Community and irrigator groups are providing constructive input to plans for a $103 million modernisation of Mildura’s irrigation infrastructure in an initial round of consultation sessions that started this week.

A short-list of options has been developed by consultants working with Mildura Development Corporation, in a bid to secure Commonwealth funding for the once-in-a-lifetime upgrade of the rural water system.

 

MDC was asked by the Victorian Government in January to take the lead and develop a full business case to support the Sunraysia Modernisation Project, which has been on the table since 2008, when the Commonwealth agreed to provide $103 million.

Irrigator and community groups had their first look at the four short-listed proposals at a series of meetings with MDC and Lower Murray Water yesterday, and input will be taken from more organisations today.
 

The four options focus on delivering similar levels of service across all three of the Older Irrigated Areas – Merbein, Red Cliffs and Mildura. 

Yesterday’s meetings involved a grower focus group put together to have input on the plans, as well as Murray Valley Winegrowers, Merbein irrigators and the VFF.  Today’s meetings involve citrus, and dried fruit organisations, and irrigators at Red Cliffs and Mildura 

Consulting firm the Risorsa Group has been engaged to prepare and write the full business case.  They have been working with MDC, Lower Murray Water, Mallee CMA, DSE and the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments to prepare the business case. 

The four shortlisted options each focus on a different aspect of the Older Irrigated Areas, but all are focussed on providing 365–days-a-year access to irrigation water via the water ordering system for as many customers as possible.

“That’s, of course, the big positive for our horticultural industries, and that’s been the attitude of most of the groups we have spoken with so far,” said MDC’s project manager John Tesoriero.

“The project will open up the potential for diversifying land use in all the irrigation districts, because it’ll allow extended watering of late summer crops, continuous irrigation crops and winter-specific cropping."
 

“They’re opportunities most growers here just can’t contemplate at the moment without that year-round access to water.”
 

The SMP also aims to improve water quality and application rates for as many customers as possible, and to create a minimum of seven gigalitres of water savings.

Mr Tesoriero said all four proposed works packages delivered a different emphasis, and were derived from the Master Plans of the three irrigation districts.

“Some options will benefit some areas more than others, but we have been pleased at our consultation sessions so far most irrigators are taking the broad view, and welcoming of the benefits that the SMP will allow.

“That’s particularly pleasing for us, because demonstrating broad community support will be one of the key elements in the Commonwealth deciding whether we have met due diligence, and whether it will deliver its promised $103 million.

“It goes without saying that without that Commonwealth funding, nothing can happen.”

Mr Tesoriero said input on the four shortlisted options would be used by the Lower Murray Water board later this week in deciding on a preferred option for the development of a full business case. 

There will be opportunity for input on that option at consultations beginning on May 6, including shed meetings and consultations with commodity groups and customer advisory committees at Red Cliffs, Merbein and Mildura. 

 

Mildura Development Corporation will host a series of meetings with major commodity and community groups to discuss four short-listed options developed by consultants helping to prepare a final business case for the Sunraysia Modernisation Project.

The four options focus on delivering similar levels of service across all three of the Older Irrigated Areas – Merbein, Red Cliffs and Mildura. 

The meetings come after Mildura Development Corporation was asked by the Victorian Government in January to take the lead and develop a full business case to support the SMP, which has been on the table since 2008, when the Commonwealth agreed to provide $103 million.

The consultation sessions will be addressed by the Mildura Development Corporation’s project manager John Tesoriero and Lower Murray Water representatives.   

Consulting firm the Risorsa Group has been engaged to prepare and write the full business case.  They have  been working with MDC, Lower Murray Water, Mallee CMA, DSE and the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments to prepare the business case. 

“The main focus of last year’s concept business case was on the Merbein irrigation District, as a pilot project for higher service levels and land rationalisation,” Mr Tesoriero said.

“We have now developed four options which focus on delivering similar levels of service across all three of the Older Irrigated Areas, Merbein, Red Cliffs and Mildura,” he said.

All four options meet the major objectives set down for the modernisation:

• To provide 365 –day-a-year access to irrigation water, via the water ordering system for as many customers as possible

• To improve water quality and irrigation application rates for as many customers as possible

• To generate a minimum of seven gigalitres of water savings

 

Mr Tesoriero said all four proposed works packages delivered a different emphasis, and were derived from the Master Plans of the three irrigation districts.

“Whichever of the options is ultimately chosen, there will be benefit to each of the irrigation districts,” he said.

“While some options benefit some areas more than others, we would ask people to be mindful that this is a huge once-off development opportunity for our region, and something way beyond what we would have the resources to do on our own.

“To remain competitive on a global scale, we need this upgrade to occur, and although the Commonwealth has committed the $103 million, that is still on the basis on us meeting due-diligence requirements.”

Mr Tesoriero said the requirements included demonstration of broad community support. “This project is vital in improving our region’s competitiveness and productivity, and to have the opportunity to look at potential new industries,” he said. “It will underpin the aspirations for expansion for several horticultural industries, and the economic future of the entire region, not only horticulture.”
 

Mr Tesoriero said the ultimate decision on which option would be fully-developed would rest with Lower Murray Water later this month. 

Additional consultation will be carried out in May once a preferred option is reached. “This is an opportunity to inform and gather input from the community about the short-listed options, ahead of the finalisation of the full business case.”

END OF MEDIA RELEASE

New promotional videos on the Mildura region are now available online, communicating the overall benefits of the region to both national and international markets. The project known as Broadcast Mildura and facilitated by Mildura Development Corporation has developed five separate videos being:

• An overview of the region

• Produce

• Investment

• Education

• Tourism & Lifestyle

 

Each of these segments has been translated into Chinese, Japanese, and Indonesian.

 

“These videos showcase the diversity and beauty of the region as well as providing significant information on what we produce, recent investment in major projects and the advantages of living and working here.” CEO of Mildura Development Corporation Anne Mansell said.

 

The films are easily accessed via the Mildura Development Corporation and Mildura Rural City Council websites, YouTube, social media and will be utilised at the upcoming Regional Living Expo in Melbourne.

 

Broadcast Mildura was funded through contributions from the Victorian State Government, Mildura Rural City Council and Mildura Development Corporation.

 

Member for Mildura, Peter Crisp, stated he was delighted that the Victorian Government had reinforced their commitment to regional Victoria by providing funding for projects such as Broadcast Mildura.  “We have much to offer in this region, an outstanding quality of life, world class produce and we are attracting a range of major projects and industries to the area bringing with it employment opportunities and increased infrastructure.” Mr Crisp commented.

 

Economic Development and Tourism Portfolio Councillor John Arnold said the videos would help attract visitors, new residents, skilled professionals, investors and businesses to our region.
 

“Mildura is such a dynamic place. We have the best of both worlds, with a rural lifestyle and the convenience of metropolitan living,” Cr Arnold said.

“The Broadcast Mildura videos showcase all we have to offer and provide a great insight in to what life in our region is like.”

The videos can be viewed, in all languages, in the ‘News, Events & Publications’ section of www.milduraregion.com.au