In early September the Murray-Darling Basin Commission warned that Murray River operations over the coming spring and summer was likely to pose significant challenges for the communitie and environments sustained by its waters.

"We are facing a spring and summer on the Murray like no other since Hume Dam was completed in 1936," Chief Executive Wendy Craik said.  "The unprecedented combination of both low storage levels and low inflows will require us to operate outside our normal operating regime."

On 25 September, Prime Minister John Howard announced a further $714 million in drought assistance measures to support farmers through the worst drought in our nation's history, with particular emphasis on Murray Darling Basin (MDB) irrigators.

A united national approach

At the request of some of its peak industry body members, Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL) and Horticulture Australia Council (HAC) facilitated meetings in May and June to discuss the impacts of the drought and the implications of the Prime Minister's statement in April regarding the Murray Darling Basin outlook.

This resulted in a submission to Federal and State Ministers on behalf of the horticultural industries which emphasised the need for:

1.   Information for growers on water allocations, predictions and agronomic issues

2.  Exceptional Circumstances - recommended strategies to tailor the current EC arrangements for horticulturalists, and

3.   Maximising water for horticulture - particularly permanent plantings

Over the ensuing months, a HAC MDB Crisis Taskforce (as well as other representations) strongly pursued Government support for the submission, resulting in a welcome announcement on a longer-term recovery package for irrigators in the Basin.

Implementing recent Federal initiatives

The September 25 announcement included $7.5 million for "irrigation workshops to assist irrigators manage their farm businesses with reduced water allocations".

The funding is to be managed through the five Research & Development corporations (wine, cotton, rice, dairy and horticulture).  HAL has just been advised by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) to manage the horticulture component. 

Judith Damiani

Chief Executive Officer

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