Mosaic Map: NRM funded projects
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Water Action Plan helps region embrace change
A detailed assessment of possible risks to ecosystems in the Lower Murray Darling catchment is encouraging a new approach to land use.
A Murray Darling Water Management Action Plan has been drawn up to balance the business of irrigation with environmental protection.
The Plan aims to find ways to encourage water trade in areas where irrigation developments pose no significant risk to the environment. It covers a 10 kilometre strip north of the Murray and a five kilometre strip either side of the Darling.
Funding
Work has been funded with more than $370,000 from the Australian Government through the Lower Murray Darling Catchment Management Authority. The State Government also provided support.
Activities and achievements
The Plan gives potential developers access to a Geographic Information System (GIS) to help them find sites of high conservation and/or cultural heritage value. This sophisticated environmental risk management system has identified about 24,000 hectares where changing land use from grazing or dryland cropping, to irrigation would provide no apparent risk to either environmental or cultural heritage values.
An overall increase in irrigated horticulture could have enormous potential for the economic well being of the local community, but it's important that future development be sustainable, so land and water resources stay healthy.
The Plan also includes a predictive model for cultural heritage management, which generates detailed mapping of the area. It currently shows about one third is so rich in Aboriginal cultural heritage it is unsuitable for irrigation development. But in another third of the area, the modelling has helped to construct irrigation infrastructure without disturbing these important heritage sites.
This work is helping the community to seek out economic opportunities whilst also caring for the landscape.
More information
- Kathy Markotis: (03) 5021 9460
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