Background

Natural resource management (NRM) is one of the eight key objectives outlined in the Wine Partnering Strategy. Under the NRM objective, water is identified as critical to the future growth and sustainability of the wine industry in South Australia. The NRM objective outlines strategies for the State’s water resources, including water use efficiency, water licensing, water trading, wastewater and the issues around water quality.
 
The formation of the SAWIC Water Group was discussed and supported by Council members at the SA Wine Industry Council meeting on 3 September 2007.

The Group does not focus solely on the Murray-Darling Basin.  It is a forum to focus on key water issues, in relation to both quantity and quality, currently facing the wine industry in all regions across South Australia.

The aim of the SAWIC Water Group is to form a short-term working group that identifies the water issues region by region and then works together to determine solutions and options for the future. The Water Group exists as long as members believe it is of benefit and is able to provide assistance in water issues.

The objectives of the Water Group are to:

• develop a thorough understanding of the water resources for each wine region in SA
• identify the key water issues in each region
• identify the opportunities for alternative or new water sources for each region
• identify any infrastructure required in regards to water resources including opportunities for co-investment projects between the wine industry and State Government
• identify the key issues for SAWIC based on the above information and determine what role SAWIC can play in addressing the issues.
  

Current water issues by region

The SAWIC Water Group has prepared a snapshot of the key water issues facing SA's wine regions which was circulated at the September SAWIC meeting.  Key issues by region were highlighted.

• McLaren Vale – A restriction on mains water use was introduced on 1 February 2008 which requires  irrigators to apply for a permit which will allow them to use up to 62% of the amount they used in the last 12 months.  The McLaren Vale Grape Wine and Tourism Association (MVGWTA) presented an alternative option for reducing mains water use to SA Water which would save the same amount of water. This proposal was accepted by the Minister, with some exclusions, and involves restrictions on a per megalitre per hectare basis.
• Barossa Valley – Ongoing reduced River Murray allocations, combined with the impact of drought on surface and groundwater supplies, are impacting on the regions water supplies.  There are water quality concerns with groundwater in the region and salinity is an increasing issue.  Restrictions imposed by SA Water on mains water use in February 2008, at 62% of the previous 12 months water use, will have a significant impact on a large number of growers in the 2008/09 growing season.
• Eden Valley – most vineyards have not collected enough surface water to fill their dams this winter, with just 10-20% dam capacity.  If dams do not fill in the next few months, many growers will resort to bores with poorer water quality which will have a significant impact on soil structure in the long term.  
• Coonawarra – the South East NRM Board is consolidating and updating three Water Allocation Plans into a single WAP for the Lower Limestone Coast. The draft WAP includes a proposal to manage the impacts of plantation forestry on the water budget through a licensing arrangement rather than the existing permitting arrangement as a water affecting activity. To enable forestry to be licensed, and consultation to commence on the draft WAP, amendments must be made to the Natural Resource Management (NRM) Act 2004. An amendment Bill is being reviewed by DWLBC and then requires  approval by Cabinet.The current assessment associated with the preparation of the WAP, indicates that three significantly forested groundwater management areas are over allocated and require some remedial action, including the Coonawarra viticultural area.  
• Padthaway – The SE NRM Board has been undertaking a review of the Water Allocation Plan for the Padthaway PWA including the wine region.  Consultants were engaged by DWLBC on behalf of the Board, the Padthaway Irrigators and the Padthaway Grape Growers Association (PGGA) to seek a negotiated aquifer management strategy.  The Padthaway Ground Water Management Committee (PGMC) then developed a formula for reducing current allocations to the agreed sustainable 48GL. Consequently the PGGA and the SE NRM Board have worked together and a new WAP supported by both parties is progressing.
• Langhorne Creek/Currency Creek – the Langhorne Creek wine region recently formed the Langhorne Creek Water Options Steering Committee to identify possible options for accessing water. The Committee identified a pipeline from Jervois to Langhorne Creek as the most feasible short-term option for supplying water to Langhorne Creek.  The COAG meeting on 3 July resulted in $610 million in funding for SA to invest in water infrastructure and to assist communities’ dependent on the River Murray and Lower Lakes. Some of this funding will be used to construct a pipeline to deliver irrigation water to the Langhorne Creek and Currency Creek regions for the 2009/10 season.
• Adelaide Hills – the Adelaide Hills Wine Region recently surveyed all members as well as wine grape growers in the Adelaide Hills listed with the Phylloxera Board about water issues.  The main concerns were around water allocations, appropriate water use, frost protection, aquifers and grape variety plantings.
• Riverland – wine grape producers in the Riverland face another challenging season due to extended drought and reduced River Murray allocations.  At current allocation levels many wine grape producers will struggle to be viable and in a recent survey by the Riverland Wine Grape Growers Association nearly 60% of Riverland growers said they were considering leaving the industry due to adverse conditions, including drought.
   

PIRSA Grape & Wine is collating information on water and water use across SA's wine regions to support understanding of the issues being faced and is working closely with a number of regions on some of these issues. Please contact Jo Rawson if there is a water related issue you would like to discuss or believe PIRSA Grape & Wine or SAWIC may be able to assist you with.

For more information please contact Jo Rawson on 0422 406 641 or jo.rawson@state.sa.gov.au