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Excellence In IrrigationFunding provided by the Victorian Government’s Gippsland Lakes Rescue Package is providing significant benefits to the farmers of the Macalister Irrigation District (MID) and improving water quality in the Gippsland Lakes. By Department of Primary Industries - 16th June 2003 - Back to News Irrigation Incentives Officer with the Department of Primary Industries, Ken Slee said that since funding became available in July 2000, $1.4 million has been spent assisting farmers with Whole Farm Plans, the installation of re-use systems and in converting from flood to spray irrigation.
"Farm plans have now been completed on 8,950 hectares or about 15 per cent of the total irrigation area and 25 re-use systems have been installed with Government assistance over the past three years, collecting water from a catchment area of 1,400 hectares," Mr Slee said.
"In an average year their reuse systems will provide these farmers with an additional 1,400 megalitres of nutrient-rich water that would otherwise have gone to waste and would have contributed to algal blooms in the Gippsland Lakes."
Under the program, 30 farmers have been assisted to convert 850 hectares of flood irrigated land to spray irrigation.
"This change will save them around 2,500 megalitres of water annually that would have otherwise ended up in the Gippsland Lakes or caused waterlogging and salinity problems in the region," Mr Slee said.
For every dollar invested by the Government to achieve improved irrigation efficiency in the MID and better water quality in the Gippsland Lakes, farmers have contributed close to two dollars, a figure that will rise as the emphasis changes from planning to on-ground works.
Although incentive payments have only been available for a short period, significant benefits are already being delivered. It is expected that the rate of change and benefits to the farmer community and Gippsland Lakes will accelerate with the return of better dairy prices and seasons.
For further information on the Irrigation Incentives Program contact Ken Slee or Gavan Lamb at DPI Maffra on 51470846.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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