Murray-Darling Basin Salinity
Management Strategy
Victoria’s
2013/14
Annual Report
Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
© The State of Victoria Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning 2015
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ISSN 2204-907X
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2
Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
3
Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
Contents
Statement of Compliance
6
Executive Summary
12
Abbreviations
17
1
Introduction
19
1.1
20
2
General Review of Salinity Management
The nine elements of the BSMS
22
2.1
22
Developing capacity
2.1.1 Victoria
22
2.1.2 North East
24
2.1.3 Goulburn Broken
25
2.1.4 North Central
29
2.1.5 Wimmera
30
2.1.6 Victorian Mallee
31
2.2
34
Identifying values and assets at risk
2.2.1 North East
34
2.2.2 Goulburn Broken
35
2.2.3 North Central
38
2.2.4 Wimmera
40
2.2.5 Victorian Mallee
41
2.3
44
Setting salinity targets
2.3.1 Victoria
44
2.4
47
Managing trade-offs
2.4.1 North East
47
2.4.2 Goulburn Broken
47
2.4.3 North Central
48
2.4.4 Wimmera
49
2.4.5 Victorian Mallee
50
2.5
52
Implementing plans
2.5.1 Victoria
52
2.5.2 North East
53
2.5.3 Goulburn Broken
54
2.5.4 North Central
55
2.5.5 Wimmera
57
2.5.6 Victorian Mallee
57
2.6
60
Redesigning farming systems
2.6.1 North East
60
2.6.2 Goulburn Broken
61
2.6.3 North Central
62
4
Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
3
4
5
2.6.4 Wimmera
64
2.6.5 Victorian Mallee
65
2.7
66
Targeting reforestation and vegetation management
2.7.1 North East
66
2.7.2 Goulburn Broken
67
2.7.3 North Central
68
2.7.4 Wimmera
68
2.7.5 Victorian Mallee
69
2.8
70
Constructing salt interception works
2.8.1 Operations
70
2.8.2 Construction
71
2.9
71
Basin-wide accountability
2.9.1 Monitoring
71
2.9.2 Salinity registers
75
2.9.3 Five-year reviews
76
Valley report cards
80
3.1
Introduction
80
3.2
Recorded stream salinities in 2013/14
81
3.3
Flow and salinity plots
83
Response to Independent Audit Group Salinity
87
4.1
87
Response to the recommendations of the 2012/13 audit
References
Appendix A.
90
Acknowledgements
93
Appendix B.
Shepparton Irrigation Region calculation
assumptions
94
B.1 Assumptions regarding the progressive total salinity debits
94
B.2 Assumptions regarding salinity debits by program component
94
Appendix C.
Salinity impact of new irrigation development
Victorian Mallee
96
Appendix D.
97
Confidence rating for Register A entries
5
Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
Statement of Compliance
Victoria remains compliant with Schedule B to the Murray-Darling Basin Agreement
(Schedule 1 to the Water Act 2007).
The Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) 2013 Salinity Register A (as at 9/09/2013)
endorsed by the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council is the starting point of Victoria’s
salinity accountability reporting for 2013/14. Victoria’s final report reflects the MDBA
Register figures as at 25 September 2014 as reviewed by the Independent Audit Group for
Salinity. All Accountable Action changes from 2013/14 are contained in this report.
Credits
Based on the 2013 MDBA Register A (as at 9/09/2013) Victoria’s salinity credits equalled a
salinity effect of -45.4 EC, and a salinity cost effect of $9.447 million/yr.
In 2013/14, an additional credit associated with the Reduced Irrigation Salinity Impact (Stage
2) register entry of -4.7 EC was endorsed by the Basin Salinity Management Advisory Panel
and included on the MDBA 2014 Register.
Victoria also gained additional credits with the commissioning of two salt interception
schemes (SIS) and inclusion of the associated salinity benefits on the 2014 MDBA Register:

Upper Darling SIS – with an estimated credit of -0.8 EC for Victoria, and cost effect
of $241,000 per year; and

Murtho SIS – with an estimated credit of -2.8 EC for Victoria, and cost effect of
$529,000 per year.
Overall, salinity credits for Victoria increased by -8.5 EC and as at 30 June 2014, were
-53.9 EC or a salinity cost effect of $11.329 million/yr (Table S-1).
Debits
Based on the 2013 MDBA Register A (as at 9/09/2013) Victoria’s salinity debits equalled a
salinity effect of 18.7 EC, and a salinity cost effect of -$4.577 million/yr.
During the 2013/14 reporting year salinity debits in Victoria increased by 1.4 EC as a result of
new irrigation development in the Nyah to the South Australian Border Salinity Management
Plan (SMP) area, located in the Victorian Mallee.
Therefore, salinity debits for Victoria, as at 30 June 2014, increased by 1.4 EC to a total
salinity effect of 20.1 EC or a salinity cost effect of -$4.915 million/yr.
6
Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
Net Balance
Victoria’s net balance of salinity credits equalled -33.8 EC, or $6.414 million/yr, which remain
unutilised (Table S- 1).
Table S- 1 Victoria’s Register A balance sheet summary
Balance at
9 September 2013
Salinity
Effect
(EC at
Morgan)
Salinity Cost
Effect
($/yr)
Change in 2013/14
Reporting Period
Salinity
Effect
(EC at
Morgan)
Salinity Cost
Effect
($/yr)
Balance at
30 June 2014
Salinity Effect
(EC at
Morgan)
Salinity Cost
Effect
($/yr)
Credits
-45.4
9,447,000
8.5
1,882,100
-53.9
11,329,100
Debits
18.7
-4,577,000
1.4
-336,304
20.1
-4,915,304
Total
-26.7
4,870,000
9.9
1,545,796
-33.8
6,413,796
There are five Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs) located within the Victorian
Murray-Darling Basin. For internal management purposes, Victoria allocates salinity credits
to CMAs to implement Land and Water Management Plans. Salinity credits are not allocated
to the Wimmera or North East CMAs as there are no Accountable Actions in these regions.
The salinity credit allocations to Victorian CMAs with accountable actions on the MDBA
Register A comprise:

-8.90 EC allocated to the Goulburn Broken CMA for the Shepparton SMP;

-10.12 EC allocated to the North Central CMA for Woorinen Irrigation District
Excision, the Campaspe West SMP and the Kerang Lakes/Swan Hill SMP; and

-20.22 EC allocated to the Mallee CMA for the Nangiloc-Colignan SMP and the Nyah
to South Australian Border SMP, which includes an additional credit allocation of
3.29 EC in 2013/14.
Total allocated salinity credits against total salinity debits to date, for the Goulburn Broken,
North Central, and Mallee CMAs are summarised in Table S- 2.
7
Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
Table S- 2 Victorian Register A salinity credit allocation and salinity debits
Salinity Effect (EC at Morgan)
CMA region
Government
allocation of
salinity credits
(EC)
Goulburn Broken
Salinity debits
over 2013/14
reporting
period2
Salinity debits
by region in
2013 MDBA
Register1
(EC)
Salinity debits
at 30 June
20143
Allocated
salinity credit
balance
(EC)
(EC)
(EC)
-8.90
1.4
0
1.4
-7.50
North Central
-10.12
2.9
0
2.9
-7.22
Mallee
-20.22
14.2
1.4
15.6
-4.62
Total
-39.24
18.5
1.4
19.9
-19.34
Table S-2 shows that of the total credits Victoria has allocated to the CMAs (-39.24 EC), 19.34 EC credits are allocated but unutilised by the CMAs.
In total, Victoria has -33.8 EC salinity credits unutilised, of which only -14.66 EC salinity
credits are unallocated (Table S- 3).
Table S- 3 Summary of Register A salinity credits for Victoria as at 30 June 2014
Physical EC
Total Available (From Table S-1)
-53.9
Total Allocation (From Table S-2)
39.24
Unallocated salinity credits
-14.66
Table S- 4 and Table S- 5 show the breakdown of Victoria’s salinity credits and debits by
MDBA Register A line entries, as anticipated based on actions in 2013/14.
Table S- 4 Victoria's Credit Balance Sheet based on MDBA Salinity Register (as at 25/09/2014) plus
2013/14 changes
Physical Impact
(EC)
Salinity Cost Effect
($/yr)
Woolpunda Salt Interception Scheme (SIS)
-8.9
729,000
Improved Buronga and Mildura/Merbein SIS
-0.6
140,000
New Operating Rules for Barr Creek Pumps
-0.9
225,000
Waikerie SIS
-2.4
198,000
Changed MDBC River Operations 1988 to 2000
-0.3
150,000
Mallee Cliffs SIS
-2.1
512,000
Waikerie SIS Phase 2A
-1.5
113,000
Register A Entry
Joint Works and Measures
Salinity and Drainage Strategy
1
Based on MDBA Register A as at 09/09/2013
increase in irrigation development in 2013/14 for Nyah to SA Border Salinity Management Plan
3
Based on MDBA Register A dated 25/1/2014
2 Reflects
8
Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
Physical Impact
(EC)
Salinity Cost Effect
($/yr)
Changed MDBC River Operations 2000 to 2002
-0.3
-139,000
Sub-Total Basin Salinity Management Strategy
-17.0
1,928,000
Changed MDBC River Operations after 2002
-0.0
21,000
Pyramid Creek SIS
-0.8
230,000
Bookpurnong Joint SIS
-1.8
207,000
Improved Buronga SIS
-0.1
21,000
Loxton SIS
-1.8
206,000
Waikerie Lock 2 SIS
-1.7
115,000
Upper Darling SIS
-0.8
241,000
Murtho SIS
-2.8
529,000
Sub-Total Basin Salinity Management Strategy
-9.8
1,570,000
Permanent Trade Accounting Adjustment - NSW to Victoria
-0.04
100
Barmah-Millewa Forest Operating Rules
-1.0
188,000
Sub-Total Shared Schemes
-1.0
188,100
Barr Creek Catchment Strategy
-7.7
1,963,000
Psyche Bend
-2.1
237,000
Permanent Trade Accounting Adjustment - Victoria to SA
-0.7
184,000
Sunraysia Drains Drying up
-2.2
637,000
Lamberts Swamp
-3.0
625,000
Church's Cut Decommissioning
-0.3
97,000
Mallee Drainage Bore Decommissioning a
-0.3
57,000
Reduced Irrigation Salinity Impact Victoria (Stage 1)
-5.4c
1,249,000
Reduced Irrigation Salinity Impact Victoria (Stage 2)
-4.7
1,051,000
0
1,600,000
-26.1
7,643,000
-53.9
11,329,100
Register A Entry
Basin Salinity Management Strategy
Shared Schemes
Victorian Measures
Victorian S&DS Commitment Adjustment
Sub-Total Victorian Measures
TOTAL
a
provisional salinity credit and cost effect. Further details are provided in Section 2.9.3
b TOTAL
c
CREDITS b
does not include provisional salinity credits and cost effect
0.2 EC increase from previous year due to interpolation in 2013/14
9
Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
Table S- 5 Victoria's Debit Balance Sheet MDBA Salinity Register (as at 25/09/2014) plus 2013/14
changes
Register A Entry
Physical Impact
(EC)
Salinity Cost Effect
($/yr)
0.2
-146,000
Joint Works and Measures
Salinity and Drainage Strategy
Changed Operation of Menindee and Lower Darling
Basin Salinity Management Strategy
None
0
0
0.2
-146,000
0
0
0
0
Tragowel Plains Drains at 2002 level
0.2
-22,000
Shepparton SMP
1.4
-383,000
Nangiloc-Colignan SMP
0.4
-102,000
Nyah to SA Border SMP - Irrigation Development
15.2
-3,586,304
Kerang Lakes/Swan Hill SMP
1.6
-370,000
Campaspe West SMP
0.3
-77,000
Woorinen Irrigation District Excision
0.8
-229,000
Sub-Total Victorian Measures
19.9
-4,769,304
TOTAL DEBITS
20.1
-4,915,304
Sub-Total Joint Works and Measures
Shared Schemes
None
Sub-Total Shared Schemes
Victorian Measures
Valley report cards
Salinity and salt loads in 2013/14 at End-of-Valley Target (EOVT) sites were compared to
salinity targets, which are assessed over the benchmark period.
The median salinity in the Ovens, Kiewa, Goulburn, Broken, Loddon and Wimmera (see Table
S- 6) was below the end-of-valley median target during the 2013/14 reporting year. The
median salinity for the Campaspe River was slightly above the median target during
2013/14.
The data for some of these rivers was incomplete due to conditions outside of the
instrumentation threshold, interference to monitoring infrastructure and faulty
instrumentation. Typically, periods of incomplete data could be addressed using interpolation
techniques. However, there was insufficient data to estimate salt loads for the Avoca River due
to low flows, with flow data only recorded for approximately four months over 2013/14. While
it is not possible to monitor salinity levels during cease to flow periods, it could be assumed
that the total salt load from the Avoca River to the Murray River was low given the low
flows.
Salt loads for Kiewa, Ovens and Wimmera rivers (t/yr) were below the median target for
2013/14. All other Victorian EOVT sites do not have salt load targets.
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Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
Table S- 6 Assessment against end-of-valley targets in the 2013/14 reporting period
End-of-Valley Targets
(as absolute value)
Region
Valley
Reporting site
AWRC Site
Number
Salinity
(EC µS/cm)
2013/14
Salt Load
(t/yr)
Salt Load4
(t/yr)
Salinity
(EC µS/cm)
Median
(50 %ile)
Peak
(80%ile)
Mean
Median
(50%ile)
Peak
(80%ile)
Total
Ovens
Ovens River @ Peechelba-East
403241
72
100
54,540
54^
73^
39,200^
Kiewa
Kiewa River @ Bandiana
402205
47
55
19,000
40
48
15,300^
Goulburn River @ Goulburn Weir
405259
99
-
-
61^
100^
30,400^#
Broken
Broken Creek @ Casey's Weir
404217
141
-
-
126##
141##
10,400#
Avoca
Avoca River @ Quambatook
408203
2,096
-
-
No data^
No data^
No data^
Loddon
Loddon River @Laanecoorie
407203
711
-
-
675^
799^
22,700^
Campaspe
Campaspe River @ Campaspe
Weir
406218
412
-
-
490^**
511^
19,100^#
Wimmera
Wimmera
Wimmera River @ Horsham Weir
415200
1,380
1,720
31,000
1,042^
1,449^
13,100^
Mallee
Vic Mallee Zone
River Murray @ Lock 6
426200
+15EEC5
-
-
North
East
Goulburn
Goulburn
Broken
North
Central
Guide to table:
^ Missing data due to instrument damage or conditions outside of instrumentation threshold – where feasible data is interpolated using available data for salt load calculation; # Salt load calculated using flow and salinity (EC)
from downstream gauging station; ## Salinity data from downstream gauging station;** Salinity slightly above median target; ^^The target relates to Victoria’s contribution to river salinity throughout the entire Mallee zone.
This contribution is assessed using the EM2 model, rather than modelled surface water salinity.
4
5
Where flow and/or EC data is missing, salt load calculations for EOVTs has required interpolation of available data.
Equivalent electrical conductivity – refer to Basin Salinity Management Strategy Operation Protocols Version 2.0 Murray-Darling Basin Commission. Figure 4, pg 100.
11
Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
Executive Summary
General Review of Salinity Management
The General Review of Salinity Management in the Murray-Darling Basin was a key focus for
Victoria during 2013/14. The Review was initiated by the MDBA Basin Officials Committee to
give a contemporary understanding of salinity risk within the Basin and provide direction for
the next phase of joint effort to continue to manage the risk.
Victoria participated in an inter-jurisdictional steering committee advising the Review and
provided technical and policy input. Throughout the process, the Victorian Department of
Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP), formerly the Department of Environment
and Primary Industries (DEPI) and regional partners collaborated extensively to provide a
consolidated state perspective to the Review.
In consideration of the findings and recommendation of the Review, the Murray-Darling
Basin Ministerial Council supported the development of an updated salinity management
program, Basin Salinity Management 2030 during 2014/15.
BSMS Element 1 - Developing capacity
Victoria manages its Basin Salinity Management Strategy (BSMS) obligation to keep the total
number of salinity credits in excess or equal to the total number of salinity debits (Clause
16:1(a), Schedule B) through allocating salinity credits to Victorian Catchment Management
Authorities (CMAs). It is the responsibility of the CMAs to ensure that the salinity debits in
their regions do not exceed their salinity credit allocations. The CMAs can influence State
decisions on the allocation of salinity credits, and Victoria’s compliance with the BSMS,
through membership on the two groups established to advise the State – the Victorian Salt
Disposal Working Group and the Victorian Salt Disposal Advisory Group. This approach
means that the CMAs are active partners in the implementation of activities to support the
BSMS in Victoria.
At the regional level, the CMAs manage BSMS responsibilities through Boards of Directors
and Implementation Committees, consistent with their Land and Water Management Plans
(LWMPs). There is a strong theme of community involvement and consultation in the
implementation of LWMPs. CMAs also actively communicate and educate their communities
about salinity issues through engagement activities, such as regional workshops and
information sessions.
During the 2013/14 reporting period, CMAs did a number of research and investigation
projects to enhance State and regional capacity to manage salinity in the Murray-Darling
Basin.
The Shepparton Irrigation Region Salt and Water Balance Project developed a Salinity Risk
Management System (SRMS) concept to be implemented as an interactive online portal for
use by farmers and Government. The SRMS will provide targeted and up-to-date information
12
Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
and analysis to optimise the management of salinity threats and sub-surface drainage
through groundwater pumping and re-use. The SRMS is scheduled for completion in 2015.
Victoria also contributed to a review of MSM BIGMOD which is the daily flow and salinity
model for the Murray River, and the Stage 1 Review of the Salinity Impact Rapid Assessment
Tool (SIMRAT).
BSMS Element 2 - Identifying values and assets at risk
The summary of values and assets at risk in the Victorian Murray-Darling Basin remained
largely unchanged from previous annual reports. Water table trends were variable across
the region. Across the Mallee region most groundwater bores continued to show a declining
trend in groundwater levels. Since the higher than average rainfall and flooding during 20102012, shallow groundwater levels generally remained elevated in the Shepparton Irrigation
Region (SIR) compared to the low levels experienced during the drought. Groundwater levels
in the North Central region stabilised or reduced marginally over the last year.
BSMS Element 3 - Setting salinity targets
Victoria’s salinity targets were unchanged from the previous BSMS Annual Report.
BSMS Element 4 - Managing trade-offs
Victoria strives to balance options to achieve salinity targets with other catchment health
targets and social and economic needs as part of the process to implement Regional
Catchment Strategies, and the subordinate LWMPs. A number of tools have been developed
to assist the CMAs to do this, including regulating high and low salinity impact zones and
developing investment frameworks.
The Mallee CMA’s five-year review of the Nyah to South Australia Border SMP established
that the salinity impacts associated with irrigation development in the Mallee region are
being over-estimated. This is due to the inherent conservatism within the analytical model
and salinity impact zoning approach used to predict potential impacts from irrigation.
Therefore the need to cap annual use limits in Salinity Impact Zones L3 and L4 to manage
future irrigation development was not considered necessary. Victoria provided the Mallee
CMA 3.29 EC of salinity credits to balance irrigation development until a new modelling
approach is developed. Refinement to the modelling approach for estimating the salinity
impacts of the Nyah to South Australia Border SMP is expected to result in a reduction in the
register debit entry for the next five-year review.
BSMS Element 5 - Implementing plans
CMAs continued to implement their Land and Water Management Plans and Regional
Catchment Strategies in 2013/14. The RCS provide an overarching framework for natural
resource management and actions to combat land degradation. The Regional Catchment
Strategies were updated in 2012/13 following extensive community and stakeholder
consultation.
13
Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
Victoria also continued to implement salinity management actions in the Northern Region
Sustainable Water Strategy (DSE, 2009).
During 2013/14, the CMAs developed Regional Waterway Strategies (RWS) in consultation
with regional agencies, local communities and stakeholders. The RWS will provide a single
planning document for river, estuary and wetland management in each region and a highlevel work program to guide investment over an eight-year period Draft strategies were
released for public consultation in 2013/14 and will be finalised in 2014/15.
In the Mallee, new irrigation development occurred and its impacts were accounted for
under the Nyah to South Australian Border SMP Accountable Action. In addition, there was a
small adjustment to the 2011 salt loads for this accountable action based on the
recommendations of the five-year review.
BSMS Element 6 - Redesigning farming systems
Victorian CMAs continued to provide financial support to landholders to develop whole farm
plans, implement drainage reuse systems, conduct soil salinity surveys and undertake other
activities to improve farming practices (see Table ES - 1).
Table ES - 1 Activities undertaken in 2013/14 to improve farming practices in the Victorian MurrayDarling Basin
Salinity
Management
Activity
Area (ha)
North
East
Goulburn Broken
North Central
Wimmera
Mallee
Irrigation 686 ha
Irrigation:
8,627 ha
Irrigation:
8,288 ha
0
Dryland: 67,103 ha
Irrigation 228 ha
Landforming
0
6,671 ha
2,449 ha
0
0
Reuse Systems
0
3,840 ha
2,792 ha
0
0
Soil Salinity Surveys
0
0
3,650 ha
0
0
0
37 ha plus 194 ha
improved irrigation
management
Whole Farm Plans
Irrigation System
Upgrades
0
7,330 ha
4,625 ha
BSMS Element 7 - Targeting reforestation and vegetation management
Table ES - 2 summarises the reforestation and vegetation management activities completed
in the Victorian Murray-Darling Basin in 2013/14.
Table ES - 2 Victorian Murray-Darling Basin dryland salinity management activities completed in
2013/14
Salinity Management
Activity
North
East
Goulburn
Broken
North Central
Wimmera
Mallee
TOTAL
327 ha
1,219 ha
0
0
35,456 ha
37,002 ha
0
1,211 ha
0
0
Recharge
Management
Native Vegetation
Protected
High Density Tree Est.
14
1,211 ha
Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
Salinity Management
Activity
North
East
Goulburn
Broken
North Central
Wimmera
Mallee
TOTAL
Low Density Tree Est.
0
0
0
207 ha
544 ha
751 ha
Perennial Pasture
Establishment and
Lucerne
0
0
0
0
0
0
Improved Cropping
Practices
0
0
0
650 ha
62,888 ha
63,538 ha
15,185 ha
0
0
0
0
15,185 ha
Native Vegetation Reestablishment
55 ha
0
0
0
0
55 ha
Salt Tolerant Pastures
Establishment
0
0
0
0
0
0
Engineering Works
(e.g. groundwater
pumping)
0
0
0
0
0
0
Improved Grazing
Regime
Discharge
Management
BSMS Theme 8 - Constructing salt interception works
During 2013/14, Victoria continued to operate existing salt interception schemes (SIS) using
agreed operating rules, with the exception of the Mildura-Merbein SIS which was being
refurbished and therefore not operating in 2013/14. Table ES-3 shows the amount of salt
intercepted in 2013/14.
Table ES - 3 Tonnes of salt intercepted by Salt Interception Schemes in Victoria in 2013/14
Scheme
Salt Intercepted (tonnes)
Pyramid Creek
29,241
Barr Creek Drainage Diversion
24,165
Mildura Merbein
0
Total
53,406
BSMS Theme 9 - Basin-wide accountability
During the 2013/14 reporting year, Victoria progressed a number of rolling five-year reviews
of State Accountable Actions.

The five year Register A review of the Nyah to the South Australian Border SMP was
completed and endorsed by the Basin Salinity Management Advisory Panel (BSMAP) in
December 2013.

The Mallee submitted a business case for additional salinity credits associated with
modelled salinity benefits from improved irrigation practices in the Karadoc/Mallee Cliffs
region. As with the original Reduced Irrigation Salinity Impact (RISI) claim, this case was
developed in collaboration with the MDBA and NSW. The additional credit associated
15
Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
with the RISI entry was endorsed by BSMAP for inclusion in the MDBA 2014 Register.
This is in the order of -4.7 EC and will be included on the final Victorian Register subject
to the Independent Audit Group Salinity Register process and MDBA approval.
In 2013/14, Victoria also progressed work on potential new actions:

Initial investigations were undertaken in 2013/14 into projects covered by the MurrayDarling Basin Sustainable Diversion Limit offset program. Three works and measures
proposals in the North Central CMA region and seven in the Mallee CMA are being
developed, with potential salinity impacts being investigated as a part of the business
cases. The final package of works and measures will be considered for approval to
further develop detailed designs in 2015.

The North Central and Goulburn Broken CMAs worked with the Goulburn-Murray Water
Connections Project to identify and work on options to address salinity impacts resulting
from irrigation modernisation across northern Victoria through a multi-agency working
group (Salinity Technical Advisory Committee).
In 2014/15 Victoria will progress work to assess the following salinity impacts:

A project to assess the salinity impacts of the Victorian Mid-Murray Storages for entry
on the BSMS registers and the impacts of associated accountable actions. This will use
the upgraded salinity component of the Kerang Lakes Resource Allocation Model
(REALM). The project will require consultation with other jurisdictions as the Victorian
Mid-Murray Storages is an action under The Living Murray initiative and accounting for
Living Murray Initiative actions on the registers is still to be resolved.

Goulburn-Murray Water will revise preliminary assessments for the Goulburn-Murray
Water Connections Project Stage 1 and Stage 2 during 2014/15 to incorporate the
current level of implementation of the project. More detailed assessments of the
project's salinity impacts will be undertaken in conjunction with five-year reviews of
existing State accountable actions. While Victoria will continue to work toward providing
a comprehensive assessment of the salinity impacts of the Connections Project, the
States and Commonwealth are yet to resolve accountability for salinity impacts
associated with the Basin Plan.
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Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
Abbreviations
AUL
Annual Use Limit
BSMS
Basin Salinity Management Strategy
BSMAP
Basin Salinity Management Advisory Panel
CMA
Catchment Management Authority
DEDJTR
Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources
DELWP
Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
DEPI
Department of Environment and Primary Industries (now DELWP)
DPI
Department of Primary Industries (now DEDJTR)
DSE
Department of Sustainability and Environment (now DELWP)
EC
Electrical Conductivity (µS/cm)
EEC
Equivalent Electrical Conductivity
EMAP
Environmental Management Action Planning (Mallee)
EOVT
End-of-valley target
EVC
Ecological Vegetation Class
G-MW
Goulburn-Murray Water
GSMP
Groundwater and Salt Management Plan
Ha
Hectares
HIZ
High Salinity Impact Zone
IAG
Independent Audit Group
ILMP
Improving Land Management Practices
INFFER
Investment Framework For Environmental Resources
KM
Kilometre
LIZ
Low Salinity Impact Zone
L1, L2, L3, L4
LIZ 1 (lowest impact) to 4 (highest impact)
LMW
Lower Murray Water
LoH
Legacy of History
LWAC
Land and Water Advisory Committee (Mallee)
LWMP
Land and Water Management Plan
MAR
Maximum Application Rate
MDBA
Murray-Darling Basin Authority (established Dec 2008)
MDBC
(Former) Murray-Darling Basin Commission
MDBMC
Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council
ML
Megalitre
MSM-BIGMOD
MSM– BIGMOD, the daily flow and salinity model for the Murray River
NRSWS
Northern Region Sustainable Water Strategy
17
Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
NRMC
Natural Resource Management Committee
PCF
Policy Choice Framework (North Central)
R&I
Research and Investigation
RCS
Regional Catchment Strategy
REALM
Resource Allocation Model
RISI
Reduced Irrigation Salinity Impact
SAAC
Salinity Accountability Advisory Committee (Victorian Mallee)
SIMRAT
Salinity Impacts Rapid Assessment Tool
SEED
Schools Environmental Education Directory
SKM
Sinclair Knight Merz
SIPAG
Sustainable Irrigation Program Advisory Group
SIR
Shepparton Irrigation Region
SIRIC
Shepparton Irrigation Region Implementation Committee
SIRCIS
Shepparton Irrigation Region Catchment Implementation Strategy
SIRSWBP
Shepparton Irrigation Region Salt and Water Balance Project
SIS
Salt Interception Scheme
SIZ
Salinity Impact Zone
SMP
Salinity Management Plan
SSDP
Sub-Surface Drainage Program
SWMS
Surface Water Management System
TAC
Technical Advisory Committee (Mallee)
VSDAG
Victorian Salt Disposal Advisory Group
VSDWG
Victorian Salt Disposal Working Group
VSHS
Victorian Soil Health Strategy
VWR
Victorian Water Register
WUL
Water Use Licence
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Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
1 Introduction
Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report documents Victoria’s accountability and compliance under
the Murray-Darling Basin Salinity Management Strategy (BSMS) 2001-2015 (MDBMC, 2001).
Schedule B to the Murray-Darling Basin Agreement (Schedule 1 to the Water Act 2007) maps
out the method for implementation of the BSMS. The Annual Report structure has followed
the standardised Table of Contents for BSMS annual reporting, endorsed by the BSMS
Register Task Force on 19 August 2008.
Chapter 2 describes Victoria’s implementation of the strategy over the 2013/14 financial
year in accordance with the nine intervention themes of the BSMS. Information is presented
for each Catchment Management Authority (CMA) region within the Victorian MurrayDarling Basin:

North East;

Goulburn Broken;

North Central;

Wimmera; and

Victorian Mallee.
Figure 1-1 displays the location of the CMA regions within the Victorian Murray-Darling
Basin.
Chapter 3 provides salinity and flow information for the 2013/14 reporting year, for each
Victorian valley for which an end-of-valley target (EOVT) has been adopted. Chapter 4
provides a summary of Victoria’s response to the comments of the Independent Audit Group
for Salinity made in 2012/13.
The report was compiled by the former Department of Environment and Primary Industries
(DEPI) with input from the Victorian Salt Disposal Working Group6. The CMAs, GoulburnMurray Water, and the former DEPI worked in partnership to provide the information. The
names and organisations of information providers are in Appendix A.
As of 1 January 2015, DEPI was divided between two new government departments, the
Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) and the Department of
Economic Development, Jobs Transport and Resources (DEDJTR). For the purpose of this
report, which is to reflect on the 2013/14 year, the department referred to throughout this
report is the former DEPI.
Throughout the report, all Murray River salinity effects, salinity credits, and salinity debits
are reported in units of average electrical conductivity (EC, µS/cm) of flow in the Murray
6
Consistent with the VSDWG Terms of Reference
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Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
River at Morgan, South Australia. Salinity cost effects are reported in units of dollar cost per
year.
Figure 1-1 Victorian CMA regions within the Victorian Murray-Darling Basin
1.1
General Review of Salinity Management
The General Review of Salinity Management in the Murray-Darling Basin, and strategic
direction for salinity management following the conclusion of the BSMS, was a key focus for
Victoria during 2013/14. Victoria participated in an inter-jurisdiction steering committee
providing advice on the conduct of the Review and technical and policy input. There was
extensive collaboration between DEPI and regional partners to assist in providing a
consolidated State perspective to the Review. This included a Partners Salinity Planning
workshop involving CMAs, Goulburn-Murray Water, Lower Murray Water and DEPI, a
number of discussion papers, and feedback from the Victorian Salt Disposal Working Group
on material produced through the course of the Review.
The General Review was initiated by the MDBA Basin Officials Committee to provide a
contemporary understanding of salinity risk within the Basin and provide direction on the
next phase of joint effort in continuing to successfully manage this risk. An important driver
for the Review was the potential dilution benefits of Basin Plan environmental water on
salinity levels in the Murray River.
Initial findings and recommendations of the Review were presented to the Murray-Darling
Basin Ministerial Council highlighting:
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Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report

the success of collaborative inter-jurisdiction action through the BSMS in significantly
improving salinity levels in the Murray River;

advances in understanding the magnitude and distribution of salinity risk across the
Basin and the need to revise the application of the EOVT framework particularly for
dryland areas. Improved knowledge of groundwater systems indicated that while
localised salinity impacts still require management, the threat from increasing dryland
salinity to the shared water resources was less than predicted in 2001;

dilution benefits of environmental flows provided opportunity to reduce costs in salinity
management. However, technical investigations and modelling undertaken in the
Review indicated substantial SIS capacity would still be needed to control salinity in the
River, especially to manage salinity in low flow conditions and drought when dilution
flows were not available; and

strong accountability and governance arrangements needed to continue, while still
identifying areas where effort could be reduced to improve efficiency in the delivery of a
future salinity management program.
The Ministerial Council considered the key findings and recommendations of the Review,
and supported the development of an updated salinity management program, Basin Salinity
M2030 to be completed during 2014/15.
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2 The nine elements of the BSMS
Victoria implemented the BSMS over the 2013/14 financial year in accordance with the nine
elements of the strategy:

Developing capacity;

Identifying values and assets at risk;

Setting salinity targets;

Managing trade-offs;

Implementing plans;

Redesigning farming systems;

Targeting reforestation and vegetation management;

Constructing salt interception works; and

Basin-wide accountability.
2.1
Developing capacity
Descriptions of the nine elements of the BSMS are taken from the Murray-Darling Basin
Ministerial Council report (MDBMC, 2001, p. iii):
The [former] Commission and partner Governments will administer a comprehensive
‘knowledge generation’ program to support Basin and within valley planning and
implementation.
The partner Governments will assist catchment communities to implement national, Basin and
State initiatives by improving access to and use of the knowledge and decision tools generated
by investigations and salinity research and development. This process will be supported by
further capacity building for catchment planning, including communication and education.
During the 2013/14 reporting year Victoria carried out numerous tasks to develop State and
regional capacity for managing salinity in the Murray-Darling Basin. Additionally, Victoria
contributed to reviews of the MDBA models MSM-BIGMOD and SIMRAT which are used in
the implementation of the BSMS. MSM-BIGMOD is the key model for the salinity register
entries. SIMRAT is primarily used as rapid assessment tool for irrigation development in the
South Australian and NSW Mallee.
2.1.1
Victoria
In Victoria, the CMAs are provided with regional waterway, floodplain, drainage and
environmental water reserve management powers under the Victorian Water Act 1989.
Although DELWP coordinates the State’s implementation of the BSMS, the CMAs are often
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Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
the bodies that initiate Accountable Actions as part of the implementation of their LWMPs.
For example, surface and subsurface drainage activities are initiated at a regional level.
Victoria manages its BSMS obligation to keep the total of salinity credits in excess of, or equal
to, the total of any salinity debits to it in Register A (Clause 16(1) (a) Schedule B) by allocating
salinity credits to the CMAs. It is the responsibility of the CMAs to ensure that the salinity
debits in their region do not exceed their salinity credit allocation.
The CMAs can influence State decisions on the allocation of salinity credits, and Victoria’s
compliance with the BSMS, through membership on the two groups established to advise
the State – the Victorian Salt Disposal Working Group and the Victorian Salt Disposal
Advisory Group.
Victorian Salt Disposal Working Group
The Victorian Salt Disposal Working Group advises the DELWP Deputy Secretary Water and
Catchments Group on the management of Victoria’s salt credits and provides advice on
Victoria’s compliance with the BSMS (Victorian Salt Disposal Working Group Terms of
Reference, DSE, April 2011).
Victorian Salt Disposal Advisory Group
The Victorian Salt Disposal Advisory Group includes the Chairs and Chief Executive Officers
of the Mallee, North Central, and Goulburn Broken CMAs. It is chaired by the DELWP
Executive Director Rural Water Programs, with executive support provided by the Convenor
of the Victorian Salt Disposal Advisory Group. The purpose of the Victorian Salt Disposal
Advisory Group is to advise the Victorian Minister for Water on the generation, allocation,
and management of Victoria’s salinity credits and to ensure the cooperative and coordinated
statewide management of the salinity credits (Victorian Salt Disposal Advisory Group Terms
of Reference, DSE, April 2011).
CMAs are active partners in the implementation of activities to support the BSMS in Victoria.
The CMAs provide a valuable contribution each year during the meeting with the
Independent Audit Group for Salinity. The Auditors have commended Victoria’s partnership
approach on many occasions.
Dryland salinity
In 2013/14, programs within the Murray-Darling Basin dryland areas were undertaken to
monitor, and analyse groundwater and salinity trends, provide extension and training to
landholders, and support on-ground works. The work involved collaboration of state and
regional agencies, universities, landcare groups and landholders.
Specific areas of dryland salinity research and development activities undertaken in 2013/14
to support the BSMS included:

Collation, storage and analysis of the dryland salinity bore network information.
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Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report

Providing dryland salinity bore information to the Victorian Water Measurement
Information System, Bureau of Meteorology, and Landcare and landholder regional
collectors.

Re-mapping soil salinity at selected regional discharge sites to better understand salinity
manifestation at these locations.

Revisiting previous discharge to establish if the sites had become sites of active erosion
when the groundwater levels fell.

Developing test web pages for high priority salinity provinces, a statewide summary,
and 10 CMA region pages. The pages were expected to go “live” in mid- 2014/15
(www.depi.vic.gov.au/vro).

Investigating remote sensing by DELWP to allow the efficacy of past salinity treatments
across the landscape to be determined.

Determining recharge rates relative to “average” for selected sites around the state.
They showed recharge was likely to be average or less than average in the west and
north-east of the State.

Starting a project with collaborators to refine advanced geostatistical mapping
techniques to allow more efficient and accurate time-series watertable maps for the
State.
The above information helped DELWP and the CMAs to update their priorities, projects and
actions through an improved understanding of dryland salinity within Victoria.
2.1.2
North East
Governance arrangements
The North East CMA and its Board are responsible for developing and implementing the
North East Regional Catchment Strategy 2013, which provides an overarching framework to
guide natural resource management actions for the region. Service Level Agreements
between the CMA and DELWP allow the CMA Board to manage arrangements associated
with salinity management.
Communication activities
Community Education: Salinity education in schools throughout North East Victoria is
delivered through the Schools Environment Education Directory project. The strategic
direction is guided by a Committee of Management, consisting of the North East CMA,
NevRwaste and North East Water.
Three Schools Environment Education Directory days were run during 2013/14, reaching
approximately 500 school children. Professional development programs were also offered
to schools to assist them to understand how the Schools Environment Education Directory
can help them integrate environmental sustainability into their curriculum. Teachers,
students and environment staff had access to the Schools Environment Education Directory
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Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
website to allow easy access to a range of education resources, including salinity education.
DELWP staff provided specific advice on the salinity education modules for the curriculum.
Community Engagement and Consultation: A total of 20 sustainable agriculture workshops
were held for dryland farming, with more than 400 land managers covering 315 farming
entities attending. The workshops focused on maintaining and improving groundcover,
maintaining and improving soil structure and improving soil health over more than 2100 ha
of farm land. In addition, eight dryland farming entities conducted field trials over 160 ha.
The trials piloted local farmland management solutions with the aim of encouraging
adoption of sustainable agriculture practices with a focus on soil and vegetation heath.
Four irrigation field days were held for irrigation land managers in the North East CMA
region in 2013/14, attracting 45 participants.
Waterwatch in the North East continued to increase community awareness and
understanding of water quality issues including salinity by providing education and training.
More than 60 trained adult volunteers monitored salinity levels and other water quality
parameters at over 90 sites across the North East region. Waterwatch held 21 training days
for volunteers and students in the North East to learn how to use monitoring equipment
and measure water quality.
The publication “IrriGate” focused on irrigation management issues in the North East and
the Goulburn Broken catchments, and was circulated three times a year by direct mail to
more than 1,000 landholders.
2.1.3
Goulburn Broken
Governance arrangements
The Goulburn Broken CMA Board is advised by a number of advisory groups established
under the provisions of section 122C of the Victorian Water Act 1989 and section 19J of the
Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994.
The Land and Biodiversity Implementation Forum, the Landcare Networks and the
Sustainable Irrigation Program Advisory Group play a vital role in effective land and water
management in the Goulburn Broken Catchment by engaging stakeholders within their
communities and providing conduits to the Goulburn Broken CMA and its Board of Directors.
Eight skills based community representatives on the Sustainable Irrigation Program Advisory
Group were appointed by the Board and receive strategic and administrative support from
non- voting members of partner agencies: Goulburn Broken CMA, DEPI and GoulburnMurray Water.
Sustainable Irrigation Program Advisory Group had a number of working groups to further
engage people with relevant skills and networks of the Catchment community. Surface
Water Management, Farm and Environment, and Groundwater and Salinity Management
working groups were made up of Sustainable Irrigation Program Advisory Group members,
additional community members with an interest in the particular program, and agency staff
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Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
with relevant skills and responsibilities. The Sustainable Irrigation Program Advisory Group
was also supported by a strong technical process involving agency staff.
The various community engagement groups provided a community perspective into the
annual integrated natural resource management programs within their areas of interest.
Their role included feedback and advice to the organisation on the delivery and priorities of
the programs. They also provided oversight of the delivery of projects by the Goulburn
Broken CMA and partner organisations notably DEPI, Goulburn-Murray Water, Landcare
Groups, other community groups, natural resource based industries and local government.
Communication activities
Community engagement and consultation was a priority activity of the Goulburn Broken
CMA. The Sustainable Irrigation Program Advisory Group had a Stakeholder Engagement
Plan which demonstrated to stakeholders and partners how it was connecting with all the
major political, economic, market, competitive and social influences which could impact on
the successful implementation of the Regional Catchment Strategy.
During the 2013/14 period, the key communication activity was the first stage of
engagement for the proposed revision of the LWMP to align with the new Regional
Catchment Strategy. The engagement process included broad representation from
community, industry, local government, and environmental groups. The process aimed for a
high level plan to reflects the region’s needs, new challenges, opportunities and responses.
Regional connection and broader community support had been crucial to the development
process and will continue in the next phase.
Regional Partners attendance and presentation of the “MDBA to Farm Scale salinity
management case study” at the 3rd International Salinity Conference at Riverside in
California was a broader communication opportunity. The Goulburn Broken CMA will build
the messages from the conference into communication and planning for the future. The
messages included reflecting on importance of partnerships, the criticality of salinity
management and Goulburn Broken CMA’s competitive advantage in salinity management.
Broader communication activities related to the benefits flowing on from the on-farm
irrigation efficiency program delivered by Goulburn Broken CMA (the Farm Water Program).
The activities highlighted the renewed need for managing salinity as a threat in the SIR, the
knowledge that improved irrigation efficiency was not enough to manage salinity, and that
an integrated response and new communication tools were required.
In the SIR, water table maps were still seen as being highly successful to raise community
awareness and communicate the need for action against high water tables. The total area
monitored for water table depth covered 560,000 ha and used data from over 1400
community observation bores. The water table map for August 2013 (see Figure 2-1) showed
the areas where water tables were near the natural surface and were a potential salinity
risk.
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Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
Figure 2-1 Shepparton Irrigation Region August 2013 water table map
The following graph was developed to demonstrate the groundwater level response
resulting from the drought and the post-drought conditions (see Figure 2-2).
Annual reports were undertaken for the Groundwater and Salt Management Program,
implementation of the Irrigation Drainage Memorandum of Understanding, Drain
Phosphorus and Nitrogen Loads and the SIR Groundwater Management Plan.
Figure 2-2 Communication graph demonstrating regional water table response to climate and
catchment management actions
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Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
Research and investigations
The Shepparton Irrigation Region Salt and Water Balance Project (SIRSWBP): The key
objective of the SIRSWBP is to recommend policies and strategies and provide a
management framework and tools to assist the mitigation of salinity by managing shallow
groundwater in the SIR. The framework was designed to accommodate the combined
impacts of unpredictable climate, land use change and reduced recharge resulting from the
transfer of water entitlements and the modernisation of farm and regional irrigation
infrastructure.
The SIRSWBP’s major output for 2013/14 was the development of the Salinity Risk
Management System (SRMS) concept to be implemented as an interactive online portal for
use by farmers and Government.
The SRMS concept was developed to improve landholder and Goulburn-Murray Water
capacity to manage groundwater in the shallow aquifer over a wide range of climatic
conditions and to better match the level of public and private pumping to the fluctuating
hydraulic loading of the shallow aquifer. The SRMS aims to ensure the sub-surface drainage
threats are understood and appropriately managed and that sub-surface drainage
infrastructure is appropriately located and operated.
The SRMS is also intended to enable the development of regional scale salinity risk maps on
a regular basis, the prioritisation of actions and targeted communication, the ability to
generate "real time" user-friendly groundwater hydrographs, support for a salinity threat
mitigation advice service for farmers, reporting of public groundwater pump operation,
provide a linkage hub for catchment management information and a portal for Basin,
Murray River and regional salinity and groundwater information.
The second phase of the SRMS is due to be completed in 2015 and will involve further
detailed design and specification, web interface development, road testing and refinement,
identification of aspirational functionality and the preparation of an implementation and
operation guide.
The SIRSWBP also implemented a number of other initiatives, including:

a "low intensity" management approach for SIR shallow groundwater. The initiative,
involved revocation of the SIR groundwater statutory management plan by the Victorian
Minister for Water in October 2013. In its place a simpler, more adaptable and less
costly local management plan was being developed. The local management plan aimed
to reduce the costs associated with groundwater licences and provide incentive to
farmers to keep their groundwater licences and retain the ability to pump and manage
their own salinity risk from shallow groundwater levels;

an adaptive management approach for public groundwater pumps; and

rationalisation of groundwater level and extraction monitoring.
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Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
2.1.4
North Central
Governance Arrangements
The North Central CMA Board oversees the development and implementation of the North
Central Regional Catchment Strategy. The Regional Catchment Strategy sets the direction for
managing natural resource assets within the region. The role of the board is to consider the
views of the community, scientific input, government policy and management in delivering
the Regional Catchment Strategy. The board makes decisions and recommendations in the
best interest of the region as a whole.
The North Central CMA Board is supported by the Natural Resource Management
Committee (NRMC), a sub-committee to the board, whose membership consists of
community members from north central Victoria. The fundamental role of the NRMC is to
provide a community perspective to the functions of the North Central CMA.
Communication activities
The North Central CMA was involved in strengthening the capacity of people in the North
Central CMA region to manage salinity through:

The North Central CMA Board and NRMC engaging regularly in salinity management
issues. These committees form a key role in signing off on BSMS obligations on behalf of
the regional community.

Active organisational management participation in the agency based Victorian Salt
Disposal Working Group and independent audit of Victoria’s BSMS annual reports.

Providing technical input as a partner in the Farm Water Project and Goulburn-Murray
Water Connections Project Salinity Technical Advisory Committee. These focused on
best practice farm irrigation, including irrigation impact reduction on the environment
specifically through water use efficiency, reducing off site impacts of irrigation water,
and reducing groundwater accessions.
Research and Investigations
In 2013/14 the North Central CMA undertook the following research and investigation
projects:

Stage 2 of the Kerang Lakes REALM Model upgrade project was progressed. A project
will commence in 2014/15 to use the updated model to simulate the operation of the
Victorian Mid-Murray Storage and estimate salinity within the Torrumbarry system and
in the Murray River. The upgraded version Kerang Lakes REALM model will be submitted
to the MDBA for consideration as fit-for-purpose for use in the assessment of a new
accountable action incorporating the operation of the Mid Murray Storages.

Monitoring and analysis of the Lower Loddon and Campaspe catchment water tables to
understand ground water trends. The trends will be remapped in 2014/15 to provide an
indication of areas most at risk of land salinisation. This will be communicated as
deemed appropriate.
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2.1.5
Wimmera
Governance arrangements
Wimmera CMA is governed by a Minister appointed skill-based Board consisting of nine
community members (The Wimmera CMA Board). The Wimmera CMA Board sets the
organisation’s strategic direction and ensures that the Wimmera CMA meets its statutory
and financial responsibilities under the Victorian Water Act 1989 and Catchment and Land
Protection Act 1994 and that its activities reflect community values and expectations.
The Board has delegated responsibility for some functions to the Board sub-committees
which meet on an as-needs basis, depending on the delegated responsibility. The
Committees include: Finance Audit and Risk management Committee, Human Resource
committee, the Inter-Catchment advisory group and the Business and Planning Committee.
The Board is responsible for developing, implementing and monitoring the Wimmera
Regional Catchment Strategy 2013-2019, and for endorsing strategies for its
implementation. The Board has five advisory committees to provide advice on strategies to
implement the Regional Catchment Strategy. These advisory committees are set around five
asset classes including:

soils;

rivers and streams;

wetlands;

native vegetation; and

threatened plants and animals.
Annual independent internal and external audits ensure there are robust control processes
in place providing investors with assurance that funds are properly and effectively allocated
towards agreed outcomes. Investors conduct their own audits from time to time.
Communication activities
A focus on multiple benefit outcomes within our planning approaches allowed Wimmera
CMA to target salinity outcomes within broader investment outcomes. However, during
2013/14 no projects were specifically funded and designed to strengthen capacity to
manage salinity in the Murray-Darling Basin.
Wimmera CMA’s programs were targeted towards the protection and management of
priority natural assets. The condition of each asset has been identified together with threats
to the condition of each asset, including salinity and documented in the revised Regional
Catchment Strategy in consultation with community groups, partners and the broader
community.
Community engagement was achieved through property management planning and
mentoring under the Regional Delivery and Landcare Support projects. Regional Delivery
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Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
facilitated planning for large-scale change within the catchment and saw mentoring activities
involving 30 farmers in the Vectis, Rupanyup, Nhill and Murtoa districts. A total of 151
people participated in three workshops designed to improve capacity to manage natural
resource challenges in the region including salinity.
The Perennial Pasture Systems group was supported to coordinate and strengthen farmer
networks in the upper Wimmera region, impacting salinity the length of the Wimmera River.
The support helped the group increase its membership and property coverage in 2013/14 to
104 enterprises and 112,000 ha.
Research and Investigations
Salinity investigations were carried out through monitoring water quality in the Wimmera
River, assessing the success of environmental flows and management actions designed to
improve the health of the Wimmera River. Wimmera CMA has contributed to reporting on
salinity in Wimmera groundwater systems through participation in the West Wimmera
Groundwater Committee.
2.1.6
Victorian Mallee
Governance arrangements
The Mallee CMA has established the Salinity Accountability Advisory Committee (SAAC formerly the Mallee Salt Disposal Entitlement Finance Committee) as a formal subcommittee
of the Mallee CMA’s Board of Directors. The prime responsibility of the SAAC is to provide
advice to the Board on all salinity management obligations under Schedule B of the MurrayDarling Basin Agreement at the regional level. The SAAC oversees the management and
maintenance of the Mallee Regional Salinity Register and administration of the levied funds,
which are collected to offset salinity impacts of irrigation development under the Nyah to
South Australian Border SMP (MCMA, 1993). The Committee also advises the Board, through
the Executive Officer, on matters relating to the region’s BSMS reporting functions.
Communication activities
Community engagement and consultation about salinity issues within the region is primarily
conducted through the Mallee CMA Land and Water Advisory Committee (LWAC). Technical
support to the Mallee CMA’s programs is provided by various Technical Advisory
Committees (TAC). Project specific groups provide further consultation and advice on salinity
issues and are formed as needed to address specific issues.
During the first half of the 2013/14 irrigation season, irrigation areas in the Mallee
experienced exceptionally high evapotranspiration rates arising from high temperatures
(Figure 2-3), with rainfall deficiencies (Figure 2-4) occurring in parallel. This resulted in a
higher than normal water usage observed by water corporations on irrigation properties. In
accordance with the Ministerial Determination of Standard Water-Use Conditions, the
Mallee CMA, Lower Murray Water and DEPI investigated whether the extreme climate
conditions warranted the need to declare a seasonal adjustment of Annual Use Limits (AUL)
across the region. Analysis of the weather data indicated that an AUL adjustment was
justified for the 2013/14 season. Technical advice was sought from Charles Thompson
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(RMCG) and Mark Wood (Woodwater). The consultation process, including Mallee CMA
community and technical representatives (LWAC and TAC members) and the Lower Murray
Water customer consultative committee, culminated in the Minister for Water announcing a
25 per cent adjustment of AUL for all Mallee irrigators for the 2013/14 season in March
2014. This was the second year in a row that a seasonal AUL adjustment has been made in
the Mallee region.
Figure 2-3 Victorian Temperature Deficiencies (1 August 2013 to 31 January 2014)
Figure 2-4 Victorian Rainfall Deficiencies (1 August 2013 to 31 January 2014)
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Community Education
Community education activities included school demonstrations using the Mallee CMA
Waterwatch trailer and a diorama (three-dimensional representation) of the land uses and
regional salt processes. Displays at the Mildura Horticultural Field Days in May, 2014
promoted Mallee CMA water use efficiency programs.
A series of six irrigator ‘shed’ meetings were held promoting irrigation best management
practice as well as natural resource management issues within the Mallee region. In 2014,
the shed meetings engaged 41 private diverters from Piangle, Boundary Bend, Robinvale,
Wemen, Yelta and Lindsay Point.
The Farm Based Environmental Management Action Planning (EMAP) program continued to
be a targeted forum providing private land managers with information on both salinity
processes and mitigation strategies, in conjunction with other NRM management issues. In
2013/14, the EMAP program engaged 31 participants, representing 67,103 ha of land.
Participants identified seven ha of salinity control actions for implementation within their
environmental plans. Since commencing in 2005, the EMAP program has engaged some 528
farm businesses, covering 1.2 million hectares of land.
Salinity based fact sheets and technical bulletins were circulated through targeted
dissemination and the Mallee CMA website. Salinity related publications released over the
past year included the Technical Bulletin No. 33 Dryland Salinity Drivers and Processes.
Research and investigations
In 2013/14, Mallee CMA invested in a number of salinity investigations and research,
including:
Regional policy development for annual use limits on water use licences: The Mallee CMA
worked collaboratively with DEPI, Lower Murray Water and Victorian CMAs in the Murray
Darling Basin to attain an additional 3.29 EC salinity credits from the State’s pool of salinity
credits to meet current and future irrigation development requirements. These additional
salinity credits were calculated to meet the recent increase in demand for AUL in the
Nangiloc Colignan (L4) area. This approach superseded the requirement to set a cap on total
AUL in salinity impact zones L3 and L4 (an Action from the Northern Region Sustainable
Water Strategy (NRSWS)). Transfer mechanisms enabling exchange of existing AUL between
willing water use licence holders were taken up by those seeking to expand operations in
order to utilise existing AUL and minimising the requirement to seek new AUL.
Improving the Seasonal AUL adjustment process: In 2013/14, the Mallee CMA commissioned
RMCG to complete a study with the aim of improving the AUL seasonal adjustment process
by capturing lessons learnt from the 2012/13 AUL seasonal adjustment. A survey of
irrigators completed to understand why irrigators were coming close to breaching their AULs
indicated that most AUL breaches, or near breaches, were due to a miss-match between
crop type and AUL holdings or due to irrigation efficiency issues. The survey also identified a
limited understanding about AULs, their purpose and mechanisms that are available to
change AUL holdings. Further investigation into the process for seasonal AUL adjustments
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identified a need to review the timing of announcements so irrigators can better prepare
seasonal water budgets and AUL budgets. The final project report included
recommendations to consider individual seasonal adjustments and to develop and enact a
communication strategy on AULs.
Maximum water application rates:
Current AUL calculations are based on a set of maximum application rates (MARs) as listed in
Schedule 2 of the Ministerial Determination on Standard Water-Use Conditions. Schedule 2
contains a list of MARs for nine of the most common crops grown in the Mallee. For crops
other than those listed, Schedule 2 states that the MAR will be “agreed in writing by DEPI
after consultation with relevant water authorities and the Mallee CMA”. In 2012/13, the
Mallee CMA commissioned a study with the aim of developing a method for determining
MARs for crops other than those listed in Schedule 2.
For crops grown using conventional management systems the study recommended that
MARs be calculated using existing crop coefficients published by Rural Solutions South
Australia coupled with climate data from the Bureau of Meteorology’s Mildura airport
weather station. Using this method an extensive list of MARs was calculated and
documented. Furthermore, the study proposed an approach that could be used to develop
crop coefficients for new crops or innovative management systems and outlined a means of
further calibrating crop coefficients into the future.
This project was finalised in 2012/13 and the Mallee CMA presented the proposed approach
to the LMW Board in 2013/14. It is currently being considered for implementation by LMW.
2.2
Identifying values and assets at risk
The partner Governments will work with catchment communities to identify important values
and assets throughout the Basin at risk of salinity, and the nature and timeframe of risk. This
Strategy emphasises the triple-bottom line approach, requiring a balance between economic,
environmental and social values. It necessarily recognises that living with salinity is the only
choice in some situations.
The following sections identify values and assets at risk of salinity of the five CMA regions of
the Victorian Murray-Darling Basin.
2.2.1
North East
The North East CMA region covers an area of 19,800 km2 (1.98 million ha) or approximately
nine per cent of the area of Victoria. The major catchments within the North East region are
the Ovens, Kiewa and Upper Murray catchments. Landforms vary across the region from the
Victorian Alps in the Great Dividing Range, to the Riverine Plains in the lower catchments.
Approximately 55 per cent of the North East region consists of public land including National
Parks, State Forests, wilderness areas, nature reserves, plantations and plantation forests
(on long term lease for softwood production), crown land and Alpine resorts. The remaining
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land is largely privately owned, much of which is cleared of native vegetation and used for
farmland.
Land Resources
The main cause of dryland salinity in the region is believed to be the clearing and loss of
deep-rooted native vegetation since European settlement. This has led to increased
groundwater recharge, which has the potential to lead to shallow water tables and land
salinisation.
There is a large area of land in low parts of the landscape threatened by rising water tables
and potential salinity. The North East Regional Catchment Strategy (2013) acknowledges soil
health problems, including dryland salinity, which have been exacerbated in areas by land
clearing and inappropriate land use and management practices. Several management plans
have been implemented in an attempt to mitigate the problem, particularly in high recharge
areas.
Water Quality
Any gradual rise in water tables mobilises salt to the land surface and eventually to the river
system. Without intervention, the salinity of rivers, streams and water bodies in the North
East and downstream catchments will increase, with associated social, economic and
environmental impacts. Whilst the salinity concentration of water in the North East is very
low, it is estimated that over 180,000 tonnes of salt is exported annually from the region
(North East Salinity Strategy, 1997).
Other water quality issues in the North East include nutrient enrichment, sedimentation,
eutrophication and turbidity of surface water and groundwater. In general, water is of a very
high quality in the forested areas of the North East. There is a trend for water quality to
deteriorate in the lower catchments in response to changing land use. Groundwater
extraction for stock and domestic use continues to be an important source of water across
the region.
Biodiversity
This asset is generally defined as flora, fauna and terrestrial ecosystems. Defining the impact
that salinity has on each species of flora and fauna within the catchments is not possible. It is
possible, however, to consider the impacts that rising groundwater, saline water and
discharge areas have on the structure and composition of at-risk vegetation within the
catchment. Vegetation management activities for salinity control have been focused on high
groundwater recharge areas, also providing biodiversity improvements.
2.2.2
Goulburn Broken
The Goulburn Broken region covers about 2.4 million hectares (or about 11 per cent of
Victoria), has a population of over 200,000 people and supports major agricultural, food
processing, forestry and tourism industries. The region covers two per cent of the MurrayDarling Basin and generates 11 per cent of the Basin’s water resources.
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Land resources – Goulburn Dryland
Within the Goulburn Broken CMA there are two distinct dryland regions: the Upper
Goulburn region, comprising approximately 10,500 km2 (1.05 million ha); and the
Mid-Goulburn and Broken region, comprising approximately 8,500 km2 (0.85 million ha).
The Upper Goulburn region is the source of 80 per cent of the total salt load for the entire
Goulburn-Broken catchment.
Dryland salinity in the Goulburn Broken is highly localised. It occurs mainly throughout the
interface between the plains and the uplands, from Warrenbayne through to Seymour, in
localised areas of the southwest Goulburn region south of Seymour, and along sections of
the Goulburn River valley.
The nature of the topography and soils makes these at risk areas prone to water logging.
However, the anticipated rise in water tables (MDBMC, 1999) have not been realised to date
(DPI, 2012).
Land Resources – Shepparton Irrigation Region (SIR)
The SIR is a highly productive irrigation area located in the northern Victorian Riverine Plains
and covers approximately 5,000 km2 (500,000 ha), of which approximately 3,000 km2
(300,000 ha) is irrigated. Due to high water tables, salinisation is a major threat to the
region.
Rising watertables and associated salinity risk were the focus of the Shepparton Land and
Water Salinity Management Plan developed in the late 1980s. An assessment of watertable
levels in the SIR has been conducted in August each year since 1982. Watertable levels have
varied from year to year depending on seasonal conditions. A rapidly rising trend was
observed until 1995 when 47 per cent of the study area had watertable levels within two
metres of the surface. By 1995, the predicted watertable levels for the year 2000 in the land
and water SMP had been surpassed and modelling had predicted that without active
management, 65 per cent of the SIR would have a high watertable by 2020.
The previous drought coupled with Shepparton Irrigation Region Catchment Implementation
Strategy (SIRCIS) salinity works led to a reduction in watertables across the irrigation region.
Higher than average rainfall from 2010 to 2012 resulted in a general rise in shallow
groundwater levels and subsequently an increase in salinity risk (refer to Figure 2-2). The
effective communication of the rate of return is critical to manage the risk. Continual
management and monitoring of watertables is required as there is still potential for severe
widespread salinisation, resulting in significant loss to economic assets and irreversible
degradation of most major wetlands in the area.
Biodiversity – Goulburn-Broken Dryland
The major threat posed by groundwater discharge is stream water quality, and to the
associated aquatic and riparian biodiversity. There is little information on the link between
changing salinity regimes and the biotic health of streams. It may be that the salinity of
waterways and wetlands is a second-order threat behind the reduction in fresh water flows.
Most of the remnant vegetation communities across the Riverine Plains are severely
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depleted. Remnant vegetation on the lower-lying parts of the landscape (on the floodplains,
in wetlands, and along waterways) is particularly at risk from potentially rising watertables,
as groundwater levels bounce back from lower levels experienced during the recent dry
phase.
Revegetation efforts in the Goulburn-Broken dryland area will continue to focus on areas
that combine the likelihood of reasonable salinity outcomes with biodiversity outcomes.
Therefore most of the revegetation efforts will be focussed along the plains-upland interface
and higher in the catchment.
Increasingly, large-scale revegetation is being completed to enhance biodiversity values
across this region.
Biodiversity – SIR
The magnitude and potential extent of the salinity problem in the SIR has the potential to
have major impacts on the biodiversity of the areas which are most at risk in the catchment.
Unmanaged, the threat could potentially lead to a reduction in the complexity, diversity and
functions of ecosystems. Many of the types of remnant vegetation across the Riverine Plains
are severely depleted. Remnant vegetation on the lower-lying parts of the landscape (on
the floodplains, in wetlands, and along waterways) is especially at risk from high
watertables, which will affect stream condition and further accelerate the degradation of
aquatic habitats. Further loss of vegetation and biodiversity in the plains zone will degrade
the capacity of the natural ecosystem to support essential landscape functions.
Planning controls are in place through local government and regional agencies to protect or
alternatively replace any tree or remnant vegetation impacted by development.
Water quality
The waterways at greatest risk are those on the Riverine Plains, those flowing through the
Plains-Upland interface along the foot of the Strathbogie Ranges, and those in the south
west Goulburn area. These are the areas where the risk of dryland salinity is highest. Many
of the streams in this zone already suffer from seasonally high salinities. It is not known
whether streams become more saline as base flow becomes more dominant, or whether
base flow ceases to be a significant component of an increasingly intermittent stream flow.
Further investigation is required to understand the impacts shifts in timing of flows have on
aquatic ecosystems and stream condition.
The region covers part of two major groundwater basins – the Murray Basin and the
Highlands Basin. Groundwater is an important resource for many towns and water users
within the region and is a major contributor to the base flow of streams within the
catchment. In the SIR more than 800 bores are currently licensed to pump approximately
210,000 ML of shallow groundwater per year.
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Community infrastructure
The SIR is recognised as an important food producing area in the Murray-Darling Basin. The
main primary industries are horticulture, dairying, cropping, viticulture and grazing (sheep
and beef). Agricultural industries are becoming more efficient and more intensive.
The SIR supports a large fruit and vegetable food processing industry with value-adding in
other commodities such as milk, wine grapes and meats. Of that total, the SIR produces
approximately $5.9 billion across all sectors of its economy. The dryland area of the
Goulburn Broken catchment contributes approximately $1.9 billion (ABS, 2010). The
catchment’s combined total production is the most significant contribution of any nonmetropolitan catchment in Victoria, and the capital investment in food processing assets is
growing. The success of Goulburn-Murray Water’s Connections Project is critical to the
future of the SIR where the irrigated footprint is expected to reduce over the next few years
while water saved will return to both irrigators and the environment.
Rapid development and rural living dominate land use change trends in the southern areas
of the Goulburn-Broken dryland. This places land use demands on areas potentially at risk
from salinisation, accelerates problems of effluent and waste disposal, and increases
demands for improved water security. Rural development poses opportunities and risks for
biodiversity.
2.2.3 North Central
The North Central CMA region covers almost 3 million hectares including the Campaspe,
Loddon, Avoca and Avon Richardson river catchments. The region has been transformed
significantly since European settlement; its native vegetation cover has been highly modified
and the type and distribution of the region’s wetlands has changed considerably.
The North Central CMA region is dominated by agricultural landscapes which sustain the
region’s economic and social prosperity. Salinity continues to pose a significant threat to
regional biodiversity, water resources, economic and social assets.
Land Resources
The North Central CMA region supports a diverse range of agricultural enterprises including
cropping, mixed farming, dairying and horticulture. Historically, significant areas of the
North Central CMA region have been affected by salinity. For example, almost 32,000
hectares had been mapped as affected by dryland salinity and during the 1990s over 80 per
cent of the Loddon Campaspe Irrigation Region had groundwater levels within two metres of
the surface.
Protracted drought from the mid-1990s until 2010 saw the loss of water table seasonality
and a general condition of groundwater recession. By the end of the drought, groundwater
in the land subject to salinity across most of the northern plains had fallen to depths of 3.5
metres or more.
The drought ended in 2010/2011 with some of the biggest rainfall and flooding events on
record. In most instances watertables sprang back to within half a metre of the land surface.
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The rapid response, however, was limited to the water table aquifer. Deeper regional
aquifers did not recover in the same way. Some of the head lost in the drought recession
was reinstated, but it was not sufficient to return to pre-drought pressures.
Drought conditions returned in the spring of 2012 and prevailed through the summer and
autumn months of 2013. Watertables fell sharply and reached depths of two metres or
more. The winter of 2013 brought wetter conditions and some shallow groundwater tables
increased in height. The winter of 2014 however, was drier and water tables either stabilised
or reduced marginally. Irrigation water allocations have been reasonably high over the past
two seasons and usage by irrigators has matched allocations.
Biodiversity
Prior to European settlement, the North Central CMA region contained a diverse range of
native flora and fauna, and hydrological and salt balances were maintained entirely by native
vegetation and processes. The loss of native vegetation, its replacement by agriculture and
urban development, and the introduction of irrigation are largely responsible for the salinity
problems within the region.
The remaining remnant vegetation covers less than 20 per cent of the region’s landmass and
is under threat from habitat fragmentation, declining water quality, salinity, urban and
agricultural development, and increases in pest plants and animals.
Almost 40,000 hectares of high conservation value native vegetation and habitat for almost
200 species of threatened native flora and fauna are threatened by shallow watertables (less
than two metres) and salinity. The most threatened ecosystems are highly fragmented and
located lower in the landscape (i.e. mid and lower catchment areas). Wetlands, riparian
zones, floodplains and aquatic communities are considered to be most at risk.
Wetlands and Waterways
The condition of waterways and wetlands in the region remains poor to moderate. Factors
limiting continued improvement in condition include altered hydrology (via extraction and
regulation), which results in poor physical form and degraded in-stream habitat. Nutrients
and salinity continue to be the major water quality issues.
The region has a diverse and highly significant range of wetlands supporting many rare and
threatened flora and fauna species. Wetlands within the North Central CMA region are
listed under the Ramsar Convention as wetlands of international importance, wetlands of
national importance and wetlands listed on the Register of National Estates. Wetlands by
their nature sit low in the landscape and continue to be at risk from salinity.
Community Infrastructure
Rural townships and transport networks within the region are all potentially at threat from
shallow watertables and dryland salinity. Based on the Victorian component of the National
Dryland Salinity Assessment, the length of road traversing shallow watertables could
increase from around 860 km at present to over 1,240 km in 2020, and 2,800 km in 2050.
These changes would be expected to significantly increase the costs of road maintenance.
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2.2.4 Wimmera
The Wimmera CMA region, located in western Victoria, encompasses an area of
2.4 million ha and includes Horsham Rural City Council and Hindmarsh, West Wimmera,
Yarriambiack and the Northern Grampians Shire Councils. It also includes areas of Ararat,
Pyrenees and Buloke Shire Councils. Eighty per cent of land in the Wimmera CMA region is
used for agriculture.
Dryland livestock and cropping are the main agricultural activities in the Wimmera region.
Wheat, canola, legumes and pulses are the main crops, and sheep are raised for both wool
and meat production. A vibrant viticulture industry has been established in the upper
Wimmera. There is significant irrigation in the West Wimmera supplied by groundwater
(Murray Group Limestone Aquifer), supporting small seed (white clover), lucerne and
vegetable production. In addition, there are two small irrigated areas near Horsham and
Murtoa that support mixed farming (mainly sheep and dairy cattle, although they have been
without or did not use their water allocations in recent years). The irrigators that have
previously been supplied through the channel system recently agreed to sell their allocations
to the Australian Government under its buyback program.
The Wimmera region is not connected by surface water processes to the Murray River,
however it is included as part of the Murray-Darling Basin and the BSMS due to its
groundwater connection. The Wimmera region is an important recharge area for the Parilla
Sands aquifer which ultimately discharges to the Murray River. However, the ability of
recharge management (or other salinity management activities) in the Wimmera to impact
on the salinity levels in the Murray River is considered insignificant in terms of generally
accepted timeframes for salinity control. Nevertheless the salinisation of land and water
resources is an issue, in part, of the Wimmera region itself.
Values at risk
The revised Wimmera Regional Catchment Strategy identified the following assets as the
being the most at risk from salinity:

Wetlands and streams including the terminal lakes of the Wimmera River Basin (Lake
Hindmarsh and Lake Albacutya);

Agricultural soils; and

Native vegetation.
Land Resources
Past land use practices in the area have resulted in environmental issues such as erosion, soil
structure decline and salinity. Almost 25,000 ha or just over one per cent of the Wimmera
region is visibly effected to some degree by salinity. This includes almost 6,000 ha of
severely impacted land. The current cost of lost agricultural production is estimated to be
$2.3 million per annum on the basis of gross margins forgone (WCMA, 2005).
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Biodiversity
Over 80 per cent of the region has been cleared for agriculture and the distribution of native
vegetation in the region has subsequently declined to 16 per cent of the area it covered
prior to European occupation. It is estimated that nine per cent of the regions’ threatened
flora species and 11 per cent of its threatened fauna species are in areas with shallow
watertables (NLWRA, 2008).
Water Quality
Previous studies indicated that the quality of surface water in Wimmera’s rivers and streams
is generally rated as fair to poor (WCMA, 2005). Past average flow-weighted stream salinity
levels ranged between 490 and 680 µS/cm. Examples of the magnitude of reported salinity
effects in the region include:

17,000 tonnes of salt pass Horsham in the Wimmera River each year. A further 14,000
tonnes of salt enter the river between Horsham and Lochiel, and another 17,000 tonnes
are estimated to enter the river between Lochiel and Lake Hindmarsh.

110,000 tonnes of salt is generated or imported into the Wimmera River system each
year. Many wetlands in the Douglas Depression were naturally saline at pre-European
settlement, but there are now many in the Edenhope area that have become more
saline as a result of changed land management practices since European settlement. An
example of an affected wetland is Brickies Swamp, south of Edenhope (WCMA, 2005).

Salinity in waterways throughout the catchment varies substantially. Very low salinity
occurs in many headwater streams but in lower reaches of the Wimmera River salinity is
high although variable depending upon the flow regime. There are various upper
catchment tributaries within modified landscapes that also exhibit very high salinity.
These include Heiffer Station and Concongella Creek.
Community Infrastructure
National Land and Water Resources Audit data indicates that almost 650 km of roads in the
region are currently within areas with watertables at less than two metres. In particular,
local ground water flow systems in low relief but deeply weathered granite are thought to
be contributing to early signs of urban salinity around the township of Stawell (NLWRA,
2008).
2.2.5
Victorian Mallee
The Victorian Mallee region has a semi-arid climate, where annual potential evaporation can
be as much as seven times higher than the average annual rainfall of 291 mm per year. Of
the 3.99 million hectares in the Mallee CMA region, 38 per cent is public land and 62 per
cent is private land under agricultural production. In any given year, private land supports
approximately 2.4 million hectares of dryland cropping (approximately 90 per cent cereals
and 10 per cent legumes and oilseeds). There are approximately 2,415 rural land holdings
involving both the dryland and irrigation industries.
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Mallee Irrigated horticulture occupies less than two per cent of the Victorian Mallee, but
contributes significantly to Victoria’s gross value of irrigated agricultural production. In
2011/12 the irrigation areas in the Mallee generated 79 per cent of Victoria’s gross value of
irrigated agricultural production (GVIAP) for grapes, and 23 per cent of Victoria’s GVIAP for
fruit (ABS, 2013).
The Mallee currently has approximately 72,450 hectares (SunRISE 21, 2012) of irrigable land
with water sourced from the Murray River, the majority of which is permanent horticultural
plantings. Of this area, approximately 17,570 hectares (SunRISE 21, 2012) are included in
the established pumped irrigation districts of Merbein, Mildura, Red Cliffs, Robinvale and
Nyah. Private diverters along the Murray River corridor from Nyah to the South Australian
border comprise the balance of 54,880 ha. The combined effects of variable climatic
conditions, reduced water allocations, poor economic returns and Australian Government
water purchasing (e.g. Small Irrigator Block Exit Grant), have resulted in a decrease in the
total area being irrigated over recent years. For example in the five pumped irrigation
districts there are 17,570 hectares of land that can be irrigated with established irrigation
infrastructure. In 2013/14, approximately 4,518 hectares remain dried off from irrigation
representing around 26 per cent of the total irrigable area. With the return of higher water
allocations, reduced water costs and some improvement in economic returns, these dried
off areas are being returned to production. In the pumped irrigation districts, the area dried
off from irrigation fell 3 per cent; from 29 per cent in 2011/12 to 26 per cent in 2013/14
(Mallee CMA, 2014).
Land Resources
Salt is a natural part of the landscape with approximately 40,000 to 88,000 ha of land being
salinised through regional groundwater discharge processes prior to European settlement.
Recent investigations have identified that 3.8 per cent (142,206 ha) of the region currently
has saline (surface) soils and that 39 per cent (55,460 ha) of these saline surfaces were
induced by land use change (DPI, 2009).
The area of land where groundwater levels are found within five metres of the soil surface
have reduced from 4.8 per cent (188,494 ha) of the total area in 2007 (SKM, 2008) to 2.5 per
cent (97,437 ha) of the total area in 2010 (SKM, 2010). Refinement in the re-forecasting of
groundwater trends in the Mallee region predict a reduction in the area subject to
groundwater levels within 0 to 5 metres of the soil surface under an average climate
scenario (SKM, 2010). Forecast trends for 2050, under average climate scenarios, estimate
approximately 76,748 hectares, or 1.9 per cent of the total area, will have groundwater
levels within 0 to 5 metres of the soil surface (SKM, 2010).
While the average climate scenarios predict an overall downward trend for groundwater
levels, low-lying areas such as those found in dryland farming areas around Ouyen,
Manangatang and Underbool, will continue to be affected by salinisation as a result of
oscillating wet and dry climate conditions. These low lying areas of salinisation readily
expand in response to localised rainfall events. Modern dryland management strategies
target these discharge areas to minimise any future salinity risk.
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Biodiversity
The Mallee consists of diverse land systems and vegetation types. While the temporal and
spatial impacts of salinisation are not fully understood, it is unlikely that the impacts will be
evenly distributed throughout the region.
In 2005 estimates predicted that 3,855 ha (8.5 per cent) of endangered Mallee Ecological
Vegetation Classes (EVCs), 47,234 ha (14 per cent) of vulnerable Mallee EVCs and 55,190 ha
(17 per cent) of depleted EVCs will be subject to groundwater levels within 0 to 5 metres of
the soil surface by 2050 (REM, 2005).
A vegetation condition and species composition survey was undertaken in 2011/12 using
existing monitoring sites previously established under the Land Conservation Council
(LCC - six sites assessed between 1985 to 1986) and the Mallee mandatory monitoring
program (3MP – six sites assessed between 1995 and 2007). The survey showed that the
removal of grazing – a key recommendation of the Land Conservation Council Review (LCC,
1989) into the use of Public Land in the Mallee – has been a major influence on improving
vegetation condition at four sites. Large cumulative rainfall totals in the period leading up to
the 2011 survey was also attributed to an improvement in vegetation condition at most LCC
sites. The decline in vegetation condition observed at six sites was attributed to increased
soil salinity associated with localised groundwater level rise. Increased soil acidity at four
sites was shown to have the greatest influence on vegetation change (Ogyris, 2012).
The areas expected to be most at threat have a low topographic elevation in the Mallee
landscape. The watertable has been identified as being closely connected to the surface
level in several broad areas (SKM, 2008). These areas are:

the Tyrrell Basin;

land surrounding Ouyen;

Lake Agnes;

the immediate surrounds of the Pink Lakes;

the Raak Plains and Hattah Kulkyne National Park;

Morkalla; and

the general floodplain of the Murray River.
There are many sites of very high conservation value within these areas. For example, there
are more than 13 wetlands of national or international significance in the Mallee, which are
considered to be threatened by salinisation.
Water Quality
River levels observed in the Murray River as measured at Euston (streamflow gauge number
414203C) were lower than previous years, with summer flows reaching a maximum of
25,970 ML/day (September 2013) and autumn and winter flows oscillating between 5,000
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and 10,000 ML/day. The minimum flow rate at Euston was 3,250 ML/day observed in May
2014. No black water events, fish mortality or Blue Green Algae outbreaks were recorded
during this period (MDBA, 2013). Murray River salinity readings at Euston remained below
240 EC for the past 12 months.
The total annual rainfall recorded from 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2014 was 302 mm (compared
to 190 mm in 2012/13), was above the mean annual rainfall of 291 mm as recorded at
Mildura airport (rainfall gauge 076031, BOM 2013).
Subsurface drains servicing irrigation areas produced flow volumes comparable to those
observed last year despite the higher rainfall. Groundwater levels have continued the
declining trend for 65 per cent of bores that were sampled in both 2013 and 2014.
Groundwater salinity levels decreased in 54 per cent of bores sampled in both years (AWE,
2013).
Community Infrastructure
The regional townships of Ouyen, Manangatang, Underbool and the City of Mildura are all
potentially at threat from the effects of salinisation. The costs associated with this potential
threat have not been quantified. However, in essence, the capital cost would involve the
construction and maintenance of infrastructure to a specified, safe level/standard.
2.3
Setting salinity targets
The Council will adopt end-of-valley targets to protect values and assets while providing for
targets to be revised, as new information becomes available.
The partner Governments will empower catchment management organisations to advise on
end-of-valley targets and determine within-valley targets and monitoring arrangements,
under salinity and catchment management plans.
2.3.1
Victoria
Summary of end-of-valley targets
The former MDBC endorsed Victoria’s EOVTs (Table 2-1) on 30 August 2005. EOVTs for the
Wimmera and North East regions were not directly assessed at that time. Interim targets for
these regions will be re-assessed as part of on-going salinity management planning.
Activities carried out in the 2013/14 reporting year
The findings of the Phase 1 and 2 reports from the MDBA-led review of EOVTs (SKM, 2013
(a) and 2013 (b)) have been further considered in 2013/14 through the General Review of
Salinity Management. Victoria has participated in the Review as a member of the
inter-jurisdictional steering committee.
The draft General Review report notes that the inclusion of state EOVTs within the BSMS
was largely a response to projections made in the 1990’s of increasing threat from dryland
salinity. Improved knowledge since this period indicates that future salt loads emerging from
dryland catchments (for most valleys) do not pose a significant threat to the shared water
resources. The Review “raises questions as to whether some of the state end-of-valley
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Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
targets provide a practical and effective contribution to the accountability framework”, and
identifies the establishment of the future role of state EOVTs as a key matter in the
development of the proposed updated salinity management strategy (BSMS2030) during
2014/15.
The role of EOVTs will also need to be considered in the context of Basin Plan policy and the
development of regional water resource plans, and the need to mitigate the effects of
salinity on local assets.
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Table 2-1 End-of-valley targets for Victoria (SKM, 2005)
Baseline Conditions
(1 Jan 2000)
Region
Valley
Salinity
(EC µS/cm)
Median
Peak
(50%ile)
(80%ile)
Ovens
72
100
Kiewa
47
Goulburn
End-of-Valley Targets
(as percentage of Baseline)
Salt Load
(t/yr)
Salinity
(EC µS/cm)
End-of-Valley Targets
(as absolute value)
Salt Load
(t/yr)
Median
Peak
(50%ile)
(80%ile)
54,000
100%
100%
55
19,000
100%
99
150
166,000
Broken
104
130
Avoca
2,060
Loddon
Salinity
(EC µS/cm)
Salt Load
(t/yr)
Valley Reporting Site
AWRC Site
Number
Median
Peak
(50%ile)
(80%ile)
101%
72
100
54,540
Ovens River @
Peechelba-East
403241
100%
100%
47
55
19,000
Kiewa River @
Bandiana
402205
100%
-
-
99
-
-
Goulburn River @
Goulburn Weir
405259
15,000
136%
-
-
141
-
-
Broken Creek @
Casey's Weir
404217
5,290
37,000
102%
-
-
2,096
-
-
Avoca River @
Quambatook
408203
750
1,090
88,000
95%
-
-
711
-
-
Loddon River @
Laanecoorie
407203
Campaspe
530
670
54,000
78%
-
-
412
-
-
Campaspe River @
Campaspe Weir
406218
Wimmera*
Wimmera
1,380
1,720
31,000
100%
100%
100%
1,380
1,720
31,000
Wimmera River @
Horsham Weir
415200
Victorian
Mallee
Vic Mallee Zone
380
470
1,300,000
-
-
-
+15EEC
-
-
River Murray@
Lock 6
426200
Mean
Mean
Mean
North East*
Goulburn
Broken
North Central
*Interim targets only.
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2.4
Managing trade-offs
The States will analyse and review the best mix of land management, engineering, river flow,
and living with salt options to achieve salinity targets while meeting other catchment health
targets and social and economic needs.
The States will assist communities to understand and agree the options with affected groups,
industries and people through best practice planning processes.
Victoria balances options to achieve salinity targets with other catchment health targets and
social and economic needs as part of the process to develop Regional Catchment Strategies
and the subordinate LWMPs.
2.4.1
North East
The Carbon and Biodiversity Project, funded by the Australian Government, is a partnership
between North East CMA and Trust For Nature (TFN). The project provided financial
incentives during 2013/14 for landholders to protect and enhance bush land, or to
rehabilitate their properties with strategic vegetation works. Additional benefits to
biodiversity included better control of salinity issues and improved water quality, amongst
others.
Vegetation management activities for salinity control have focused on high recharge areas in
priority groundwater flow systems as identified by salinity mapping, groundwater flow
system mapping completed in 2005, and 2Csalt modelling by DEPI Rutherglen in 2006.
Whole farm planning and integrated extension activities funded through the DEPI “Land
Health Program” have been used to complement activities and maximise outcomes achieved
with landholders through this project.
The Sustainable Agriculture program has conducted 20 sustainable agriculture workshops
for dryland farming in 2013/14. 315 farming entities comprising more than 400 land
managers attended these workshops. These workshops managed trade-offs by focusing on
management strategies that aimed to maintain and improve groundcover, soil structure and
soil health for more than 2100 ha of farm land.
The North East Sustainable Irrigation Action Plan (2009) also managed trade-offs associated
with irrigation and negative off site impacts such as salinity. The focus of this work has been
to encourage better irrigation practice through system upgrades and better water use
efficiency.
2.4.2
Goulburn Broken
In the SIR, the Surface Water Management Program has been prioritised by a multi-criteria
analysis using the following factors: social (20 per cent), economic (55 per cent) and
environmental (25 per cent).
Subsurface drainage program works are confined to areas with high watertables, and public
sub-surface works are limited to areas with demonstrated production losses due to salinity
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Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
and high watertables. A process based on rolling five-year average water table depth
prioritises the implementation program for groundwater investigations. Public works are
considered only where privately owned works are not viable. Landholder support is
required, and groups of landholders get priority for private site investigations before
individuals. Current priority areas are still Muckatah, Deakin or Harston, Mosquito,
Campaspe and Murray Valley catchments. The public pump expansion program is
considered a low priority relative to the private pumps program, however due to a lack of
sufficient funding, both programs have been suspended.
The Shepparton Irrigation Region Salt and Water Balance Project (refer to Section 2.1.3)
once completed will recommend policies and strategies, and provide tools that will assist in
the future mitigation of salinity. This will be achieved by managing shallow groundwater in
the SIR with an understanding of the impacts froma variable climate and reduced recharge
from the transfer of water entitlements and the modernisation of farm and irrigation
infrastructure.
2.4.3
North Central
Investment Framework for Environmental Resources (INFFER)
The North Central CMA utilised the Investment Framework for Environmental Resources
(INFFER) in the development of the Regional Catchment Strategy and related projects. The
North Central CMA utilises INFFER to assist in making investment decisions for the region’s
high value environmental assets. INFFER builds on the previous work undertaken through
the development of the Salinity Investment Framework 3.
For instance, the use of INFFER has identified feasible farming system options for the
protection of the York Plains wetlands in the Avon Richardson Catchment. Implementation
of this project began in 2008/09 and continued until June 2014. Funding has also been
secured to continue salinity mitigation works for the protection of these wetlands in
2014/15.
Policy Choice Framework (PCF)
The Loddon Campaspe Irrigation Region Land and Water Management Plan has incorporated
the Policy Choice Framework (PCF) into natural resource management prioritisation. The PCF
is intended to assist decision makers in the field of natural resource policy to choose
between policy instruments when the focus of the policy is on changing the behaviour of
agricultural landholders. PCF, combined with INFFER, offers a variety of approaches to aid in
different stages of natural resource management across the plan region with the aim of
improving the transparency and robustness of investment decision-making. The PCF and
INFFER have been integrated into the Plan’s Healthy Productive Irrigated Landscape
Framework (HPILF) to enable a process for combining information from the region’s
overarching NRM strategies (e.g. Regional Condition Targets) with known reality (e.g. GIS
maps) to guide how regional assets are protected and responding to new and emerging
challenges.
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North Central CMA continue to see the benefits of employing INFFER as a decision making
tool when considering investment in high value assets that are subject to local influences.
However, the management of catchment-based dryland salinity issues influencing stream
salt loads, requires a more considered approach that involves further investment in
knowledge development in-sync with community-based programs that focus on achieving
sustainable agriculture outcomes.
Improving the management of trade-offs
Despite moving to an asset-based approach, North Central CMA recognises that ongoing
management towards reducing the overall threat of salinity is still required. The focus in the
North Central region is to work with the community to develop low-cost, profitable
interventions for the broader landscape. By focusing on the solutions, it is likely that
broader farming system changes will occur and ensure that salinity management
interventions remain sustainable into the future.
On-going monitoring and evaluation will continue to be undertaken to fully understand the
likely benefits of changes in farming practices on groundwater levels, salt movement and
end-of-valley export as projects are implemented.
The initial development stages of the North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Strategy
were undertaken in 2013/14. The strategy will aim to describe the land asset in terms of soil
types and distribution, the threats and risks to the asset including salinity and the viable
options available in terms of agricultural production and ecosystem services that improved
soil health can provide to land uses in the catchment.
2.4.4
Wimmera
The priority groundwater flow systems for recharge control that are identified by the
Wimmera Salinity Action Plan (2005) are all located in the Upper Wimmera River catchment
area. This is also the area where much of the river’s flow is derived from.
The major initiative to implement revegetation in these groundwater flow systems is the
Grampians to Pyrenees Biolink project run in conjunction with Project Platypus. This focuses
on enhancing the connectivity, resilience, management and condition of remnant vegetation
in the upper Wimmera Catchment. In 2011/12 Wimmera CMA undertook a study that
investigated the impacts of land-use change on surface water flows and ecology in the upper
Wimmera River catchment. Hydrologic modelling from the study indicates that large scale
revegetation may adversely affect flow regime and aquatic processes. The results from the
project continue to be integrated with other studies and information to help identify optimal
revegetation locations that will balance the needs of salinity mitigation, surface water
hydrology and biodiversity.
Elsewhere in the Wimmera catchment, salt affected land and paddocks that continually
make no financial returns have been planted with saltbush. Saltbush establishes
groundcover and protects these areas from erosion.
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Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
The revised Regional Catchment Strategy prioritises management measures to be
implemented to address threats to natural assets, including the threat of salinity. The
Wimmera CMA vision which underpins the Regional Catchment Strategy is for “a healthy
Wimmera Catchment where a resilient landscape supports a sustainable and profitable
community”. This vision is driven by a triple bottom line approach, where the aim is to
improve the environment while providing the greatest social and economic benefits.
An ongoing Rural Landholder Survey conducted by Charles Sturt University in consultation
with the Wimmera CMA is aimed at understanding the important social and economic
factors influencing landholder decision making in the Wimmera region. This includes
assessment of whether dryland salinity is affecting long-term productive capacity of
landholders. This information, along with the asset strategies, helps guide the
implementation of the Regional Catchment Strategy. Comparison of the 2011 survey results
with previous 2002 and 2007 survey information identify trends in important influences on
landholder decisions over time. The next iteration of the survey is scheduled for 2016.
2.4.5
Victorian Mallee
The Mallee CMA has a three pronged approach to managing salinity and achieving salinity
objectives and other catchment health targets, and social and economic needs by:
1)
Addressing the impacts of historical irrigation through a suite of projects that encourage
efficient water use practices and improved technologies on farm. This is achieved
through a combination of training and incentives directed towards matching water use
with soil type and crop requirements thereby restricting the amount of drainage to the
underlying aquifer. The region has developed a salinity impact assessment tool based
on a model that predicts the reduction of salt pushed into the river resulting from onfarm water use efficiency (WUE) activities. This allows a prioritisation process to be
applied to incentive applicants. In effect, those with the greatest salinity gains are given
the highest priority. This is important as demand over the past five years has
consistently exceeded available incentives.
2)
Actively collaborating with MDBA and NSW in the planning, investigation and
implementation of salt interception schemes adjacent to the Murray River to benefit
the broader Mallee region. Locally, a “no borders approach” is adopted for salinity
management.
3)
Guiding new irrigation developments away from areas of high salinity impact and
ensuring best practice in design and operation of irrigation systems where development
occurs. This is implemented through the Mallee Region Irrigation Development
Guidelines.
In 1993, just prior to the introduction of trade in water entitlements, the Victorian
Government, in partnership with the community, initiated a zoning system designed to
minimise the river salinity impact of future irrigation developments in the Mallee. The
Salinity Impact Zoning (SIZ) system was a key part of the community-developed Nyah to the
South Australian Border Salinity Management Plan (SMP). For the past twenty years, the
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Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
potential for any new irrigation developments to push extra salt into the river has been
managed through a system of SIZ.
The system implemented under the Nyah to South Australian Border SMP initially consisted
of two zones, a ‘High Impact Zone’ (HIZ) and a ‘Low Impact Zone’ (LIZ). These zones were
based on a comprehensive hydrogeological assessment and the idea was to guide new
irrigation developments to areas of least impact to the River by a system of salinity levies.
The levy was set at a level that covered the estimated cost of offsetting the additional
impact on the river salinity of the new development.
In 2002, to improve the accuracy of the system and further drive development to areas of
least impact, the zones were revised and the Low Impact Zone was divided into seven subLow Impact Zones (LIZ 1-7) which better reflected the scale of salinity impacts based on best
knowledge at the time. New development was not permitted to occur in the High Impact
Zone (HIZ) unless water could be purchased for that use from within the HIZ.
Recent work undertaken by the Mallee CMA has demonstrated that the zoning approach has
been very effective, with a substantial portion of AUL being issued in the two lowest impact
zones since unbundling (Figure 2-5). Salinity offsetting charges are collected from irrigation
developers to invest in works and measures to generate new salinity credits and/or support
operations and maintenance of existing salinity credit and debit items as recorded in the
Mallee Region Salinity Register.
Figure 2-5 Sum of annual use limits (per thousand megalitre) issued within each salinity impact zone
in the Victorian Mallee
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Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
2.5
Implementing plans
This Strategy acknowledges gains made by existing plans, but requires that actions in
existing and new plans, or the plans themselves, will need to be assessed and reported
against the end-of- valley and Basin targets and recorded on Salinity Registers.
The partner Governments will continue and enhance support for Land and Water
Management Plans in irrigation regions.
The partner Governments will enhance support for development and implementation of
Integrated Catchment Management Policy-compliant salinity and catchment management
plans in dryland regions.
2.5.1
Victoria
In 2013/14, Victoria has continued to implement actions for the management of salinity in
the Murray-Darling Basin from the NRSWS (DSE, 2009). The Strategy identified threats to
water availability and quality over the next 50 years, including climate, population growth
and land use change. It forecast that sufficient water would not be available to meet all the
requirements of the environment and consumptive users, and that trade-offs would be
needed now and in the future.
Actions specific to salinity in the NRSWS progressed in 2013/14 include:

Action 6.3: Salinity Accounting and Reporting – this action relates to establishing processes
to estimate salinity impacts of water use in irrigation through water-use licences and
associated AUL. This action also relates to the development of procedures to account for
salinity impacts of environmental water and modernisation projects.
The Manual for Victoria’s Salinity Accountability in the Murray-Darling Basin (DSE, 2011)
documents procedures for large-scale water projects to account for salinity impacts under
the BSMS. Under the framework established in the Manual, a preliminary assessment of
the salinity impact of the Goulburn-Murray Water Connections Project - Stage 1 and 2 was
carried out in 2010/11. Update of this assessment will commence in 2014/15 by GoulburnMurray Water to reflect the current level of implementation of the project.
The approach will apply a similar methodology to that used for the Connections Project
business cases. A more detailed assessment of the project’s salinity impacts will be
undertaken in conjunction with five-year reviews of existing State accountable actions.
While Victoria will continue to work toward providing a comprehensive assessment of
the salinity impacts of the Connections Project, the States and Commonwealth are yet to
resolve accountability for salinity impacts associated with the Basin Plan.

Action 6.4: Capping salinity impacts – this action relates to establishing caps for the Low
Salinity Impact Zones 3 and 4 in the Sunraysia region, extending salinity impact zones
east of Nyah and to investigate further refinements on the management of salinity
impact zones.
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Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
Following completion of the Mallee CMA’s 5-year review of the Nyah to South Australia
Border SMP, it was established that the salinity impacts associated with irrigation
development in the Mallee region are over-estimated. Therefore the need to cap annual
use limits in SIZ L3 and L4 to manage future irrigation development was not considered
necessary. In the short to medium term, the Mallee CMA was provided 3.29 EC of
salinity credits to balance irrigation development until a new modelling approach is
developed. The new model is likely to result in a reduction in the register debit entry
through the next five-year review.
CMAs continued implementation of their Regional Catchment Strategies. These were revised
in 2012/13 and cover the period 2013-19. The Regional Catchment Strategies are the primary
integrated planning framework for land, water and biodiversity management in each of the
10 management regions of Victoria. They provide the overarching strategic framework for
action, under which are found a range of sub-strategies and action plans for each region to
address land degradation and manage land and water resources.
In addition to these activities at a state level, the five CMAs within the Victorian MurrayDarling Basin all continued to carry out salinity management activities in 2013/14 as part of the
planned implementation of their Regional Catchment Strategies, LWMPs and SMPs.
2.5.2
North East
Land and water management plan
The North East Sustainable Irrigation Action Plan – Land and Water Management Plan (2009)
highlights the threats irrigation poses to other assets, defines the seriousness of these
threats and suggests management actions to address the threats. Salinity has been defined
as one of these threats. The Sustainable Irrigation Action Plan is currently due for review
and renewal.
The North East Salinity Action Plan (2007) guides the actions in relation to salinity
management using an asset-threat based approach. The degree to which individual assets
are threatened varies accordingly to their location in the landscape. The asset classes of
land, biodiversity and inland waters are of particular concern. The potential impact on built
infrastructure has also been identified as an emerging threat. The vision of the plan is ‘To
manage salinity in the North East Region for the benefit of the environment, local
communities and downstream users.’
Government allocation of salinity credits
No salinity credits have been allocated to the North East region.
Accountable Actions undertaken in 2012/13
There were no Accountable Actions undertaken in the North East region.
Progressive total of works implemented
Not applicable.
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Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
2.5.3
Goulburn Broken
Land and water management plan
The salinity management plans within the Goulburn and Broken catchments include the
Shepparton Irrigation Region Catchment Implementation Strategy (SIRCIS) (formerly the SIR
Land and Water SMP) and the Goulburn Broken Dryland Landscape Strategy (formerly the
Goulburn Dryland Salinity Management Plan). Both original plans were developed to
manage the salinity of land and water resources in the region and were endorsed by the
Victorian Government in June 1990.
The SIRCIS was developed by the regional community in partnership with the Victorian
Government and agencies to tackle rising watertables, and is part of the wider Goulburn
Broken Regional Catchment Strategy. The programs of the SIRCIS target the mitigation of
salinity and waterlogging, and include re-use of pumped groundwater, surface-water
management, farm planning, surface drainage re-use, biodiversity protection and
enhancement, and community education.
The SIRCIS is currently being reviewed in line with Goulburn Broken’s Regional Catchment
Strategy’s resilience approach under the auspice of the Agricultural Floodplains Social
Ecological System. The review is due to be completed in 2014/15.In 2008, due to significant
changes to the operating environment, a high level mid-term review of the Subsurface
Drainage Plan (SDP) was conducted. This resulted in a change of name to the Groundwater
& Salt Management Program, and to the vision, mission and objectives of the program. One
main outcome of this was to increase the focus on protection of high value environmental
assets within the SIR at risk from groundwater and salinity.
The SIR Surface Water Management Strategy was reviewed in 1995, 2000, 2005 and again in
2009 as part of the Victorian Irrigation Drainage Program Review.
Government allocation of salinity credits
The Victorian Government allocation of salinity credits to the SIRCIS is 8.9 EC.
Accountable Actions undertaken in 2013/14
No Accountable Actions were undertaken in 2013/14. A summary of each of the Goulburn
Broken programs is provided below.
Groundwater and Salinity Management Program
 Groundwater investigations – No investigations were undertaken.

Shallow groundwater pumps – No new private pumps were completed.
Surface Water Management Program:

Primary surface water management systems – No drains were constructed or
commissioned.
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Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report

Community surface water management schemes - No drains were constructed.
Significant progress continues to be made in reducing drain outfalls through the
implementation of drain management plans and improved farm water management.
Over the period from July 2013 to June 2014, there was no change in salinity debits at
Morgan, based on estimated salinity impacts from accountable actions in the region.
Progressive total of works implemented
Estimates of progressive total salinity debits in the Goulburn Broken CMA region, as a result
of drainage works implemented in the SIR, are listed below in Table 2-2. The table includes
allowances for works implemented prior to July 1991, for which no clear records are
available.
The progressive uptake of salinity debits in the SIR is 1.42 EC, as shown in Table 2-2. This
estimate was calculated using ready reckoners based on the assessment of previous review
data (SKM, 2006), and not the current salinity impact found in the MDBA BSMS Register A.
Further explanation is provided in Appendix B.1.
Due to the limited development of the drainage network and pump infrastructure, as
outlined above, the Goulburn Broken CMA did not incur any additional salinity debits in
2013/14 (see Table 2-2).
Table 2-2 Progressive total of salinity debits in the SIR to June 2014
Accountable Action components of the
Shepparton Salinity Management Plan
Salinity debits (EC)
Up to 2012/13
Surface Water Management Systems
Public Groundwater Pumps
Horticultural Sub-surface Drainage
-0.58
1.83
0.17
1.42
Total
Incurred in
2013/14
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.0
Total to 2013/14
-0.58
1.83
0.17
1.42
There were no opportunities to operate the public salinity control pumps during the 2013
winter-spring period due to insufficient flows in the Murray River.
2.5.4
North Central
Land and water management plan
The Loddon Campaspe Irrigation Region LWMP (NCCMA, 2011) builds on the Loddon Murray
LWMP, which combined the five regional salinity management plans (developed during the
late 1980s and early 1990s) and regional development strategy, Loddon Murray 2000 Plus.
Building on the success of the previous salinity management plans, the scope of land and
water management across the Loddon Campaspe Irrigation Region was broadened to
address the new challenges and issues facing the regional community. The focus of the plan
is to improve the management of land, water and biodiversity across the Loddon Campaspe
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Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
irrigation region. The plan seeks to build the capacity of the region’s individuals and
communities to meet many of the natural resource management challenges they will face
during the next decade.
The LWMP continues to deal with reducing the impact of salinity on the natural assets of the
region and identifies salinity management as a priority. The priority projects of surface water
management, sustainable agriculture and salt management all contribute to minimising the
impact of salinity. This includes the delivery of cost-share incentives for whole farm plans,
saline soil rehabilitation, soil salinity surveys and irrigation tailwater re-use systems.
The Loddon Campaspe Irrigation Region LWMP was updated and endorsed as a regional
investment prospectus in October 2011 to accommodate the contemporary natural resource
issues, such as climate change and water reform.
The North Central CMA no longer has a formal regional Dryland SMP that specifically
addresses the pervasive threat of salinity. Instead, dryland salinity is managed at a local level
specific to the immediate protection of discrete environmental assets.
Government allocation of salinity credits
The Victorian Government allocation of salinity credits to the North Central CMA region is
10.12 EC.
This includes a preliminary estimate of 6.5 EC for debits incurred through the GoulburnMurray Water Connections Project and Victorian Mid-Murray Storages. The preliminary
estimate will be substantiated once salinity accountability for recovery, transfer and use of
water recovery projects is resolved through consultation with the Commonwealth and the
Basin states.
The allocation of salt credits to the North Central CMA did not change in 2013/14.
Accountable Actions undertaken in 2013/14
No Accountable Actions were carried out in the 2013/14 reporting year.
The status of North Central CMA region’s Accountable Actions for 2013/14 (see Table 2-4) is
based on the MDBA Register as signed off in September 2013.
Construction of the Benwell Surface Water Management System (SWMS), designed to
provide 4,840 hectares of surface water management in the Loddon Campaspe Irrigation
Region, remains partially complete. Full completion will be subject to future funding.
Benwell SWMS will become an accountable action once commissioned.
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Table 2-3 North Central Accountable Actions in the MDBA Register A
MDBA Register A (Accountable Actions)
Salinity Debits (EC)
Balance as at 30
October 2013
Incurred in
2013/14
Total in 2013/14
Tragowel Plains Drains at 2002 Level
0.20
0.0
0.20
Kerang Lakes/Swan Hill SMP
1.60
0.0
1.60
Campaspe West SMP
0.30
0.0
0.30
Woorinen Irrigation District Excision
0.80
0.0
0.80
TOTAL
2.90
0.0
2.90
2.5.5
Wimmera
Land and water management plan
Wimmera CMA does not have a LMWP related to irrigation. Salinity management has been
directed by the Wimmera Regional Salinity Action Plan (WCMA, 2005).
The Wimmera Waterway Strategy was updated in 2013/14 and is due to be signed off by the
Minister for Water in 2014/15. This Strategy is an eight-year action plan for managing the
values and threats to the region’s rivers, streams, lakes and wetlands. It is intended at a
minimum to maintain, and where possible improve waterway condition, and build on a
number of existing strategies and plans. It provides the wider community with a targeted,
long-term action plan outlining what can be done across the region to secure waterway
values for this and future generations. The document strategically aligns with the Wimmera
Regional Catchment Strategy 2013-2019 and provides the Action Plan for maintaining and
improving rivers, streams and wetlands as natural assets. This strategy also fulfils the
Wimmera CMA’s obligations under the Victorian Waterway Management Strategy in terms
of developing a new waterway strategy for the region and is a legislated requirement under
the Victorian Water Act 1989. In developing the actions, community input, local knowledge
and scientific information were used to identify the values, threats and the most effective
actions required to maintain and improve priority waterways.
Government allocation of salinity credits
No salinity credits have been allocated to the Wimmera region.
Accountable Actions undertaken in 2012/13
There were no Accountable Actions undertaken in the Wimmera region.
Progressive total of works implemented
Not applicable.
2.5.6 Victorian Mallee
Land and water management plans
The Mallee Regional Catchment Strategy received Ministerial endorsement in February
2013. The Mallee Regional Catchment Strategy sets the priorities for the future management
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of land, water and biodiversity in the Mallee and will inform the development of detailed
plans to address specific natural resource management (NRM) issues, such as salinity, by
protecting and enhancing our natural and cultural landscapes.
Irrigation: Salinity management in the irrigation areas of the Victorian Mallee has been
guided since the early 1990s by the following three community-driven plans:

Nangiloc-Colignan Salinity Management Plan (1991);

Sunraysia Salinity Management Plan (1992); and

Nyah to the South Australian Border Salinity Management Plan (1993).
The Mallee CMA has renewed and merged the three plans into the Victorian Mallee
Irrigation Region Land and Water Management Plan, which was endorsed by the Victorian
Minister for Water in 2012.
The renewed Plan builds upon the successes of previous plans with no major changes to
direction of salinity management within the region. Associated with the renewed Plan are
two important companion documents:

The Mallee Salt Procedures Manual (SKM, 2011) – This manual complements the
Manual for Victoria’s Salinity Accountability in the Murray Darling Basin (DSE 2010),
providing details on regional salinity management for irrigation areas in the Mallee and
describes regional implementation of the BSMS.

The Victorian Mallee Irrigation Development Guidelines – The guidelines were renewed
in 2010/11 and endorsed by water corporations to better reflect the Ministerial
Determinations released in 2007. They include a risk assessment approach which
determines when the guidelines are required for redevelopment scenarios.
Dryland: The Victorian Soil Health Strategy (VSHS) was endorsed by the Victorian
Government July 2012 (DSE 2012) and provides a state-wide framework for the effective
management of soils on public and private land for environmental value. Under this
framework a regional soil health plan will be developed addressing Mallee specific risks to
soil health. One priority identified in the VSHS pertaining to the Mallee region includes salt
affected soils that decrease agriculture productivity and leak salt into downstream
waterways.
Mallee Waterway Strategy: The Draft Mallee Waterway Strategy (MWS) 2014-22 was
developed in consultation with regional agencies, local communities and stakeholders and
was released for public consultation in May 2014. The draft MWS identifies priority
waterways in the Mallee, including the Murray River and floodplain wetlands, southern
Mallee creeks, and fresh and saline dispersed inland wetlands. Comprehensive work plans
have been developed for each waterway to improve water regimes and water quality
together with riparian and aquatic habitat. Groundwater monitoring will provide important
information in demonstrating positive response of these work plans on waterway health.
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Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
The Draft MWS will be finalised in 2014/15 pending Mallee CMA Board approval and
Ministerial endorsement.
Government allocation of salinity credits
The Victorian Government allocation of salinity credits to the Victorian Mallee increased by
3.29 EC in 2013/14, with the regional total equal to 20.22 EC.
Accountable Actions undertaken in 2012/13
The 2013/14 estimation of salinity impact from new irrigation development against the Nyah
to the South Australian border was 1.43 EC (Table 2-4). Calculations were undertaken using
the methodology described in SKM (2011). A corrected data set of salt loads determined for
2010/11 were forwarded to the MDBA due to reporting inconsistencies identified in the
recent five-year review (finalised December 2013). The salt load omission in Reach 2,
equated to 8.32 tonnes per year, and is predicted to increase the EC impact for 2010/11 by
0.003 EC (from 0.654 to 0.657 EC).
Calculations were undertaken using the methodology described in Appendix C.
Table 2-4 Salinity impact of accountable change in AUL in 2013/14 in the Low Impact Zone of the
Mallee CMA region
EC impact per
1,000 ML
Change in AUL (ML)
Salinity Impact at
Morgan (EC)
2013/14
2013/14
LI 1 - L 1
0.00
15,084
0.000
LI 2 - L 1
0.02
6,194
0.124
LI 3 - L 2
0.05
3,662
0.183
LI 4 - L 3
0.07
86
0.006
LI 5 - L 3
0.10
0
0.000
LI 6 - L 4
0.15
3,852
0.578
LI 7 - L 4
0.20
2,672
0.534
31,550
1.425
Salinity Impact Zone (SIZ)
Total Change in AUL
Progressive total of works implemented
Based on the MDBA BSMS Register A (updated 09/09/2013), the progressive total of salinity
debits since 1993 in the Mallee is 14.2 EC (Table 2-5). The salinity impact for Nyah to SA
Border SMP – Irrigation Development, based on calculations using the agreed and accredited
model (SKM, 2001), should be increased in the order of 1.428 EC to account for irrigation
development in 2013/14 (1.425 EC) and corrections to 2010/11 salt loads (0.003 EC) as
recommended in the five-year review. This results in a total balance of salinity credit uptake
for the Mallee region of 15.628 EC.
Aligning MSM-BigMod and the Nyah to SA Border salinity accounting arrangements
While the regional Mallee salinity estimates have been calculated using the agreed and
accredited model (SKM, 2001) as presented in Table 2-5, it is anticipated that the salinity
impact estimate based on MDBA updated ready reckoners for the Nyah to the SA Border
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Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
irrigation development would be 1.88 EC compared to the 1.425 EC calculated using the
accredited model. This would result in a higher progressive salinity debit total for the Mallee
region in the order of 16.08 EC.
This misalignment between the MDBA model and the accredited and agreed model (SKM,
2001) has occurred due to the evolution of the MSM-BigMod model over time.
Table 2-5 Mallee summary of salinity credit uptake to 30-June-2014with changes over 2013/14
based on the accredited model
Physical salinity (EC at Morgan)
Balance on BSMS
Register as at
9 September 2013a
Change in 2013/14a
Balance as at 30
June 2014
Nangiloc-Colignan SMP
0.4
0
0.4
Nyah to SA Border SMP
13.8
1.428
15.228
Mallee Total
14.2
1.428
15.628
a Change in 2013/14 impact for Nyah to SA Border SMP includes 2013/14 irrigation development based on
accredited model (SKM, 2001) and corrections to 2010/11 salt loads as recommended in the five-year review
2.6
Redesigning farming systems
The partner Governments will coordinate and enhance research and development into new
farming and forestry systems that deliver improved control of groundwater recharge in the
high rainfall grazing, winter rainfall cropping, and summer rainfall cropping zones.
Over and above current programs, the [former] Commission will enhance research and
development into new industries based on salinised resources,
such as broadacre saltland agronomy, saline aquaculture, and salt harvesting.
During the 2013/14 reporting year, the five CMAs within the Victorian Murray-Darling Basin
all undertook works to improve farming practices in their regions.
2.6.1 North East
Table 2-6 presents a summary of the farm works carried out in the North East CMA region
during the 2013/14 reporting year. Note all of the works in Table 2-6 were funded through
the North East Regional Catchment Investment Plan and not specifically funded by salinity
programs.
Table 2-6 Summary of farm works undertaken during the 2013/14 reporting year in the North East
CMA region
Item
Works carried out - Dryland
Works carried out - Irrigation
Whole Farm Plans
N/A
14 Whole Farm Plans (686 ha and 515
ML in water savings)
Landforming
N/A
N/A
Reuse Systems
N/A
N/A
Soil Salinity Surveys
N/A
N/A
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Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
Item
Works carried out - Dryland
Works carried out - Irrigation
Irrigation system
upgrades
N/A
This occurs as part of implementing
whole farm plans
Education activities





20 sustainable agriculture workshops,
which attracted 400 land managers
relating to over 2100 ha
8 farming entities conducted field trials
over 160 ha
Four Irrigation field days attracting
45 participants.
 Three newsletters sent out per
annum.
3 SEED days
21 Waterwatch field days
 2 improved grazing regime workshops
for landholders, with total of 15,185 ha
Other Achievements

218 bores monitored
 59 stream sites monitored

14 irrigation performance checks
(261 ha, 104 ML in water savings)

6 soil monitoring installations and
irrigation scheduling tools - 129
ha, 52 ML saved.
 5 new Irrigation Development
Referral requests.
N/A – Activity not undertaken
2.6.2 Goulburn Broken
Table 2-7 presents a summary of the farm works undertaken in the Goulburn Broken CMA
region during the 2013/14 reporting year.
The Farm Water Program Consortium, led by Goulburn Broken CMA, is providing coinvestment opportunities to irrigators in the GMID to achieve water savings by modernising
their on-farm irrigation infrastructure. During 2013/14, funding allocated under the Victorian
On-Farm Priority Project and the Victorian Farm Modernisation Project has secured in excess
of $200 million in State and Commonwealth Government investment into the program. The
roll out of the program is progressing well with 379 projects completed to the end of the
financial year (Rounds 1 and 2 are now complete). There is an estimated total of 480 onfarm projects to be funded through the program until 2019, which are expected to transfer
30 GL in water savings to the environment. In addition, research and development also
continued on the Salt Water Balance Project and the review of the Gravity Irrigation Border
Check Irrigation system flow rates (formerly known as the high flow irrigation review)."
Table 2-7 Summary of farm works undertaken during the 2013/14 reporting year in the Goulburn
Broken CMA region
Item
Works carried out – Dryland
Works carried out – Irrigation
Whole Farm Plans
NA
Whole farm plans on 79 properties covering
8,627 hectares were completed, including 35
‘revised or modernised’ plans, bringing the total
number of whole farm plans under this
incentive to 4,247 covering 307,041 hectares or
67.2 per cent of the area covered by a water
use licence within the SIR.
Landforming
N/A
An estimated area or 6,671 ha has been
landformed during 2013/14.
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Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
Item
Works carried out – Dryland
Works carried out – Irrigation
Reuse Systems
N/A
64 reuse systems draining 3,840 ha were
installed.
Soil Salinity Surveys
N/A
N/A
Irrigation system
upgrades
N/A
Education activities
N/A
7,330 ha of irrigation systems were improved
through the Sustainable Irrigation Program; this
included areas laser graded, placed under
pressurised irrigation, serviced by reuse
systems and/or served by automatic irrigation
systems.
N/A
N/A – Activity not undertaken
2.6.3 North Central
Land use in the North Central region is changing rapidly due to highly variable climatic
conditions that have been much more prevalent since the mid-1990s. Regional soils
continue to be threatened by salinity but susceptibility is increasing due to wind erosion and
reduced soil carbon. The altered climate presents enormous challenges for farmers as they
struggle to identify and adopt new farming practices to manage the risks associated with
climate variability and maintaining agricultural productivity.
The North Central CMA is currently undertaking projects that work with regional
communities to build knowledge on improved farming practices based on experiences,
lessons learnt and success stories. With this knowledge, a plan to achieve enhanced regional
viability, agricultural production and environmental sustainability that integrates the
pervasive threats of salinity in the catchment will be proposed.
Three projects- Farming for Sustainable Soils, Adopting Sustainable Farming Practices, and
the Innovative Farming Implementation Plan- are taking an integrated approach of working
with farmers, service providers and learning institutions to understand the necessary
changes to farming systems to achieve a sustainable future. As each project is considering
best practice land and water use, the results from each project will be utilised, as
appropriate, to enhance farming systems across the catchment.
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Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
Table 2-8 presents a summary of the farm works undertaken in the North Central CMA
region during the 2013/14 reporting year which are deliverables of funded projects. It must
be noted that works undertaken through private investment or projects that are not
managed and reported through the North Central Catchment Management Authority or
DEPI cannot be included in this report. It is estimated that there are more privately funded
works than funded activities.
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Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
Table 2-8 Summary of farm works undertaken during the 2013/14 reporting year in the North
Central CMA region
Item
Works carried out – Irrigation
Whole Farm Plans

59 properties surveyed covering 8,614.4 ha completed

64 property management plans (designs) covering 8287.61 ha completed
Land forming

2,449.39 ha
Reuse Systems

43 irrigation tailwater reuse systems were installed servicing 2792.59 ha

Approximately 3,225 ML of water saved annually
Soil Salinity Surveys

29 salinity investigations undertaken covering 3,650ha
Irrigation system
upgrades

68 properties, covering 4,625 ha, undertook irrigation modernisation
upgrades through the Farm Water Program
Education activities

5 community groups involving about 70 individuals supported

Increased social capacity of 30 regional agency representatives

92 irrigator applications were managed for the Farm Water Round 3 Victorian
Farm Modernisation Project

9 New Irrigation Guideline referrals received

378 groundwater bores were monitored to continue the understanding of
watertable trends.
Other Achievements
2.6.4 Wimmera
Table 2-9 presents a summary of the farm works undertaken in the Wimmera CMA region
during the 2013/14 reporting year.
Table 2-9 Summary of farm works undertaken during the 2013/14 reporting year in the Wimmera
CMA region
Item
Works carried out - Dryland
Whole Farm Plans
N/A
Landforming
N/A
Reuse Systems
N/A
Soil Salinity Surveys
N/A
Irrigation system
upgrades
N/A
Education activities

Mentoring activities involving 30 farmers in the Vectis, Rupanyup, Nhill and
Murtoa districts.

A total of 151 landholders attended soils management training and awareness
events, involving discussion related to salinity.

Perennial Pasture Systems group support educated 104 enterprises covering
112,000ha in the Upper Wimmera catchment.
Other Achievements
N/A
N/A – Activity not undertaken
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Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
2.6.5 Victorian Mallee
Research and development to improve farming systems in the Mallee CMA includes:

Irrigation incentives offered in 2013/14 continue to encourage growers to improve
water use efficiency. Demand for irrigation incentives exceeded the available funds with
irrigators seeking to re-invigorate land after an extended dry period prior to 2010. The
irrigation incentives program targeting ‘historical irrigation’ resulted in the development
and implementation of irrigation drainage management plans covering 26 hectares,
irrigation system checks on 1260 hectares, system upgrades on 37 hectares and 194
hectares of improved irrigation management through the installation of modern
scheduling equipment.

On-ground research and demonstration trials were established in 2013/14 to identify
and promote dryland farming systems and management practices, which will deliver
improved control of groundwater recharge in the region including investigations on:
-
growth and forage potential of perennial shrubs in alternative grazing systems;
-
benefits of incorporating break crops into no-till cropping systems; and
-
weed management strategies for sustained no-till cropping systems.
Table 2-10 presents a summary of farm works undertaken during the 2013/14 reporting year
in the Mallee CMA region.
Table 2-10 Summary of farm works undertaken during 2013/14 reporting year in the Mallee CMA
region
Item
Works carried out - Dryland
Works carried out – Irrigation
Whole Farm Plans

31 participants in the EMAP program
(managing 67,103 ha) developed
Environmental Plans and associated
Action plans for their properties.


Case management and training support
was provided to 464 ‘EMAP graduates’
(managing 1,100,000 ha) to facilitate the
implementation of priority actions/works
identified in Environmental Plans.
Irrigation drainage management
plans were developed for 228
hectares and implemented,
pertaining to both historic and
new developments.

Water use efficiency farm plans
were developed encompassing
6,089 hectares across the region. .
Landforming
N/A
N/A
Reuse Systems
N/A
N/A
Soil Salinity Surveys
N/A
N/A
Irrigation system
upgrades
N/A

65
With the aid of irrigation
incentives, 6 growers have
upgraded irrigation systems
covering 37 hectares, while 15
growers improved irrigation
Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
Item
Works carried out - Dryland
Works carried out – Irrigation
management through the
installation of modern scheduling
equipment covering 194 hectares.
Education activities
Other Achievements

Workshops, field walks and case
management support delivered to
facilitate the development of skills /
knowledge required for implementation
of alternative land use options.

Delivery of tenders to private land
managers

Provision of grants to community groups,
together with technical support, to
implement salinity control works.

19 Landcare groups reviewed and
renewed landscape scale Environmental
Plans and associated Action Plans for the
identification of threat mitigation works.

Four irrigation training courses
targeting Mallee irrigators were
held involving 39 participants and
one field day.
N/A – Activity not undertaken
2.7
Targeting reforestation and vegetation management
The partner Governments recognise the necessity for landscape change specifically targeted
at salinity control. In order to facilitate such targeted change, where changed farming
systems are not adequate, the [former] Commission will further develop the concept of a
vegetation bank to have the capacity to finance extension of forestry outside of traditional
forestry areas.
The partner Governments will further consider the financing of native vegetation
management, rehabilitation and land stewardship, and the commercialisation
of short rotation tree crops, particularly for the wheatbelt.
During the 2013/14 reporting year, the North East, Goulburn Broken, Wimmera and Mallee
CMAs within the Victorian Murray-Darling Basin undertook reforestation and revegetation
works for dryland salinity management in their regions. Based on State funding alone,
approximately 2,000 ha of revegetation was established within the Basin catchments during
2013/14.
2.7.1
North East
Table 2-11 is a summary of reforestation and revegetation management works undertaken
in the North East CMA region during the 2013/14 reporting year, and target works for the
2014/15 reporting year.
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Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
Table 2-11 Reforestation and revegetation for dryland salinity management in the North East CMA
region
Salinity Management Activity
2013/14 Implementation
2014/15 Target
Native Vegetation Protected (by
physical works and/or covenants)
327 ha
385 ha
High Density Tree Establishment
N/A
N/A
Low Density Tree Establishment
N/A
N/A
Perennial Pasture Establishment
N/A
N/A
Lucerne Establishment
N/A
N/A
Improved Cropping Practices
N/A
N/A
15,185 ha
2,000 ha
Native Vegetation Re-establishment
55 ha
15 ha
Salt Tolerant Pastures Establishment
N/A
N/A
Recharge Management
Improved Grazing Regime
Discharge Management
N/A – Activity not undertaken
2.7.2 Goulburn Broken
Table 2-12 is a summary of reforestation and revegetation management works undertaken
in the Goulburn Broken CMA region during the 2013/14 reporting year, and target works for
the 2014/15 reporting year.
Table 2-12 Reforestation and revegetation for dryland salinity management in the Goulburn Broken
CMA region
Salinity Management Activity
2013/14 Implementation
2014/15 Target
1,219 ha
565 ha
Low Density Tree Establishment
1,211 ha
N/A
778 ha
N/A
Perennial Pasture Establishment
N/A
N/A
Lucerne Establishment
N/A
N/A
Improved Cropping Practices
N/A
N/A
Native Vegetation Re-establishment
N/A
N/A
Salt Tolerant Pastures Establishment
N/A
N/A
Engineering Works (e.g. groundwater
pumping)
N/A
N/A
Recharge Management
Native Vegetation Protected (by
physical works and/or covenants)
High Density Tree Establishment
Discharge Management
N/A – Activity not undertaken
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Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
2.7.3 North Central
There were no reforestation or revegetation activities completed in 2013/14 specifically
contributing to salinity management in the North Central CMA region as there is no longer a
dryland salinity management plan for the region. Priority asset project works are undertaken
as an integrated approach to restore or enhance a given asset.
2.7.4 Wimmera
Table 2-13 is a summary of reforestation and revegetation management works undertaken
in the Wimmera CMA region during the 2013/14 reporting year, and target works for
2014/15.
Table 2-13 Reforestation and revegetation for dryland salinity management in the Wimmera CMA
region
Salinity Management Activity
2013/14 Implementation
2014/15 Target
Native Vegetation Protected
(by physical works and/or
covenants)
N/A
N/A
High Density Tree
Establishment
N/A
N/A
Recharge Management
Low Density Tree
Establishment

18,000 trees planted on four private
properties (30 ha) through Project
Hindmarsh

150 people helped revegetate 12 ha at
the Yarrilinks community planting
weekend.

Project Platypus revegetated 165 ha.

Approximately 30,000
trees, mid-storey and
under-storey plants
Perennial Pasture
Establishment
N/A
N/A
Lucerne Establishment
N/A
N/A
Improved Cropping Practices

The North West Land Health Project
involved 244 landholders and 36 service
providers to undertake farm planning,
workshops, and field days, to improve
cropping practices over 650 ha.
N/A
Discharge Management
Native Vegetation Reestablishment
N/A
Salt Tolerant Pastures
Establishment
N/A
Engineering Works (e.g.
groundwater pumping)
N/A
N/A – Activity not undertaken
68
N/A

Approximately 50 ha of
private land
N/A
Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
2.7.5 Victorian Mallee
Groundwater recharge is the key process that affects salt mobilisation and salt accumulation
in the Mallee dryland. Changes to land use, or climate, leads to a change in root zone
drainage and groundwater recharge.
Continued below average rainfall and high summer temperatures marked the beginning of
the 2013/14 season in the Victorian Mallee. This may have impacted on the crop biomass
and therefore effective ground cover protection over summer months. Generally, reduced
soil moisture levels resulted in cereals being favoured over canola, although this may have
also been influenced by widespread canola establishment failures in the previous season.
During April 2014 some of the highest rainfalls in over 30 years were experienced and this
allowed farmers to complete cereal sowing (ABARES, 2013 and 2014).
An annual land management survey is undertaken across the Mallee region to monitor
changes in dryland practices. Further information on this monitoring program is provided in
Section 2.9.1.
Table 2-14 is a summary of reforestation and revegetation management works undertaken
in the Mallee CMA region during the 2013/14 reporting year, and target works for the
2014/15 reporting year.
Table 2-14 Reforestation and revegetation for dryland salinity management in the Mallee CMA
region
Salinity Management Activity
2013/14 Implementation
2014/15 Target
Native Vegetation Protected (by
physical works and/or covenants)
35,546 ha
29,544 ha
High Density Tree Establishment
N/A
N/A
Low Density Tree Establishment
544 ha
150 ha
Perennial Pasture Establishment
N/A
N/A
Lucerne Establishment
N/A
N/A
62,888 ha
56,600 ha
Native Vegetation Re-establishment
N/A
N/A
Salt Tolerant Pastures Establishment
0 ha
136 ha
Engineering Works (e.g. groundwater
pumping)
N/A – Activity not undertaken
N/A
N/A
Recharge Management
Improved Cropping Practices
Discharge Management
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Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
2.8
Constructing salt interception works
The [former] Commission will construct and operate new joint (partner Government funded)
salt interception works to protect Basin-wide assets and values, including the shared water
resources of the Murray and Darling Rivers. This will provide protection beyond the benefits
from simply meeting end-of-valley targets, based upon agreed cost sharing and benefit
allocation principles. The benefits will continue to include salt disposal entitlements to offset
the impacts of future actions that aggravate salinity.
Victoria continues to support the BSMS Strategy through the operation, investigation and
construction aspects of salt interception programs. However it should be noted that with the
implementation of the Basin Plan a considerable volume of water is becoming available for
environmental flows and this will have a significant long-term dilution benefit for the River.
Current SIS capacity may be surplus to requirements and MDBA is looking at opportunities
to save costs through reducing the size of the current SIS program.
2.8.1
Operations
A summary of Victoria’s salt interception works is provided below and in Table 2-15.
Barr Creek Drainage Diversion Scheme:
The Barr Creek Drainage Diversion Scheme has once again been effective in reducing base
salt loads in the Murray River by diverting drainage flows and intercepted saline
groundwater from the Barr Creek catchment to the Tutchewop Disposal Basins. The
2013/14 period has seen the scheme operate according to the agreed rules, diverting 5,486
ML of drainage water containing approximately 24,165 tonnes of salt to the disposal basins.
Mildura-Merbein Salt Interception Scheme:
The original Mildura-Merbein SIS was built in the 1970s and 1980 to intercept groundwater
discharge to the Murray River caused by local groundwater mounds that developed as a
result of irrigation practices and associated drainage water management practices. This
scheme was officially decommissioned in 2012.
Mildura-Merbein SIS has now been refurbished, and will commence operation in 2014/15
(see section 2.8.2 for details of the refurbishment).
Pyramid Creek Groundwater Interception Scheme:
The Pyramid Creek Groundwater Interception Scheme intercepts saline groundwater that
would have otherwise discharged to the Pyramid Creek. Previously this salt caused
significant negative impacts upon the North Central Region’s agricultural production, the
environmental attributes of the Ramsar listed Kerang Lakes, and downstream Murray River
water users.
1,155 ML of groundwater with a corresponding salt load of 29,241 tonnes was intercepted in
2013/14. These flows were diverted to constructed drainage basins from which salt is
harvested by a private operator.
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Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
Table 2-15 Summary of Victorian Salt Interception Schemes
Salt Interception Scheme
Volume Pumped
(ML)
1,155
5,486
0
Pyramid Creek
Barr Creek
Mildura-Merbein
2.8.2
Salt Load Diverted
(Tonnes)
29,241
24,165
0
Average Salinity
(EC) µS/cm)
40,971
7,003
0
Construction
Mildura-Merbein Salt Interception Scheme Refurbishment
The proposed refurbishment of Mildura-Merbein was to be constructed in two stages and
involved the expansion of the SIS with the construction of 17 bores. The stage one proposal
was restructured, with the aim of having a functioning system that will meet Victoria’s and
the Commonwealth’s current salinity reduction obligations.
This work has been completed, with activities undertaken in 2013/14 resulting in the:

completion of the construction of the interception scheme, including nine production
bores;

refurbishment of the Lake Ranfurly West pump station (with new pump);

outfall of the disposal main into Lake Ranfurly (and pumping of groundwater to the
Wargan Basins); and

commissioning of the scheme.
Nine of the bore investigation sites will be developed into fully operational pump bores and
This configuration will become the “revised” scheme until further decisions are made on
funding and disposal.
2.9
Basin-wide accountability
The partner Governments will demonstrate accountability by reporting to the [former]
Commission and Council through State end-of-valley Report Cards and [the former]
Commission Salinity Registers that record the salinity effects of actions, including salt
interception schemes and salinity and catchment management plans.
The Council will receive audits every five years for each valley and [the former] Commission
Register entry, assessing impacts on river salinity and progress towards targets, with the
provision to require further action as necessary.
2.9.1
Monitoring
The groundwater bore monitoring network established by DEPI in the mid-1980s continues
to be an important source of long-term groundwater data for the region and is used to
inform policy and program development. For example, DEPI integrates the data into
landholder extension packages delivered across the catchment.
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Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
All regions continue to invest in groundwater and surface water monitoring. However,
adjustments to monitoring programs have been made across the State, to reflect the
reduced funding (cessation of the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality) and
changing management arrangements (the new role of the Bureau of Meteorology). North
Central and Goulburn Broken CMAs have completed a strategic review and rationalised their
monitoring networks. The outcomes of the review will input into Victoria’s development of a
monitoring program to support the implementation of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
In 2013/14, Victoria invested approximately $2.7 million through DEPI on programs within the
Murray-Darling Basin dryland areas to monitor, model and analyse groundwater and salinity
trends, undertake research and investigations into dryland salinity, provide extension and
training to landholders, and support on-ground works. This funding went to state and regional
agencies, universities, landcare groups and landholders.
North East
The groundwater bore monitoring network established by the then Department of Primary
Industries (DPI) in the mid 1980’s continues to be an important source of long term
groundwater data for the region. The data is integrated into landholder extension packages
delivered across the catchment and also to inform policy and program development. There
are 18 bores monitored monthly and 200 bores are monitored quarterly.
In addition, surface water monitoring is undertaken at 59 stream sites. The data is used to
gain a regional perspective of the regions surface water salinity and is used to target areas
for on-ground works.
Goulburn Broken
Regional surface water and groundwater monitoring across the region continued. Within
the SIR 17 surface drainage sites and around 1,600 shallow groundwater bores are
monitored. Water monitoring within the Goulburn Broken region is adaptive and is managed
in response to climatic conditions and changing needs. Systems have been developed to
utilise the monitoring information collected to adaptively manage mitigation activities. For
example the operation of the Public Salinity Control groundwater pumps, which are a
component of the Shepparton Salinity Management Plan Register A entry The monitoring is
also being used to assess the salinity impacts from modernising the Goulburn-Murray
Irrigation District.
North Central
Regional surface water and groundwater monitoring across the region continued. In the
Loddon-Campaspe Irrigation Region of northern Victoria, data was collected from 378
groundwater bores and 26 surface water monitoring sites across the region. The data
obtained from these sites feed into the BSMS modelling process.
Wimmera
Wimmera CMA conducts regular water quality monitoring at 26 long-term monitoring
locations through the catchment. Further hydrologic data and continuous electrical
conductivity data is derived though the Authorities participation in the Northern Monitoring
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Partnership. Wimmera CMA also conducts groundwater monitoring throughout the
catchment and analyses groundwater level trends annually.
The cumulative impacts of the various threats facing the Wimmera River are most keenly felt
as the river winds its way to its terminal lakes, Hindmarsh and Albacutya. Water quality is
typically very poor, whether due to erosion and salinity issues upstream or from saline
groundwater intrusions into the river channel itself. Streamflows are crucial in terms of
diluting the salt and nutrients in the water as well as providing sufficient volumes to fill the
terminal lakes. Monitoring of streamflow and salinity data through the Wimmera catchment
provides ongoing information to better understand the nature of potential impacts.
Complementing Wimmera CMA monitoring, Jeparit Waterwatch has been in existence for
well over a decade and the long record of water quality monitoring tells a important story
that supplements the formal monitoring program. Poor water quality readings were
measured during the drought, when salinity levels were talked about in terms of multiples of
seawater salinity. These high salinity levels are too high to support a diverse fish population,
with only a few species of very hardy macro-invertebrates able to persist. More recently,
improved salinity levels have been observed as a result of wetter conditions and increased
environmental water releases. Despite this, water quality will continue to be an issue, and
ongoing monitoring is an important management tool.
Victorian Mallee
The Mallee continues to monitor the salinity of ground water and depths below ground
surface together with irrigation drainage water salinity and drain flows through established
monitoring programs that inform Mallee CMA program objectives, one of which is meeting
BSMS obligations.
Eleven data loggers, installed in response to the high rainfall event experienced in 2010/11
continued to monitor strategic groundwater bores in the irrigation/floodplain and dryland
areas. These loggers aim to better distinguish irrigation-induced groundwater responses
from those of rainfall. This will assist in gaining a better understanding of the salt
mobilisation process and inform future reviews of the Eastern Mallee models and RISI credit
claim.
Significant local investment has been made to repair and upgrade irrigation drainage
monitoring sites to ensure on-going high quality data collection to inform future BSMS fiveyear reviews. This includes a repairs and maintenance program initiated in partnership
between Mallee CMA and LMW for a number of sites that support BSMS accountable
actions such as the Mallee Drainage Bore Decommissioning & re-use scheme. Telemetry
units have been installed at target irrigation drainage sites to assist with real-time operation
of these diversion schemes. These sites have been included in the state regional water
quality monitoring partnership contract now totalling 21 continuously monitored sites in the
Mallee.
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Annual land management survey of Mallee dryland
Monitoring annual change in dryland practice provides an indication of potential change in
groundwater recharge. The soil erosion and land management survey undertaken in spring
2012 by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI; Drendel 2012) showed a higher
percentage (16.3 per cent) of sites in chemical fallow compared to the previous five years.
During these previous five years, chemical fallow during spring was consistently recorded at
less than 10 per cent of sites. There has also been an increase in the number of sites sown to
legumes or oil seeds. The percentage of sites sown to cereal crops was at a six-year-low of
only 43 per cent compared with the previous six years which had>60 per cent of sites being
sown to cereals. Future monitoring will determine if this observation is due to seasonal
influences or a long-term change in management practice (Drendel, 2012).
Environmental watering of Psyche Bend Lagoon and Woorlong Wetlands
Commonwealth and State government funding delivered environmental water in April 2014
as part of a three year watering project to target floodplain areas within Woorlong Wetland
and Psyche Bend Lagoon. Environmental objectives for this watering activity include:

refreshing lagoon waters;

improving vegetation health of surrounding Black Box community; and

improving water quality and opportunity for Murray Hardyhead relocation for Psyche
Bend Lagoon.
As Psyche Bend is the subject of an existing accountable action, a preliminary salinity impact
assessment was undertaken before the watering event occurred in order to model and
predict the potential saline discharge response in the river as a result of the environmental
watering activity. The assessment considered both long term impacts as defined under the
Basin Salinity Management Strategy (BSMS) as well as Basin Plan salinity operation targets.
Because the environmental watering activity proposed to discharge saline water from the
lagoon an operation plan was developed in consultation with key stakeholders to describe
control measures that would be employed to minimise the impact on downstream users
during the event. These protocols were supported with the formation of a discharge
operations group (DOG) with representation from key stakeholders include MDBA river
operations, water authorities and NSW and South Australian government agencies. The
intention of this group was to provide a formal feedback mechanism between stakeholders
providing daily information on river flows and river salinity response, to inform the discharge
operations. An extensive monitoring program was implemented prior to the event and
collected baseline information to compare against surface water and groundwater response
during the event. This data will be used to quantify the tonnes of salinity exported from
Psyche Bend Lagoon as a result of the environmental watering activity as previously done for
flushing events in high river scenarios. This information will inform the five-year review of
the BSMS Psyche Bend Drainage Disposal Accountable Action scheduled for 2015/16.
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2.9.2 Salinity registers
North Central
Stage 2 of the Kerang Lakes REALM Model upgrade project was progressed. A project will
commence in 2014/15 to use the updated model to simulate the operation of the Victorian
Mid-Murray Storage and estimate salinity within the Torrumbarry system and in the Murray
River. The upgraded version Kerang Lakes REALM model will be submitted to the MDBA for
consideration as fit-for-purpose for use in the assessment of a new accountable action
incorporating the operation of the Mid Murray Storages.
Initial investigations into projects covered by the Murray Darling Basin Sustainable Diversion
Limit offset program began in 2013/14. Three projects in the North Central region covering
the upper Gunbower Forest and the Benwell and Guttrum Forests have been initiated with
detailed designs for environment infrastructure works and measures to be developed by the
end of the 2014 calendar year. The potential salinity impacts of these projects are being
investigated and assessed as part of the business cases. If these projects do cause a Murray
River salinity impact then there needs to be coverage provided by the responsible authority
for these salinity impacts.
The North Central CMA worked closely with Goulburn-Murray Water Connections project to
identify irrigation modernisation options to achieve best possible economic, social and
environmental outcomes in the current context. Salinity issues have been specifically
addressed through a multi-agency working group that has identified, and is working through,
options to address salinity impacts resulting from irrigation modernisation across northern
Victoria.
Goulburn Broken
In 2013/14, the Goulburn Broken CMA continued to work closely with the North Central
CMA and the Goulburn-Murray Water Connections project as part of the multi-agency
working group, STAC. The working group addresses and works through salinity issues
associated with irrigation modernisation in northern Victoria, such as the impacts of disposal
of surface and groundwater back into modernised irrigation channels, which is an ongoing
and significant issue for the Goulburn Broken region.
In 2014/15, the preliminary salinity assessments for the Goulburn-Murray Water
Connections Project - Stage 1 and Stage 2 will be revised to incorporate the current level of
implementation of the project. More detailed assessments of the project's salinity impacts
will be undertaken in conjunction with five-year reviews of existing State accountable
actions, including the next five-year review of the Shepparton Salinity Management Plan,
due in 2016. Victoria will continue to work toward providing a comprehensive assessment of
the salinity impacts of the Connections Project, and working with the States and
Commonwealth on resolving how to account for salinity impacts associated with the Basin
Plan.
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Victorian Mallee
The Mallee CMA together with Lower Murray Water and DEPI improved the accounting
methodology for salinity reporting and progressed on investigations into potential future
accountable actions as follows:

AUL application reports are now a routine report generated from the Victorian Water
Register. Improved functionality within the VWR provides a running tally of AUL issued
for each SIZ enabling real-time tracking by water corporations. Improvements to the
VWR and new business rules have streamlined the reporting process by identifying only
those applications that result in a change to AUL or SIZ. This significantly reduces the
number of transactions required to be reviewed during the reporting process. The
methodology to identify accountable increases and decreases in WUL-AUL and generate
salinity impact estimations for 2013/14 is the same a previously applied (SKM, 2011).

The Mallee regional salt register has been updated with revised salinity impact
calculations and associated documentation to June 2014.

A business case for additional salinity credits associated with modelled salinity benefits
from improved irrigation practices within the Karadoc/Mallee Cliffs region was prepared
and submitted to the MDBA for approval and inclusion into the BSMS Register. As with
the original Reduced Irrigation Salinity Impact (RISI) claim (5.2 EC for Victoria 2010), the
business case was developed as a joint credit claim in collaboration with NSW. The
salinity benefit has been quantified through the refinement of the Eastern Mallee (EM)
model and equates to an additional -4.7 EC of salinity benefit to Victoria (3.7 EC benefit
for NSW). The salinity credit claim will provide capacity to meet Victoria’s regional
development needs, including the Nyah to the South Australian Border Salinity
Management Plan.

Initial investigations were undertaken in 2013/14 into projects covered by the Murray
Darling Basin Sustainable Diversion Limit offset program. Three works and measures
proposals in the North Central CMA region and seven works and measures in the Mallee
CMA are being developed, with potential salinity impacts being investigated as a part of
the business cases. The final package of works and measures will be considered for
approval to further develop detailed designs in 2015.
2.9.3 Five-year reviews
Table 2-16 is a summary of the status of rolling five-year reviews of Victorian State
Accountable Actions as stated on the BSMS Register A as at 9 September 2013. This table
also includes a summary of review activities undertaken in the 2013/14 and/or due to be
undertaken in the 2014/15 reporting period.
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Table 2-16 Status of BSMS Register A rolling five-year reviews of Victorian State Accountable
Actions in 2013/14
Last
Review
Review
Due
Barr Creek Catchment Strategy
2013
2018
Review not due until 2018.
Tragowel Plains Drains at 2002 level
2013
2018
Review not due until 2018.
Shepparton SMP
2008
2016
Victoria requested to delay the review until
2016.
Nangiloc-Colignan SMP
2013
2018
Review not due until 2018.
Nyah to SA Border SMP - Irrigation
Development
2013
2018
Review completed and endorsed February 2014.
Victorian State works and measures
Status
Kerang Lakes/Swan Hill SMP
2010
2015
This 5-year review is due to commence in
2014/15 and will be considered alongside the
assessment of the new Mid-Murray Storages
Register A entry.
Campaspe West SMP
2010
2015
Review due in 2015.
Psyche Bend
2011
2016
Review not due until 2016.
Permanent Trade Accounting
Adjustment - Victoria to SA
2005
N/A
One off adjustment. Five-year review not
required.
Woorinen Irrigation District Excision
2010
2015
This 5-year review is due to commence in
2014/15 and will be considered alongside the
assessment of the new Mid-Murray Storages
Register A entry.
Mallee Drainage Bore
Decommissioning
2013
2018
Review not due until 2018.
Sunraysia Drains Drying up
2011
2016
Review not due until 2016.
Lamberts Swamp
2011
2016
Review not due until 2016.
Church’s Cut Decommissioning
2010
2015
Review not due until 2015.
RISI-- Stage 1 Vic
2010
2015
Review due to commence in 2014/15.
Goulburn Broken
In 2011/12 Victoria applied to the MDBA to extend the next Register A five-year review of
the Shepparton SMP, due in 2013, until 2016 based on the following reasons:

unresolved tailwater accounting – Victoria and NSW are due to begin work on the
Irrigation Salinity Accountability Framework, which will address inconsistencies in
tailwater accounting between the States;

large scale footprint change in catchment conditions due to modernisation – accredited
models will need to be revised to capture irrigation system reconfiguration however,
supply system modernisation will not be complete until 2018; and

the Shepparton SMP is recorded on Register A as a low risk entry.
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
Victorian Mallee
Recommendations from five-year reviews undertaken in 2012/13 were further progressed in
2013/14 in consideration of the MDBA Independent Peer Review (IPR).
The three BSMS Register A entries under review in 2012/13 relevant to the Mallee included:
1)
Nangiloc-Colignan (NC) Salinity Management Plan (SMP);
2)
Mallee Drainage Bore Decommissioning; and
3)
Nyah to SA Border SMP.
Nangiloc-Colignan SMP: The IPR deemed the five-year review to be “fit for purpose” and
supported the recommendations therein. Victoria provided to MDBA the time series of drain
flow and salinity to the Murray River for 1988 at the current levels of development. This data
for the ‘Nangiloc-Colignan Salinity Management Plan’ Accountable Action was run through
MSM-BIGMOD during the update of the MDBA Register A (September 2013). The Register
entry remains without change with a salinity impact of 0.4 EC and a confidence rating of
“high”.
Mallee Drainage Bore Decommissioning Register Entry: The IPR recommended to reset this
item to 0.0 EC, due to the absence of monitored drain flow data to support the original
claim. However the Basin Salinity Management Advisory Panel (BSMAP) recommended that
the Mallee Drainage Bore Decommissioning credit item remain in Register A at -0.2 EC with
changes to the entry being “provisional” and “low confidence”.
Recommendations from the five-year review to re-instate the monitoring equipment for the
reuse systems constructed as part of the bore drainage decommissioning have been enacted
with five additional continuously monitored stations incorporated (June 2014) into the
Northern Regional Water Quality monitoring partnership. The partnership is managed under
contract with the DEPI. Lower Murray Water has also consulted with reuse owners to reestablish these arrangements. This will provide reliable drainage data to aid future five-year
review assessments to confirm the salinity impact of the re-use schemes.
Nyah to SA Border SMP: The five-year review for Nyah to SA Border SMP was completed in
December 2013. Results showed that the analytical model and salinity impact zoning
approach provides a conservative estimate of salt loads for two of the six numerical
groundwater models employed to cross check the analytical approach. A minor error was
identified in the calculation of salt loads for 2010/11. A correction was forwarded to the
MDBA on submission of the five-year review report to enable the MDBA Register entry to be
amended accordingly. The IPR deemed the five-year review to be “fit for purpose” and
supported the findings and recommendations. The IPR further recommended a range of
additional modelling tasks to confirm the acceptability of the full suite of numerical models
developed for the purpose of quantifying the impacts of irrigation development. The IPR also
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recommended that the confidence rating of the Register A entry for this Accountable Action
be amended to “medium”, and that the following note be inserted in the Register A
comments: "There is high confidence that the quantum of the debit entry signifies the upper
bound of the salinity impact caused by this action". The BSMAP meeting (February 2014)
endorsed this recommendation. The recommended changes to the MDBA BSMS Register A
are yet to be enacted as the annual update process was finalised before the five-year review
was completed. The additional model refinement tasks are scheduled to be undertaken in
2014/15.
Register B Five-Year Reviews
Victoria is up-to-date with Register B five-year reviews. Five-year reviews of the Victoria
Mallee Legacy of History—Dryland and Victoria Mallee Legacy of History—Irrigation entries
are scheduled to commence in 2014/15.
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3 Valley report cards
This Chapter provides salinity and flow information for the 2013/14 reporting year, for each
Victorian valley for which an end-of-valley target (EOVT) has been adopted.
3.1
Introduction
The BSMS annual reporting requirements are outlined in Schedule B to the Murray-Darling
Basin Agreement and also the BSMS Operational Protocols Version 2.0 (MDBC, 2005). Each
year, a Valley Report must be prepared for each valley for which an EOVT has been adopted.
Table 3-1 compares Annual Valley Report card content and content provided in this annual
report.
Table 3-1 Annual Valley Report card content (as per the Operational Protocols, MDBC, 2005, p. 47)
and content provided in this annual report
Annual Valley Report card content
Content provided in this Annual Report
End-of-valley salinity assessed salt load and flow
regimes under baseline conditions and modelled
over the benchmark period.
End-of-valley salinity assessed salt load and flow regimes
under baseline conditions are reported in Table 2-1(in
Section 2.3 – Setting salinity targets).
A description of expected delayed salinity
impacts on salinity, salt loads and flow and the
EOVT site for the years 2015, 2050 and 2100,
assuming that the land and water management
regime as at 1-Jan-2000 continues indefinitely
into the future.
See Section 2.3 for information on the status of EOVT
review. See Section 2.9.3 for status of delayed salinity
impacts five-year review.
The agreed EOVT for salinity and salt load.
The agreed EOVT for salinity and salt load are also
reported in Table 2-1(in Section 2.3 – Setting salinity
targets).
A report on the progress achieved in the
implementation of the Program of Actions
designed to meet the adopted EOVT.
Not available. See Section 2.3.
Details of any reviews that have taken place
during the year.
The last review of Victoria’s EOVT was conducted in
2011. Victoria’s EOVT are due for review, however
Victoria does not intend to commence this process until
the new salinity strategy (BSM2030) and the parallel
process to review and update Schedule B has been
completed.
The need to reconsider the future role of state EOVTs
was raised in the General Review of Salinity
Management (Section 2.3.1) as a matter to be addressed
as part of the development of BSM2030 during 2014/15.
The role of EOVTs will need to be considered in the
context of Basin Plan policy, the development of
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Annual Valley Report card content
Content provided in this Annual Report
regional water resource plans, and the need to mitigate
the effects of salinity on local assets.
3.2
Recorded stream salinities in 2013/14
Salinity and salt loads in 2013/14 at EOVT sites were compared to salinity targets, which are
assessed over the benchmark period.
The available information (presented in Table 3-2 and Figure 3-1 to Figure 3-8) indicates that
the median salinity in the Ovens, Kiewa, Goulburn, Broken, Loddon and Wimmera was below
the end-of-valley median target during the 2013/14 reporting year. The median salinity for the
Campaspe River was slightly above the median target for 2013/14.
The streamflow and salinity data for some of these rivers was incomplete due to conditions
outside of the instrumentation threshold, interference to monitoring infrastructure and
faulty instrumentation. These periods of poor quality data were typically of short duration
and were infilled using interpolation techniques. However, at the Avoca EOVT reporting site
there were extended periods with little or no flow. It is not possible to monitor salinity levels
during these cease to flow periods, and it can be concluded that the total salt load from the
Avoca River to the Murray River was low given the low flows.
Salt loads for Kiewa, Ovens and Wimmera rivers (t/yr) were below the median target for
2013/14.
Median salinity levels in the Ovens and Wimmera have declined compared to 2012/13
observations. The salt loads for the Ovens, Goulburn, Broken, Loddon, Campaspe and
Wimmera declined compared to 2012/13, reflecting the combined influence of salinity and
flow conditions on this metric.
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Table 3-2 Compliance against end-of-valley targets in the 2013/14 reporting period
End-of-Valley Targets
(as absolute value)
Region
Valley
Reporting site
AWRC Site
Number
Salinity
(EC µS/cm)
2013/14
Salinity
(EC µS/cm)
Salt Load
(t/yr)
Compliance
Salt Load
(t/yr)
Salt Load7
Salinity
(EC µS/cm)
Median
(50%ile)
Peak
(80%ile)
Mean
Median
(50%ile)
Peak
(80%ile)
Total
Median
(50%ile)
(t/yr)
Peak
(80%ile)
Total
Ovens
Ovens River @
Peechelba-East
403241
72
100
54,000
54^
73^
39,200^
Compliant
Kiewa
Kiewa River @
Bandiana
402205
47
55
19,000
40
48
15,300^
Compliant
Compliant
Compliant
Goulburn River @
Goulburn Weir
405259
99
-
-
61^
100^
30,400^#
Compliant
-
-
Broken
Broken Creek @
Casey's Weir
404217
141
-
-
126##
141##
10,400#
Compliant
-
-
Avoca
Avoca River @
Quambatook
408203
2,096
-
-
No data^
No data^
No data^
N/A
N/A
N/A
Loddon
Loddon River @
Laanecoorie
407203
711
-
-
675^
799^
22,700^
-
-
Campaspe
Campaspe River @
Campaspe Weir
406218
412
-
-
490^*
511^
19,100^#
Compliant
-
-
Wimmera
Wimmera
Wimmera River @
Horsham Weir
415200
1,380
1,720
31,000
1,042^
1,449^
13,100^
Compliant
Compliant
Compliant
Mallee
Vic Mallee Zone
River Murray @
Lock 6
426200
+15EEC8
-
-
North
East
Goulburn
Goulburn
Broken
North
Central
Compliant
Compliant
Compliant
^^
Guide to table:
^ Missing data due to instrument damage or conditions outside of instrumentation threshold- where feasible, data is interpolated using available data for salt load calculations; # Salt load calculated using flow and
salinity (EC) from downstream gauging station; ## Salinity data from downstream gauging station; * Salinity slightly above median target, ^^ The target relates to Victoria’s contribution to river salinity throughout
the entire Mallee zone. This contribution is assessed using the EM2 model, rather than modelled surface water salinity.
7
8
Where flow and/or EC data is missing, salt load calculations for EOVTs has required interpolation of available data.
Equivalent Electrical Conductivity – refer to Basin Salinity Management Strategy Operational Protocols Version 2.0, Murray-Darling Basin Commission, Figure 4, pg 100.
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3.3
Flow and salinity plots
Figure 3-1 Available flow and salinity record for Kiewa River @ Bandiana, 1 July 2013 to 30 June
2014
Figure 3-2 Available flow and salinity record for Ovens River @ Peechelba-East, 1 July 2013 to 30
June 2014
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Figure 3-3 Available flow and salinity record for Broken Creek @ Casey’s Weir 9, 1 July 2013 to 30
June 2014
Figure 3-4 Available flow and salinity record for Goulburn River @ Goulburn Weir 10, 1 July 2013 to
30 June 2014
9
Broken Creek EOVT site (404217) does not measure EC; EC data was sourced from a downstream gauge (404224).
Goulburn River EOVT site (405259) does not measure daily flow. Annual flow data was sourced from a downstream gauge
(405200).
10
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Figure 3-5 Available flow and salinity record for Avoca River @ Quambatook11, 1 July 2013 to 30
June 2014
Figure 3-6 Available flow and salinity record for Campaspe River @ Campaspe Weir12, 1 July 2013 to
30 June 2014
11
Avoca River EOVT site (408203) does not measure daily salinity. Salinity data was sourced from downstream gauge 408209 at
Sandhill Lake Road
12
Campaspe River EOVT site (406218) does not measure daily flow. Flow data was sourced from a downstream gauge
(406202).
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Figure 3-7 Available flow and salinity record for Loddon River @ Laanecoorie, 1 July 2013 to 30 June
2014
Figure 3-8 Available flow and salinity record for Wimmera River @ Horsham Weir, 1 July 2013 to 30
June 2014
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4 Response to Independent Audit Group
Salinity
4.1
Response to the recommendations of the 2012/13 audit
Victoria’s responses to the Independent Audit Group (IAG) 2012/13 are documented in
Table 4-1.
Table 4-1 Victoria’s response to the IAG 2012/13 recommendations
IAG Recommendation
Victoria’s Response
IN ASCENDING ORDER OF PRIORITY
Recommendation 1: BSMS Review
In regards to the General Review of Salinity Management,
the IAG–Salinity considers that the following features should
be continued in the future salinity management
arrangements:
The Basin Salinity Target at Morgan is a target

connected to assets at risk and agreed actions are
implemented to ensure the target is met.
There is a Basin–wide focus for salinity management

as a major water quality issue for the Basin.
The data and knowledge of the system continually

improves and supports good decision making.
The knowledge of the system and the models are

upgraded every seven years through ‘fit–for–
purpose’ model development providing increasing
surety about the outcome.
The intent of Schedule B in providing the register

system is maintained given that it focuses the
management of salinity and provides for trade–offs
that cater for changing circumstances in each
jurisdiction.
The SISs provide surety in meeting the salinity target

at Morgan.
The governance arrangements for the BSMS have

worked well i.e. annual reviews, the joint
jurisdictional programs and advisory group, the midterm review and the independent audit of the
registers and activities.
There are areas of the BSMS that could not deliver as
originally expected and need further consideration:
The upstream EoVT were unrelated to upstream

assets and were set as targets relevant to the
Morgan target. However, there was little upstream
community ownership or agreed management
actions in the catchments to achieve those targets.
The broad–acre agriculture and re–vegetation

elements, while delivering local benefits, have not
provided joint outcomes at Basin–scale that could be
accounted for at Morgan.
Victoria supports this recommendation. The BSMS elements
listed in the first part of this recommendation and the
coordinated effort by the jurisdictions have clearly
contributed toward achieving water and natural resource
management objectives for the Basin and should be retained
as part of any future salinity management arrangements.
Salt Interception Schemes have proven key to meeting the
BSMS target at Morgan particularly in low flow conditions. It
is important that any decisions about the extent of future SIS
capacity is made in full cognisance of the ongoing challenges
in meeting water quality objectives under the highly variable
flow and groundwater regimes of the Basin.
The governance arrangements of the BSMS, including the
register and annual reporting process, have provided
assurance to the wider community that the jurisdictions are
held accountable for assessing, managing and mitigating
salinity impacts.
Victoria supports the reconsideration of the End-of-valley
Target (EoVT) framework as a key issue to be progressed
through the General Review and the Schedule B Review
during 2014. The EoVT review has highlighted that this aspect
of the BSMS was over-emphasised particularly in relation to
the original projections of future salinity risk and increasing
salt loads emanating from upland catchments. Predictions of
the scale of this threat were downgraded during the course of
delivering the BSMS as understanding of upland groundwater
systems improved. While there is still a need to manage and
monitor the salinity threat associated with the uplands, the
level of effort should reflect the risk being managed.
Furthermore, there is now a better appreciation as to the
practicalities and economic feasibility of achieving some of
the broad-acre agriculture and re-vegetation elements
associated with the EoVT framework under the climatic
regimes across the Basin.
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IAG Recommendation
Victoria’s Response
Recommendation 2: Environmental Water
a) Three new register items should be added to the
registers with notional values to cover:
i.
Environmental Water Recovery
ii.
Use of Water for Environmental Purposes
iii.
Environmental Works and Measures
(covering initially the TLM works).
b) The policy principles for environmental watering and
use of environmental works should be evaluated
through modelled scenarios of salinity and dilution
impacts and be undertaken by the Commonwealth
Environmental Water Office (CEWO), the Basin
States/Territory and the MDBA.
c)
The Basin–wide plan and policy framework for
managing impacts and responsibility for reporting
the accountable actions from environmental
watering and use of environmental works as required
under Schedule B be settled between the
Commonwealth, the MDBA and the operating
jurisdictions.
Victoria supports the establishment of preliminary register
entries to capture current understanding of the magnitude
and distribution of salinity impacts associated with
environmental watering. It is important that the register is
maintained to include all accountable actions to enable
informed decision-making about salinity management across
the Basin. This work will require the resolution of
accountability arrangements and agreement as to how both
the credits and debits arising from the different actions
associated with environmental watering will be allocated.
Victoria remains supportive of the second and third parts of
this recommendation that were raised in last year’s IAG
report. While further policy work and assessment is required
to fully represent the impacts of environmental watering on
the register, it is important that signatories recognise and are
held accountable for actions that they undertake which have
may a significant effect on salinity consistent with Schedule B.
In addition to long-term salinity impacts, it is also important
that the policy framework sets out how the episodic salinity
risk associated with individual environmental watering events
will be managed.
Recommendation 3: Monitoring Reviews
a) In reviews of monitoring sites conducted by
jurisdictions, the reviews:
Need to be made available to the IAG–Salinity.

Show they meet the jurisdictional BSMS

reporting obligations.
Be based on a risk approach to match the

management regime for data collection and
improvement in models.
Adopt a scientific approach to minimise the loss

of information content in the monitoring
network.
b) The agreed protocols for collecting salinity data need
to be updated and adopted.
c)
Queensland has salinity hazards arising from CSG
and irrigation and requires a better combined
monitoring network if it is to analyse them.
Victoria supports items (a) and (b) of this recommendation.
Processes and decisions about rationalising monitoring should
be transparent and documented to enable external review
and should ensure that adequate data continues to be
collected to support computer modelling and reviews of
salinity impacts. It is also important that investment of public
funds in salinity monitoring is proportionate to the magnitude
of the risk being managed. A key driver for jurisdictions in
reviewing monitoring networks is ensuring monitoring
remains targeted. Significant change in the use of water
across the landscape is occurring as the irrigation footprint
changes and environmental watering is implemented and this
is resulting in changes to monitoring networks.
Victoria has no comments on item (c) of this
recommendation.
Recommendation 4: CSG water in Queensland
a) Queensland adequately monitors salinity hazards
arising through CSG and associated irrigation which
will require a better combined monitoring database.
b) The potential cumulative impacts of CSG and any
associated irrigation in Queensland needs to be
assessed to determine if it is a threat to the Basin
salinity program.
Victoria has no comments on this recommendation.
Recommendation 5: End-of-Valley Target
a) In the future salinity arrangements, catchment Endof-Valley Targets should be based on requirements of
upstream and downstream assets (as detailed in the
End–of–Valley Target Review). On this basis targets
should be representative of the salinity regime that
will impact on the agreed assets, which should not be
constrained to the threshold and exceedance
percentiles. This will assist in making the link
between targets and community driven management
of potential asset impacts.
b) Salt load requirements should only be required as
part of End-of-Valley Targets where they are relevant
to assets.
Victoria supports consideration of the requirements of
upstream and downstream assets as an input to setting Endof-Valley Targets (EoVT). The EoVT Review has made a series
of wide-ranging recommendations relevant to both the role
and form of the EoVT framework post the current BSMS
which include the aspects raised in the above
recommendations. The Schedule B Review provides the
MDBA and jurisdictions an opportunity to evaluate the
recommendations of the EoVT Review in their entirety, as a
basis for developing a shared policy position about the
application of EoVTs in future salinity management
arrangements.
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IAG Recommendation
Victoria’s Response
Recommendation 6: Outstanding Register Items
c)
Queensland should provide written evidence to the
MDBA of the low salinity risk catchments that will
not impact on the Morgan target and do not require
any further work to assess them for a register entry.
d) Queensland, with the assistance from the MDBA,
should undertake an analysis to determine at what
level of salinity threat the Border Rivers catchment
would need to be to consider it as a significant item
for the salinity register purposes.
e) NSW should formally advise the Murray–Darling
Basin Authority of its schedule for its upcoming
salinity register reviews.
Not applicable to Victoria.
Recommendation 7: Modelling
f)
By the end of the BSMS, the MDBA should assess how
closely the benchmark period matched the 2000–
2015 actual climate (on average), and the magnitude
of the difference between recorded and dynamically
modelled Morgan salinity.
g) A risk-based approach should be applied to model
improvement as part of the seven year review
process with the principle that further investment in
model development should be driven by the salinity
risk and the level of data available.
h) That priority be given to understanding and
modelling physical linkages between river,
floodplains and groundwater.
Victoria supports the three recommendations on modelling
and a risk-based approach to the use of modelling should be
clearly articulated in salinity management arrangements post
the current BSMS. The Schedule B Review would provide an
appropriate opportunity to consider the potential to improve
assessment of salinity impacts through extending the
benchmark period to reflect the longer record of flow and
climatic data which is now available.
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Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
5 References
ABARES (2013), Australian crop report, Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and
Sciences, Canberra, June, CC BY 3.0.
ABARES (2014), Australian crop report, Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and
Sciences, Canberra, February, CC BY 3.0.
ABS (2010), 4610.0.55.008 - Gross Value of Irrigated Agricultural Production, 2009-2010.
ABS (2011), 75030DO002_200910. Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia, 2009–10.
ABS (2012), 4610.0.55.008 - Gross Value of Irrigated Agricultural Production, 2010-11.
ABS (2013), 4610.0.55.008 - Gross Value of Irrigated Agricultural Production, 2011-12.
AWE (2013), Mallee Groundwater Monitoring 2013. Final report to Mallee Catchment Management
Authority, Mildura.
BOM (2013), http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/data/. Website accessed 15/08/2013.
DEPI (2013) Victorian Resources Online: www.depi.vic.gov.au/vro.
DPI (2008), North East Sustainable Irrigation Action Plan (Draft). Victorian Government, Department of
Primary Industries for North East Catchment Management Authority.
DPI (2009), AVS Mapping the Mallee Saline Land Stage 3, Classifying Mapped Salinity 2009. Victorian
Government, Department of Primary Industries.
DPI (2012), Goulburn Broken Catchment Legacy of History Salt Impacts, 2011 Register B- Five-year
Review, Victorian Government, Department of Primary Industries, Melbourne.
Drendel, H. (2012), Mallee Soil Erosion and Land Management Spring 2012. Unpublished report for
the Department of Primary Industries, Hopetoun, Victoria.
DSE (2009), Northern Region Sustainable Water Strategy. Victorian Government, Department of
Sustainability and Environment, Melbourne.
DSE (2011), Manual for Victoria’s Salinity Accountability in the Murray Darling Basin. Victorian
Government, Department of Sustainability and Environment, Melbourne.
DSE (2012), Soil Health Strategy. Protecting Soil Health for Environmental Values on Public and Private
Land. Victorian Government, Department of Sustainability and Environment, pp 33.
LCC (1987), Report on the Mallee Area Review. Land Conservation Council, pp 465.
Mallee CMA (2014), Mallee Irrigation Status report 2013-14. Mallee Catchment Management
Authority, Mildura pp32.
Mallee CMA (1993), Nyah to the South Australian Border Salinity Management Plan. Mallee
Catchment Management Authority.
Mallee CMA (2012), Mallee Salinity Workshop Papers. Mallee Catchment Management Authority
(http://www.malleecma.vic.gov.au/resources/salinity).
MDBA (2013), http://riverdata.mdba.gov.au/sitereports/414203c/mdba_414203c_site_report.html
Website accessed 16/08/2013.
MDBC (2005), Basin Salinity Management Strategy Operational Protocols Version 2.0. Murray-Darling
Basin Commission.
MDBMC (1999), The Salinity Audit of the Murray-Darling Basin: A 100 year Perspective, MurrayDarling Basin Ministerial Council.
MDBMC (2001), Basin Salinity Management Strategy 2001-2015, Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial
Council.
MDBMC (2009), Basin Salinity Management Strategy 2007-08 Annual Implementation Report.
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Canberra, Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council, Murray-Darling Basin Authority.
NCCMA (2002), Loddon-Murray Land and Water Management Strategy. North Central Catchment
Management Authority, Bendigo.
NCCMA (2007), Loddon Campaspe Irrigation Region Land and Water Management Plan. North Central
Catchment Management Authority.
NCCMA (2011), Loddon Campaspe Irrigation Region Land and Water Management Plan. North Central
Catchment Management Authority, Bendigo.
NECMA (1997), North East Salinity Strategy. North East Catchment Management Authority.
NECMA (2001), Ovens Basin Water Quality Strategy. North East Catchment Management Authority.
NECMA (2002), Upper North East Water Quality Strategy. North East Catchment Management
Authority.
NECMA (2007), North East Salinity Action Plan. North East Catchment Management Authority.
NECMA (2009), North East Sustainable Irrigation Action Plan. North East Catchment Management
Authority.
NECMA (2013), North East Regional Catchment Strategy. North East Catchment Management
Authority.
NLWRA (2008), National Land and Water Resources Audit. Australian Government
(http://www.nlwra.gov.au).
NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, DustWatch Report Series, January 2013 – July 2014
Ogyris (2012), Trends in native vegetation condition: an assessment of two long term Mallee
environmental datasets. Unpublished report, Mallee Catchment Management Authority. August
2012.
REM (2005), Identification of key environmental assets of groundwater threats, Mallee CMA region,
Final, Resource and Environmental Management. Mallee Catchment Management Authority.
RMCG and Cummins, T (2012), Mallee CMA Operation maintenance and monitoring plans to support
Basin Salinity Management Strategy Accountable Actions. Final report for the Mallee Catchment
Management Authority, August 2012.
RPS Aquaterra (2013), Psyche Bend Lagoon – flushing analysis (2011/2012 events). Final report for the
Mallee CMA, March 2013.
SKM (2001), Mallee Region Salt Impact of Water Trade. A Proposed Method for Accounting for the EC
Impacts of Water Trade in the Victorian Mallee. Final report by Sinclair Knight Merz for Department
of Natural Resources and Environment.
SKM (2005), End of Valley Salinity Targets for Victoria. Sinclair Knight Merz for the Department of
Sustainability and Environment.
SKM (2006), Shepparton Irrigation Region Salinity Audit. Audit Report. Final, Sinclair Knight Merz for
Goulburn-Murray Water (SKM Job No. WT01910.104).
SKM (2008), Reforecast Groundwater Trends in the Mallee Region for 2030 and 2050. Final report to
the Mallee Catchment Management Authority, July 2008.
SKM (2010a), Dryland Salinity Contribution to the Murray. Refinement of the reforecast groundwater
trends in the Mallee region for 2030 and 2050. Final report to the Mallee Catchment Management
Authority, December 2010.
SKM (2010b), Risk assessment of policy and accounting for assessing salinity impacts in the Mallee. Final
report to the Mallee Catchment Management Authority, December 2010.
SKM (2011), Victorian Mallee Salt Procedures Manual. Final report for Mallee Catchment
Management Authority, May 2011.
91
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SKM (2013a), Review of Murray Darling Basin End-of-Valley Targets, Phase 1 report, Final report to
the Murray Darling Basin Authority, October 2013.
SKM (2013b), Review of Murray Darling Basin End-of-Valley Targets, Phase 2 report, Final report to
the Murray Darling Basin Authority, October 2013.
SPPAC (1989), Shepparton Land and Water Salinity Management Plan. Victorian Government, Salinity
Pilot Program Advisory Council.
SunRISE 21 (2012), Irrigated Horticulture Crop Report.
Final report to the Mallee Catchment Management Authority, July 2012.
WCMA (2005), Wimmera Regional Salinity Action Plan 2005-2010. Wimmera Catchment Management
Authority, Horsham, Victoria.
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Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
Appendix A. Acknowledgements
Table 5-1 Key information providers to Victoria’s BSMS Annual Report 2013/14
Region
Contact name and organisation
North East
Natalie Dando
North East CMA, Wodonga
Goulburn Broken
Carl Walters
Goulburn Broken CMA, Tatura
James Burkitt
Goulburn-Murray Water, Tatura
North Central
Tim Shanahan and Joel Spry
North Central CMA, Huntly
Wimmera
Joel Boyd
Wimmera CMA, Horsham
Mallee
Deidre Jaensch
Mallee CMA, Mildura
Salt Interception Works
Paul Saunders
Goulburn-Murray Water, Kerang
Land Health
Dugal Wallace
Anja George
Department of Environment and Primary Industries
Sustainable Irrigation
Maggie Xipolitos and Susan Ryan
Department of Environment and Primary Industries
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Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
Appendix B. Shepparton Irrigation
Region calculation assumptions
B.1 Assumptions regarding the progressive total
salinity debits
The following are comments that should be noted regarding the current MDBA BSMS
Register A entry for the Shepparton Salinity Management Plan (SMP) line item:

The current Register A entry (MDBA Salinity Register as at 9/9/2013) of 1.4 EC impact
represents the level of implementation at 30 June 2008. It does not include impacts of
works installed since then.

Winter disposal from private groundwater pumps was ceased in 2007 and was endorsed
by BSMAP for removal as a component of the Shepparton SMP action in 2011. This
reduced the register entry to 1.4 EC based on 2007/08 levels of development. Given that
the scenarios used for the 2007/08 levels of development assessment did not allow for a
breakdown of the individual activities/components of the SSMP, a proportioning
approach was used, as the assumptions used were not changed since the previous fiveyear review.

Estimates for the progressive total salinity debits in the Goulburn Broken CMA region
presented in this Annual Report were obtained using the ready reckoners determined
during the previous SKM (2006) assessment of review data. This assessment indicated
that there is a net credit impact due to the installation of primary and community
surface drains.

The impacts estimated for this Annual Report include the works installed since 30 June
2008.
B.2
Assumptions regarding salinity debits by program
component
Surface-Water Management Schemes – Primary and Community
The SKM (2009) data indicates that the surface water management program has an impact
of -0.58 EC as at June 2009. This was previously recorded as 0.51 EC prior to the SKM (2006)
review. As such, it is now a credit and not a debit. Subsequently salinity credits are allocated
to completed works based on an estimated impact of -0.00084 EC per kilometre of primary
or community drain constructed. Note that a primary drain only appears on the asset
register when ownership is transferred from the CMA to G-MW.
Public Groundwater pumps
The SKM (2009) data estimated the cost of the public groundwater pumps to be 1.83 EC as
at June 2009. The salinity debits created by public groundwater pumps is calculated
assuming that 75 per cent of the groundwater pumped ‘in season’ is re-used, and all ‘out of
season’ pumping (if river flow flows are sufficient for disposal to occur) reaches the Murray
River.
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Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
The salinity debit of the public pump program has been estimated using:

The actual flow rate and groundwater salinity for each pump;

The estimated proportion of pumped groundwater that reaches the river; and

An impact relationship of 1 EC at Morgan for every 5,260 tonnes per year of salt
disposed to the river.
Private Horticulture Protection Works
The SKM (2009) data estimated the cost of the private horticultural protection works to be
0.17 EC as at June 2004. Salt credits are allocated to low yielding private groundwater pumps
and tile drainage systems that have been installed for the protection of horticultural crops.
Owners pump to the regional drainage system to lower water tables that would otherwise
threaten crops. A disposal salt load for each system is calculated based on the estimated
volume that needs to be pumped during a wet season and the groundwater salinity. All of
the groundwater pumped is assumed to reach the Murray River, and credit uptake is
estimated using an impact relationship of 1 EC at Morgan for every 5,700 tonnes per year of
salt disposed to the river.
NOTE: The cost of the Shepparton program is conservatively estimated at $240,000/EC.
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Appendix C. Salinity impact of new
irrigation development in the
Victorian Mallee
Appendix C can be found at http://www.depi.vic.gov.au/rural-water-and-irrigation/salinity
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Appendix D. Confidence rating for Register A entries
Table D-1 Confidence Rating Approach for Victoria’s Register A entries (see Table D- for explanatory notes)
Model Assessment
Register Entry
Salinity
debits*
Assessment
Method
Type
&/or
Name
Model
Status
Length &
Quality of
Data Record
Confidence in
Assumptions
Surface Drainage
-0.58
Modelling
Approved
Good
High
Sub-surface Drainage
2.00
Modelling
Simplified
Physical
Process
Model
“SIR Salt
Disposal
Audit
Model”
Approved
Good
High
Allocated
Salinity
Credits
Last
Reviewed
Comment
Confidence
Rating
Confidence
Rating
Impact
Low
Low
Low
Low
Goulburn Broken CMA
8.9
Sub Total
8.90
1.42
* As recorded on BSMS Register as at 25/09/2014
97
Complete
d in
2006/07,
relates to
2003/04
Reasonable certainty in
magnitude of estimate, and
likely to be conservative.
An interim review was
undertaken in 2011 and the
five-year review is now due
for submission in 2016.
Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
Model Assessment
Register Entry
Allocated
Salinity
Credits
Salinity
debits*
Assessment
Method
Type
&/or
Name
Model
Status
Length &
Quality of
Data Record
Confidence in
Assumptions
Last
Reviewed
High
2013
Comment
Confidence
Rating
Confidence
Rating
Impact
High
Low
High
Low
High
Low
High
Low
North Central CMA
Tragowel Plains
Drainage
Woorinen Irrigation
District Excision
Kerang Lakes/Swan
Hill SMP (Lake Charm
Flushing)
Campaspe West SMP
(Subsurface Drainage
& Groundwater
Disposal)
Sub Total
10.12
Good for
flow and
salinity,
Poor re
spatial
distribution
of changed
irrigation
water use
0.2
Modelling
Multiple
Linear
Analysis
0.8
Modelling using
25 year Kerang
Lakes Model,
and Murray
River Model
Kerang
Lakes
REALM
Model
(1975-2000)
Approved
Good (to
Excellent)
High
2010
The Kerang Lakes REALM
model is being updated to
include new operating
conditions. The updated
model will be used in the
next 5-year review.
1.6
Modelling using
25 year Kerang
Lakes Model,
and Murray
River Model
Kerang
Lakes
REALM
Model
(1975-2000)
Approved
Excellent
High
2010
Refer to Woorinen
comments
0.30
Monitoring and
inputs into
MDBA Murray
River Model
N/A
Approved
(MDBA
Murray
River
Model)
Excellent
High (to
Medium)
2010
Approved
2.9
* As recorded on BSMS Register as at 25/09/2014
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Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
Model Assessment
Register Entry
Allocated
Salinity
Credits
Salinity
debits*
Assessment
Method
Type
&/or
Name
Model
Status
Length &
Quality of
Data Record
Confidence in
Assumptions
Last
Reviewed
0.6
-
Modelling
Constant
average salt
load
Approved
Good
Medium
Sunraysia Drains
Drying Up
0
-
Modelling
Hydrogeolo
gical
Modelling –
Monthly
Time Step
Approved
Good
Lamberts Swamp
0
-
Modelling
Hydrogeolo
gical
Modelling –
Monthly
Time Step
Approved
Reduced Irrigation
Salinity Impact
0
-
Modelling
MODFLOW
model Eastern
Mallee
Model
version 2.3
(EM2.3)
Mallee Drainage Bore
Decommissioning
0
0
Modelling
Tol Tol and
Bumbang
MODFLOW
& Boundary
Bend –
Hydrogeolo
gical
Modelling
Comment
Confidence
Rating
Confidence
Rating
Impact
2011
Medium
Low
Medium
2010
Medium
Low
Good
High
2010
High
Low
Approved
Good
Medium
N/A
New entry to register in 2010
Medium
Low
Approved
Poor
Low
2013
The absence of sufficient
monitored drain flow data in
the last 5-year review
resulted in a change to the
status of the entry to
“provisional” and “low
confidence”. The provisional
status will remain until
Low
Low
Mallee CMA
Psyche Bend Lagoon
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Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
Model Assessment
Register Entry
Allocated
Salinity
Credits
Salinity
debits*
Assessment
Method
Type
&/or
Name
Model
Status
Length &
Quality of
Data Record
Confidence in
Assumptions
Last
Reviewed
Comment
Confidence
Rating
Confidence
Rating
Impact
High
Low
Medium
Medium
monitoring has been
reinstated.
Nangiloc-Colignan
SMP - Drainage
1.69
0.4
Modelling
Observation
of historic
records and
statistical
modelling
Approved
Excellent
High
2013
Nyah to South
Australian border
SMP – irrigation
development
15.93
13.8
Modelling
HIZ/LIZ
method
underpinne
d by
analytical
groundwate
r model
Approved
Excellent
data
updated to
2013
High
2013
100
The last 5-year review
compared the approved
analytical model against a
numerical model which
indicated that the salinity
impact recorded on the
register is over conservative.
Mallee CMA will consider
developing a new model for
assessing irrigation
development in the region
which will more accurately
estimate impacts and result
in a reduced debit.
Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
Model Assessment
Register Entry
Allocated
Salinity
Credits
Salinity
debits*
Assessment
Method
2.0
0
In
developmen
t
Sub Total
20.22
14.2
Total
35.95
18.02
Lindsay Island – river
operations13
Type
&/or
Name
Model
Status
Length &
Quality of
Data Record
N/A
N/A
* As recorded on BSMS Register as at 25/09/2014
13
Not yet an accountable action on the BSMS Register
101
Confidence in
Assumptions
Last
Reviewed
Comment
State allocation against the
changed river operations at
Lindsay Island of 2EC are to
be preserved until further
modelling is undertaken.
Confidence
Rating
N/A
Confidence
Rating
Impact
N/A
Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report
Table D-2 Explanatory notes for Confidence rating for Register A entries
Column Name
Options
Comment
Assessment Method
Modelling
Monitoring
Refers to the method used to make the most recent assessment of impacts.
Modelling Assessment
-
The four columns under this heading are provided to allow a description of the modelling process. An N/A should be placed in
these columns where monitoring is used to assess the impact of the entry.
Type &/or Name
Examples only:
GAM/Multi-variable regression
Refers to the type or classification of model and if appropriate the common name by which the model is recognised
Model Status
Approved
Pending
Not Approved
Refers to whether the model has been considered by the BSMS IWG and received approval as being fit for purpose, or is going
through this process.
Length & Quality
of Data Record
Excellent
Good
Poor
None
High
Medium
Low
Refers to availability, quality and length of record of flow and salinity data for model calibration and testing.
Excellent: 20 yrs of both data sets; Good: 5 to 15 years of both data sets; Poor: Limited records of one/both data sets available;
None: No data available.
Last Reviewed
-
Date of last review
Comment
-
Add any additional/explanatory information that significantly impacts on overall confidence rating
Confidence Rating
High
Medium
Low
High
Medium
Low
High: The magnitude of the entry is known with a high degree of certainty
Medium: Some uncertainty exists with respect to the magnitude of the entry
Low: The magnitude of the entry is uncertain
High: Uncertainty associated with the entry is likely to impact on Victoria’s available EC credits
Medium: Uncertainty associated with the entry may impact on Victoria’s available EC credits
Low: Uncertainty associated with the entry is unlikely to impact negatively on Victoria’s available EC credits
Confidence in
Assumptions
Impact of confidence
rating
High: In general the impact of assumptions are known to be conservative
Medium: There is some uncertainty about the impact of assumptions
Low: The impact of assumptions is largely unknown
102