Irrigation industry programs
These projects are now completed.
South Australian irrigators understand how precious water is and are always looking for ways to use less water.
There are a number of programs under way to support irrigators to use water even more efficiently, and research to help the industry to diversify into areas that use less water.
The Murray-Darling Basin Water Infrastructure Program provides funding for projects to implement better, more efficient infrastructure to reduce water consumption. The program will fund five types of projects:
- Urban water efficiency projects
- Industrial water efficiency projects
- Off-farm projects
- Metering projects
- On-farm projects
The South Australian River Murray Sustainability Program (now concluded) involved a suite of regional development, research and innovation programs which included:
- $7.5 million to redevelop the Loxton Research Centre
- $5.0 million for an Industry-led Research Sub-program
- $12.5 million for a Regional Development and Innovation Sub-program.
The Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development's element is complete and was made up of:
- Irrigation Industry Improvement Program – supporting irrigators to ensure they remained at the forefront of irrigation practice whilst meeting the water return targets specified by the Basin Plan.
- Loxton Research Centre Redevelopment – refurbishing the existing research centre and constructing a new building, including conference facilities, tasting kitchen and flexible working space to provide a business hub and drive collaboration between industry and researchers.
- Industry-Led Research Sub-Program – funding for research to build industry capacity to adapt to new water efficiency targets in the Basin Plan, improve access to overseas markets and build recognition and production.
- Regional Development and Innovation Fund – funding for major projects from non-irrigating businesses or organisations to deliver regional employment opportunities and improve regional economic diversity.
South Australian River Murray Sustainability Program (SARMS)
The Australian Government’s Water Efficiency Program delivered funding to upgrade water infrastructure in the Murray–Darling Basin. Over $1.5 billion is available to improve water efficiency and deliver 450 gigalitres of water for the environment by 2024. Water saving projects must demonstrate a neutral or positive social and economic impact for the community.
The Australian Government’s Sustainable Rural Water Use and Infrastructure Program aimed to increase water use efficiency, return water to the environment and secure a long-term future for irrigation communities, and included:
- Commonwealth On-Farm Further Irrigation Efficiency Program (concluded) - funded infrastructure to make irrigation systems even more efficient so additional water could be recovered for the environment.
- On-Farm Irrigation Efficiency Program (concluded) – funded modernising irrigation infrastructure while returning water savings to the environment.
- Private Irrigation Infrastructure Program for South Australia (now closed) - funded the River Industry Irrigation Renewal Program which funded industries that rely on the river to adopt better and more efficient irrigation technology, with a share of the saved water returned to the environment.
