Future Management Strategy
NVIRP and the Rochester-Campaspe Modernisation Consultation Committee are developing options to ensure a sustainable future for the Rochester-Campaspe Irrigation District.
The district is one of the most recent Victorian rural settlement schemes where properties were compulsorily acquired and subdivided to form relatively small dairy farms.
The irrigation infrastructure has served the development of this area well, however with the rapid developments in agriculture, freeing up of the water market, and the significant impacts that low drought and subsequent low allocations are having in the Campaspe Basin the time has come for a review into the future of this irrigation district.
In addition to the above factors, ageing infrastructure and the modernisation project are key considerations.
NVIRP CEO Murray Smith said funds were available to spend on modernising the infrastructure but it was important that funds were spent where irrigation has a secure future.
"We need to work with the Campaspe community to determine what their future needs are," Mr Smith said.
"They are the people that work these farms; it is these people that need to be heavily involved in this study.
“In essence, the internal and external environment conditions are now at an ideal level to initiate a project that will have far reaching outcomes for the irrigation industry in the Rochester -Campaspe district.
"We encourage all Rochester-Campaspe irrigators to be involved and participate in this project as it unfolds.”
The project will begin with a customer survey to ascertain what the future holds from the irrigator’s perspective. Depending on the results of this survey, project outcomes could include a review of the sustainability of irrigation within the Rochester-Campaspe district, an assessment of the impact of water trading and the four per cent cap. The survey could also ascertain the benefits and costs of supplementing supply from the Waranga Western Channel, and the development of options to revitalise or restructure agriculture within the region.
"At the end of the day, NVIRP requires a plan for the way forward, an agreed position that we have developed in conjunction with the irrigators that farm in the Rochester-Campaspe district. This will provide us with a greater understanding of the most cost efficient and beneficial mix of projects for the Rochester-Campaspe Irrigation District.” Mr Smith said
Campaspe Reference Group
A reference group has been formed to assist NVIRP and consultants in their investigations. Membership of the reference group is:
Julie Campbell
Kay Coghill
Bruce Macague
Ken Parker
Mark Hill
Tony Hooppell
Greg Ault
Bruce Weeks
Lindsay Horkings
Clair Haines (NVIRP)
Daniel Irwin (G-MW)
David Kent (NVIRP)
Andrew Cowin (Campaspe Shire)
Please feel free to contact any members to discuss the project.
Stage 1 - Irrigator Survey Complete
The Campaspe Irrigation District Irrigator Survey that was conducted in April – May 2009 has been completed and is available for download.
Stage 2a has commenced. NVIRP has engaged consultants in two key areas:
(1) Independant review of the Campaspe Weir and options for its future.
(2) Financial modelling of options highlighted in the irrigator survey.
For more information on the Future Management Strategy please contact:
Clair Haines
NVIRP Shepparton
03 5814 4617