Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No:  41
Division/Agency:	National Water Commission
Topic:	Water efficiency programs
Hansard Page ECITA:	112-113

Senator Siewert asked:
Senator SIEWERT—In the absence of there being something written down, I would appreciate it if you could provide some references.
Mr Costello—It is referenced on page 9 of the National Plan for Water Security.
Senator SIEWERT—Beyond those that are there; that would be useful.

Answer/s:
Assumptions in the National Plan for Water Security about improving on-farm irrigation efficiency were based on published and unpublished sources.

Unpublished sources include 65 proposals received from the irrigation sector seeking funding for irrigation efficiency projects and expert advice from CSIRO scientists.

Published sources include:
Beecher, G., McLeod, G. D., Pritchard, K. E., and Russell, K., (1995), Final Report, Benchmarks and Best Management Practices for Irrigated Cropping Industries in the Southern Murray-Darling Basin, NRMS I 5045.

Khan S., Rana T and Blackwell J. (2004) Can Irrigation Be Sustainable? Proceedings of the 4th International Crop Science Conference. Brisbane - New Directions for a Diverse Planet: 4th International Crop Science Conference. 26 September – 1 October 2004. http://www.regional.org.au/au/cs/2004/symposia/1/7/1399_shahbazkhan.htm 

Khan S., (2006) Economic and institutional considerations for irrigation water savings. 125-129 Ian R Willett and Zhanyi Gao Editors. Agricultural Water Management in China.  Proceedings of a workshop held in Beijing, China 14 September 2005. Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) Nomograph No. 123

Khan, S, Akbar, S, Rana, T, Abbas, A, Robinson, D, Paydar, Z, Dassanayke, D, Hirsi, I, Blackwell, J, Xevi, E and Carmichael, A (2005a), Off-and on-farm savings of irrigation water. Murrumbidgee valley water efficiency feasibility project, Water for a Healthy Country Flagship report, CSIRO, Canberra, 16 p. http://www.cmis.csiro.au/healthycountry/reports/Water_savings_low.pdf

Khan, S, Rana, T, Beddek, R, Blackwell, J, Paydar, Z and Carroll, J (2005 b), Whole-of-catchment water and salt balance. Identifying potential water saving and management options in the Murrumbidgee catchment, Water for a Healthy Country report, CSIRO, Canberra, 16 p. http://www.cmis.csiro.au/healthycountry/reports/Salt_balance_low.pdf

Khan S, Mu J, Hu Y, Rana T, Zhanyi G (2005c) Systems Approaches to Achieve Real Water Savings in Australia and China. 19th International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage, 10-18 September 2005 Beijing China. ISBN 81-85068-96-8

Khan S. Mu J, Jamnani M. A, Hafeez M and Zhanyi G (2005d) Modelling Country Water Futures using Food Security and Environmental Sustainability Approaches. 16th Congress of the Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand. 12-15 December 2005. CD Proceedings. 

Murray-Darling Basin Commission (MDBC) (1997), Inland Agriculture, Best Management Practices and Benchmarking Study, Inland Agriculture Pty. Ltd., in association with Hutchins Agronomic Services, Darlington Point.

National Water Commission, National Program for Sustainable Irrigation and Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (2006), Investing in Irrigation: achieving efficiency and sustainability, Canberra, ISBN 1 921107 10 3

NSW Dept. of Ag. (2003), “Murrumbidgee Catchment Irrigation Profile”, written and compiled by Meredith Hope and Marcus Wright.

Pratt Water Group (2005) The Business of Saving Water. Report of the Murrumbidgee Valley Water Efficiency Feasibility Project. Report prepared under the Pratt Water Murrumbidgee Project a collaborative venture funded jointly by the NSW and Commonwealth Governments under the National Action Plan for Salinity & Water Quality, and by Pratt Water Ltd

Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No:  42
Division/Agency:	National Water Commission
Topic:	Raising National Water Standards
Hansard Page ECITA:	120

Senator Wong asked:
Senator WONG—Of the 28 projects comprising $56 million in the Raising National Water Standards, you said a number of those are national. Are any of those state specific?
...
Mr Thompson—Some of them would be state specific. Because of the nature of that program the projects are chosen to advance the national water initiative not only within states but across jurisdictions as well. Even where they relate to investments within individual states we look for benefits delivered across states.
Senator WONG—So how many of the 28 are state specific in that component?

Answer/s:
Of the 29 Raising National Water Standards projects included in the funding announced on 24 January 2007, 6 are state specific.

Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No:  43
Division/Agency:	National Water Commission
Topic:	Water Smart Australia projects
Hansard Page ECITA:	120

Senator Wong asked:
Of the 16 projects comprising $165.6 million from round two of the Water Smart Australia programme, how many are from state governments?

Answer/s:
Of the 16 projects, 12 approved projects are from state governments or state owned corporations.

Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No:  44
Division/Agency:	National Water Commission
Topic:	Icon projects
Hansard Page ECITA:	132

Senator Webber asked:
What projects have come forward from the states in response to the Prime Minister’s request for projects in August last year?

Answer/s:
The Prime Minister’s media release on 24 January 2007, detailing each project, is attached.

Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No:  45
Division/Agency:	National Water Commission
Topic:	Raising National Water Standards Projects
Hansard Page ECITA:	100

Senator Wong:  I think the Prime Minister released a statement announcing funding for a number of projects.  The amount was I think $200 and something million?
Mr Thompson:  $220 Million.
Senator Wong:  Have the projects themselves actually been announced?
Mr Costello:  Some have been announced, but there are further announcements to come.
Senator Wong:  How many projects are covered in the $220 million?
Mr Costello:  it is a mix of the two programs – Water Smart Australia and Raising National Water Standards.
Senator Wong:  Yes, I got that.
Mr Costello:  I will get back to you with the precise numbers for the Raising National Water Standards.

Answer/s:
29 Raising National Water Standards projects were included in the funding announced by the Prime Minister on 24 January 2007.

Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No:  46
Division/Agency:	National Water Commission
Topic:	Irrigation Sector
Hansard Page ECITA:	114

Senator O’Brien:  You talked earlier this evening about meeting in March with all the irrigated sectors.  Which sectors were represented?
Mr Costello:  We held a workshop in March last year.  I can get you a complete list of attendees, but all the major grower groups including Cotton Australia, dairy, horticulture, rice growers and so on, and then major irrigation corporations were invited to participate.
Senator O’Brien:  I would appreciate it if you could provide that.

Answer/s:  Please find the list of workshop attendees at Attachment A.

Attachment A

WATER SMART AUSTRALIA PROGRAMME

IRRIGATION WORKSHOP
MARCH 29-30, 2006

ATTENDEES
	
Volker	Aeuckens		National Water Commission	
Geoff	Akers	Chairperson, VFF Water Resources Committee	Victorian Farmers Federation	
Chris	Alderton	Project Manager	Renmark To The Border LAP, SA	
Dave	Anthony	Chairman	Auscott	
Stan	Archard	Director	Archards Irrigation Pty Ltd	
Joyce	Babun		Gascoyne Water Asset Mutual Cooperative Ltd	
Alan	Barrett		Hydro Tasmania Consulting, Tas	
Fiona	Bartlett		Department of Agriculture Fisheries & Forestry	
Kieren	Bennetts		National Water Commission	
Jodie	Berkefeld	Acting Manager Major Projects	South East Natural Resources Management Board, SA	
Robert	Boshammer	Manager	Plantation Management Services	
John	Bourne	Irrigation Development	Dept Water, Land & Biodiversity, SA	
Peter	Box	Facilitator	Workshop Facilitator	
Craig	Bradley		National Water Commission	
Jane	Branson		Lower Murray Water / URS	
Nic	Branson			
Jessica	Brown	Executive Officer	Maquarie River Food And Fibre, NSW	
John	Bruce	Partner	Tarawa Rural Partnership	
Felicity	Bunny		National Water Commission	
Jolyon	Burnett	CEO	Irrigation Association of Australia	
Thomas	Busher	Regional Officer	South West Development Commission, WA	
Patrick	Byrne	Chairman	Best Results (Australia) Pty Ltd (Natural Sequence Farming)	
Geoff	Calder	General Manager	Harvey Water, WA	
Jeff	Camkin	Sustainability Specialist	Northern Australian Irrigation Futures, CSIRO	
Andrew	Campbell		Land And Water Australia	
Alison	Carmichael		Irrigation Association of  Australia	
Mark	Castelanelli	Board Representative	Burdekin Shire Council, Qld	
Russell	Cavill	General Manager	ICM Agriculture	
Murray	Chapman		National Program for Sustainable Irrigation	
Bryan	Clark	Executive Officer	Irrigation Research And Extension Committee, NSW	
John	Clements	CEO	Namoi Water Inc, NSW	
Ian	Cobbledick	Chairperson	Murray Dairy, Vic	
Allan	Cooney	General Manager	Centre Farm Aboriginal Horticulture Ltd, NT	
Russell	Cooper	CEO	Goulburn Murray Water, Vic	
Peter	Corish	Commissioner	National Water Commission	
Steve	Costello		National Water Commission	
Ian	Cox	Manager 	Agribusiness Industries, Westpac	
Peter	Cullen	Commissioner	National Water Commission	
Gianni	D'Addario			
Ross	Dalton	General Manager	Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry	
Eric	Danzi	Senior Manager, Planning	Cane Growers	
Ross	Davies		Department of Sustainability & Environment, Vic	
Greg	Dawes	Operations Manager	Pioneer Valley Water Board, Qld	
Barry	Donaldson		Archards Irrigation Pty Ltd	
Penny	Douglas	Principal Advisor	Dept of Natural Resources & Mines, Qld	
Matthew	Durack		Irrigation Association of Australia	
Mary	Ewing	Executive Officer	Lachlan Valley Water	
Ed	Fagan		Lachlan Valley Water	
Craig	Ferber	CEO	Sunlands & Golden Heights Irrigation Trusts, SA	
Denis	Flett	Chair NPSI; Manager Rural Water SKM	National Program For Sustainable Irrigation (LWA)	
Imogen	Fullagar		Murrumbidgee Private Irrigators	
Edward	Garrett		Gascoyne Water Cooperative Ltd, WA	
Harvey	Gaynor		Gwydir Valley Irrigators Association, NSW	
Clare	Gilmour		National Water Commission	
Chris	Glennon	General Manager	Lachlan Catchment Management Authority	
Peter	Gregg	Chief Scientist	Cotton Catchment Communities CRC	
Gayle	Grieger	Executive Officer BIPEC	Adelaide & Mt Lofty Ranges NRM Board	
Dan	Halloran	Ceo	NT Agricultural Association	
Barry	Hancock		North Central Catchment Management Authority	
Paul	Handscombe		National Water Commission	
Virginia	Hart		National Water Commission	
Ted	Hatty		Berriquin Irrigators' Central Council, NSW	
Graham	Hawke		Southern Rural Water, Vic	
Ian	Hayllor		Central Downs Irrigators, Qld	
Anna	Heaney		ABARE	
Bill	Hetherington	Vice Chairman	Australian National Committee On Irrigation And Drainage	
Malcolm	Holm		Southern Riverina Irrigators	
Linda	Holub		National Water Commission	
Anthony John	Horton	Director (Water Use)	Qld Dept of NRMW	
John	Howe	Policy Manager	Murrumbidgee Irrigation	
Natalie	Huba	Policy Adviser - Water	Victorian Farmers Federation	
Lois	Hunt		National Water Commission	
Karen	Hutchinson	Executive Director	Murrumbidgee Horticulture Council Inc	
Ted	Hutty		Berriquin Irrigators, NSW	
Peter	Hyde		National Water Commission	
Maurice	Incerti	CEO	Murray Dairy, Vic	
Lindsay	Innes		ORD Irrigation Co-Operative, WA	
Richard	Jefferies	Irrigation Member	BlueScope Water	
Robin	Juffs	Chairman	South Burdekin Water Board	
Andrew	Kelly		ORD Irrigation Co-Operative, WA	
Rob	Kelly	Environment Manager	Murrumbidgee Irrigation	
David	Kent		Goulburn Murray Water, Vic	
Deborah	Kerr	Policy Manager	Ricegrowers' Association of Australia Inc.	
Hazel	Kural	Chief Policy Adviser	Department of Water, WA	
Graham	Laidlow	Manager	North Burdekin Water Board, Qld	
Ron	Leamon	Chief Executive Officer	Lower Murray Water, NSW	
William	Lowis	Manager	South Burdekin Water Board, Qld	
Fiona	Macdonald		Lachlan Catchment Management Authority	
Tony	Martin	Board Member	Mallee Catchment Management Authority, Vic	
Warren	Mason	NRM Coordinator	Dairy Australia	
Ken	Matthews	Chair & CEO	National Water Commission	
Andrea	Mayes		Department of Agriculture Fisheries & Forestry	
Peter	McCamish	Chair	Water Steering Group For Horticulture. McCamish Group, Water For Rivers	
Phil	McCullough	CEO	Condamine Alliance, Qld	
Megan	McFarlane		Goulburn Broken CMA, Vic	
Tim	McKindlay		Berriquin Irrigators' Central Council, NSW	
Geoff	McLeod	Consultant To NWC	McLeod Consulting	
Jenny	McLeod	Policy & Communications Manager	Murray Irrigation Limited, NSW	
Robyn	McLeod		Department of Sustainability & Environment, Vic	
Leo	McMaster	Economic Development Officer	Wakool Shire Council, NSW	
Shane	McNamara	Financial Manager	North Burdekin Water Board, Qld	
John	McVeigh	Executive Officer	Darling Downs Vision 2000 Assoc Inc, Qld	
Paul	McVeigh	Chairman	Nandi Water Futures Assoc Inc	
Dan	Meldrum		SA MDB NRM Board	
Wayne	Meyer	Interim CEO And Chief Scientist	CRC For Irrigation Futures	
Doug	Miell	Chief Executive	NSW Irrigators Council	
Stephen	Mills	Chairman	ANCID	
Ken	Moore	Director	Boorara Management & Consulting, WA	
Peter	Morrison	Agricultural Division Business Manager	Twynam Agricultural Group	
Jane	Muller	Program Leader - Growcom Land & Water	Growcom	
John	Mundy	Regional Strategic Facilitator	Condamine Alliance, Qld	
David	Murphy		Department of The Premier & Cabinet	
Michael	Murray	Chief Executive Officer	GVIA, NSW	
Katherine	Nagato	Sustainable Water Use Officer	West Gippsland CMA	
Ray	Najar	General Manager	Murray Darling Association	
Dan	Norton	Chairman	Harvey Water, WA	
Matthew	O'Connor	Business Analyst, Commercial Services Water Supply Services	SunWater, Qld	
Bill	O'Kane	CEO	Goulburn Broken CMA, Vic	
Lesley	Palmer	Manager Corporate Support	Lower Murray Darling Catchment Management Authority, NSW	
Jeff	Parish	CEO	Central Irrigation Trust, SA	
Eddie	Parr	Leader, Irrigation Industry Development	NSW Department of Primary Industries	
David	Phelps	Water Rep To NSW Irrigators Council	Namoi Water Incm SW	
Laura	Phipps		National Water Commission	
Michael	Pisasale		Murray Irrigation Limited	
Doug	Pittard		National Water Commission	
Robert	Poole	Policy Director	Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF)	
Alan	Prater	Secretary	Canned Fruits Industry Council of Australia	
Iva	Quarisa	Irrigation Officer/Chair YIN	NSW DPI/ Young Irrigation Network	
John	Radcliffe	Commissioner	National Water Commission	
Murray	Radcliffe		National Water Commission	
Andrew	Revell		Burrastar Pty Ltd	
Kim	Revell	Company Secretary	Burrastar Pty Ltd	
Garry	Reynolds	Executive Officer	Natural Sequence Farming	
Ken	Roberts	Manager, Water Use Monitoring	Dept of Natural Resources	
Ivan	Routley	Chairman	Canned Fruits Industry Council of Australia	
Mark	Rowe	Project Officer	Coleambally Irrigation Co-Operative Ltd	
Kim	Russell	Executive Officer	Australian National Committee On Irrigation And Drainage	
Ludovic	Schmidt	Manager, Water Management Branch	Dept of Primary Industries, Water And Environment	
Robert	Seymour		Property Owner	
Tim	Shanahan		North Central Catchment Management Authority	
Andrew	Shek	Project Manager	Sunwater, Qld	
Geoff	Sleba		Central Downs Irrigators Group	
Murray	Smith	CEO	Colembally Irrigation Co-Operative Ltd	
Stephen	Smith	Manager, Policy & Planning	AMLR NRM Board	
Terry	Strickland	Irrigation Efficiency Project Officer	South East Natural Resources Management Board, SA	
John	Summers	Project Director	Far West Water Alliance	
Glen	Sutherland	Manager, Water Resources	Mallee Catchment Management Authority	
Jane	Tapfield		National Water Commission	
Allan	Tarrant	Regional Manager	Darling Irrigation	
Bill	Tatnell	Program Manager	Lower Murray Darling	
Christopher	Taylor	Farm Manager	Taylor Ag & Pastoral	
Robert	Thomas		South Australian Research & Development Institute	
Charles	Thompson	National Water Coordinator	Horticulture Australia Ltd	
Tracker	Tilmouth	Consultant	Meatant Consultancy, NT	
Alison	Turnball	Project Manager - Environment	Horticulture Australia Ltd	
Andrew	Walker	Assistant Director Inland Water	Environment & Heritage	
John	Ware		GHD Pty Ltd - Melbourne	
Tim	Waterhouse	Managing Director	CRC Irrigation Futures	
Anne-Marie	Wilson		National Water Commission	
David	Wilson	Business Development Officer	Hydro Tasmania Consulting, Tas	
Natalie	Wollum		National Water Commission	
Ian	Zadow	Chairman	SA Murray Irrigators