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Water projects to follow historic agreement

Media Release | 5 May 2008

Infrastructure projects designed to release billions of litres more water into South Australia through the River Murray system can begin this year following the historic national agreement on the Murray Darling basin.

Projects that will make irrigation systems and water use along the River Murray much more efficient are possible through the $10 billion agreement negotiated last month.

Premier Mike Rann says the agreement provides certainty for Adelaide's drinking water and for all businesses and communities dependent on water for their survival and growth.

Premier Rann visited the Lower Lakes with Federal Water Minister Penny Wong and the Minister for the River Murray Karlene Maywald, alerting Riverland residents to the ramifications of the agreement.

He said the State Government would compile a list of water-saving infrastructure projects to be implemented along the South Australian stretch of the river, for consideration at the next COAG meeting on 3 July.

"But importantly, the bulk of the money needs to be spent in NSW and Victoria to make their irrigation systems far more efficient and to buy up water licences - which is all about returning billions of litres back into the river system that will benefit our State," Premier Rann says.