R[0]="2200"; T[0]="Better protection for Victoria s Wetlands"; A[0]="By ... Editor"; Dn[0]="20030904"; Dt[0]="Thursday 4 September 2003"; Acats[0]="a40a42a91"; B1[0]="      Five of Victoria s most important wetlands are to receive better protection, thanks to strategic management plans released today by the Minister "; B2[0]="for Environment and Water, John Thwaites... "; B3[0]=" "; B4[0]=" "; B5[0]=" "; S1[0]="      Five of Victoria's most important wetlands are to receive better protection, thanks to strategic management plans released today by the Minister for "; S2[0]=" Environment and Water, John Thwaites.
      Western Port, Port Phillip Bay and the Bellarine Peninsula, Gippsland Lakes, Hattah-Kulkyne Lakes and Lake Albacutya are "; S3[0]=" listed as Ramsar sites or wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.
      'These areas are particularly valuable for their unique ecosystems "; S4[0]=" and the ecological communities they support.
      As such they take on worldwide significance,' Mr Thwaites said.
      'The management plans "; S5[0]=" are a significant step in improving the recognition and coordinating management of these Ramsar sites.
      They promote an integrated approach to management "; S6[0]=" that involves a range of agencies and the community.' Western Port, Port Phillip Bay and the Bellarine Peninsula, and Gippsland Lakes Ramsar sites include some "; S7[0]=" of the most outstanding coastal and estuarine wetlands in Victoria.
      They are also recognised as sites of international significance for migratory shorebirds.
"; S8[0]="       'Changes in water quality and pollution can put these coastal wetlands at risk, so we've developed strategies to meet these challenges, focusing "; S9[0]=" on improving catchment condition and on better stormwater and wastewater management,' Mr Thwaites said.
      Hattah-Kulkyne Lakes lie in the Murray River floodplain, "; S10[0]=" while Lake Albacutya is one of the terminal wetlands of the Wimmera River.
      They are internationally recognised for the number of waterbirds "; S11[0]=" they support when full.
      At Lake Albacutya, regulation of the Wimmera River and increased water use for agriculture have reduced the flooding "; S12[0]=" frequency.
      'Our commitment to save water by supporting the Wimmera-Mallee Pipeline Project has the potential to return water to the river and "; S13[0]=" benefit the lake,' Mr Thwaites said.
      At Hattah-Kulkyne Lakes, the challenge is to restore a more natural water regime than the current "; S14[0]=" one.
      The Mallee Catchment Management Authority is currently finalising a water management plan for the lakes to address this issue.
    "; S15[0]="   Victoria has 11 Ramsar sites covering a wide range of inland, coastal and marine wetlands.
      The Ramsar sites protect special habitats "; S16[0]=" such as Red Gum forests, saltmarshes, mangroves and seagrass meadows.
      The management plans are available from Department of Sustainability and Environment offices "; S17[0]=" and at dse.vic.gov.au.. "; R[1]="2173"; T[1]="Victoria unveils his grand water plan"; A[1]="By ... Editor"; Dn[1]="20030829"; Dt[1]="Friday 29 August 2003"; Acats[1]="a40a65"; B1[1]="      The State Government will study whether recycled water can be pumped hundreds of kilometres over the mountains of the Great Dividing Range "; B2[1]="for use by farmers in the state s drier north... "; B3[1]=" "; B4[1]=" "; B5[1]=" "; S1[1]="      The State Government will study whether recycled water can be pumped hundreds of kilometres over the mountains of the Great Dividing Range "; S2[1]=" for use by farmers in the state's drier north.
      High-quality recycled water could also be pumped into the Thomson River and other "; S3[1]=" wilting waterways, under radical proposals floated yesterday by the Government.
      The proposals are outlined in a discussion paper, Securing Our Water Future, "; S4[1]=" published by the Department of Sustainability and Environment.
      The 'green paper' on water reform recommends permanent water restrictions for country towns, a "; S5[1]=" new pricing regime that could involve higher charges for high water use over summer or during restrictions, and new household water bills to enable consumption "; S6[1]=" comparisons between homes.
      The paper contains about 80 proposals to help preserve Victoria's water supplies, including the long-term 'aspiration' of the Bracks "; S7[1]=" Government to remove ocean sewerage outfalls.
      To immediately protect river basins south of the Great Dividing Range, seven rivers will be safeguarded, "; S8[1]=" with no extra water available from them to farmers and towns.
      The rivers are the Yarra, Werribee, Moorabool, Barwon, Thomson, Snowy and "; S9[1]=" Latrobe.
      Launching the green paper yesterday, Premier Steve Bracks said the Government also proposed giving greater protection to rivers by ensuring they "; S10[1]=" had a guaranteed legal entitlement to a share of the state's water.
      Mr Bracks said the paper outlined a range of challenges.
"; S11[1]="       'Although we live on the driest continent on Earth, we are among the highest users of water per person,' he said.
  "; S12[1]="     'This green paper is about water for people, smarter use of urban water and water conservation; it's about water for farms, smarter use "; S13[1]=" of irrigation water, and more reliable and secure supplies of water, and water for the environment.' He urged greater use of recycled, storm and rainwater, "; S14[1]=" saying more than half of each household's water use went on the garden and on flushing toilets.
      The Government has set goals "; S15[1]=" to cut water use.
      By 2010, it wants 20 per cent of water to be recycled and a 15 per cent drop "; S16[1]=" in per capita use in Melbourne.
      The discussion paper says building a new dam for Melbourne would cost about $1 billion and "; S17[1]=" is not the solution.
      'A new dam does not create new water.
      It would capture water that otherwise would "; S18[1]=" be used for existing consumption or for the environment,' it says.
      Deputy Premier and Water Minister John Thwaites said the paper would "; S19[1]=" help secure the state's water future.
      'We have to be much smarter in how we use water.
      We simply "; S20[1]=" don't have enough water to continue to waste it,' he said.
      'We have to get the balance right between water for people, "; S21[1]=" water for farms and water for the environment.
      This green paper is about getting the balance right.' The paper is available for "; S22[1]=" public discussion ahead of a white paper to be released next year.
      Legislation for implementing the water changes will be introduced in "; S23[1]=" the first half of next year... "; R[2]="2167"; T[2]="Carr deals blow to PM s water plan"; A[2]="By ... Editor"; Dn[2]="20030827"; Dt[2]="Wednesday 27 August 2003"; Acats[2]="a40a91"; B1[2]="      NSW has dealt a blow to the Prime Minister s hopes of securing a landmark agreement on a national water plan, describing "; B2[2]="Mr Howard s offer as vastly inadequate ... "; B3[2]=" "; B4[2]=" "; B5[2]=" "; S1[2]="      NSW has dealt a blow to the Prime Minister's hopes of securing a landmark agreement on a national water plan, describing Mr "; S2[2]=" Howard's offer as 'vastly inadequate'.
      Mr Howard is pushing a $500 million water package that would require the Federal, NSW, South Australian "; S3[2]=" and Victorian Governments to each provide $125 million over the next five years towards saving the Murray-Darling river system.
      The money would "; S4[2]=" be mostly used to buy excess water from farmers and irrigators to put back into the ailing river system.
      However, the NSW "; S5[2]=" Premier, Bob Carr, yesterday rejected the funding proposal, which will be formally put to the premiers meeting on Friday.
      'It was wrong "; S6[2]=" for the Prime Minister to slam down - before we even had a plan of action - a figure, a sum of money, before we "; S7[2]=" spoke about what we were going to do,' Mr Carr said.
      'On first glance it is vastly inadequate sum of money.
  "; S8[2]="     He should be matching the total contribution of the states.
      'But let's suspend argument on the amount, let's sit down "; S9[2]=" and talk seriously and creatively on the way forward.' Mr Carr said NSW had already made a considerable commitment to water reforms, which should be "; S10[2]=" taken into consideration when assessing the contributions of the various governments.
      The South Australian Premier, Mike Rann, said his government had committed "; S11[2]=" $225 million towards the Murray-Darling over the next four years, which should also be considered.
      The state's Environment Minister, John Hill, said "; S12[2]=" at the weekend that the Federal Government should match the combined contribution of the states.
      Mr Carr called on Mr Howard yesterday "; S13[2]=" to add the debate over health funding to the premiers' agenda.
      The current items listed for discussion are water, energy market reform, "; S14[2]=" indigenous child protection, embryonic stemcell research, and national disaster relief.
      Mr Carr said: 'It's absurd, it's crazy that when everyone knows we "; S15[2]=" have an ageing population we've got a contraction in bulk billing, that this Prime Minister won't even list it as a matter for discussion.' The "; S16[2]=" Deputy Prime Minister, John Anderson, said he did not want the debate over water policy to get bogged down in a fight over funding.
  "; S17[2]="     'We need proper architecture, a proper water plan for all Australians, and we need it now,' he said on ABC-TV.
      "; S18[2]=" Mr Anderson said farmers were more interested in securing an agreement on water rights that would provide them with investment security than a deal on "; S19[2]=" compensation for any rights they may lose under a national water plan.
      He said the debate affected every Australian, because water was "; S20[2]=" used in some way to produce all the essential goods used in everyday life.
      'The amounts of water used in feeding and "; S21[2]=" clothing Australians is astronomical, but we need to be always mindful of the fact that there's no use simply saying, 'Oh, take it from the "; S22[2]=" farmers, just develop a command and control model',' Mr Anderson said.
      'That would be a recipe for economic chaos.'.. "; R[3]="2165"; T[3]="Australian Government charts a course for Murray-Darling Basin"; A[3]="By ... Editor"; Dn[3]="20030826"; Dt[3]="Tuesday 26 August 2003"; Acats[3]="a40a91"; B1[3]="      Agriculture Minister Warren Truss today urged State Premiers to back the Australian Government s proposal for a $500 million pool of funds "; B2[3]="for work to underpin the sustainability of one of the world s great food bowls - the Murray-Darling Basin... "; B3[3]=" "; B4[3]=" "; B5[3]=" "; S1[3]="      Agriculture Minister Warren Truss today urged State Premiers to back the Australian Government's proposal for a $500 million pool of funds for "; S2[3]=" work to underpin the sustainability of one of the world's great food bowls - the Murray-Darling Basin.
      'The Prime Minister's announcement on "; S3[3]=" Saturday demonstrates the Australian Government's commitment to the sustainability of the Murray-Darling system, and the $125 million will underpin the next step in securing environmental "; S4[3]=" flows, while protecting rural economies,' he said.
      The Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council (chaired by Minister Truss) will in November consider, for the "; S5[3]=" first time, a defined amount of water to be used for environmental flows.
      'The Ministerial Council will ensure that improved environmental outcomes "; S6[3]=" from this first step decision are delivered without negative impacts on water users or river communities,' Mr Truss said.
      'Since 1996, the "; S7[3]=" Australian Government has committed more than $500 million in different ways to the sustainability of the Murray-Darling Basin.
      'Labor neglected the Murray-Darling "; S8[3]=" Basin for 13 years in Government, and has paid scant regard since returning to Opposition in 1996.
      'The Government has a comprehensive "; S9[3]=" plan for the Murray-Darling Basin, while the Opposition leader is yet to outline how his pledge to cut water allocations by 20 per cent would "; S10[3]=" affect the Basin's two million residents.
      'The Opposition has outlined no plan, no process, no commitment to farmers apart from taking 20 "; S11[3]=" per cent of their water.
      Nor does their suggestion address the issue of environmental impacts of taking the water from other regions "; S12[3]=" in order to increase the flows in the Murray.
      'Instead of rushing head-long into damaging changes that would disadvantage rural communities and "; S13[3]=" strip water from farmers who produce 40 per cent of our food and fibre, the Federal Government has a responsible plan based on consultation with "; S14[3]=" Murray-Darling communities and using scientific, economic, social and environmental modelling.' The Ministerial Council has embarked on a rigorous and balanced process - the Living Murray "; S15[3]=" initiative - to consider the complete environmental needs of the Murray system.
      'The Murray-Darling Basin Commission is currently consulting with communities on "; S16[3]=" economic, environmental and social costs and benefits of recovering water based on three reference points - 350 GL, 750 GL or 1,500 GL - for "; S17[3]=" potential environmental flows in the River Murray.'.. "; R[4]="2164"; T[4]="It s a start: Agreement on Snowy Joint Government Enterprise"; A[4]="By ... Editor"; Dn[4]="20030826"; Dt[4]="Tuesday 26 August 2003"; Acats[4]="a40a91"; B1[4]="      The Australian Government, NSW and Victorian Governments have reached an historic milestone in assuring the future of the Snowy River with today "; B2[4]="s announcement of agreement on the composition of the Snowy Joint Government Enterprise (JGE)... "; B3[4]=" "; B4[4]=" "; B5[4]=" "; S1[4]="      The Australian Government, NSW and Victorian Governments have reached an historic milestone in assuring the future of the Snowy River with today's "; S2[4]=" announcement of agreement on the composition of the Snowy Joint Government Enterprise (JGE).
      Federal Resources Minister Ian Macfarlane, NSW Agriculture Minister Ian "; S3[4]=" Macdonald and Victorian Environment and Water Minister John Thwaites have agreed to the broad parameters of the JGE which will oversee a program of water "; S4[4]=" savings to provide additional flow for the Snowy and Murray Rivers.
      Consultations with South Australia, which will have observer status on the "; S5[4]=" JGE with the option to join at a later date, will also begin shortly.
      'In simple terms this agreement paves the way "; S6[4]=" for providing the promised environmental flows to the Murray and Snowy Rivers.
      It's a vital step toward restoring the health of these "; S7[4]=" very important Australian rivers,' Mr Macfarlane said.
      A long-term staged release process has been decided to ultimately deliver the targeted 212 gigalitres "; S8[4]=" in increased environmental flow for the Snowy and up to 70 gigalitres of dedicated environmental flows into the Murray each year.
      It's "; S9[4]=" proposed to locate the JGE near the Murray River at Albury and that the Enterprise be made up of an independent board of three directors.
"; S10[4]="       'These rivers are true Australian icons, and the Government - both State and Australian - is committed to seeing that they continue "; S11[4]=" to thrive for the benefit and enjoyment of future generations,' Mr Macdonald said.
      'The extra environmental flows will provide benefits to both "; S12[4]=" the Snowy and Murray Rivers, with the Snowy JGE to oversee expenditure of $375 million over the next 10 years for water savings projects,' said "; S13[4]=" Mr Thwaites.
      Victoria and New South Wales will each contribute $150 million, and the Australian Government will contribute $75 million over 10 "; S14[4]=" years.
      Ministers have received a proposal from Charles Sturt University to locate the JGE near its School of Environmental and Information Science "; S15[4]=" at its Thurgoona campus.
      Ministers have welcomed the proposal, and will refer it to the incoming CEO to assess and make a "; S16[4]=" final decision on the precise location of the JGE.
      The Australian Government, New South Wales and Victorian Governments intend to establish the "; S17[4]=" JGE by mid-October 2003... "; R[5]="2161"; T[5]="Water battles continue"; A[5]="By ... Editor"; Dn[5]="20030826"; Dt[5]="Tuesday 26 August 2003"; Acats[5]="a40a91"; B1[5]="      Whether they are in a ute or a suit, people whose livelihoods depend on irrigation are anxiously awaiting a decision that could "; B2[5]="change rural economics forever... "; B3[5]=" "; B4[5]=" "; B5[5]=" "; S1[5]="      Whether they are in a ute or a suit, people whose livelihoods depend on irrigation are anxiously awaiting a decision that could "; S2[5]=" change rural economics forever.
      After years of water being the most divisive issue in the bush there are high hopes Australia is "; S3[5]=" on the verge of a national scheme that will recognise water ownership rights, create a transparent interstate water market and improve the health of the "; S4[5]=" Murray-Darling basin through more efficient water use.
      It is a move that would break the traditional bond between land and water, making "; S5[5]=" the latter a freely tradeable commodity going to the highest bidder.
      With so much at stake, it is clear why all eyes "; S6[5]=" are focused on Friday's premiers' conference in Canberra.
      Some fear this brave new world will see water barons holding farmers to ransom.
"; S7[5]="       However, the Deputy Prime Minister, John Anderson, has promised to deliver and the NSW Natural Resources Minister, Craig Knowles, has been working "; S8[5]=" with him closely to ensure an outcome.
      Irrigation now accounts for 75 per cent of all water use and Australians are the "; S9[5]=" second highest per capita users of water after North Americans, averaging more than a million litres each per year.
      Nobody knows more "; S10[5]=" about the value of water than irrigation farmers such as Rob Houghton.
      Together with his brother, the 39-year-old has three properties near "; S11[5]=" Leeton in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area totalling 750 hectares with a water entitlement of 4370 megalitres a year.
      Mr Houghton estimates 90 "; S12[5]=" per cent of the worth of his farms lies in the water and only 10 per cent in the land.
      Little wonder "; S13[5]=" that all the uncertainty over who owns Australia's liquid gold has his bank manager 'very concerned'.
      The bulk of Mr Houghton's income "; S14[5]=" comes from rice.
      It grows in vast, flat flooded fields and there is no thirstier crop in the Murrumbidgee.
      "; S15[5]=" Explorer John Oxley called this same land 'a country which for bareness and desolation has no equal'.
      But irrigation has turned it "; S16[5]=" into a $700 million-a-year agricultural oasis.
      It all became possible with the opening of the vast Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (MIA) in 1912, "; S17[5]=" which can water 750,000 hectares of land using 3200 kilometres of canals.
      Millions of megalitres of water - much of it diverted "; S18[5]=" from the Snowy Mountains - is held in huge dams to keep taps flowing.
      According to a recent CSIRO submission to a "; S19[5]=" Federal Government inquiry into rural water supplies, Australia's water use increased by 65 per cent between 1983 and 1997 despite urban use declining.
    "; S20[5]="   The sticking point has been how to give environmental flows of water back to rivers without harming the irrigation industry and the numerous rural "; S21[5]=" communities that rely heavily on it.
      But Mr Houghton and the Murrumbidgee region are proof a win-win solution is possible.
    "; S22[5]="   In the past decade, rice farmers have improved their water efficiency by 60 per cent and this month they pledged to become 40 per "; S23[5]=" cent more efficient again over the next decade.
      On his newest property, Mr Houghton is spending about $200,000 on measures such as "; S24[5]=" laser land levelling to maximise water efficiency and planting native vegetation corridors to improve biodiversity.
      He wants to leave his farms to "; S25[5]=" his children and says 'we don't want to farm anything that's going to cause any damage to the environment'.
      It is all "; S26[5]=" a very risky investment, but Mr Houghton is confident that the tide has turned in farmers' favour.
      'We are going out on "; S27[5]=" a bit of a limb, but we believe that property rights will come in,' he said.
      If the security of his water "; S28[5]=" entitlements was granted in perpetuity he would more than double his on-farm investment again to fund even greater water efficiency.
      But he "; S29[5]=" has no plans to use less water.
      He already 'leases' another farm.
      Mr Houghton never sets foot on the "; S30[5]=" extra land, but uses its water allocation on his own farms.
      Like most farmers, he is adamant that water won back by "; R[6]="2160"; T[6]="$500m bid to save river system"; A[6]="By ... Editor"; Dn[6]="20030826"; Dt[6]="Tuesday 26 August 2003"; Acats[6]="a40a91"; B1[6]="      The Prime Minister, John Howard, will put a $500 million rescue package for the Murray-Darling river system to premiers this week in "; B2[6]="an attempt to break the deadlock over a national water plan... "; B3[6]=" "; B4[6]=" "; B5[6]=" "; S1[6]="      The Prime Minister, John Howard, will put a $500 million rescue package for the Murray-Darling river system to premiers this week in "; S2[6]=" an attempt to break the deadlock over a national water plan.
      Much of the money would be used over the next five "; S3[6]=" years to buy excess water from farmers and irrigators to put back into the ailing river system.
      Mr Howard's proposal would require "; S4[6]=" NSW, South Australia and Victoria to each match Canberra's $125 million contribution.
      Agreement on the package would provide a significant first step "; S5[6]=" towards a national water policy, which would include nationwide recognition of water rights, the establishment of a regulated market for the trading of those rights "; S6[6]=" between farmers, and a scheme for compensating farmers for lost rights.
      The states have reacted positively to the package but are likely "; S7[6]=" to put up a fight over funding when the deal is put to the premiers at the Council of Australian Governments meeting on Friday.
  "; S8[6]="     The issue of who pays farmers for lost water rights still looms as the main sticking point.
      The states argue "; S9[6]=" they should not be left to shoulder the bill.
      Mr Howard outlined his deal in a letter to the premiers at the "; S10[6]=" weekend.
      A spokesman for the NSW Natural Resources Minister, Craig Knowles, said it 'sounds engaging and promising'.
      The South "; S11[6]=" Australian Environment Minister, John Hill, said an extra 1500 gigalitres of water would have to be put back into the Murray-Darling to restore its health.
"; S12[6]="       That could be bought for $1 million a gigalitre, putting the total cost at $1.5 billion.
      'The $500 million "; S13[6]=" the Prime Minister is suggesting would be a good first-stage response to get up to 500 gigalitres in the first five years,' he said.
  "; S14[6]="     However, it is understood that not all the money under the Howard plan would go towards buying back water.
      Some "; S15[6]=" would be devoted to developing more sustainable irrigation technology and some to scientific research aimed at improving water use.
      The Australian Conservation "; S16[6]=" Foundation's Don Henry said the proposal fell short and inadequate funding 'will doom the Murray-Darling system to a slow death of thirst and sell our "; S17[6]=" farmers short'.
      Dr Henry believed $150 million a year - half from Canberra and half from the states - was needed for "; S18[6]=" the next 10 years to ensure the river system's future.
      A spokesman for the Deputy Prime Minister, John Anderson, who has been "; S19[6]=" leading the negotiations with the states, said the national water plan would seek to restore environmental flows to the Murray-Darling and provide farmers with certainty "; S20[6]=" on their water rights.
      But Mr Hill signalled that South Australia would ask Mr Howard to double Canberra's contribution.
      "; S21[6]=" 'Normally when we work on these commonwealth-state funding agreements, the commonwealth puts in half and the states combine to pay the other half.
    "; S22[6]="   Asking us to match every commonwealth dollar with three from the states doesn't sound fair.'.. "; R[7]="2159"; T[7]="Swimming pool benefits for remote communities"; A[7]="By ... Editor"; Dn[7]="20030826"; Dt[7]="Tuesday 26 August 2003"; Acats[7]="a04a40a48a53a91"; B1[7]="      Building swimming pools could be the key to reducing health and social problems in remote Aboriginal communities, researchers say.... "; B2[7]=" "; B3[7]=" "; B4[7]=" "; B5[7]=" "; S1[7]="      Building swimming pools could be the key to reducing health and social problems in remote Aboriginal communities, researchers say.
      "; S2[7]=" A study published in the British Medical Journal reports that salt water swimming pools dramatically cut skin and ear infections among 162 children in two "; S3[7]=" communities in remote parts of Western Australia.
      The pools also had a positive social impact on the communities and encouraged children to "; S4[7]=" go to school through a 'no school, no pool' policy.
      The findings of the study were so significant that the authors recommended "; S5[7]=" swimming pools should rank alongside better housing, sanitation, nutrition and education in improving the health and living conditions of indigenous Australians.
      'Programs "; S6[7]=" to improve the health of Aboriginal Australians living in isolated communities should certainly focus on better housing, sanitation, nutrition, education and access to health care,' "; S7[7]=" the study concluded.
      'But consideration should also be given to building and maintaining swimming pools.' Epidemiologist Deborah Lehmann of the University of "; S8[7]=" Western Australia's Centre for Child Health Research said the state government built the pools after earlier audits in the Northern Territory linked swimming pools to "; S9[7]=" a range of health and social benefits in Aboriginal communities.
      One and a half years after the WA pools opened, skin infections "; S10[7]=" declined by about two-thirds from 62 per cent to 20 per cent, the study found.
      Ear disease also declined, although not as "; S11[7]=" dramatically.
      Meanwhile, families reported that children were happier and healthier and were learning to swim.
      The authors said swimming "; S12[7]=" in a salt water pool was the equivalent of a nasal and ear washout, as well as cleaning the skin.
      They said "; S13[7]=" building salt water pools could reduce the need for antibiotics, reduce chronic illness and improve educational and social outcomes for a relatively small price... "; R[8]="2156"; T[8]="Cloud-seeding plan could lift Murray levels"; A[8]="By ... Editor"; Dn[8]="20030825"; Dt[8]="Monday 25 August 2003"; Acats[8]="a37a40a91"; B1[8]="      The NSW State Government should help pay for a unique project to provide the drought-ravaged Murray River system with more fresh water, "; B2[8]="Australia s largest hydro-electricity company said yesterday... "; B3[8]=" "; B4[8]=" "; B5[8]=" "; S1[8]="      The NSW State Government should help pay for a unique project to provide the drought-ravaged Murray River system with more fresh water, "; S2[8]=" Australia's largest hydro-electricity company said yesterday.
      Snowy Hydro Limited wants the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service to fast-track a proposed cloud-seeding "; S3[8]=" trial to increase snowfall over the Snowy Mountains.
      Company chief executive Terry Charlton said clouds passing over the mountains could be targeted "; S4[8]=" with small quantities of silver iodide to stimulate snow production.
      He said the snow would not only enhance the snowfields, but provide "; S5[8]=" spring run-off into streams flowing to the Murray River.
      'The project has the potential to generate more than 100 billion litres of "; S6[8]=" extra water into the Murray River system each year,' he said.
      'One of the nation's greatest rivers is in dire straits and "; S7[8]=" we have the means to make a valuable contribution to additional freshwater flows of that system.' Mr Charlton said his company was willing to commit "; S8[8]=" $5 million a year towards a six-year seeding trial... "; R[9]="2144"; T[9]="Fears for Launceston water supply"; A[9]="By ... Editor"; Dn[9]="20030822"; Dt[9]="Friday 22 August 2003"; Acats[9]="a40"; B1[9]="      Launceston s water supply was in jeopardy as plantation forests drained its catchment of water worth $1.2 million per year, State Parliament "; B2[9]="heard yesterday... "; B3[9]=" "; B4[9]=" "; B5[9]=" "; S1[9]="      Launceston 's water supply was in jeopardy as plantation forests drained its catchment of water worth $1.2 million per year, State Parliament "; S2[9]=" heard yesterday.
      Launceston City Council had no power to stop it, Greens MHA Kim Booth said in a question to Resources Minister "; S3[9]=" Paul Lennon.
      Mr Booth said plantations must be brought under the control of municipal planning schemes, and the state's other regulatory bodies, "; S4[9]=" as they were now exempt.
      And he pointed to a submission to a Senate inquiry by a Launceston City Council water management "; S5[9]=" expert earlier this month.
      '[The] council engineer responsible for catchment hydrology gave evidence that the current plantations in the North Esk are "; S6[9]=" consuming $1.2 million worth of water annually and, incredibly, are not paying a cent for it,' Mr Booth said.
      'Also that the "; S7[9]=" Launceston City Council has no control over the plantation proliferation and it therefore is unable to prevent depletion.' The submission, by council hydraulic modelling and "; S8[9]=" systems manager Steve Ratcliff, also projected a 20 to 50 per cent reduction in available water if plantations continued unabated... "; R[10]="2123"; T[10]="Irrigation show-and-tell for western Queensland producers"; A[10]="By ... Editor"; Dn[10]="20030819"; Dt[10]="Tuesday 19 August 2003"; Acats[10]="a40"; B1[10]="      A fact finding, show-and-tell irrigation farm tour to the Central Highlands and Wide Bay district is planned for interested western Queensland producers.... "; B2[10]=" "; B3[10]=" "; B4[10]=" "; B5[10]=" "; S1[10]="      A fact finding, show-and-tell irrigation farm tour to the Central Highlands and Wide Bay district is planned for interested western Queensland producers.
"; S2[10]="       Department of Primary Industries trade development officer Morgan Gronold said the impetus for the farm tours grew out of a series of "; S3[10]=" irrigation workshops held earlier in the year.
      'A number of western Queensland producers are looking to diversify and add value to their "; S4[10]=" businesses using irrigation.
      These producers, keen to determine the feasibility of establishing viable and sustainable irrigation enterprises on their properties drove the "; S5[10]=" idea for a farm study tour during irrigation workshops held in April,' Mr Gronold said.
      'Anyone interested in finding out more about "; S6[10]=" irrigation is encouraged to attend the tour that will include visits to some of the best irrigated farms in the Central Highlands and Wide Bay "; S7[10]=" districts, that produce a variety of products and use a range of irrigation techniques.' Mr Gronold said the tour would begin in Emerald and visit "; S8[10]=" different forage cropping operations utilising flood, pivot and trickle irrigation infrastructure.
      Opportunities for grey water use in agriculture will also be explored.
"; S9[10]="       'The tour will then move to the Biloela area to view forage and horticulture crops produced on the same paddock such as "; S10[10]=" Lucerne or Rhodes grass and melons, using spray and trickle irrigation technologies,' he said.
      'One day of the tour will focus on "; S11[10]=" the joint grower and community packing sheds in the citrus growing areas of Mundubbera and Gayndah, while the final day will be spent exploring horticultural "; S12[10]=" and small cropping enterprises in the Bundaberg area.' Mr Gronold said tour participants are asked to make their way to Emerald by Monday evening, 1 "; S13[10]=" September 2003.
      'The tour kicks off from DPI Emerald on Tuesday, 2 September 2003 following an 8am briefing,' he said.
    "; S14[10]="   'Participants will be delivered back to Emerald on Friday 5 September 2003, where there will be an opportunity to continue discussion for those that "; S15[10]=" wish.
      Interested people are asked to contact Morgan Gronold Ph: 07 4651 2997 or 0407 125 765 to register or for further "; S16[10]=" information.
      Registrations close on 25 August 2003... "; R[11]="2106"; T[11]="Banned rainwater water tanks now the go for Sydney"; A[11]="By ... Editor"; Dn[11]="20030814"; Dt[11]="Thursday 14 August 2003"; Acats[11]="a37a40"; B1[11]="      The NSW Government could hold off building another dam for nearly a century by returning rainwater tanks to backyards across Sydney and "; B2[11]="forcing households to improve water efficiency, the Greens said today... "; B3[11]=" "; B4[11]=" "; B5[11]=" "; S1[11]="      The NSW Government could hold off building another dam for nearly a century by returning rainwater tanks to backyards across Sydney and "; S2[11]=" forcing households to improve water efficiency, the Greens said today.
      Greens MLC Ian Cohen said local government laws needed to be changed "; S3[11]=" to plug the biggest leaks in domestic water supplies - bathrooms and downpipes which divert rainwater straight into storm water drains.
      "; S4[11]=" 'Changes to local government regulations and building codes are urgently needed to begin the long process of changing Sydney's bad water use habits,' Mr Cohen "; S5[11]=" said.
      'Simply by making it compulsory to install water-saving shower heads and dual-flush toilets in all new homes and bathroom renovations "; S6[11]=" would reduce demand on our stressed water supplies significantly.' The Greens say a dual-flush toilet uses, on average, 3.6 litres of water per flush "; S7[11]=" - just over a quarter the amount of water guzzled by older cisterns.
      Nearly a quarter of all household water is "; S8[11]=" poured out in the shower.
      Mr Cohen said capturing rainwater on-site should be a priority, as well as recycling treated wastewater "; S9[11]=" on gardens and to flush toilets.
      'Installing a 5,000-litre rainwater tank in every Sydney home might put off the need for "; S10[11]=" a new dam for up to 84 years,' he said.
      'This Government's approach has so far been soft.
      "; S11[11]=" 'The Premier has said he is opposed to building another dam but unless his government acts now to reduce consumption by at least a "; S12[11]=" third, a dam in the Shoalhaven will be inevitable.'.. "; R[12]="2104"; T[12]="SA Water wants to buy up farms"; A[12]="By ... Editor"; Dn[12]="20030814"; Dt[12]="Thursday 14 August 2003"; Acats[12]="a40a68"; B1[12]="      A plan to snap up water allocations from struggling dairy farms on the Lower Murray has been instigated by SA Water.... "; B2[12]=" "; B3[12]=" "; B4[12]=" "; B5[12]=" "; S1[12]="      A plan to snap up water allocations from struggling dairy farms on the Lower Murray has been instigated by SA Water.
  "; S2[12]="     The South Australian State Government's corporatised water utility is negotiating with farmers along the River Murray from Mannum to Wellington to buy about "; S3[12]=" 10 gigalitres - or $15 million worth - of river water.
      While SA Water wants to buy water allocations, it might "; S4[12]=" in some cases buy entire properties to secure the water.
      The water would supplement SA Water's supply to Adelaide and country "; S5[12]=" areas also reliant on the river.
      The Opposition says SA Water could become a 'water baron' at the expense of the "; S6[12]=" River Murray dairy industry, which supplies 20 per cent of the state's milk output.
      Opposition water spokesman Mark Brindal said the "; S7[12]=" Government instead should buy water - from farmers wanting to sell out of the industry - to put in a water trust to restore environmental "; S8[12]=" flows.
      'I think the idea of a South Australian Government water utility being a water baron is wrong,' he said.
    "; S9[12]="   River Murray Minister John Hill said 'buying water in a drought would be the most expensive way' of restoring environmental flows.
    "; S10[12]="   Mr Hill said fixing the river and restoring flows for river health ultimately required a national solution.
      'We can't fix "; S11[12]=" up the national problems from SA,' he said.
      Murraylands Regional Development Board chief executive David Altmann warned yesterday the region was "; S12[12]=" at risk because of problems facing the dairy industry and subsequent moves to snatch water allocations.
      He said the industry already was "; S13[12]=" being adversely affected on three fronts: LOW milk prices.
      FARM rehabilitation.
      WATER restrictions.
      "; S14[12]=" Mr Altmann said the Government should look at setting up a water bank for allocations sold from the region 'for environmental flow and sale "; S15[12]=" for other industry in SA'.
      Meanwhile, Mr Hill said the interstate water trade had resulted in 16,000 megalitres of water being "; S16[12]=" moved to SA's stretch of the river.
      'This means that 95 per cent of all permanent interstate water traded over the "; S17[12]=" past five years has been coming from the eastern states and flowing into SA,' he said yesterday.
      Figures showed that SA's "; S18[12]=" annual water entitlement from the Murray had increased by 16 gigalitres to 1866 gigalitres, due to the tri-state trade that was introduced in 1998.
  "; S19[12]="     Mr Hill said that as a result agriculture was expanding and the river benefited, too, because more water remained in the system "; S20[12]=" longer... "; R[13]="2093"; T[13]="Drought forces water use shift between States"; A[13]="By ... Editor"; Dn[13]="20030814"; Dt[13]="Thursday 14 August 2003"; Acats[13]="a40"; B1[13]="      A Victorian irrigator plans to strip River Murray water from dairy farms near Murray Bridge to irrigate crops in northern Victoria.... "; B2[13]=" "; B3[13]=" "; B4[13]=" "; B5[13]=" "; S1[13]="      A Victorian irrigator plans to strip River Murray water from dairy farms near Murray Bridge to irrigate crops in northern Victoria.
  "; S2[13]="     Irrigator Tony Sawers, who also owns a Flinders Ranges station, has bought six farms near Jervois with water allocations totalling up to 3000 "; S3[13]=" megalitres.
      He is already destocking the land of dairy cattle in the hope of temporarily transferring water this season to irrigate "; S4[13]=" more high-value crops on his properties in the drought-stricken Goulburn system, in northern Victoria.
      It means that a vital water flow "; S5[13]=" for the struggling upper South Australian reaches of the River Murray will not enter the state.
      Mr Sawers plans ultimately to "; S6[13]=" use some of the water for cropping on the Lower Murray properties.
      Mr Sawers' move has sparked speculation that more of "; S7[13]=" the 5000ha of South Australian River Murray dairy farms could be targeted for their water by interstate irrigators facing severe water restrictions this season.
  "; S8[13]="     CSIRO policy and economic research unit director Professor Mike Young, who is also a member of the Wentworth Group, said yesterday he "; S9[13]=" was 'not surprised that a private irrigator had identified the Lower Murray swamps as an area prime for restructure'.
      Professor Young "; S10[13]=" urged the State Government to enter the market and use the River Murray levy to purchase water from dairy farmers for environmental flows.
    "; S11[13]="   The water on Mr Sawers' new properties would normally be used to flood irrigate dairy pastures on the River Murray swamps near Jervois.
"; S12[13]="       But if he secures the necessary approvals from Victorian and SA water authorities and if the system has capacity to supply, "; S13[13]=" the water could be drawn from the Goulburn system in northern Victoria - instead of in SA - for the next 12 months.
    "; S14[13]="   Mr Sawers said the SA dairy farms he bought were 'quite a special bit of real estate' with large water allocations and fertile "; S15[13]=" soil.
      'This season I have an opportunity to irrigate high-value crops with this water, which is what the water trade is "; S16[13]=" all about,' he said.
      Until now, Mr Sawers' efforts to move the water temporarily have been frustrated by the State Government.
"; S17[13]="       But yesterday, the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation said temporary transfers of water from the dairy farms of the "; S18[13]=" Lower Murray would be permitted this season because of the severe drought in the Murray-Darling Basin.
      The move is a backflip "; S19[13]=" by the department which originally only allowed permanent transfers of water from the area.
      Water can be traded from other irrigation "; S20[13]=" areas along the Murray in SA but different rules apply to the Lower Murray reclaimed irrigation areas between Mannum and Wellington.
      "; S21[13]=" The department is still in the controversial process of determining water allocations for the dairy farms where water use has never previously been metered.
  "; S22[13]="     Farms also must be rehabilitated to improve water efficiency - with a Government subsidy.
      The State Government expects rehabilitation "; S23[13]=" will lead to a rationalisation of the industry and farmers selling off water allocations and properties.
      Department of Water, Land and "; S24[13]=" Biodiversity Conservation manager of licensing administration, Julie Cann, said River Murray Minister John Hill would allow the temporary trade in the Lower Murray swamps this "; S25[13]=" season 'in recognition that we need to be flexible in this period of water restrictions'.
      'The impact will be negligible in "; S26[13]=" total,' she said.
      Just 65 per cent of the water allocation could be traded interstate, in line with the 35 per "; S27[13]=" cent cut to SA irrigators due to the drought... "; R[14]="2091"; T[14]="The best drinking water in the land"; A[14]="By ... Editor"; Dn[14]="20030814"; Dt[14]="Thursday 14 August 2003"; Acats[14]="a09a40"; B1[14]="      When a national panel of wine judges awarded Melbourne a gold medal yesterday for an outstanding drop , it was not referring "; B2[14]="to a robust cabernet sauvignon or even a crisp chardonnay... "; B3[14]=" "; B4[14]=" "; B5[14]=" "; S1[14]="      When a national panel of wine judges awarded Melbourne a gold medal yesterday for an 'outstanding drop', it was not referring to "; S2[14]=" a robust cabernet sauvignon or even a crisp chardonnay.
      The winning beverage, which the judging panel deemed to be 'fresh, really appealing, "; S3[14]=" like a good riesling', was not even alcoholic - it was the city's drinking water.
      Despite dwindling reservoirs and the introduction of "; S4[14]=" stage two water restrictions, Melbourne's water was judged to be the best-tasting in the land at the fiercely contested National Water Olympics in Canberra.
  "; S5[14]="     The panel, which included wine retailer Jim Murphy, Winewise magazine editor Lester Jesberg and viticulturist Ken Helm, awarded the silver medal to Darwin "; S6[14]=" and the bronze to Hobart.
      And despite Adelaide's reputation for having the worst drinking water in the developed world - even former "; S7[14]=" premier Don Dunstan once complained that it was alkaline and had an unattractive taste - it per-formed better than the water from Sydney, Brisbane and "; S8[14]=" Perth.
      But CSIRO Land and Water's Dr John Williams warned that the level of salinity at Morgan on the Murray River, "; S9[14]=" a source of much of Adelaide's water, made it undrinkable 15 per cent of the time.
      'Without action against salinity, by 2050 "; S10[14]=" the Murray could be this salty half the time,' he said.
      Chief judge Tony Priestley, from the Co-operative Research Centre for Water "; S11[14]=" Quality and Treatment, said the water from Melbourne, Darwin, Hobart and Canberra really stood out from the others.
      'In Melbourne the quality "; S12[14]=" of the catchment is the best in the country, and that's a big take-home message to all of us to look after our catchments,' he "; S13[14]=" said.
      'But the catchments of Canberra, Hobart and Darwin are also in good condition and face less population pressure than do others.'.. "; R[15]="2055"; T[15]="Councils tap into wastewater timber benefits"; A[15]="By ... Editor"; Dn[15]="20030807"; Dt[15]="Thursday 7 August 2003"; Acats[15]="a39a40a42"; B1[15]="      A Yeppoon tree plantation trial using effluent-irrigated eucalyptus hardwood tree species has recorded exceptional growth rates of nine metres in less than "; B2[15]="two years... "; B3[15]=" "; B4[15]=" "; B5[15]=" "; S1[15]="      A Yeppoon tree plantation trial using effluent-irrigated eucalyptus hardwood tree species has recorded exceptional growth rates of nine metres in less than "; S2[15]=" two years.
      Department of Primary Industries Agency for Food and Fibre Sciences Effluent Management Services project leader Mark Podberscek said Central Queensland's "; S3[15]=" demonstration sites were providing Local Authorities with a practical and sustainable solution to recycling treated sewage effluent.
      Through a two-year Natural Heritage "; S4[15]=" Trust-funded project supported in-kind by the Livingstone Shire Council and DPI, selected native hardwood trees were planted on 14 hectares in 2000 and 2001.
  "; S5[15]="     As project leader, Mr Podberscek teamed with the Council's commercial services manager, Dan Toon, to monitor tree growth, soil and plant nutrient status, "; S6[15]=" tree biomass, plant water usage and water quality analysis.
      The project objective was to create a viable, sustainable sawlog industry with a "; S7[15]=" favourable environmental outcome.
      DPI Policy Analysis and Industry Development manager Roger O'Dwyer coordinated a July 22 demonstration site inspection by forest industry "; S8[15]=" and local government representatives.
      Mr O'Dwyer said that of Queensland's estimated 335,000 megalitre annual output of municipal sewage wastewater, just 12 per "; S9[15]=" cent was being recycled and 87 per cent was being discharged into waterways.
      Queensland Environmental Protection Agency legislation was targeting a nil "; S10[15]=" discharge of high nutrient sewage wastewater that would require local authorities to install high cost tertiary water treatment facilities.
      Tertiary treatment would "; S11[15]=" significantly reduce nitrogen and phosphorus levels.
      'Utilising the high nutrient secondary treated wastewater on hardwood plantation timber at a rate of 6-10Ml/ha/year "; S12[15]=" could provide a favourable financial option for many Shire Councils when compared to the cost of installing tertiary treatment plants,' Mr O'Dwyer said.
    "; S13[15]="   'Under astute silviculture management practices, growth rates of 30 cubic metres/ha/year can be achieved to produce commercial sawlogs in 15 years.
      "; S14[15]=" That equates to a 30 per cent productivity increase over similar rain grown species,' he said.
      Mr Podberscek said following initial trial "; S15[15]=" establishment at 833 plants/ha on 6m rows, underground polythene lines fitted sprinklers with a 6m-radius coverage delivered 5.6Ml/ha/year.
      The ensuing drought and "; S16[15]=" a priority demand for the recycled water to irrigate the adjacent golf course and the racecourse reduced the tree irrigation to about 2.4Ml/ha/yr for the "; S17[15]=" past two years.
      This reduced water application had minimal impact on tree growth with the rose gum - river red gum hybrid "; S18[15]=" being the standout performer of the wide selection of native species being trialled.
      A similar trial undertaken by the Banana Shire Council "; S19[15]=" had delivered equally spectacular results within the past three years.
      Mr Podberscek said both the Livingstone and Banana Shire Councils had continued "; S20[15]=" to fund the hardwood plantation projects with a keen eye on the long-term benefits.
      'By taking the agroforestry option, councils can utilise "; S21[15]=" wastewater, gain an economic return and enhance prospects of generating employment and a timber resource for local sawmillers,' Mr Podberscek said.
      'Nutrients "; S22[15]=" are retained on site and tree plantation establishment costs can be considerably less than upgrading or constructing new municipal sewage treatment plants to meet tertiary "; S23[15]=" treatment water quality standards.' Mr Podberscek said additional information was readily available from the DPI publication 'Using recycled water to irrigate hardwood plantations in Queensland' "; S24[15]=" available through the DPI Call Centre on 13 25 23... "; R[16]="2052"; T[16]="Blueprint to save the nation s rivers"; A[16]="By ... Editor"; Dn[16]="20030807"; Dt[16]="Thursday 7 August 2003"; Acats[16]="a40a42a91"; B1[16]="      Australians could pay more for their food, while cities would cut their use of water by a quarter, under plans revealed yesterday "; B2[16]="to save the nation s rivers... "; B3[16]=" "; B4[16]=" "; B5[16]=" "; S1[16]="      Australians could pay more for their food, while cities would cut their use of water by a quarter, under plans revealed yesterday "; S2[16]=" to save the nation's rivers.
      The Wentworth Group of scientists, in their blueprint for water reform, said trusts should be set up "; S3[16]=" to buy water from irrigators in the name of the environment.
      And consumers would be able to choose their food based on "; S4[16]=" how much water it used under a proposed labelling system.
      The group, which includes former Australian environmentalist of the year Peter Cullen, "; S5[16]=" South Australian museum director Tim Flannery, and the chief of CSIRO Land and Water John Williams, has won support from the governments with its call "; S6[16]=" for water reform.
      Its plan comes ahead of a Council of Australian Governments meeting on August 29 that is likely to lead "; S7[16]=" to the creation of water property rights, giving water the same legal protection as land.
      The Wentworth Group said in its plan "; S8[16]=" that Australia could not continue to use water as it has done for the past century.
      'Australia desperately needs a national effort "; S9[16]=" to restore and protect our fresh water resources,' it said.
      'The health of our rivers, wetlands, estuaries and groundwater systems is fundamental "; S10[16]=" to the future of our cities, industries, communities and agriculture across Australia.' Among its recommendations are the creation of water trusts that would buy 100 "; S11[16]=" gigalitres of water a year for at least five years, returning it directly to the environment.
      The price of water would reflect "; S12[16]=" its value and cost, pushing up the cost to farmers and therefore to consumers.
      Capital cities would need to cut water use "; S13[16]=" by 25 per cent over the next 30 to 50 years.
      Professor Cullen said the benefits were worth the large amount of "; S14[16]=" money required to set up the trusts.
      'It is a lot of money, but over eight or 10 years it's about the "; S15[16]=" same amount of money that we just spent on the Iraqi war,' he told ABC radio.
      'Some of us believe we should "; S16[16]=" be quite prepared to spend that same sort of amount of money to restore the Murray-Darling basin.' National Farmers Federation president Peter Corish said the "; S17[16]=" proposals were in line with a paper issued last week by the federation and Australian Conservation Foundation.
      There were encouraging components to "; S18[16]=" the Wentworth Group's plans.
      'We are particularly encouraged that they see water should be bought back for the environment, where it's required, "; S19[16]=" at market prices,' he said.
      Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson, who will take the Government's water property rights plan to the Council "; S20[16]=" of Australian Governments meeting, said the group's proposals were important.
      'It may very well be a very useful potential model for a "; S21[16]=" vehicle to take forward the policy objectives of reaching sustainability and investment certainty and the prosperity that goes with investment certainty,' he said.
    "; S22[16]="   But Labor environment spokesman Kelvin Thomson said the group's proposals exposed the lack of Government action on water reform.
      'With consensus "; S23[16]=" from scientists, farmers and environmentalists on the scale of the problem, there is now no excuse for inaction,' he said in a statement.
    "; S24[16]="   The group's proposals were in line with Labor's policy to secure 1500 gigalitres of water for the Murray... "; R[17]="2033"; T[17]="Water saving study for Little Murray Weir and Lake Boga"; A[17]="By ... Editor"; Dn[17]="20030625"; Dt[17]="Wednesday 25 June 2003"; Acats[17]="a40"; B1[17]="      The Bracks Government will investigate the possibility of incorporating Lake Boga into the Murray Irrigation System, the Minister for Environment and Water, "; B2[17]="John Thwaites, said today... "; B3[17]=" "; B4[17]=" "; B5[17]=" "; S1[17]="      The Bracks Government will investigate the possibility of incorporating Lake Boga into the Murray Irrigation System, the Minister for Environment and Water, "; S2[17]=" John Thwaites, said today.
      Mr Thwaites said the study would be undertaken as part of the Government's key commitment to achieving water "; S3[17]=" savings in Victorian irrigation systems.
      'The aim of the study will be to identify ways of using the water in the Murray "; S4[17]=" Irrigation System more flexibly and more efficiently with the ultimate aim of allowing increased flows to the Snowy River,' Mr Thwaites said.
      "; S5[17]=" 'It will look at ways the incorporation of Lake Boga into the system could more effectively meet demand, and may maintain and improve the lake's "; S6[17]=" important recreational, cultural and aesthetic values.
      'It will provide an opportunity to address the deterioration of the level of the lake, which "; S7[17]=" has been caused by the current drought, and will involve the possible removal or upgrading of Little Murray Weir.' Mr Thwaites said that the study "; S8[17]=" would also examine the potential to use Lake Boga and the Kerang Lakes to store any additional flows from the Broken and Goulburn Rivers as "; S9[17]=" a possible outcome from the current Lake Mokoan Study.
      'If Lake Boga could be used in this manner it will enable a "; S10[17]=" substantial proportion of any future Mokoan water savings to be transferred to the Snowy River,' Mr Thwaites said.
      'The use of Lake "; S11[17]=" Boga as mid-Murray storage also has the potential to help downstream irrigation communities supply irrigation demands in peak demand periods.
      'The Sunraysia "; S12[17]=" Region in particular has been concerned about the potential for rationing of supplies in recent years during these times.' Mr Thwaites said the study would "; S13[17]=" be guided by a Steering Committee comprising representatives from the North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA), the Department of Sustainability and Environment, the Department of "; S14[17]=" Primary Industries, Goulburn-Murray Rural Water Authority, Murray-Darling Basin Commission and the Swan Hill Rural City Council.
      It is also proposed to establish "; S15[17]=" a Reference Committee to allow the community to be informed and to provide input during the study.
      The Minister will appoint the "; S16[17]=" Committee and the Chair of the Reference Committee will also be included on the Steering Committee... "; R[18]="2000"; T[18]="$2.5 million water education facility at Werribee"; A[18]="By ... Editor"; Dn[18]="20030614"; Dt[18]="Saturday 14 June 2003"; Acats[18]="a40a53a65"; B1[18]="      An interactive $2.5 million facility at the Western Treatment Plant in Werribee will educate visitors about the water cycle and environmental sustainability, "; B2[18]="the Minister for Environment and Water, John Thwaites, said today... "; B3[18]=" "; B4[18]=" "; B5[18]=" "; S1[18]="      An interactive $2.5 million facility at the Western Treatment Plant in Werribee will educate visitors about the water cycle and environmental sustainability, "; S2[18]=" the Minister for Environment and Water, John Thwaites, said today.
      Launching the Melbourne Water Discovery Centre, Mr Thwaites said it covered all "; S3[18]=" elements of the water cycle including catchments, water supply, sewage treatment, water recycling, stormwater, waterways, and bays and oceans.
      'The Discovery Centre "; S4[18]=" is a fantastic educational resource, where visitors can track water as it flows from catchment to tap and through the stormwater and sewerage systems,' Mr "; S5[18]=" Thwaites said.
      'The interactive exhibit includes two international award-winning virtual tours - the Western Treatment Plant Explorer and Raincheck 3000, which follows "; S6[18]=" a raindrop through Melbourne's water catchments to the tap.
      'The Discovery Centre also has practical examples of sustainable water use, including rainwater "; S7[18]=" tanks and environmentally-friendly toilets.
      'A water-sensitive garden will be built at the plant and there will also be an opportunity for community "; S8[18]=" groups, such as the Western Region Environment Centre, to become involved in developing the plant into a more sustainable site.' Mr Thwaites said today's opening "; S9[18]=" of the Discovery Centre was expected to further boost visitor numbers to the Western Treatment Plant.
      Melbourne Water already runs tours of "; S10[18]=" the plant and thousands of school students and community group members visit each year.
      'The Discovery Centre will be a valuable community "; S11[18]=" asset for the Werribee area.' Mr Thwaites said the Discovery Centre was primarily aimed at school students, but would appeal to the wider community.
  "; S12[18]="     The Discovery Centre will be open to the community this weekend.
      Mr Thwaites today also announced $300,000 would be made "; S13[18]=" available to metropolitan councils to develop sustainable water use plans.
      The plans, a joint initiative between Melbourne Water and the Municipal Association "; S14[18]=" of Victoria, would be developed by councils to help save water across Melbourne.
      Councils will be invited to apply for grants of "; S15[18]=" $10,000 each to develop the plans... "; R[19]="1999"; T[19]="Pipeline to Clare goes ahead"; A[19]="By ... Editor"; Dn[19]="20030614"; Dt[19]="Saturday 14 June 2003"; Acats[19]="a40a68"; B1[19]="      A plan to sell River Murray water to Clare Valley irrigators will go ahead despite looming water restrictions.... "; B2[19]=" "; B3[19]=" "; B4[19]=" "; B5[19]=" "; S1[19]="      A plan to sell River Murray water to Clare Valley irrigators will go ahead despite looming water restrictions.
      A "; S2[19]=" new 65km pipeline being built and expected to be completed by January next year has the capacity to carry up to 7.3 gigalitres of River "; S3[19]=" Murray water to the Clare Valley region.
      Of that water, up to 2.2 gigalitres will be sold from SA Water's unused water "; S4[19]=" allocation, which is allowed to remain in the river as environmental flows at present.
      The Clare Valley Water Supply scheme aims to "; S5[19]=" 'drought-proof' the wine region, providing additional bulk water for irrigation and industry, and supplying reticulated water.
      But the State Opposition says unused "; S6[19]=" water should stay in the river and not be used as a source of profits for SA Water.
      Opposition spokesman on the "; S7[19]=" River Murray Mark Brindal said it was 'appalling' unused water would be sold when restrictions were about to hit.
      He said although "; S8[19]=" the previous Liberal government had backed the project, it was on the basis that irrigators would have to buy their water on the open market.
"; S9[19]="       'It's taking water from the River Murray at a time when it really hasn't got any to spare,' Mr Brindal said.
  "; S10[19]="     SA Water's head of water services John Ringham said yesterday any water transferred to the Clare Valley from the Murray would be subject "; S11[19]=" to the same restrictions that would apply from July 1.
      'Some of that 2.2 gigalitres of water will go towards irrigators but "; S12[19]=" will be subject to the same restrictions as any other SA water customer,' Mr Ringham said... "; R[20]="1998"; T[20]="Irrigators water slashed by 35pc"; A[20]="By ... Editor"; Dn[20]="20030614"; Dt[20]="Saturday 14 June 2003"; Acats[20]="a40"; B1[20]="      Thousands of River Murray irrigators will lose 35 per cent of their water allocation in a move likely to cost the state "; B2[20]="tens of millions of dollars in lost production... "; B3[20]=" "; B4[20]=" "; B5[20]=" "; S1[20]="      Thousands of River Murray irrigators will lose 35 per cent of their water allocation in a move likely to cost the state "; S2[20]=" tens of millions of dollars in lost production.
      About 4000 irrigators will be forced to dramatically reduce water use, slashing the $700 "; S3[20]=" million earned annually by crops irrigated from the River Murray.
      Some irrigation areas in South Australia may have to close this season "; S4[20]=" and immature fruit dumped to save citrus trees and vineyards.
      The irrigation industry in SA is set to undergo a major rationalisation "; S5[20]=" and the price of water will skyrocket.
      Most River Murray irrigators will suffer a 35 per cent cut - meaning 175 gigalitres "; S6[20]=" will be lost from their total annual licensed allocation of 500 gigalitres.
      The 120 dairy farmers in the Lower Murray will have "; S7[20]=" their collective allocation of 100 gigalitres slashed by 20 per cent.
      Irrigators who fail to comply with restrictions face fines of up "; S8[20]=" to $10,000 and possible loss of licence.
      River Murray Minister John Hill told The Advertiser yesterday it was 'the toughest year we "; S9[20]=" have ever faced' with the Murray affected by drought, but 'the strong sense of community' would help irrigators survive.
      The cut is "; S10[20]=" part of state-wide water restrictions to be introduced in a fortnight aimed at reducing South Australia's consumption of water from the River Murray in 2003-04 "; S11[20]=" by 20 per cent.
      For the first time, the state's normally high-security annual water entitlement of 1850 gigalitres cannot be guaranteed.
  "; S12[20]="     The restrictions are demanded because of a sustained drought in the Murray Darling Basin and a bleak outlook for rainfall over the next "; S13[20]=" six months.
      Mr Hill said 'clearly (the restrictions) will have an impact'.
      He said some irrigators might have to "; S14[20]=" cut production in order to save their vineyards or citrus orchards.
      'I think it will be a difficult season,' Mr Hill said.
"; S15[20]="       Citrus grower David Ingerson, head of the Riverland Private Irrigator Taskforce, predicted yesterday that some irrigation areas would 'be closed down' and "; S16[20]=" permanent plantings abandoned unless there were a considerable amount of rainfall in the basin over coming months.
      He called for the Government "; S17[20]=" to open up an intrastate River Murray water trade.
      Mr Hill said many irrigators were already using less than 100 per cent "; S18[20]=" of their water allocation.
      'Many irrigators don't use their full allocation during a normal year so a 20 per cent cut in "; S19[20]=" allocations would not have achieved the 20 per cent reduction in water use which is necessary,' the minister said.
      Opposition Leader Rob "; S20[20]=" Kerin has previously supported the method of water restriction by allocation rather than use as fairer for efficient irrigators.
      Meanwhile, dairy farmers "; S21[20]=" in the Lower Murray between Mannum and Wellington, already facing a drop in farm-gate prices for milk, are set to suffer more under their restrictions.
"; S22[20]="       'Dairy farmers I have some concerns for,' Mr Hill said.
      It was the first time irrigators had been forced "; S23[20]=" to cut consumption in SA, unlike their interstate counterparts who had experienced restrictions already.
      Mr Hill said communities such as those in "; S24[20]=" the Riverland would bear the brunt.
      'Strong punitive measures' were in place for irrigators who breached restrictions, including fines of up to "; S25[20]=" $10,000.
      'Heavy fines will be imposed on irrigators who don't adhere to the restrictions,' Mr Hill said.
      'In addition, "; S26[20]=" people who don't comply could have their licences suspended or cancelled.' Mr Hill said the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation would not be "; S27[20]=" able to confirm until at least September by how much SA's water entitlement would be cut in 2003-04 and restriction levels would be reviewed monthly... "; R[21]="1996"; T[21]="Dam water does a flip in Dartmouth"; A[21]="By ... Editor"; Dn[21]="20030614"; Dt[21]="Saturday 14 June 2003"; Acats[21]="a40"; B1[21]="      One billion tonnes of water has done a somersault in one of Australia s biggest dams.... "; B2[21]=" "; B3[21]=" "; B4[21]=" "; B5[21]=" "; S1[21]="      One billion tonnes of water has done a somersault in one of Australia's biggest dams.
      In only the second "; S2[21]=" incidence of its kind in Dartmouth Dam in north-east Victoria, water at the bottom of the storage replaced that at the top.
      "; S3[21]=" River Murray Water, which controls the dam, described the event as a de-stratification.
      It happened earlier this week during a "; S4[21]=" night of extremely cold temperatures and high winds in the area.
      The normally good quality and lighter water that sits at "; S5[21]=" the top of Dartmouth was pushed down, and replaced with the heavier and poorer quality water, which is at the dam's base.
      "; S6[21]=" River Murray Water general manager David Dole said the de-stratification was highly unusual for Dartmouth, which is the biggest single dam on the Murray-Darling "; S7[21]=" system.
      'This is only the second time this has occurred, with the previous event in 1998,' he said in a statement.
"; S8[21]="       'Both this event and the 1998 event occurred following very strong winds and low air temperatures over the reservoir (and) both "; S9[21]=" events also featured relatively low storage volume.' Dartmouth is currently at 30 per cent of capacity, its lowest level since construction of the dam "; S10[21]=" finished in 1979.
      It is now holding a little over 1000 gigalitres of water.
      In 1998, the "; S11[21]=" dam was at 43 per cent of capacity.
      Although the de-stratification is outwardly undetectable, people living beneath the dam on the "; S12[21]=" Mitta Mitta River will have noticed the event.
      Water odour and colour deteriorated, as did the level of turbidity.
    "; S13[21]="   The water at the bottom of the dam carries much less oxygen than at the higher level, so it carries a distinctively different "; S14[21]=" smell.
      The de-stratification follows problems in the Mitta Mitta caused by recent rainfalls over the surrounding catchment.
      "; S15[21]=" Much of the area was razed by this year's bushfire, and the rains carried high levels of ash and soil into the river.
    "; S16[21]="   Mr Dole said the dam would return to its normal water stratification in coming days.
      Meanwhile, the Murray-Darling Basin "; S17[21]=" Commission has warned that despite recent rains, the total amount of water held in its dams was at the lowest level for this time of "; S18[21]=" year since prior to the construction of Dartmouth... "; R[22]="1990"; T[22]="Grant for water saving in house design"; A[22]="By ... Editor"; Dn[22]="20030613"; Dt[22]="Friday 13 June 2003"; Acats[22]="a40"; B1[22]="      An architectural company working on projects in Melbourne s south-east has received a Bracks Government grant of $121,000 to help demonstrate how "; B2[22]="water conservation and recycling initiatives can be incorporated in exceptional architectural design... "; B3[22]=" "; B4[22]=" "; B5[22]=" "; S1[22]="      An architectural company working on projects in Melbourne's south-east has received a Bracks Government grant of $121,000 to help demonstrate how water "; S2[22]=" conservation and recycling initiatives can be incorporated in exceptional architectural design.
      The Minister for Environment and Water, John Thwaites, presented architects EME "; S3[22]=" Group with a certificate to mark their receipt of the grant under the Bracks Government's $3.6 million Smart Water initiative.
      'Projects that "; S4[22]=" have won grants under the Smart Water program are practical initiatives that aim to change the way Victorians think about and use water,' Mr Thwaites "; S5[22]=" said.
      'The Bracks Government established the Smart Water Fund last year in partnership with Melbourne's water authorities to encourage and support water "; S6[22]=" conservation initiatives.
      'The EME Group project and other winning initiatives will allow us to develop further ways to save our precious and "; S7[22]=" limited water resources.' The EME Group will use the grant to help develop residential buildings that integrate water conservation and water recycling within exceptional architectural "; S8[22]=" design.
      'EME Group aims to produce five demonstration projects to show how water management systems can be incorporated into a variety of "; S9[22]=" new buildings.
      The target for each design project is a reduction in overall domestic water consumption by 60 per cent.
    "; S10[22]="   'The properties in Brighton, Prahran, Black Rock and Merricks Beach on the Mornington Peninsula represent a range of sites and building types including inner "; S11[22]=" suburban townhouses, family holiday homes on the coast, and larger high profile homes on Port Phillip Bay.' Mr Thwaites today visited one of the Brighton "; S12[22]=" demonstration projects, where a 20,000 litre rainwater tank was being installed to service four two-storey townhouses for toilet flushing, watering gardens and car washing.
  "; S13[22]="     The project also aims to reduce household water consumption with the inclusion of five-star rated water saving taps and showerheads.
      "; S14[22]=" Completion of the projects will be followed with a three-month promotion campaign.
      'I encourage more building industry businesses to follow EME Group's "; S15[22]=" demonstration that innovative water conservation measures don't compromise good architectural design.
      In fact, they can enhance it.'.. "; R[23]="1986"; T[23]="Rice crop may hold record for profit and low water use"; A[23]="By ... Editor"; Dn[23]="20030613"; Dt[23]="Friday 13 June 2003"; Acats[23]="a23a40"; B1[23]="      Rice farmers who NIR tissue tested their crop last season are urged to return crop data sheets to help NSW Agriculture confirm "; B2[23]="whether the 2002/03 crop sets new records for water use and profit per megalitre, NSW Agriculture technical specialist for irrigated farming systems, John Lacy, said "; B3[23]="today... "; B4[23]=" "; B5[23]=" "; S1[23]="      Rice farmers who NIR tissue tested their crop last season are urged to return crop data sheets to help NSW Agriculture confirm "; S2[23]=" whether the 2002/03 crop sets new records for water use and profit per megalitre, NSW Agriculture technical specialist for irrigated farming systems, John Lacy, said "; S3[23]=" today.
      Mr Lacy said tissue test and crop information like yield, water use, and top dressing rates results would deliver vital information "; S4[23]=" for benchmarking crop profitability using gross margins.
      'The small crop of 2002/03 may follow the trend of the previous crop and return "; S5[23]=" significantly higher gross margins around $100 per megalitre,' Mr Lacy said.
      'It is just as important to return data for low yields "; S6[23]=" as it is high yields.
      'This identifies the factors lowering yields and allows best management techniques to be developed to avoid farmers "; S7[23]=" encountering the same problems in the coming season.' Mr Lacy said is was particularly important for all Murray Valley rice farmers to return their completed "; S8[23]=" sheets because there were so few crops in the area.
      'For each set of crop information returned farmers will receive a Ricecheck "; S9[23]=" Crop Evaluation Report,' he said.
      'This report compares each crop's management with the practices used to achieve the top yields.' Mr Lacy "; S10[23]=" said the practices that achieved the top yields of the 2002/2003 season would be added to recommendations for the 2003/2004 crop... "; R[24]="1978"; T[24]="EPA Victoria to audit environmental flows"; A[24]="By ... Editor"; Dn[24]="20030610"; Dt[24]="Tuesday 10 June 2003"; Acats[24]="a40a42"; B1[24]="      EPA Victoria will toughen up waste water requirements, audit environmental flows, and encourage increased water recycling through the waste water licensing system "; B2[24]="under a new blueprint to protect Victoria s natural water environments... "; B3[24]=" "; B4[24]=" "; B5[24]=" "; S1[24]="      EPA Victoria will toughen up waste water requirements, audit environmental flows, and encourage increased water recycling through the waste water licensing system "; S2[24]=" under a new blueprint to protect Victoria's natural water environments.
      The Minister for Environment and Water, John Thwaites, said the EPA's State "; S3[24]=" Environment Protection Policy (SEPP), Waters of Victoria, provides a framework to protect Victoria's rivers, streams, lakes, estuaries and coastal waters over the next 10 years.
"; S4[24]="       'The Waters of Victoria policy backs up the Bracks Government's increased focus on valuing and using water better with a statutory framework,' "; S5[24]=" Mr Thwaites said.
      Mr Thwaites said the new policy updated the 1988 water SEPP and introduced new measures to improve water quality "; S6[24]=" including: · tougher waste water requirements - EPA will now review all licences where there is a water discharge and encourage greater avoidance and recycling.
"; S7[24]="       No new discharges will be approved in aquatic reserves, wetlands, lakes or estuaries and inlets or waters in areas of high conservation "; S8[24]=" significance.
      · auditing environmental flows - for the first time environmental flows will be audited to determine their affect on the health "; S9[24]=" of aquatic life and the uses of that particular water environment.
      · audit irrigation drainage - for the first time we have "; S10[24]=" an agreed system so that irrigation drains discharging to surface waters can be audited to make sure our water is protected.
      · "; S11[24]=" preventing wastes and pollutants being discharged from boats and ship into Victorian waters and requires all marinas to have waste and sewerage pump-out facilities and; "; S12[24]=" · new standards such as biological indicators to provide a direct measure of the health of plants and animals.
      'We need to "; S13[24]=" protect our water environments for the benefits they deliver now and ensure we are using them in a sustainable way so they are protected for "; S14[24]=" future generations.
      The Waters of Victoria policy will enable the EPA to carry out this work.
      'Victoria is the "; S15[24]=" first state to adopt these new measures and incorporate them in its water policy.' The Waters of Victoria policy was developed through an extensive consultation "; S16[24]=" process involving community, industry, catchment management authorities, coastal boards, water authorities, local government, environment and community groups and government agencies.
      'The new "; S17[24]=" policy will be primarily implemented through Victorian catchment and coastal management processes.'.. "; R[25]="1974"; T[25]="Wivenhoe Dam wall to be raised to prevent huge flood"; A[25]="By ... Editor"; Dn[25]="20030610"; Dt[25]="Tuesday 10 June 2003"; Acats[25]="a40a42"; B1[25]="      When Wivenhoe Dam was planned after the 1974 floods had left much of Brisbane under water, engineers wanted something to cope with "; B2[25]="the most freakish weather events... "; B3[25]=" "; B4[25]=" "; B5[25]=" "; S1[25]="      When Wivenhoe Dam was planned after the 1974 floods had left much of Brisbane under water, engineers wanted something to cope with "; S2[25]=" the most freakish weather events.
      But the weather-modelling capabilities and knowledge of meteorologists have changed significantly in the past 30 years.
  "; S3[25]="     The advances mean meteorologists have been forced to revise significantly upwards predictions about the size and likelihood of the dreaded Probable Maximum "; S4[25]=" Flood.
      This extraordinarily rare event, perhaps the result of two or three cyclones parked off Moreton Bay and dumping unprecedented rain, "; S5[25]=" would cause the levels in Wivenhoe Dam to rise above the spillway, leading to a collapse.
      The outpouring would wash away a "; S6[25]=" large part of Brisbane and claim thousands of lives.
      But as Peter Borrows, chief executive of SEQWater which owns and runs "; S7[25]=" Wivenhoe Dam emphasises, the odds against such a catastrophe are on our side.
      'What we are talking about are extreme events,' "; S8[25]=" he said.
      'When Wivenhoe was designed it could handle a one in 100,000 year event.
      It can currently "; S9[25]=" pass the one in 30,000 year event.
      Now that we have upgraded estimates of rainfall, we will upgrade Wivenhoe again to one "; S10[25]=" in 100,000.
      'We are really talking about a catastrophic event that I can't conceive and that most people would struggle with.
"; S11[25]="       'It is at the extreme end of likelihood, but because it is such a major issue we have to mitigate it "; S12[25]=" as much as we can.
      We're making sure that if it does happen we will have the dam meeting the standards.' "; S13[25]=" Mr Borrows and his staff have set up an alliance, including hydrologists, community consultants, designers and geotechnical engineers, to develop an engineering solution using the "; S14[25]=" latest information from scientists on probable maximum rainfall.
      The Bureau of Meteorology's Dr David Walland, who has provided SEQWater with much "; S15[25]=" of the raw data, said estimates were 'inherently difficult given the limited amount of data' available.
      He said such rainfall would come "; S16[25]=" from a 'very efficient storm mechanism'.
      The bureau has historically provided engineers with such estimates to help them assess hydrology and "; S17[25]=" upgrade dams to industry-defined standards... "; R[26]="1971"; T[26]="Assessing farm water supplies"; A[26]="By ... Editor"; Dn[26]="20030610"; Dt[26]="Tuesday 10 June 2003"; Acats[26]="a38a40"; B1[26]="      A range of information tools is being made available to assist farmers assess their water supplies and improve farm dam efficiency and "; B2[26]="reliability... "; B3[26]=" "; B4[26]=" "; B5[26]=" "; S1[26]="      A range of information tools is being made available to assist farmers assess their water supplies and improve farm dam efficiency and "; S2[26]=" reliability.
      Department of Agriculture senior research officer Neil Coles said the information would help farmers develop alternative water sources or management strategies.
"; S3[26]="       'Given the recent dry season, farmers should be assessing the efficiency and reliability of their current water supplies and have dams prepared "; S4[26]=" for winter rainfall.
      Measuring the volume of water in their dams and determining how long this water will last is one approach,' "; S5[26]=" Dr Coles said.
      The Department has produced a number of new tools to help farmers manage their water supplies.
      "; S6[26]=" Tools include Farmnotes on treating leaky dams and using windbreaks to reduce evaporation from farm dams, a dam volume calculator and a technical report on "; S7[26]=" assessing dam reliability.
      Dr Coles said the Department's Assessing storage reliability of farm dams report provided a step-by-step guide on how to "; S8[26]=" manage water supplies following periods of low rainfall, when catchments had not received run-off and dam water was a limited resource.
      'It "; S9[26]=" provides advice on how to estimate dam volume, determine the expected demand, assess the reliability of supply by measuring evaporation and leakage, maximise supply and "; S10[26]=" promote efficient recovery,' he said.
      'The dam volume calculator can be used to calculate surface area and volume, and comes in the "; S11[26]=" form of easy to use computer software.
      The software can be downloaded from the Department's website.
      Dr Coles said "; S12[26]=" leakage and evaporation were significant problems for farm dams.
      In particular, evaporation was regarded as the major contributor to water loss from "; S13[26]=" farm dams in the State's south west.
      'Evaporation losses are the result of hot and dry winds and high surface water temperatures.
"; S14[26]="       Windbreaks can limit the amount of hot air passing over the warm water surface, lower the water temperature and reduce the rate "; S15[26]=" at which moisture is removed,' he said.
      'The Farmnote on leaky dams describes the most practical and effective methods to seal leaks, "; S16[26]=" although it is noted that successful treatments are often costly and it may be cheaper to construct a new dam.' The information in the Farmnotes "; S17[26]=" was based on the outcomes of research undertaken by Matthew Hipsey as part of his Master's project on improving farm dam efficiency.
      "; S18[26]=" The project was overseen by the Department and funded by the Water Corporation and Office of Water Regulation.
      Dr Coles said farmers "; S19[26]=" should be closely monitoring the run-off into farm dams this winter to assess how efficient the system is, whether it requires improvement, or if the "; S20[26]=" water will last through the summer if there is another low rainfall year.
      Additional information on dam-catchment and roof-raintank systems will be "; S21[26]=" made available later in the year... "; R[27]="1966"; T[27]="Washing Machine Rebates -- Sydney Water"; A[27]="By ... Editor"; Dn[27]="20030606"; Dt[27]="Friday 6 June 2003"; Acats[27]="a08a40a48"; B1[27]="      A special offer that starts tomorrow will give Sydney Water customers a chance to help protect the environment, save water and pocket "; B2[27]="$100 into the bargain... "; B3[27]=" "; B4[27]=" "; B5[27]=" "; S1[27]="      A special offer that starts tomorrow will give Sydney Water customers a chance to help protect the environment, save water and pocket "; S2[27]=" $100 into the bargain.
      From June 5 to July 31, 2003, Sydney Water customers will be eligible for a cash rebate "; S3[27]=" of $100 if they purchase a new 4A- or 5A-rated water-efficient washing machine.
      Customers have until 15 August 2003 to send their "; S4[27]=" rebate application forms to Sydney Water.
      Introduction of this offer is designed to coincide with World Environment Day, held every year "; S5[27]=" on June 5.
      Announcing this special water conservation promotion today, Sydney Water Managing Director Greg Robinson, said the offer is intended "; S6[27]=" to encourage people to consider a water-efficient model when buying a new washing machine.
      'Our aim is to get people thinking "; S7[27]=" about the link between the kind of appliances they buy, the amount of water and energy they use and ultimately, the impact of these choices "; S8[27]=" on our environment,' Mr Robinson said.
      'This message is especially important given the ongoing drought conditions, and the tendency for people "; S9[27]=" to be less focused on water conservation during the winter months.
      The start of the winter is also a period when washing "; S10[27]=" machine sales are typically high.' The offer applies to any 4A- or 5A-rated washing machine that qualifies under the National Water Conservation Labelling and "; S11[27]=" Rating Scheme.
      'Sydney Water has been working closely with leading white goods manufacturers to develop this special limited offer,' Mr Robinson "; S12[27]=" said.
      'This initiative is part of a range of Sydney Water programs intended to encourage water conservation among Sydney Water customers.
"; S13[27]="       Water is probably the single most important community resource and we all have a responsibility to make sure it is used wisely.
"; S14[27]="       'Washing machines consume around 16 per cent of the water used in a typical household, By replacing a 1A-rated machine with "; S15[27]=" a 4A-rated model, customers can save up to 120 litres of water on every load of washing they do,' The majority of 4A-and -5A "; S16[27]=" rated washing machines are front-loading designs, however several manufacturers have developed top-loading models that will meet the requirements to gain a 4A or 5A rating... "; R[28]="1905"; T[28]="Fertiliser blamed for Perth fish kill"; A[28]="By ... Editor"; Dn[28]="20030526"; Dt[28]="Monday 26 May 2003"; Acats[28]="a40a42"; B1[28]="      Thousands of fish were slowly dying in Perth s Swan River because of the overuse of fertilisers, the waterway s manager said "; B2[28]="today... "; B3[28]=" "; B4[28]=" "; B5[28]=" "; S1[28]="      Thousands of fish were slowly dying in Perth's Swan River because of the overuse of fertilisers, the waterway's manager said today.
  "; S2[28]="     River manager Jane Latchford expected the fish to be left rotting on the banks of the Swan in the coming days.
    "; S3[28]="   Thousands of goby, mullet, cobbler, herring and marine salmon were today found dead or dying in a 12km stretch of the river between Perth's "; S4[28]=" CBD and Bassendean, east of Perth.
      Latchford said it was the worst fish kill she had seen in the Swan and there "; S5[28]=" was nothing that could be done to save the creatures.
      'We've got dead fish and stressed fish from Bassendean all the way "; S6[28]=" down to Perth waters at the CBD,' Ms Latchford said.
      'They're floating at "; S7[28]=" the surface or swimming in circles around the surface and they are very sluggish.' She blamed the environmental tragedy on the overuse of fertilisers, flushed "; S8[28]=" into the river by the autumn rains that fed the algae bloom.
      Ms Latchford said although algae blooms were natural events, they "; S9[28]=" were now occurring on much larger scales.
      'A lot of nutrients and organic materials are coming into the river because of the "; S10[28]=" practices of humans around the river,' she said.
      She expects many more dead fish to be found during the next few days.
"; S11[28]="       'A lot of them have died and sunk to the bottom, and their going to rise over the next couple of days "; S12[28]=" as they start decomposing and getting oxygen in their stomachs,' Ms Latchford said.
      'It's looking like it will be quite bad.'.. "; R[29]="1888"; T[29]="Water tank scheme under review"; A[29]="By ... Editor"; Dn[29]="20030521"; Dt[29]="Wednesday 21 May 2003"; Acats[29]="a40"; B1[29]="      It appears as if some Sydney residents expect the drought to hit the city.... "; B2[29]=" "; B3[29]=" "; B4[29]=" "; B5[29]=" "; S1[29]="      It appears as if some Sydney residents expect the drought to hit the city.
      The handful of people who "; S2[29]=" have received the NSW Government's rebate on rainwater tanks have, according to Sydney Water, been hoarding water rather than using it on their cars or "; S3[29]=" gardens.
      Sydney Water is reviewing the future of the scheme - which ends in July - after only 500 people received debates.
"; S4[29]="       Any future for the program would also need to be matched with a better education program, a Sydney Water spokesman said.
  "; S5[29]="     Installing a rainwater tank to collect water that can be used outside the home could reduce the amount of water consumed by a "; S6[29]=" household by a third.
      If connected to the laundry and toilet the average household could halve water consumption.
      But "; S7[29]=" anecdotal evidence suggested that people participating in the scheme had been using their tanks to store water instead of using it to replace water from "; S8[29]=" the mains system, the spokesman said.
      'People still seem to be confused and think by saving water they are somehow contributing to "; S9[29]=" drought relief,' the spokesman said.
      The Sydney-based six month-trial for the rebate - which offers up to $500 to people who install "; S10[29]=" rainwater tanks - is due to finish at the end of July.
      About 800 applications have so far been received by Sydney "; S11[29]=" Water and 553 have been approved.
      Sydney Water has paid out $181,000 in rebates to the successful applicants; 218 people received $150 "; S12[29]=" each for installing tanks with a capacity of 2000 to 3999 litres; and 219 people were paid $400 for tanks holding 4000 to 6999.
  "; S13[29]="     A further 116 people successfully applied for the $500 rebate for tanks holding 7000 litres or more.
      But only "; S14[29]=" 3.7 per cent of successful applicants received the $150 bonus for using rainwater for toilets and washing machines.
      Sydney Water said the "; S15[29]=" number was disappointing.
      The program would be assessed when it finished and a decision made based on 'how much water was saved "; S16[29]=" versus how much it cost', its spokesman said.
      No guarantee could be made about the continuation of the scheme.
      "; S17[29]=" A spokesman for the Minister for Energy and Utilities, Frank Sartor, said people were responding to the conservation message.
      'People are always "; S18[29]=" calling the office and asking for ways to save water,' he said... "; R[30]="1868"; T[30]="$100,000 grant to community groups to improve local waterways"; A[30]="By ... Editor"; Dn[30]="20030520"; Dt[30]="Tuesday 20 May 2003"; Acats[30]="a40a42a48"; B1[30]="      More than 30 volunteer community groups will receive a total of about $100,000 in grants to protect and improve local waterways across "; B2[30]="Melbourne, the Minister for Environment and Water, John Thwaites, announced today... "; B3[30]=" "; B4[30]=" "; B5[30]=" "; S1[30]="      More than 30 volunteer community groups will receive a total of about $100,000 in grants to protect and improve local waterways across "; S2[30]=" Melbourne, the Minister for Environment and Water, John Thwaites, announced today.
      Mr Thwaites said community groups played an important role in protecting "; S3[30]=" and improving waterways across Melbourne, but they often did not have sufficient resources to fund specific projects.
      'Almost $100,000 has been committed "; S4[30]=" under Melbourne Water's annual Community Grants Scheme for improving the health of our waterways.
      Last year, the program offered $40,000 in funding,' "; S5[30]=" Mr Thwaites said.
      'These community grants provide funding of up to $7500 for major projects, up to $2000 for minor projects, and "; S6[30]=" also grants for newsletters.
      'The funding can be used by groups for equipment and resources such as trailers, tools, trees and shrubs.
"; S7[30]="       'These grants are designed to recognise the efforts of volunteers across Melbourne, and to help them in their work to improve waterways "; S8[30]=" and their surroundings.' Mr Thwaites said volunteer community groups had been responsible for clearing weeds and revegetating many sections of Melbourne's waterways.
      "; S9[30]=" 'Many of Melbourne's waterways have been significantly improved by the efforts of these groups,' he said.
      'We greatly appreciate the commitment of "; S10[30]=" volunteer community groups in protecting and improving our waterways... "; R[31]="1863"; T[31]="Desalination plants to improving country water quality in WA"; A[31]="By ... Editor"; Dn[31]="20030520"; Dt[31]="Tuesday 20 May 2003"; Acats[31]="a09a40a67"; B1[31]="      The State Government will spend $4.8million to improve the quality of water provided to the Goldfields towns of Laverton and Leonora.... "; B2[31]=" "; B3[31]=" "; B4[31]=" "; B5[31]=" "; S1[31]="      The State Government will spend $4.8million to improve the quality of water provided to the Goldfields towns of Laverton and Leonora.
  "; S2[31]="     Government Enterprises Minister Nick Griffiths said the Water Corporation would start work on two desalination plants which were expected to be in operation "; S3[31]=" by December this year.
      In the State Budget handed down earlier this month, Treasurer Eric Ripper announced $15million would be spent over "; S4[31]=" the next five years to improve the quality of water at nine country communities.
      As part of the country water quality improvement "; S5[31]=" program, a further $1.
      3million will be spent this year on a desalination plant for Yalgoo in the Murchison.
      "; S6[31]=" Next year, water quality improvements will be carried out at Mt Magnet, Menzies and Wiluna.
      The following year, the program will extend "; S7[31]=" to Cue, Meekatharra and Sandstone.
      'The decision to go ahead with this work demonstrates the Government's commitment to ongoing water quality improvements "; S8[31]=" in rural centres,' Mr Griffiths said.
      'Country water schemes in the north-east Goldfields and the Murchison have water quality characteristics which have "; S9[31]=" been the cause of ongoing concern for local residents.
      'All the schemes have elevated levels of nitrates and other naturally occurring minerals, "; S10[31]=" as well as water hardness and salinity problems.
      'The schemes are allowed to operate with elevated levels of nitrates under an agreement "; S11[31]=" with the Health Department, where bottled water is made available for nursing mothers who are formula-feeding infants less than three months of age.
    "; S12[31]="   'Through this program, water quality will be brought into compliance with the recommendations of the current Australian Drinking Water Guidelines... "; R[32]="1850"; T[32]="Reserves of river water hit new low"; A[32]="By ... Editor"; Dn[32]="20030519"; Dt[32]="Monday 19 May 2003"; Acats[32]="a40a68"; B1[32]="      Water reserves in the River Murray system are at less than 20 per cent capacity, compared with a normal May average of "; B2[32]="50 per cent... "; B3[32]=" "; B4[32]=" "; B5[32]=" "; S1[32]="      Water reserves in the River Murray system are at less than 20 per cent capacity, compared with a normal May average of "; S2[32]=" 50 per cent.
      The dire news contained in the latest update by the Murray Darling Basin Commission increases the likelihood of water "; S3[32]=" restrictions - including controls on watering household gardens - in South Australia this summer.
      'Even with average conditions through to the end "; S4[32]=" of spring, there will be no water available from the Darling system to supplement supplies in the River Murray,' the commission said yesterday.
    "; S5[32]="   A spokesman for the River Murray Minister, John Hill, said only major downpours throughout the basin over winter would stop water restrictions being imposed.
"; S6[32]="       The restrictions are likely to focus on outdoor water use, including watering gardens, washing cars and hosing down paved areas.
    "; S7[32]="   SA is one of the last states to move on restrictions, which apply in other states, including: Western Australia, where householders can water their "; S8[32]=" gardens only two days a week between 6pm and 9am.
      Victoria, which prohibits the use of manual sprinklers outside the hours of "; S9[32]=" 5am to 8am and 8pm to 11pm.
      Automatic sprinkler systems can be used only between 11pm and 6am.
      Buckets "; S10[32]=" must be used to wash cars and hosing down paved areas is prohibited.
      Queensland, where Brisbane householders can water their gardens only "; S11[32]=" three days a week.
      Manual sprinklers can be used only from 6am to 10am and 2pm to 10pm.
      Automatic "; S12[32]=" sprinklers are banned between 7am and 10pm.
      New South Wales, which has a voluntary restriction system discouraging people from watering gardens or "; S13[32]=" washing cars between 8am and 8pm.
      The Opposition says the Government must consult wine, citrus and almond growers and other farmers before "; S14[32]=" imposing restrictions.
      'A flat 20 per cent or 10 per cent cut would punish the efficient people who have already taken the "; S15[32]=" initiative to reduce their water consumption,' Opposition primary industries spokeswoman Caroline Schaefer said.
      Meanwhile, conservation groups yesterday praised Opposition Leader Simon Crean's "; S16[32]=" proposal for a $150 million Riverbank scheme to allow for 1500 gigalitres of environmental flows within a decade.
      But Deputy Prime Minister "; S17[32]=" John Anderson said the policy was 'a direct attack on Australian farmers' and placed uncertainty over water property rights... "; R[33]="1843"; T[33]="Miners angry at bore water tax"; A[33]="By ... Editor"; Dn[33]="20030516"; Dt[33]="Friday 16 May 2003"; Acats[33]="a40"; B1[33]="      WA S mining industry, which is already reeling from weak commodity prices and the rising dollar, is now facing the prospect of "; B2[33]="a $20 million State tax grab on the bore water it uses... "; B3[33]=" "; B4[33]=" "; B5[33]=" "; S1[33]="      WA'S mining industry, which is already reeling from weak commodity prices and the rising dollar, is now facing the prospect of a "; S2[33]=" $20 million State tax grab on the bore water it uses.
      The State Government has told the industry it wants a user-pays "; S3[33]=" system for water, ending free access to water tapped via company bores.
      The Chamber of Minerals and Energy yesterday attacked the plan, "; S4[33]=" saying it was yet another tax on an industry which already contributes $1 billion to the State's coffers each year.
      The chamber "; S5[33]=" said the move came as the industry began to emerge from the trough in commodity prices, a severe downturn in exploration expenditure, native title issues "; S6[33]=" and now a rising Australian dollar.
      The Waters and Rivers Commission approached the industry late last year with a proposal to introduce "; S7[33]=" a licence and administration fee for water bores used by mine sites - a move that would have collected about $3.5 million a year.
  "; S8[33]="     But the Government has since changed tack and told the industry it now wants a user-pays system.
      The chamber's policy "; S9[33]=" director, David Parker, said the industry had been happy to discuss with the Government the prospect of a water management charge in the form of "; S10[33]=" a licence or administration fee.
      'But the industry finds the prospect of a user pays system untenable and we have serious concerns,' "; S11[33]=" he said.
      'This industry already pays more than $1 billion a year in royalties and we believe water resource management should be "; S12[33]=" part of the core services provided to the industry by the Government and funded out of consolidated revenue.
      'The industry already has "; S13[33]=" a good record in this area of finding, developing and managing its own water resources.
      It also shares much of its hydro-geological "; S14[33]=" information with the State.' The mining industry has a total water allocation from the State Government of just under 600 million kilolitres a year, most "; S15[33]=" of which comes from company-developed bore fields.
      The average WA household uses 350 kilolitres of scheme water a year, costing about $200, "; S16[33]=" and also pays a $149 water service charge.
      Much of the water in the Eastern Goldfields is saline and not suitable for "; S17[33]=" human consumption.
      But developments in processing technology by the industry have made it suitable for ore treatment.
      A spokesman "; S18[33]=" for the Waters and Rivers Commission confirmed an investigation into water management charges and user-pays structure was under way.
      Environment Minister Judy "; S19[33]=" Edwards is expected to consider options on the issue next month.
      According to the commission, the annual cost associated with managing the "; S20[33]=" State's water resources has doubled in the past 15 years to about $50 million.
      It also expects the cost to rise markedly "; S21[33]=" within the next 20 years because of an expected doubling in water use and the much higher cost of managing aquifers and streams.
    "; S22[33]="   It said water resource management charges applied in other States to licensed commercial self-suppliers and water service providers on a beneficiary or user-pays system... "; R[34]="1842"; T[34]="Warning of 35pc cut to river water for Adelaide"; A[34]="By ... Editor"; Dn[34]="20030516"; Dt[34]="Friday 16 May 2003"; Acats[34]="a40"; B1[34]="      South Australia would receive only 65 per cent of its water entitlement from the River Murray at the start of summer, the "; B2[34]="Opposition has warned... "; B3[34]=" "; B4[34]=" "; B5[34]=" "; S1[34]="      South Australia would receive only 65 per cent of its water entitlement from the River Murray at the start of summer, the "; S2[34]=" Opposition has warned.
      Water flowing into SA in the three months leading up to summer would be cut by 150 gigalitres, Opposition "; S3[34]=" Leader Rob Kerin said.
      'That equates to about 150,000 million litres lost to a river and a state which can't afford to "; S4[34]=" lose any.
      'This restriction will put severe pressure not only on communities along the river, but for Adelaide and other cities and "; S5[34]=" towns which use River Murray water.' River Murray Minister John Hill said although a reduction in SA's river allocation had not been confirmed it was "; S6[34]=" 'highly likely we will have to have water restrictions not just in the metropolitan area or the country towns but across the whole of the "; S7[34]=" irrigated parts'.
      Mr Hill said it appeared the state would suffer a one-in-100 years event with its guaranteed allocation of 1850 gigalitres "; S8[34]=" reduced... "; R[35]="1829"; T[35]="$7.77 million for the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline"; A[35]="By ... Editor"; Dn[35]="20030514"; Dt[35]="Wednesday 14 May 2003"; Acats[35]="a40a65"; B1[35]="      The Federal and Victorian Governments will commit a total of $7.77 million towards a detailed design study of the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline "; B2[35]="proposal... "; B3[35]=" "; B4[35]=" "; B5[35]=" "; S1[35]="      The Federal and Victorian Governments will commit a total of $7.77 million towards a detailed design study of the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline "; S2[35]=" proposal.
      The funding was jointly announced today by the Federal Ministers responsible for the Natural Heritage Trust - Environment Minister Dr David "; S3[35]=" Kemp, and Agriculture Minister Warren Truss, with Victorian Minister for Environment John Thwaites, and Victorian Minister for Agriculture Bob Cameron.
      Mr Truss "; S4[35]=" said the study aimed to verify the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline's economic viability, environmental sustainability and expected benefits to the community and region.
      "; S5[35]=" 'The proposal to extend the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline system across the entire domestic water supply channels in the Wimmera Mallee region represents a major infrastructure "; S6[35]=" project,' Mr Truss said.
      'The Howard/Anderson Government has been highly supportive of replacing the old and inefficient water supply systems in north "; S7[35]=" western Victoria, contributing over $27 million from the Natural Heritage Trust to piping projects.
      'This amount includes $4 million for piping the "; S8[35]=" Cannie Ridge and Patchewollock sections in the northern Mallee region, projects which are currently proceeding very well.' Mr Thwaites said the Bracks Government had already "; S9[35]=" committed $77 million to the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline project in recognition of its importance to the region.
      'The study will involve a "; S10[35]=" detailed map of the proposed piping system, allowing for a more accurate assessment of how the project should proceed,' he said.
      'A "; S11[35]=" completed Wimmera Mallee Pipeline system will replace 17,500 kilometres of open earthen channels with piping, saving 93,000 megalitres of water a year that is now "; S12[35]=" lost to evaporation and seepage.' Mr Cameron said the new system would help control salinity.
      'Seepage from the open earth channels is "; S13[35]=" contributing to increased salinity in the area and a piped water system will benefit salinity control efforts,' he said.
      'The Victorian Government "; S14[35]=" sees the pipeline as a major element to ensuring the future sustainability of water resources in the Wimmera Mallee.' Dr Kemp said the proposal expects "; S15[35]=" to bring significant environmental flows for the Wimmera and Glenelg Rivers, along with the huge benefits of more reliable and better quality water.
    "; S16[35]="   'This additional water would support river health, industry, agriculture, tourism and other regional economic development,' he said.
      'The Commonwealth is keen "; S17[35]=" to work cooperatively with the Wimmera Mallee region and the Victorian Government to explore solutions to water shortages and poor water quality.' This latest funding "; S18[35]=" brings the total Natural Heritage Trust funds allocated to Victoria in 2002-03 to $23.1 million.
      The project funding has been brought forward "; S19[35]=" from Victoria's Natural Heritage Trust regional allocation... "; R[36]="1811"; T[36]="Grey-water rebate increases to $500"; A[36]="By ... Editor"; Dn[36]="20030509"; Dt[36]="Friday 9 May 2003"; Acats[36]="a40"; B1[36]="      The rebate for Victorians who install a $1500 grey-water recycling system in their homes has increased to $500, amid Government warnings that "; B2[36]="stage-two water restrictions could soon be enforced in Melbourne... "; B3[36]=" "; B4[36]=" "; B5[36]=" "; S1[36]="      The rebate for Victorians who install a $1500 grey-water recycling system in their homes has increased to $500, amid Government warnings that "; S2[36]=" stage-two water restrictions could soon be enforced in Melbourne.
      Premier Steve Bracks yesterday said the Government had decided to boost the grey-water "; S3[36]=" rebate from $100 to $500 as part of its campaign to increase water recycling.
      Mr Bracks said $500 was an appropriate incentive "; S4[36]=" for householders to invest in a grey-water system, which takes water used in showers, baths and washing machines and makes it suitable for reuse on "; S5[36]=" gardens.
      His announcement came as Water Minister John Thwaites said Melbourne's reservoirs were emptying at such a rate that stage-two restrictions were "; S6[36]=" likely within months.
      The city's water storages are just above 41 per cent of capacity.
      Mr Thwaites said the "; S7[36]=" next level of restrictions would begin when storage fell to 40 per cent.
      Under stage-two restrictions, householders are banned from watering lawns "; S8[36]=" and can use only a bucket to wash cars.
      All stage-one restrictions still apply.
      Mr Bracks said a survey "; S9[36]=" by Melbourne's three water retailers showed the public was responding well to water restrictions.
      The survey of 1050 people showed 96 per "; S10[36]=" cent of them were aware that water restrictions were in force and 75 per cent said they were voluntarily doing more than required to save "; S11[36]=" water.
      Mr Bracks said 66 per cent of people supported the Government's decision to permanently ban the use of hoses to clean "; S12[36]=" driveways, and to restrict the use of sprinklers to certain hours.
      Tuesday's state budget provides $10 million for the water rebate program.
"; S13[36]="       People who buy more than $100 worth of water-saving equipment such as mulch or tap timers can get $20 off their water "; S14[36]=" bill.
      Those who buy a 600-litre rainwater tank can claim a $150 rebate... "; R[37]="1802"; T[37]="Hymenachne weed chokes QLD waterways"; A[37]="By ... Editor"; Dn[37]="20030507"; Dt[37]="Wednesday 7 May 2003"; Acats[37]="a40a85a91"; B1[37]="      A Noxious weed introduced by the Department of Primary Industries to feed cattle has spread into Queensland waterways.... "; B2[37]=" "; B3[37]=" "; B4[37]=" "; B5[37]=" "; S1[37]="      A Noxious weed introduced by the Department of Primary Industries to feed cattle has spread into Queensland waterways.
      CSIRO "; S2[37]=" sustainable ecosystems program weeder Tony Grice said an environmental crisis was looming and that hymenachne could spread tenfold in the next three years.
    "; S3[37]="   'It is likely to choke out native vegetation, alter hydrology and stream flows, build up, and strangle some areas with organic matter and "; S4[37]=" decomposing vegetation that would (lead to) the death of some fish and some environmentally high value wetlands,' Dr Grice said.
      'It "; S5[37]=" is a very aggressive beast and there are no real grounds for optimism for getting rid of it or even controlling it and, perhaps, it "; S6[37]=" was unwise for the Government to have introduced the weed as the real costs are becoming quite high, with the only one real benefit being "; S7[37]=" for cattle producers.' Douglas Shire Council, in north Queensland, is preparing to take legal action against the DPI to cover the cost of combating "; S8[37]=" the weed.
      Mayor Mike Berwick said the DPI introduced the South American weed, to be used as ponded pasture, into the shire "; S9[37]=" in 1985-86.
      Cr Berwick said documents obtained by the council under Freedom of Information laws indicated environmental agencies and government departments "; S10[37]=" had advised against the weed's introduction.
      'It is marching down the paddocks into the Daintree River and other wetlands, creeks, gullies "; S11[37]=" and canefield drains,' he said.
      'Large chunks break off and float down river and reattach, while in some areas it grows "; S12[37]=" across the water.' The weed, which grows in up to 2.5m of water, thrives in drains, lagoons, creeks and at the edges of mangroves.
"; S13[37]="       It is spread by the movement of water, soil and native animals and birds.
      A spokesman for "; S14[37]=" Primary Industries Minister Henry Palaszczuk said planting the weed was no longer a recommended practice and the DPI was involved in removal programs in Burdekin "; S15[37]=" Shire... "; R[38]="1789"; T[38]="$15.2 million for preliminary NHT work in Victoria"; A[38]="By ... Editor"; Dn[38]="20030506"; Dt[38]="Tuesday 6 May 2003"; Acats[38]="a40a42a65"; B1[38]="      Major environmental work targeting native vegetation, dryland salinity, threatened species and river and coastal health in regional Victoria today received a $15.2 "; B2[38]="million funding boost under the Natural Heritage Trust... "; B3[38]=" "; B4[38]=" "; B5[38]=" "; S1[38]="      Major environmental work targeting native vegetation, dryland salinity, threatened species and river and coastal health in regional Victoria today received a $15.2 "; S2[38]=" million funding boost under the Natural Heritage Trust.
      This Federal funding will be matched by the Victorian Government, delivering more than $30 "; S3[38]=" million to protect and conserve Victoria's environment over the next two years.
      Environmental work to be funded will specifically target native vegetation, "; S4[38]=" catchment planning, dryland salinity, river health, coastal management, threatened species, landcare and private forestry.
      The funding - announced today by Federal "; S5[38]=" Environment Minister, Dr David Kemp; Federal Agriculture Minister, Warren Truss; Victorian Minister for Environment, John Thwaites; and Victorian Minister for Agriculture, Bob Cameron - will "; S6[38]=" be shared among the State's 10 Catchment Management Authority regions.
      These cover the State's North East, North Central, East Gippsland, West Gippsland, "; S7[38]=" Port Phillip and Westernport, Corangamite, Glenelg-Hopkins, Wimmera, Mallee and Goulburn-Broken areas.
      Dr Kemp said today's funding announcement is an interim payment to "; S8[38]=" maintain the momentum of major environmental work underway State-wide.
      Minister Thwaites added Victoria was leading other States in reaching agreement under the "; S9[38]=" Natural Heritage Trust and providing matching State funding.
      The interim NHT funding will provide: · foundation funding to help regional catchment committees "; S10[38]=" develop catchment strategies, evaluate existing plans, access information, and consult with the community; and · priority funding for regions to continue important large-scale environmental work "; S11[38]=" targeting natural resource management while awaiting accreditation and implementation of regional catchment strategies.
      'Further funding under the Trust and National Action Plan "; S12[38]=" for Salinity and Water Quality program (NAPSWQ) will be released once regional catchment strategies have been accredited by Commonwealth and State ministers,' Dr Kemp said.
"; S13[38]="       'These strategies are developed by community-based regional Catchment Management Authorities in consultation with key stakeholders in the regions, and provide the basis "; S14[38]=" for regional investment plans which outline how Trust funding will be spent.' To date, one regional catchment strategy in Victoria - Glenelg Hopkins - has "; S15[38]=" been jointly accredited by Commonwealth and State ministers.
      The remaining nine strategies are expected to be ready for accreditation within the next "; S16[38]=" four to six months.
      It is planned to have all regional catchment strategies accredited by late 2003.
      'These regional "; S17[38]=" catchment strategies will form the backbone of natural resource management in Victoria.
      They are will be driven by Catchment Management Authorities who "; S18[38]=" are key players in delivering real and sustainable environmental outcomes,' Minister Thwaites said.
      Minister Cameron said the North East, East Gippsland, West "; S19[38]=" Gippsland and Port Phillip regions will receive a share of the Trust funding announced today to help review and develop their regional catchment strategies and "; S20[38]=" investment plans.
      'Aside from delivering natural resource management outcomes, a major focus of the funding is also aimed at further improving "; S21[38]=" relationships with local government authorities, namely councils.
      This is important, as local councils are a key partner in delivering natural resource management "; S22[38]=" outcomes in an integrated and efficient manner,' he said.
      Minister Truss said there are more than 60 natural resource management regions "; S23[38]=" Australia-wide and a regional natural resource management strategy will be developed for each.
      'These regions will form the basis of natural resource "; S24[38]=" management activity and investment across the nation,' Mr Truss said.
      'The $15.2 million announced today is in addition to $35 million recently "; S25[38]=" approved under the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality for natural resource management projects throughout Victoria.
      'These projects cover a "; S26[38]=" wide range of activities such as revegetation, fencing to protect aquatic habitat and threatened species, improving farm productivity and sustainable practices, stabilising river banks, and "; S27[38]=" improving water quality.
      'Much of the significant environmental work already under way in regional Victoria is funded under the Howard/Anderson Government's $2.7 "; S28[38]=" billion Natural Heritage Trust and $1.4 billion National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality - the largest environmental action programs ever introduced by any "; S29[38]=" Australian Government.
      'The beauty of these national programs is that they are based on a cooperative working partnership between the community and "; S30[38]=" all levels of government to protect our environment and natural resources while sustaining our agricultural industries and regional communities.
      'The fact that "; R[39]="1763"; T[39]="Produce more with less water will be roadshow theme"; A[39]="By ... Editor"; Dn[39]="20030430"; Dt[39]="Wednesday 30 April 2003"; Acats[39]="a40"; B1[39]="      Cutting irrigation costs through water savings while improving production will be a key talking point during dairy and lucerne roadshows in May "; B2[39]="at Mutdapilly, in the Fassifern Valley, and at Toowoomba and Inglewood... "; B3[39]=" "; B4[39]=" "; B5[39]=" "; S1[39]="      Cutting irrigation costs through water savings while improving production will be a key talking point during dairy and lucerne roadshows in May "; S2[39]=" at Mutdapilly, in the Fassifern Valley, and at Toowoomba and Inglewood.
      Ken Bullen of the Department of Primary Industries Agency for Food "; S3[39]=" and Fibre Sciences said the roadshows would relate on-farm experiences gained during the three years the Rural Water Use Efficiency Project had been underway.
  "; S4[39]="     Mr Bullen said during the project dairyfarmers and lucerne growers had identified ways of saving water and reducing pumping costs, while lifting production.
"; S5[39]="       Part of the project's success was that it was based on local trials, which ensured the relevance of information to producers in "; S6[39]=" those key areas.
      Through using monitoring equipment, farmers had been able to apply less water with confidence while getting higher yields through "; S7[39]=" better distribution patterns.
      In most of the trials water coverage had been improved by 25-30 percent, with accompanying crop production increases and "; S8[39]=" reduced water use and irrigation costs.
      Mr Bullen said during the roadshows farmers involved in the project would attend to share their "; S9[39]=" experiences with others, enhancing the practical application of the information.
      Merv Jessen, Industry Liaison Officer with the Irrigation Association of Australia, would "; S10[39]=" also attend to provide practical information on irrigation equipment and its use.
      The southern Queensland roadshows will be held in the Inglewood "; S11[39]=" Civic Centre on May 13, the DPI Conference Centre, Tor Street, Toowoomba, on May 15 and the DPI Research Station at Mutdapilly on May 16, "; S12[39]=" all starting at 10am, with light lunch provided.
      People wishing to attend any of these three South Queensland workshops can register with "; S13[39]=" Ken Bullen (07 5466 2222) or Scott Wallace (07 4688 1371)... "; R[40]="1752"; T[40]="Award for water use efficiency project"; A[40]="By ... Editor"; Dn[40]="20030429"; Dt[40]="Tuesday 29 April 2003"; Acats[40]="a40"; B1[40]="      A Department of Primary Industries cotton and grain water use efficiency project has taken out a major award in a State competition.... "; B2[40]=" "; B3[40]=" "; B4[40]=" "; B5[40]=" "; S1[40]="      A Department of Primary Industries cotton and grain water use efficiency project has taken out a major award in a State competition.
"; S2[40]="       Joint project leader and coordinator Dr Phil Goyne of the DPI Agency for Food and Fibre Sciences said his team had won "; S3[40]=" the environment section of the Primary Industries Week Achievement Awards.
      In making the award, judges said the cotton and grains adoption program "; S4[40]=" 'had increased the sustainability of irrigated cotton and grain production through improved water use efficiencies.
      The success of the project can be "; S5[40]=" attributed to team members' skills and methodologies.' Dr Goyne said as a result of the project some irrigators were achieving up to 20 percent increases "; S6[40]=" in water use efficiency, which was double the target rate.
      One area that had provided much of the efficiency gains was improved "; S7[40]=" furrow irrigation.
      The efficiencies would be ongoing through the adoption of environmentally sound best management practices by irrigators.
      Dr "; S8[40]=" Goyne said a comprehensive report on the project would be finished in June.
      The project's term had now been extended from June "; S9[40]=" to December 2003.
      The project is part of the Department of Natural Resources and Mines Rural Water Use Efficiency Initiative, with DPI "; S10[40]=" leading the cotton and grains program in partnership with Cotton Australia and AgForce.
      Project team members are: Phil Goyne, joint leader and "; S11[40]=" coordinator, Hermitage Research Station, Warwick; Geoff Mcintyre, joint project leader, Dalby; Sarah Hood, irrigation development extension officer, St George; Olivia Whiteoak, irrigation development extension officer, "; S12[40]=" Goondiwindi; Andres Spragge, technical officer, Dalby; Graham Harris, senior extension officer, Toowoomba; David Wigginton, irrigation development extension officer, Biloela; Steve Ginns, cotton extension officer, Emerald; "; S13[40]=" and Toni Anderson, irrigation development extension officer, Emerald... "; R[41]="1709"; T[41]="Next Step For Meander Dam"; A[41]="By ... Editor"; Dn[41]="20030407"; Dt[41]="Monday 7 April 2003"; Acats[41]="a40a69"; B1[41]="      Enabling legislation for the Meander Dam project will be introduced to State Parliament next Tuesday, Primary Industries, Water and Environment Minister Bryan "; B2[41]="Green said today... "; B3[41]=" "; B4[41]=" "; B5[41]=" "; S1[41]="      Enabling legislation for the Meander Dam project will be introduced to State Parliament next Tuesday, Primary Industries, Water and Environment Minister Bryan "; S2[41]=" Green said today.
      Mr Green said the legislation was the next step in the process of bringing the project to fruition.
  "; S3[41]="     'The introduction of enabling legislation shows the Tasmanian Government's commitment to this important infrastructure development.' Mr Green said provided it gains support through "; S4[41]=" the Legislative Council the legislation would clear the way for the project to go ahead once final approval from the Federal Government is given.
  "; S5[41]="     'The enabling legislation is totally independent of the Commonwealth approval process.
      'The passage of the legislation means we will be "; S6[41]=" ready to proceed with the project pending Commonwealth approval.
      'Extensive work has been undertaken to ensure we provide the Commonwealth with all "; S7[41]=" the information it requires for its assessment of the project.' Mr Green said the Meander Dam was a key part of the Government's water development "; S8[41]=" strategy.
      'The purpose of this Bill is to help advance the sustainable development of Tasmania's valuable water resources in line with the "; S9[41]=" Government's aim of growing the State's agricultural sector.
      'The Commonwealth has the task of assessing all the information under the provisions of "; S10[41]=" the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act and ultimately determining if the project can proceed,' he said.
      The State case to go "; S11[41]=" to Environment Australia is expected to be completed in time for the Commonwealth to reach a decision by mid June... "; R[42]="1700"; T[42]="New urban water research facility: Victoria"; A[42]="By ... Editor"; Dn[42]="20030404"; Dt[42]="Friday 4 April 2003"; Acats[42]="a40a65a93"; B1[42]="      The Premier, Steve Bracks, today launched a new urban water research facility aimed at helping cut Melbourne s water use by 15 "; B2[42]="per cent by 2010... "; B3[42]=" "; B4[42]=" "; B5[42]=" "; S1[42]="      The Premier, Steve Bracks, today launched a new urban water research facility aimed at helping cut Melbourne's water use by 15 per "; S2[42]=" cent by 2010.
      Mr Bracks said the Urban Water Conservation Demonstration and Research Facility would explore the latest developments in water conservation, "; S3[42]=" recycling and reuse technologies.
      'With our water storages at 43.2 per cent - the lowest level since 1986 - it's vital we "; S4[42]=" explore new and innovative ways of conserving and recycling water,' Mr Bracks said.
      'Government, industry and the community will be looking to "; S5[42]=" projects such as this to showcase innovative and practical solutions to water management and recycling.' The new facility is housed at the Centre for Educational "; S6[42]=" and Research in Environmental Strategies (CERES) at Brunswick and received $350,000 under the Bracks Government's Science Technology and Innovation (STI) Competitive Infrastructure Grants Program.
  "; S7[42]="     Innovation Minister, John Brumby, warned Melbourne's future growth could be put at risk unless new water conservation and recycling technologies were adopted.
  "; S8[42]="     'Currently Melbourne's population uses almost a megalitre of clean drinking water a minute.
      We cannot maintain that rate of consumption, "; S9[42]=" and grow by a million people by 2030, unless we change the way we manage and develop our water resources,' Mr Brumby said.
    "; S10[42]="   'The Urban Water Conservation Demonstration and Research Facility will contribute to the Bracks Government's plans to reduce Melbourne's water use by 15 per cent "; S11[42]=" by 2010.' Options that may be considered to reduce water consumption include using water efficient household goods, adopting drought resistant landscaping, water recycling and the "; S12[42]=" collection of storm water.
      The Urban Water Conservation Demonstration and Research Facility will: · Explore new approaches to water auditing and water "; S13[42]=" quality assessment; · Investigate the latest technologies in rain and storm water collection; · Conduct research into water quality and its safe reuse in households, "; S14[42]=" businesses and agriculture and · Look at new ways to reduce phosphorus and nitrogen loads.
      Mr Bracks said the Government was also "; S15[42]=" investing in the $320 million Victorian Water Trust that would ensure the long-term sustainability and security of Victoria's water resources.
      Other partners "; S16[42]=" in the research facility include Yarra Valley Water, the Centre for Design at RMIT University, the Myer Foundation, EM Research, the CRC for Catchment Hydrology, "; S17[42]=" Sainty, PMJ Fisher and the Moreland City Council... "; R[43]="1693"; T[43]="Permanent water restrictions being considered for Victoria"; A[43]="By ... Editor"; Dn[43]="20030403"; Dt[43]="Thursday 3 April 2003"; Acats[43]="a40"; B1[43]="      Victorian Premier Steve Bracks yesterday gave the strongest indication yet that Victoria would be placed on permanent water restrictions, saying it might "; B2[43]="be necessary to achieve the State Government s target of a 15 per cent reduction in Melbourne s water use by 2010... "; B3[43]=" "; B4[43]=" "; B5[43]=" "; S1[43]="      Victorian Premier Steve Bracks yesterday gave the strongest indication yet that Victoria would be placed on permanent water restrictions, saying it might "; S2[43]=" be necessary to achieve the State Government's target of a 15 per cent reduction in Melbourne's water use by 2010.
      'We are "; S3[43]=" examining if there are components of level one restrictions that could be on more permanently in the future,' Mr Bracks said, nominating watering driveways as "; S4[43]=" one.
      'We don't anticipate level one restrictions will be lifted at this stage.' Level one bans the hosing of driveways and limits "; S5[43]=" the watering of gardens.
      Melbourne's water storage levels were yesterday at 43.1 per cent, the lowest since 1986.
      Stage "; S6[43]=" two water restrictions are triggered at 41 per cent of capacity.
      Mr Bracks and Innovation Minister John Brumby yesterday launched a $350,000 "; S7[43]=" water research and education facility at the Centre for Education and Research in Environmental Strategies in Brunswick... "; R[44]="1680"; T[44]="Normanville Pipeline Project starts in Northern Victoria"; A[44]="By ... Editor"; Dn[44]="20030331"; Dt[44]="Monday 31 March 2003"; Acats[44]="a40a65"; B1[44]="      The Minister for Environment and Water, John Thwaites, today welcomed the start of construction on the Normanville Pipeline Project, which aims to "; B2[44]="provide significant water savings through a more efficient supply system... "; B3[44]=" "; B4[44]=" "; B5[44]=" "; S1[44]="      The Minister for Environment and Water, John Thwaites, today welcomed the start of construction on the Normanville Pipeline Project, which aims to "; S2[44]=" provide significant water savings through a more efficient supply system.
      'The Normanville pipeline will replace the existing open channel system that supplies "; S3[44]=" water for domestic and stock purposes to 180 rural properties between Boort, Quambatook and Kerang,' Mr Thwaites told Parliament.
      'The Government is "; S4[44]=" contributing $3.9 million towards the cost of the project, as part of a $25 million package of water savings projects announced in 2001.
    "; S5[44]="   'This project will provide significant water savings by reducing evaporation and seepage losses.
      The water saved in this way will mean "; S6[44]=" that less water has to be taken out of our rivers.' The Goulburn-Murray Rural Water Authority is managing the project, which is expected to be "; S7[44]=" completed late this year.
      The underground Normanville pipeline will extend some 290 kilometres and include 69 megalitres of storage capacity.
    "; S8[44]="   Benefits to farmers will include a more reliable and cleaner water supply.
      The project will also see the removal of the "; S9[44]=" old channels with their accompanying maintenance, weed and vermin control problems.
      The project is expected to save 3,600 megalitres of water per "; S10[44]=" year as well as allowing the reclamation of land.
      'The Normanville community has worked diligently towards getting the best outcomes from the "; S11[44]=" project whilst recognising the need to save water for the benefit of all Victorians.
      It is also great to see that Quambatook "; S12[44]=" is now included in the scheme,' Mr Thwaites said.
      'This is the beginning of a new era for the Normanville community.' The "; S13[44]=" Government is also currently looking at the feasibility of other projects to be funded under the $25 million package including the Casey's Weir pipeline and "; S14[44]=" Domestic and Stock Metering projects... "; R[45]="1639"; T[45]="Water use efficiency well ahead of target"; A[45]="By ... Editor"; Dn[45]="20030320"; Dt[45]="Thursday 20 March 2003"; Acats[45]="a15a40"; B1[45]="      A target to improve water use efficiency in irrigated cotton and grain production by 10 per cent over three years is set "; B2[45]="to be exceeded under a Department of Primary Industries led project... "; B3[45]=" "; B4[45]=" "; B5[45]=" "; S1[45]="      A target to improve water use efficiency in irrigated cotton and grain production by 10 per cent over three years is set "; S2[45]=" to be exceeded under a Department of Primary Industries led project.
      Project leader, Dr Phil Goyne of the DPI Agency for Food "; S3[45]=" and Fibre Sciences, said some irrigators were achieving a 20 per cent increase in water use efficiency, which was double the target.
      "; S4[45]=" Dr Goyne said in some areas 75-80 per cent of growers were involved in the project, which was above the project's target participation rate of "; S5[45]=" 70 per cent.
      'This demonstrates the willingness of growers to adopt new ideas that will deliver more sustainable production.
      "; S6[45]=" ' Dr Goyne said the three-year cotton and grains adoption program being run in association with the Australian Cotton Cooperative Research Centre ended in June.
"; S7[45]="       The project was part of the Department of Natural Resources and Mines rural water use efficiency initiative, with DPI leading the cotton "; S8[45]=" and grains program in partnership with Cotton Australia and Agforce He said the main crops grown by irrigators covered by the project included cotton, peanuts, "; S9[45]=" barley, maize, soybeans and sorghum.
      Dr Goyne said new ideas and techniques had been demonstrated and evaluated at more than 60 trial "; S10[45]=" sites over the life of the project.
      'The project has been a collaborative effort with growers, with many ideas discussed and evaluated.
"; S11[45]="       'Water measurement has been critical to the development of more efficient management techniques and the program has identified avoidable losses and opportunities "; S12[45]=" to minimise these losses,' Dr Goyne said.
      He said one of the areas that had provided much of the increase in efficiency "; S13[45]=" was improving furrow irrigation practices.
      'Traditionally water is run down furrows for 12 hours, with excess water being captured in tail drains.
"; S14[45]="       'However, by looking at management practices and measuring the efficiency of water-use practices, we have made changes, such as reducing irrigation time, "; S15[45]=" so that only the required amount of water is applied.
      'This has several benefits, including reducing water use, and minimising waterlogging and "; S16[45]=" drainage beyond the root zone.
      ' Dr Goyne said water use optimisation was also being achieved by lowering evaporation from water storages, "; S17[45]=" including trials of dam covers, testing and using water scheduling tools, and adopting subsurface drip irrigation.
      He said many growers had applied "; S18[45]=" for special subsidies under the rural water use efficiency financial incentives scheme (FIS).
      Grants of up to $10,000 a grower were made "; S19[45]=" available to assist in establishing water saving improvements.
      'The subsidies, administered by Cotton Australia on behalf of the cotton and grains industries, "; S20[45]=" have been used to assist purchases of items including scheduling tools, water meters, weather stations, systems improvements and training.
      ' In addition "; S21[45]=" to the $1.5 million made available through the FIS last season, cotton and grain irrigators had spent more than $3.5 million on water saving activities.
"; S22[45]="       Dr Goyne said final surveys were being undertaken, with a comprehensive report to be completed when the project ended in June... "; R[46]="1636"; T[46]="Extract air to make oil and water mix"; A[46]="By ... Editor"; Dn[46]="20030320"; Dt[46]="Thursday 20 March 2003"; Acats[46]="a40a55"; B1[46]="      One of the great truths of life, that oil and water do not mix, has been turned on its head.... "; B2[46]=" "; B3[46]=" "; B4[46]=" "; B5[46]=" "; S1[46]="      One of the great truths of life, that oil and water do not mix, has been turned on its head.
    "; S2[46]="   The secret to making them mix without chemicals, according to Ric Pashley, a chemist at Canberra's Australian National University, is extracting all the dissolved "; S3[46]=" air from the water.
      'It makes an emulsion, not quite as cloudy as milk,' the chemist said yesterday.
      The "; S4[46]=" discovery, which could lead to everything from new medicines to paints and perfumes, has delighted scientists around the world.
      In 1982, Professor "; S5[46]=" Pashley discovered something called long-range hydrophobic force, now accepted as the reason oil and water do not normally mix.
      He explained that "; S6[46]=" oil droplets can attract each other over a distance as large as their own radius.
      As a result, oil droplets merge rather "; S7[46]=" than disperse in water.
      A typical litre of water, he noted, contains about two millilitres of dissolved air.
      Suspecting "; S8[46]=" that was the problem, he extracted 99.999 per cent of the dissolved air from some water.
      To his joy, it mixed with "; S9[46]=" oil, forming an emulsion that did not separate.
      .. "; R[47]="1626"; T[47]="Hope rekindled as the Darling River flows again"; A[47]="By ... Editor"; Dn[47]="20030319"; Dt[47]="Wednesday 19 March 2003"; Acats[47]="a40a91"; B1[47]="      The Darling River is flowing at Bourke again as the rainfall outlook for the next three months continues to show promise.... "; B2[47]=" "; B3[47]=" "; B4[47]=" "; B5[47]=" "; S1[47]="      The Darling River is flowing at Bourke again as the rainfall outlook for the next three months continues to show promise.
  "; S2[47]="     Around Bourke last year not a seed of cotton went into the ground and the Darling stopped flowing in November due to the "; S3[47]=" worst drought on record.
      The water surging strongly down the state's longest river as a result of last month's heavy rain has "; S4[47]=" raised the hopes of irrigation farmers looking to plant cotton and wheat.
      But while highly stressed permanent plantings of grapes and citrus "; S5[47]=" will quickly get access to the fresh water, much more will have to flow down the Darling and its tributaries before irrigators can start pumping "; S6[47]=" water into their dams or across their paddocks for annual crops.
      The Department of Land and Water Conservation says suspension of pumping "; S7[47]=" will continue until there is enough water in the Menindee Lakes to secure Broken Hill's precarious water supply until December 2004.
      Because "; S8[47]=" it has been so dry, there is still uncertainty over whether the current flow will reach the lakes and deliver the 76,000 mega- litres needed.
"; S9[47]="       Water started flowing over the weir at Bourke on Friday and nearly 4000 megalitres is rushing past the outback town every 24 "; S10[47]=" hours, according to the department's daily river report.
      By the time the flow reaches its peak next week it could top 5000 "; S11[47]=" megalitres a day, with the water expected to reach Wilcannia early next month.
      The department believes nearly 70,000 megalitres has already passed "; S12[47]=" through Walgett, upstream of Bourke.
      Bourke Shire Council's engineering director, Sean Rice, said the flow had sent the salinity level of the "; S13[47]=" town's water skyrocketing as it picked up the many highly saline ponds that had developed along the river as it dried up.
      "; S14[47]=" 'It doesn't taste real good at the moment, but it will only last a few days,' he said.
      'There's beautiful fresh water "; S15[47]=" on the way.' In its latest three-month outlook released yesterday, the Bureau of Meteorology's National Climate Centre said there was a 60-70 per cent chance "; S16[47]=" of above-average rainfall in much of the Darling's catchment... "; R[48]="1623"; T[48]="Guidelines For Works In Wetlands"; A[48]="By ... Editor"; Dn[48]="20030319"; Dt[48]="Wednesday 19 March 2003"; Acats[48]="a40a91"; B1[48]="      New guidelines are available on practical strategies to minimise environmental harm when undertaking works on waterways and wetlands in Tasmania.... "; B2[48]=" "; B3[48]=" "; B4[48]=" "; B5[48]=" "; S1[48]="      New guidelines are available on practical strategies to minimise environmental harm when undertaking works on waterways and wetlands in Tasmania.
    "; S2[48]="   The Waterways & Wetlands Works Manual outlines environmental best practice methods for undertaking works in these sensitive areas.
      The manual covers "; S3[48]=" works in waterways and wetlands that are often undertaken by government, industry, farmers and community groups.
      These include activities such as constructing "; S4[48]=" bridges and other stream crossings, excavating the stream bed and banks and operating machinery in these areas, constructing drainage channels, managing large woody debris, and "; S5[48]=" riparian vegetation management.
      The manual also outlines the legislative and policy requirements in Tasmania when undertaking works in these areas.
    "; S6[48]="   The manual has been developed by the Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment (DPIWE) in partnership with the Local Government Association of Tasmania, "; S7[48]=" with funding from the Natural Heritage Trust.
      The Minister for Primary Industries, Water and Environment, Bryan Green, said it's is not only "; S8[48]=" about protecting fish, birds and other animals that live in the rivers and wetlands.
      'Poorly conceived and implemented works programs can have "; S9[48]=" serious long-term consequences for our waterways and remediation is an expensive exercise.
      'This manual has been developed to give council staff guidance "; S10[48]=" on the environmental issues that should be considered when undertaking works in waterways and wetlands, and ways of minimising the risk of environmental harm.
  "; S11[48]="     'It is also a resource for other groups and individuals planning to undertake works.' The Executive Director of the Local Government Association of "; S12[48]=" Tasmania, Stewart Wardlaw, endorsed the manual.
      'Many council officers have no specific training in this area and cannot easily access expert advice, "; S13[48]=" so the manual is a welcome, plain English source of information and advice, and one the association encourages its members to use.' Copies of the "; S14[48]=" Waterways & Wetlands Works Manual are available from the DPIWE website (http://www.dpiwe.tas.gov.au and look under WHAT'S NEW)... "; R[49]="1621"; T[49]="Rain Has Little Impact On Tassie Stream Flows"; A[49]="By ... Editor"; Dn[49]="20030319"; Dt[49]="Wednesday 19 March 2003"; Acats[49]="a40a69a91"; B1[49]="      The Minister for Primary Industries, Water and Environment, Bryan Green, has commended the work of DPIWE officers in managing streamflows throughout the "; B2[49]="trying dry period... "; B3[49]=" "; B4[49]=" "; B5[49]=" "; S1[49]="      The Minister for Primary Industries, Water and Environment, Bryan Green, has commended the work of DPIWE officers in managing streamflows throughout the "; S2[49]=" trying dry period.
      Recent rain in some pockets of the East Coast, Flinders Island and the South and South East has had "; S3[49]=" little impact on most streams in the State.
      In many areas of the rest of the State record low flows in streams "; S4[49]=" were continuing and were especially tough for water users and also for the DPIWE staff responsible for managing water takes.
      Mr Green "; S5[49]=" said if it were not for the excellent working relationship between irrigators, DPIWE regional water management officers and water rangers many of the State's major "; S6[49]=" streams would have stopped flowing by now.
      'Already many smaller streams have stopped flowing,' Mr Green said.
      'Irrigation restrictions "; S7[49]=" have been required to help ensure streams continue to flow for as long as possible.
      'The good streamflow management being practised is "; S8[49]=" the result of relationships developed over a number of years between water users and the department.
      'This has resulted in a smooth "; S9[49]=" transition into water restrictions in by far the majority of instances and with a continuation of this effort I have no doubt that our rivers "; S10[49]=" streams will continue to supply essential stock and domestic needs and where possible irrigation while they still flow.
      Mr Green requested that "; S11[49]=" all dam owners continue to meet their licence condition, which stipulates that all incoming flows to dams are to be released downstream between November and "; S12[49]=" April inclusive to provide stock and domestic supplies for downstream users.
      He said that the very dry conditions confirm the need for "; S13[49]=" additional large water storages such as those proposed in the Government's Water Development Plan.
      'New storages such as the Meander Dam will "; S14[49]=" be able to provide the surety of water supplies necessary to underpin Tasmania's reputation as a reliable supplier of high quality agricultural produce,' Mr Green "; S15[49]=" said... ";