A NEW Water Savings Protocol released by the Brumby Government, announced this week, will provide a comprehensive set of guidelines for calculating, applying and allocating water savings generated from Victoria’s irrigation mdoernisation projects.
It will mean water savings will be calculated in a consistent and transparent manner, according to the government.
The new guidelines will apply to all existing and future irrigation modernisation projects across Victoria, Water Minister Tim Holding said.
“With many projects underway and planned across Victoria, such as the $2 billion Food Bowl Modernisation Project, it is important that we have consistent guidelines for calculating the annual savings generated through these investments,” Mr Holding said.
“This will provide the community with greater confidence in the savings gained from irrigation modernisation projects.
The guidelines are comparable to methods used by the Murray-Darling Basin Commission to audit States' compliance with the Murray-Darling Basin Cap.
Savings from irrigation modernisation projects will be calculated and then independently audited.
An expression of interest process is currently underway to gather a panel of suitably qualified and independent auditors during the next two months, in time for the first audit of savings.
