The ongoing dry conditions in south-west Victoria has led to a critical on-farm water shortage and increased demand for underground water.
Western Victorian industry representatives including United Dairyfarmers of Victoria (UDV), WestVic Dairy, the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (DEDJTR), South West Water, Wannon Water, Corangamite Shire and Victorian Farmer Federation met recently to discuss the potential water shortages facing parts of the region in the coming months.
UDV president Adam Jenkins said on-farm water storages were becoming a particular concern with farmers in certain areas of the south-west facing critical on-farm water shortages, due to the lack of surface water run off.
Mr Jenkins said the industry groups wanted “...to map out a number of possible action plans to ensure we minimise the possible impact these conditions could have on south-west dairy communities.
Regional extension committee chairman Andrew Duynhoven encouraged farmers to plan their water use carefully over the coming months.
Farmers in affected areas will be surveyed about the capacity of stored water and support needed by the end of the month.
The region’s very dry 2015 has already prompted strong demand for underground water.
Southern Rural Water’s (SRW) groundwater and rivers general manager Craig Parker said there had been 11 temporary transfers and 47 permanent transfers of water allocations in the past six months in the south-west. This compares to 11 temporary transfers and 77 permanent transfers for the whole of 2014-2015.
“If trade patterns continue, we will see higher figures during 2015-2016 than we did in the previous financial year,” Mr Parker said.
The area covered by the transfers involved included the Hopkins, Otway Coast, Condah, Warrion, South West Limestone, Glenelg, Nullawarre, Hawkesdale, Yangery and Heywood river and groundwater systems.
“Enquiries across the board are stronger than the previous couple of years,” Mr Parker said.
“For example, so far in 2015-2016 we have issued 11 bore construction licences in the south-west, as opposed to 18 for the whole of 2014-2015,” he said.
Southern Rural Water is encouraging farmers to talk to its staff about securing water sooner rather than later because of the ongoing dry conditions.
“The most successful tactic in dry times is to not assume it will rain in before your water runs out, and plan for low water supplies before it becomes inevitable,” Mr Parker said.
He said one of the best options for many farmers in the short-term was to consider water trading.
“We have a free online register, Watermatch, for anyone wishing to buy or sell water licences, and we are now actively encouraging those who are not using their water for the summer to consider either a temporary or permanent trade to those who need it,” he said.
“A temporary trade can just be for a single year and means you do not lose your water licence. A permanent trade can provide a good one-off income,” he said.
He said anyone looking at improving their longer-term water supply by building new dams or bores would need to discuss licensing requirements with SRW.
