Call for expressions of interest in sale of Broken System water
Goulburn-Murray Water (G-MW) is sending letters to Broken System irrigators below Casey's Weir advising customers that Water For Rivers is seeking expressions of interest from irrigators to sell water entitlements as part of the Mokoan - Return to Wetlands project.
Water for Rivers is owned by the Victorian, New South Wales and Commonwealth Governments, and is a co-investor in the Mokoan project.
G-MW Managing Director David Stewart confirmed G-MW is assisting Water For Rivers' communications with customers on this important next phase of the project.
The call for expressions of interest in selling water entitlement is part of an offsets package that also includes infrastructure works to improve the system's efficiency.
"Entitlement purchases are being targeted in the lower parts of the system to maximize opportunities to improve service delivery standards and improve the system's overall efficiency," said Mr Stewart.
Water for Rivers Project Director, Denis Santamaria confirmed Water For Rivers is seeking a minimum of 2,170 megalitres. It is possible that additional purchases will be made up to a maximum of approximately 5,000 megalitres if they are located in specific areas that allow some or all of the remaining proposed infrastructure works to be avoided.
"The water savings will be used to improve the environmental health of the Broken, Goulburn, Snowy and Murray rivers," said Mr Santamaria.
The Mokoan - Return to Wetlands Project is expected to save up to 46,000 megalitres of water by decommissioning Lake Mokoan and delivering a more secure and viable water supply for irrigators.
Offsets works already underway or completed include the Tungamah Stock and Domestic pipeline, improved monitoring and control provisions and construction of a rain-rejection storage to underpin service delivery standards.
The call for expressions of interest to sell entitlements follows more than 18 months of consultation to explore all options with a Victorian Farmers Federation sub-committee.
This has included discussions on a fair value for water based on advice from the independent Valuer-General, as requested by the sub-committee, and the costs for irrigators to modify their farms if they sell their entitlement.
These discussions have now concluded and the State Government has engaged Water for Rivers to run the expressions of interest process. The letters calling for expressions of interests have been sent this week.
Offers will be finalised by the end of June 2009 which will be followed by the immediate commencement of activities required to complete necessary infrastructure and decommissioning works. Customer seeking further information about the EoI process can contact Water for Rivers Project Director, Denis Santamaria on 0417 011 249, and additional fact sheets are available from http://www.lakemokoan.com/.
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Media contacts |
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G-MW Manager Stakeholder Relations Linda Nieuwenhuizen P: 5833 5776 or 0412 183 792 |
Water For Rivers Project Director, Denis Santamaria P: 0417 011 249 |
