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| SA Drought E-News, 8th November 2007 |
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| River Murray condition update |
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A severe rainfall shortage over the past three months continues to impact on River Murray inflows and storage volumes. There were some good rainfalls (in excess of 50mm) in some areas of north eastern Victoria over the weekend, however it’s too early to determine what impact this will have on water resource availability.
Low water availability means that the flow to South Australia during November 2007 will continue to be below the normal entitlement flow of 6,000 ML/day. The reduced flow will be in the order of 3,400 ML/day.
Salinity levels along the length of the river and in the Lower Lakes continue to increase, with the level at Lock 1 increasing from 330 EC in early March to the current level of 760 EC. Further increases in salinity levels are expected while the river is operating under low flow conditions, however the current flow to South Australia includes a salinity management flow of 700 ML/day, which is helping to keep salinity levels lower than what would have otherwise occurred.
The latest information about the River Murray drought will be outlined in the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation’s next fortnightly Water Resources Report, due out on Friday 9 November: http://www.dwlbc.sa.gov.au/murray/drought/index.html#RiverMurrayWaterResourcesReports
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| EC workshops South East |
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Two workshops will be held in the Lower South East to explain Exceptional Circumstances assistance eligibility, the application process for income support and interest rate subsidies. Information also will be provided on other available assistance for eligible farmers and small agriculture-dependent businesses in the region.
This is part of a series of workshops that have been running in EC declared areas across the State.
The Rural Financial Counselling Service of SA (RFCSSA), PIRSA and Centrelink are conducting the sessions on Monday 26 November:
- Mount Gambier 10.30 am to 12.00 pm Presidential Motel
- Coonawarra 1.30 pm to 3.00 pm Chardonnay Lodge
Application centres will be set up in each location shortly after. For more information telephone 1800 836 211.
Similar sessions are also being planned for the Mount Lofty Ranges, with dates to be confirmed next week.
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| Rainwater tank rebates expand |
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The Government of South Australia’s rainwater tank rebate scheme has been further expanded, coinciding with the payment of more than 1,000 rebates.
Included now is an additional rebate of up to $200 for inclusion of seamless automatic switching – where rainwater is used in preference to mains water when available – or the connection of two or more connection points within the home.
This is on top of rebates of up to $800 that have already been offered for rainwater tanks and the plumbing of new or existing rainwater tank into an existing home.
Homeowners are reminded that either automatic or manual switching between rainwater tanks and an alternative water source ie mains water requires proof of installation by a registered plumber.
Details about the scheme are available from the SA water website
http://www.sawater.com.au/SAWater/YourHome/SaveWaterInYourHome/rebates_rainwatertanks.htm
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| Domestic water saving incentives |
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A reminder that SA Water also offers rebates for a range of indoor and outdoor products to promote water savings in households.
The $24 million dollar rebate scheme will run for three years.
Water Proofing Adelaide set a target of decreasing indoor household water use by 11.4GL by 2025. This new package of incentives will accelerate indoor water saving plans, providing an annual total of 5.2GL of indoor water savings by 2010.
A summary of the rebates is provided below:
| Rebate Packages |
Spend this amount |
And get a rebate up to |
Low flow showerheads:
must feature a rating of 3 or more stars under the Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme (WELS) |
No limit |
$ 30 |
Washing Machine:
must feature a rating of 4 or more stars required under WELS |
No limit |
$200 |
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Dual Flush Toilets:
for 3 litre/6 litre dual flush toilets to replace older inefficient toilets
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No limit |
$150 |
Garden Goods Pack:
can include mulch or compost, soil wetting agents, soil moisture sensors, compost bins, tap timers |
$150 |
$ 50 |
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Home Water Audit:
(available from 1 January 2008) by a registered plumber. Householders will receive:
- an internal and external water assessment
- free installation and provision of up to 2 low flow showerheads
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No limit |
$100 for metropolitan Adelaide
$110 for regional areas
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Rebates will be available for products purchased on or after 1 November 2007 for residential properties, including homeowners and tenants.
More detailed information, including full terms and conditions, and application forms are available on www.sawater.com.au. Queries: SA Water Rebates Hotline, 1800 130 952.
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| Drought advice and planning grants |
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Professional Advice and Planning Grants of up to $5,500 are now available through Centrelink to eligible farm businesses located in all Exceptional Circumstances (EC) declared areas.
These Federal grants have been broadened to include the development of all risk management and business plans for a farm, not just a drought management plan.
They may also be used to undertake a farm-business viability assessment and to obtain financial and agronomic advice about what changes may be necessary to ensure the farm business recovers from the drought.
Applications close 12 June 2009.
More information: Drought Assistance Hotline 13 23 16 or www.daff.gov.au/droughtassist.
More information on a range of grants and assistance is available at www.service.sa.gov.au/drought.asp under latest information and scroll down to South Australia’s Guide to Drought Assistance Measures.
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| Cereal yields better than expected |
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The crop production estimates for South Australia remain virtually unchanged from last month at 4.89 million tonnes.
According to the latest PIRSA Crop and Pasture report, prepared by Rural Solutions SA, early reports indicate that cereal yields are better than expected, however grain quality has been variable. Wheat currently is generally of better quality in terms of grain size and test weight than barley.
“Rainfall late in the month brought harvesting to a halt and farmers are now looking for a sustained period of fine weather to finish crop ripening and allow harvesting to continue without further interruption,” the October report says.
The full report is available on the PIRSA website: http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/grains/cpr
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| Drought puts SA in greater bushfire risk |
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In launching this season’s new Bushfire Ready campaign, Premier Mike Rann says the current drought – the worst in Australian recorded history – has placed South Australia under a greater threat of bushfires this year.
A television, radio and newspaper campaign has been launched across the State that urges every household and every business in susceptible areas to adopt a Bushfire Action Plan.
As part of the campaign, 80,000 kits are being delivered to households in regional and metropolitan bushfire prone areas.
The Bushfire Action Plan can be collected from local councils or downloaded from the Country Fire Service website www.cfs.sa.gov.au
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| Cold seas affect rainfall |
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Unusually cold sea temperatures are the cause for the devastatingly low rainfall in Australia’s south-east since early August, the United Nations has said.
The UN’s World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has released an update on El Nino and La Nina weather conditions, showing an unusual pattern across the Indian and Pacific oceans.
The WMO said surface waters across the north of Australia were up to 1.5 degrees celsius colder than normal causing lower-than-expected rainfall.
Warmer than normal sea surface temperatures in the western equatorial Indian Ocean near Madagascar have caused unusually heavy rain in eastern Africa, while dry conditions persist in many areas of Australia.
El Nino and La Nina are weather patterns involving major atmosphere-ocean interactions but the current sea temperatures are unusual.
More information: www.wmo.ch
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