial analysis, researchers have devised a tool helpful to government in identifying which parts of an irrigation district would provide the best public investment in future irrigation infrastructure and which parts, if retired, would lead to avoidance of high salinity impacts and degradation of ecologically-valuable water courses. With partner Goulburn-Murray Water, researchers undertook a pilot study evaluating opportunities to reconfigure land, water and infrastructure in the Kerang Irrigation district in Victoria. Research leader Dr Jeff Connor says the research will identify and estimate costs and benefits of a range of land and water management options under changed water allocation regimes. "With the continuing drought and very little water for irrigation there are a lot of people in irrigation-dependent communities in the Murray-Darling who are doing it tough,” Dr Connor says. “This research shows one way that we could seriously ease the pain of difficult adaptation to a new climate regime." Future research opportunities include investigating how to implement this planning approach by working with a range of local institutions, including governments, industry and communities.
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