Creek cash flows
Almost $2 million has been awarded to Murray Irrigation Limited to improve connectivity of two creeks with the Murray River system at Wakool.
The work will involve Jimaringle and Cockran Creeks, and will include the upgrade of nine creek crossings and installation of eight fish culverts.
It will also form wildlife refuge pools by installing two regulated culverts and remove barriers to allow more efficient environmental watering.
The Commonwealth Government’s Healthy Rivers Grant was announced Monday by Minister for Resources and Water Keith Pitt and Minister for the Environment and Member for Farrer Sussan Ley.
It is in addition to more than $35.1 million announced by the Australian Government earlier last week, which will connect 130km of the Jimaringle and Cockran Creeks to the Murray system, restoring ecological health to our waterways.
Murray Irrigation chair Steve Fawns thanked Mr Pitt and Ms Ley for the ongoing commitment to the company’s area of operations.
“It is important that we continue developing projects that improve the connectivity of our system and provide environmental benefits, while at the same time making the best use of available water resources,” Mr Fawns said.
“Murray Irrigation has been able to effectively engage with Ministers Pitt and Ley, as well as local Nationals Senator Perin Davey to highlight a number of potential
projects, including those that are part of our Regional Recovery Prospectus.
“We look forward to continuing the working relationship with our political representatives to ensure we can develop water policy and management that delivers an effective balance between the needs of the environment, and the needs of our shareholder/customers, who grow essential food and fibre for the nation,” he said.
Mr Pitt said the Healthy Rivers grants were designed to help communities deliver on-ground projects to improve the health of local rivers and wetlands.
The $1.98 million allocated to Murray Irrigation was part of $2.48 million in the electorate of Farrer.
Welcoming the grants, Ms Ley said the funding puts money into local businesses, provides employment and strengthens local recreational and tourism options.
“The three rounds of our Healthy Rivers Grants are pumping $4 million towards irrigation communities across the length and breadth of my electorate, with each of the successful applicants committing to buying local and working together to produce practical, on-ground works which protect the Basin’s vital waterways,” she said.
“This program forms a key part of the Australian Government’s Murray–Darling Communities Investment Package, which is putting communities back at the heart of the Basin Plan.”
Two other projects in the region received funding under this round of grants.
The Western Murray Land Improvement Group received two grants, with a combined value of almost $500,000.
“One worth $242,590 is to fight the invasive African Boxthorn along 18 kilometres of the river. This will enable native plant species to re-establish, and also creates one new full-time job, supporting nine other jobs in the local community,” Ms Ley said.
“The other grant is worth $256,400 to install two fish screens, keeping pests out of irrigation pumps and improving the critical habitat for threatened species like Silver Perch, Trout Cod and Murray Cod.”