The Sustaining the Basin initiative comprises a suite of State Priority Projects focussed on improving water efficiency and improved environmental outcomes in the Murray-Darling Basin.
NSW submitted a suite of possible projects and on 3 July 2008 got in-principle approval from the Commonwealth for $1.358 billion in funding. The Commonwealth Government had announced a $12.9 billion investment plan to take action on climate change, use water wisely, secure future water supplies and to support healthy river systems on 29 April 2008. Under this Water for the Future plan the States were requested to submit a State Priority Project submission for funding under the $5.8 billion Sustainable Rural Water Use and Infrastructure component.
State Priority Projects
Basin pipe north and south
This project has in-principle funding of up to $137 million for the piping of stock and domestic water supply systems. This project will replace delivery through streams allowing them to return to their natural wet or dry regimes and reducing transmission losses.
Irrigated farm modernisation
The Office of Water has in-principle approval for up to $300 million for projects to increase water use efficiency for irrigated agriculture in NSW. Industry & Investment NSW will implement the project by investing in management, information and technological farm infrastructure. This will improve water use efficiency, water savings, and increase water related productivity in irrigated farming systems.
NSW metering scheme
The metering of all water extractions using appropriate technology is fundamental to ensure sustainable water management in the NSW Murray-Darling Basin. The NSW metering scheme for regulated rivers, unregulated rivers and groundwater sources ($221 million) is one of the priority projects granted in-principle approval by the Commonwealth.
The Office of Water has carried out a socio-economic assessment to identify the impact of having meters in the Murray-Darling Basin - The NSW Metering Project – socio-economic assessment (PDF 12 MB). Read the business case (PDF 4.8 MB) prepared for the NSW Metering Project which combines Regulated River Metering, Groundwater and Unregulated River Metering into a single project.
Regulated river metering
Around 6,000 meters that measure the water taken by irrigators from the state's regulated rivers are to be replaced with new high-tech meters to be owned by State Water. Up to $90 million has been set aside for this. The new meters will be highly accurate, tamper-proof and low maintenance, reducing inaccurately metered extractions and minimising water theft. This project will be jointly implemented by State Water and the NSW Office of Water.
Groundwater and unregulated river metering
Up to $131 million is proposed for the installation and upgrade of metering for groundwater and unregulated water sources. To be implemented by the Office of Water, the metering project will install or upgrade about 9,500 meters and provide accurate information on water usage.
Healthy floodplains
This project will reform the management of water on floodplains through the modification of floodplain structures and extraction control. Up to $50 million is proposed for this to be implemented jointly by the NSW Office of Water and the Office of Environment and Heritage. The NSW Office of Water is also currently developing a floodplain harvesting policy.
Private infrastructure upgrades
The Commonwealth will work with NSW irrigator groups to manage private infrastructure upgrades with about $650 million proposed for water saving upgrades of private infrastructure.