Murray Valley
Size and location
The Murray Valley Irrigation Area covers 128,372 hectares (88,969 hectares irrigated) in Northern Victoria.
This Area extends from Yarrawonga in the east to Barmah in the west (100 km) and from the Broken/Nine Mile Creek system in the south to the River Murray in the north (35 km). The towns of Barmah, Cobram, Katamatite, Katunga, Nathalia, Numurkah, Picola, Strathmerton, Waaia, Wunghnu, Yarrawonga and Yarroweyah are located in the Murray Valley Irrigation Area.
Supply system
Some 1,483 irrigated holdings are serviced in this Area by a network of distribution channels (962km) and drains (483km).
Water Entitlements in the Area total 273,656 megalitres of high reliability Water Right with supplies released into the River Murray at Hume Dam. Water from Dartmouth Dam on the Mitta Mitta River provides supplementary storage for Lake Hume. The water in both of these storages is a shared resource managed by the Murray-Darling Basin Commission. Water released at Hume Dam moves downriver to Lake Mulwala, the receival point for irrigation water, behind Yarrawonga Weir.
At Yarrawonga Weir, on the Victorian side, the water is diverted into the Yarrawonga Main Channel and from there into the Murray Valley channel system (six main channels and 261 spur channels). Irrigation customers also pump water from the Broken/Nine Mile Creek systems. Bulk water from the system is also supplied to towns within the Area.
Irrigated agriculture
The Area's network of distribution channels and drains plays an important role in the production of food for local consumption and for export, which contributes greatly to the Australian economy.
A range of irrigated agriculture can be found in this Area, with dairying the most common enterprise around Katunga, Nathalia, Strathmerton and Waaia (47% of Area land use). Horticultural holdings (mainly stone fruits) dominate around Cobram (8% of Area land use), while cropping and grazing are carried out on broad acre farms near Katamatite and Picola (45% of Area land use).
Environmental Issues
High water tables and salinity - Goulburn-Murray Water Groundwater pumps are located strategically throughout the Murray Valley Area, predominantly amidst the horticultural holdings, to control groundwater tables and salinity.
High nutrient loads in drains - several water quality improvement initiatives are being implemented, including improved management of drain diversions.
Control of aquatic weeds - infestations of the aquatic weed "Arrowhead" in Murray Valley channels and drains has caused concern. Extensive research is now being undertaken into the biology and control of Arrowhead.
Broken Creek water quality and flow - lack of through flow and high levels of the floating weed "Azolla" have led to reduced dissolved oxygen levels and contributed to a major fish kill in November 2002. Reviews of the Broken Creek strategy by the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority has identified the need for environmental flows to maintain the health of the Creek.
Water Services Committees
The eight elected irrigators meet monthly to achieve the broad business objectives set by the Board of Goulburn-Murray Water through local management and a Business Plan agreed to by both parties.
Customer participation in establishing customer service levels is encouraged. The continued development of the Customer Service Agreements will enable the Areas to provide agreed services and service standards at lowest cost.
Water Ordering
Planners in the Cobram office co-ordinate the delivery of water orders placed on Goulburn-Murray Water's telephone ordering system (known as WaterLINE). One irrigator's finish time is a neighbour's start time. There may be occasions during the season when due to channel capacity limitations, customers' water orders exceed the system's ability to deliver all orders on time. Planning staff endeavour to distribute the available water in the most equitable manner.
