Efficiency measure projects in South Australia
Efficiency measures
Efficiency measures are an agreed component of the Basin Plan to recover 450 gigalitres of water. This water aims to deliver enhanced environmental outcomes throughout the Murray system, including floodplains in NSW and Victoria, and is particularly important for maintaining the health of the Coorong and Lower Lakes.
Efficiency measures projects improve water use practices and save water for the environment. They are part of the Basin Plan’s Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism, which is in place to benefit the environment and communities across the Murray-Darling Basin.
As part of the agreement under the Murray Darling Basin Plan, $1.5 billion is available from the Australian Government to improve water efficiency and return 450 gigalitres of water to the environment by 2024.
As well as benefiting irrigators, communities and the environment, this funding better prepares irrigators and communities to manage the impacts of a changing climate by improving water use practices and saving water.
Importantly, projects need to have positive or neutral socio-economic impacts on Murray Darling Basin communities and industries and water savings must be verified by an independent approved irrigation professional.
In South Australia, investments in water saving infrastructure through the Basin Plan have resulted in increased individual and community productivity and the return of water to the environment.
Efficiency measure projects in South Australia
On 3 March 2021, the Hon Keith Pitt MP, Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia announced changes to the efficiency measures water recovery strategy, with the opening of a new off-farm program and the closure of the Water Efficiency Program to new applications.
Under the new program, $1.33 billion will be available for state-led off-farm projects, $150 million in Commonwealth managed grants for off-farm projects and $60 million for state-led on-farm projects.
All on-farm project applications lodged under the Water Efficiency Program prior to 3 March 2021, will continue to be assessed, and if approved, receive their full funding until they are completed.
The South Australian Government has also been investigating innovative urban projects which could return water towards the 450 gigalitres of efficiency measures through two state-led projects. State-led projects are developed and submitted by the South Australian Government and, if agreed, will be delivered and funded in accordance with an agreed Commonwealth – State project agreement.
The South Australian Government has finalised two feasibility studies on ways to substitute River Murray water for alternative water sources in an urban setting. The first feasibility study investigated opportunities to use the Adelaide Desalination Plant to substitute for River Murray Water and the findings have been published in the final report. The second state-led project investigated opportunities to substitute River Murray water with treated stormwater and wastewater in some metropolitan Adelaide local council areas. This feasibility study was completed in mid-2021 and is currently being considered by the South Australian and Australian governments.
Find out about other irrigation industry opportunities.
Socio-economic assessment
Applications to undertake water saving projects in South Australia under the former Water Efficiency Program are assessed against the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council additional socio-economic criteria in accordance with the application assessment process.
Queries about the assessment of applications against the additional socio-economic criteria in South Australia can be sent to DEW.EfficiencyMeasures@sa.gov.au.
The outcome of South Australian Water Efficiency Program applications assessed against the socio-economic criteria are recorded in the tables below and are also available as an overall summary:
Table 1. Projects compliant with socio-economic criteria that have undergone public consultation and been approved for funding by the Australian Government
Project type | Link to proposal | Location | Total water saving (ML) | Water recovery (ML) | Increase in water available for production (ML) as a result of the project (retained by applicant) |
On-farm | New Residence | 69.9 | 14.2 | 55.7 | |
On-farm | Lyrup | 28.7 | 3.1 | 25.6 | |
On-farm | Lyrup | 165 | 104.3 | 60.7 | |
On-farm | Waikerie | 77 | 50.5 | 26.5 | |
On-farm | Langhorne Creek | 4.9 | 3.3 | 1.6 | |
On-farm | Barmera | 27.4 | 6.7 | 20.7 | |
On-farm | Murray Bridge | 30.3 | 10.7 | 19.6 | |
On-farm | Pyap | 174.9 | 154.3 | 20.6 | |
On-farm | Cooltong/ Renmark | 123.0 | 99.9 | 23.1 | |
On-farm | Winkie | 16.0 | 5.0 | 11.0 | |
On-farm | Loxton North | 17.6 | 11.4 | 6.2 | |
On-farm | Overland Corner | 48.1 | 29.6 | 18.5 | |
On-farm | Lyrup | 89.2 | 29.9 | 59.3 | |
On-farm | Lyrup | 105.9 | 24.3 | 81.6 | |
On-farm | Lyrup | 14.25 | 3.0 | 11.25 | |
On-farm | Langhorne Creek | 31.2 | 21.7 | 9.5 | |
On-farm | Glossop | 28.2 | 18.4 | 9.8 | |
On-farm | Cobdogla | 12.9 | 3.9 | 9 | |
On-farm | Langhorne Creek | 32.0 | 20.3 | 11.7 | |
On-farm | Loveday | 10.8 | 4.1 | 6.7 | |
On-farm | Loveday | 11.0 | 3.0 | 8.0 | |
On-farm | Loxton North | 13.5 | 8.4 | 5.1 | |
On-farm | Renmark | 33.8 | 16.3 | 17.5 | |
On-farm | Loxton | 6.0 | 3.4 | 2.6 | |
On-farm | Renmark | 12.5 | 3.0 | 9.5 | |
On-farm | Renmark | 37.6 | 36.8 | 0.8 | |
On-farm | Loxton | 105.65 | 58.8 | 46.85 | |
On-farm | Renmark | 17.4 | 9.2 | 8.2 | |
Total | 1344.7 | 757.5 | 587.2 |
Table 2. Projects compliant with socio-economic criteria that have undergone public consultation and not been approved for funding by the Australian Government
Type of project | Link to proposal | Location | Total water saving (ML) | Water recovery (ML) | Increase in water available for production (ML) as a result of the project (retained by applicant) |
- | - | - | - | - | - |
Table 3. Projects compliant with socio-economic criteria that have undergone public consultation, been recommended by the South Australian Government and are currently subject to detailed assessment by the Australian Government
Type of project | Link to proposal | Location | Date SA approval granted | Total water saving (ML) | Water recovery (ML) | Increase in water available for production (ML) as a result of the project (retained by applicant) |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Total | - | - | - |
Table 4. Projects compliant with socio-economic criteria that have received in-principle approval from the South Australian Government and recommended to proceed to the Australian Government public consultation stage
Type of project | Link to proposal | Location | Date SA in-principle approval granted | Total water saving (ML) | Water recovery (ML) | Increase in water available for production (ML) as a result of the project (retained by applicant) |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Total | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Table 5. Projects that did not proceed to public consultation
Type of project | Link to proposal | Location | Total water saving (ML) | Environmental water recovery (ML) | Increase in water available for production (ML) as a result of the project (retained by applicant) |
- | - | - | - | - | - |
