Murray Irrigation Urban myths and inland River Health George Warne General Manager, Murray Irrigation Ltd, Deniliquin NSW

Murray Irrigation Limited One of four or so large, gravity group schemes in the Murray- Darling basin- GMW, Coly& MIA Up to 1.6 million megalitres per annum hectares, 50% irrigable Annual turnover of $40 million Not part of government

Graph prepared by River Murray Water

Water available to NSW 2007/08

Myths and the Murray 1. Australians want pristine rivers that flow in sympathy with the varied seasons of this big wide land

Myths 2. Water trading and vibrant free markets in water entitlements are the key to a truly healthier river

Myths 3.Water markets will lead to water moving to higher value industries

Myths 4.Most Australians just want our Rivers running in their natural state; without all the dams, locks and weirs ruining our rivers

Myths 5.There is no place for rice and cotton farming in the parched inland of Australia; Australian Irrigation farmers need to quickly and universally move to high value tree crops such as citrus, stone-fruit and vines

Myths 6. for the sake of our native fish we need to address the salinity in the lower reaches of the Murray River

Myths 7. We all know the Murray-Darling basin is stuffed

Myths Piping is the only sustainable solution Evaporation and seepage from earthen channels makes them very inefficient

Eureka, Ballarat, December George Warne General Manager Murray Irrigation Ltd