Healthy HeadWaters Water Use Efficiency project
The Australian Government has provided $115 million to the Queensland Government to implement the Healthy HeadWaters Water Use Efficiency (HHWUE) project. The project aims to help irrigators, communities and the environment in the Queensland Murray–Darling Basin through an irrigation infrastructure funding program and suite of supporting projects running until June 2017.
The project is delivered by the Department of Natural Resources and Mines with funding from the Australian Government as part of the Sustainable Rural Water Use and Infrastructure Program under the Water for the Future initiative. The project is governed by a Water Management Partnership Agreement between the Commonwealth and the State of Queensland.
Infrastructure funding
Eligible irrigators can apply for funding to invest in more efficient irrigation systems and water-saving technologies under the HHWUE infrastructure funding program.
The HHWUE project will provide an agreed amount up to 90 per cent of the total cost for eligible irrigators to undertake on-farm projects to increase water use efficiency.
Approved applicants must transfer at least 50 per cent of the water savings to the Australian Government by permanent trade of water allocation for environmental use.
Technical advice
Through the HHWUE technical advice project, eligible irrigators can receive funding to engage an irrigation consultant to help them assess the performance of their current irrigation operations and plan to improve their on-farm water use efficiency.
The project enables irrigators to access up to 80 per cent of the cost to engage an irrigation consultant, to a maximum of $4000 GST exclusive per business ABN.
Supporting projects
Within the HHWUE project, funding has been set aside to undertake a number of supporting projects to provide project development and delivery capability, communication, education, extension, marketing and monitoring activities.
Reports
The following reports have been released under the HHWUE project.
Farm level economic and financial modelling of alternative irrigation practices in the Border Rivers, Lower Balonne (PDF, 572K)*
Farm level economic and financial modelling of alternative irrigation practices in the Condamine (PDF, 278K)*
Modifying storages to save water (PDF, 910K)*
Review of centre pivot and lateral move installations in the Queensland Murray-Darling Basin (PDF, 1.6M)*
Seasonal benchmarking report 2010-11 (PDF, 646K)*
Seasonal benchmarking report 2011-12 (PDF, 1.3M)*
Storage modification case studies
Whole farm water balance - summary of data 2009-11 (PDF, 702K)*
* Requires Adobe Reader
Last updated 7 January 2013
