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| SA Drought E-News, 13th September 2007 |
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| Desalination plant likely |
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The Premier Mike Rann says it is likely that both a desalination plant and a doubling of South Australia’s water storage capacity in the Mt Lofty Ranges will be built to guarantee SA’s long-term water security.
In a statement to Parliament on Tuesday 11 September, the Premier said the Government’s Desalination Working Group had been investigating over the past six months both a 50 gigalitre desalination plant for Adelaide and an expansion of the Mt Bold Reservoir.
Based on interim reports of the group, the Government’s preference is to build both, which could amount to an investment of more than $2.5 billion.
Cabinet hopes to have sign-off in November after considering the final report of the Desalination Working Group, due in October.
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| River Murray irrigation allocations increase |
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Minister for the River Murray, Karlene Maywald, has announced that South Australian Murray annual irrigation allocations will be lifted from 13% to 16% for 2007-08, from 1 October.
Final analysis of the end of August data has resulted in a slight improvement in the available water for allocation and Minister Maywald said the small increase would help irrigators to plan how to best manage their limited water allocation through the current drought. Further increases beyond 16% will depend on the volume of inflows to the Murray-Darling Basin during September.
The South Australian Government is continuing to work with the Commonwealth, NSW and Victorian governments on contingency planning efforts to best manage the current water shortage.
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| River Murray condition update |
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Dry weather has continued throughout the Murray-Darling Basin. River Murray system inflows during August were less than one quarter of the long-term average. Inflows have now been below average for the past 23 months.
Without substantial inflows during the next three months, water availability will remain constrained, as the November to May period does not typically produce substantial inflows.
While storage volumes (including Lake Victoria) continue to rise slowly they are still well below the long-term average for this time of year. For the past two months, the level of the Lower Lakes has been steady at 0.2 to 0.25 m AHD, however without further rain the level will gradually fall as the warmer weather increases evaporation losses.
Further information about the River Murray drought will be outlined in the next fortnightly Water Resources Report, due out on Friday 14 September:
www.dwlbc.sa.gov.au/murray/drought/index.html#RiverMurrayWaterResourcesReports
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| Domestic water restrictions eased over summer |
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Domestic water restrictions will be eased to allow for drippers and hand-held watering for limited periods from 1 October.
These restrictions are more comparable to those now in place in both Sydney and Melbourne.
Domestic consumers will be able to use drippers or hand-held hoses with a trigger nozzle for three hours per week - from either 6 am to 9 am or 5 pm to 8 pm. The same odds and evens system on weekends that was in operation last summer will again apply. Evens on Saturday - odds on Sunday.
Premier Mike Rann says the current ban on sprinklers will remain and the government will continue to work with industry to improve their water efficiency.
The Premier says the change to restrictions has been possible due to a slight improvement in inflows into the Adelaide Hills catchments but does not indicate an improvement in our overall outlook.
"The Murray Darling Basin is still in the grip of the most severe drought on record, and we must continue to be vigilant in saving water," he said.
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| Planning for Recovery Information Sessions |
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More than 27 Planning for Recovery information sessions have been held across the State so far, with more than 120 applications for grants approved.
These half-day sessions provide an introduction to the Planning for Recovery grants. They are for businesses in Exceptional Circumstances declared areas that are receiving interest rates subsidies.
The next Information Sessions are:
| DATE |
AREA |
VENUE |
TIME |
| Mon 17 September |
Loxton |
Loxton Research Centre, Bookpurnong Rd |
1:30 pm |
| Tues 18 September |
Berri |
Berri Hotel, Riverview Drive |
9:30 am |
| Tues 18 September |
Berri |
Berri Hotel, Riverview Drive |
1:30 pm |
| Wed 19 September |
Tailem Bend |
Riverside Hotel |
1:30 pm |
| Tues 25 September |
Ceduna |
Ceduna Community Hotel |
1:30 pm - 5:00 pm |
| Wed 26 September |
Kimba |
Kimba Community Hotel |
1:30 pm - 5:00 pm |
| Thur 27 September |
Cleve |
Cleve Golf Club |
9:00 am - 12:00 pm |
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| Info session for Mt Lofty Ranges |
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A drought assistance information session open to all primary producers in the Central & Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges region will be held at the Mount Torrens Football Clubrooms on Monday 17 September.
Morning tea will be at 9.30 am and the session runs from 10 am to 11.30 am. Speakers from Centrelink, the South Australian Government and the Rural Financial Counselling Service will provide information on available assistance.
A bid for an Exceptional Circumstances declaration for the region was recently declined by the Australian Government, but the area has Prima Facie declaration for six months.
For further information, please contact Ainsley Forrest on 8303 9313.
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| EC application centres open |
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Free sessions to help farmers and small businesses complete application forms for Exceptional Circumstances (EC) support are being held in the Yorke Peninsula, Mid North and the Barossa and Light EC regions during September. Sessions have been held at Bute and Clare.
Rural Financial Counselling Service SA (RFCSSA) will have a team of counsellors available to assist at the temporary application centres. The final sessions are as follows:
| DATE |
AREA |
VENUE |
TIME |
| 18 & 19 September |
Crystal Brook |
Institute Hall |
9 am to 4.30 pm |
| 18 & 19 September |
Eudunda |
Community Club |
9 am to 4.30 pm |
Appointments are essential and can be arranged by phoning Free Call 1800 836 211. Those making appointments need to take their supporting information to sessions so applications can be completed on the day.
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| EC workshops in Kangaroo Island |
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Workshops to inform farming and small businesses about Exceptional Circumstances (EC) applications have been held in Kangaroo Island during September.
The workshops featured representatives from Primary Industries and Resources SA (PIRSA), Rural Financial Counselling Service SA and Centrelink explaining EC application guidelines.
The final session, which will run for about two hours will be held on Friday 14 September at 9 am at "The Shed" at American River. More information: 1800 836 211 or visit www.pir.sa.gov.au.
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| Premier urges – buy local to help farmers |
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As the State’s primary producers are struggling with drought, South Australians are being urged to "buy local" to back our regions and back local jobs.
The next phase of the Buy SA campaign was launched this week at the Taste South Australia pavilion at the Royal Adelaide Show by Premier Mike Rann and SA Great Chairman Mark Bickley.
The Buy SA campaign, which started in January 2006, has been reminding consumers that SA products are amongst the best in the world with the message "The whole world buys South Australia. Do you?"
The next phase of the campaign will build on it success with new television, radio and print commercials, encouraging consumers to support local producers by buying SA made products when they shop.
More information www.buysouthaustralian.com.au.
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| Guide to drought assistance measures |
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A drought assistance measures document provides a current list of national, statewide, and locally available grants and other assistance. The document will continue to evolve as new information and grants are announced.
The document, as well as other useful information, is available from the Government of South Australia’s drought website: www.service.sa.gov.au/drought.asp.
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Drought E-News is a regular newsletter updating the State Government’s drought response. If you’ve been forwarded this E-News and you would like to subscribe, click on the link below, complete the details and you will receive drought E-News in the future.
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