Healthy HeadWaters Water Use Efficiency Project
The Australian Government provided funding for the Queensland Government to undertake two rounds of on-farm irrigation efficiency improvements in 2010 and 2011.
The funding comprised Phase 1 of the $115 million Healthy HeadWaters Water Use Efficiency (HHWUE) project, which aims to help irrigation communities and the environment in the Queensland Murray–Darling Basin (QMDB).
This project involved irrigation infrastructure planning and improvement, supported by a basin appraisal study to collate key information sets to help target and effectively implement the infrastructure investment project.
The HHWUE project is being run by the Department of Environment and Resource Management with funding from the Australian Government as part of the Sustainable Rural Water Use and Infrastructure Program under the Water for the Future initiative.
Phase 1 is implemented as outlined in the HHWUE strategic direction 2010-2012 (PDF, 293K)*. A summary of the strategic direction 2010-2012 is available in the current HHWUE strategic information sheet (PDF, 61K)*.
Infrastructure
Under the infrastructure project, irrigators were invited to submit proposals for increasing water use efficiency on their property, identifying costs, benefits and water savings. Applications were assessed by the department and the Australian Government. Approved proposals received funding to undertake infrastructure upgrades and transfer a proportion of water savings to the Australian Government.
Specialist advice funding was also available for eligible irrigators to obtain initial advice on options to improve their on-farm water use efficiency. Up to 80 per cent of the cost of obtaining assistance with planning from an irrigation consultant, to a maximum of $1500, was available to irrigators.
Supporting projects
Within the HHWUE project, funding has been set aside to undertake a number of supporting projects to provide project development and delivery capability, communication, education, extension, marketing and monitoring activities.
Reports
A number of reports have been released under the HHWUE project.
In the early stages of the project DERM commissioned an Appraisal to identify and detail technology for improving water use efficiency in irrigation in the Queensland Murray–Darling Basin that included:
- a review of previous projects to provide baseline information regarding current levels of efficient irrigation practices and current irrigation operations within the QMDB
- an assessment of the likely level, type and feasibility of opportunities for investment to improve on-farm water use efficiency in each catchment zone and the Basin as a whole
- quantification of water savings opportunities at the catchment zone level by technology type
- an assessment of the likely level of participation of irrigators in the QMDB HHWUE project.
A second project Farm level economic and financial modelling of alternative irrigation practices in the Border Rivers, Lower Balonne (PDF, 572K)* and Condamine (PDF, 278K)* was undertaken to develop computerised financial evaluation software models that can be used to assess the potential profitability of a range of on-farm irrigation improvements and to determine profitability at various co-investment levels.
A benchmarking project is being undertaken during the 2010–11 and 2011–12 seasons. The project is providing irrigators with data on the performance of centre pivot and lateral move systems across the QMDB, demonstrating differences in performance and potential water savings. The 2010–2011 seasonal benchmarking report (PDF, 646K)* was released in February 2012.
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Last reviewed 11 April 2012
Last updated 8 February 2012