Drought Assistance For all Primary Producers & Small Businesses

South Australia's Guide to Drought Assistance Measures

The Australian and South Australian Governments have packaged together a number of Drought Assistance Measures for irrigators, dryland farmers and small businesses severely affected by the drought. This summary of the drought assistance measures available is a reference guide for all South Australian's affected by the drought.

Financial Support

Program	Description	Key Contacts
EC Relief Payments Benefit: up to $775.60 per fortnight for a couple	Income support, called EC Relief Payments, assists eligible farm families and small businesses who are experiencing difficulties meeting basic living expenses due to the impact of EC.	Drought Assistance Hotline 13 23 16 Centrelink website
EC Interest Rate Subsidies Benefit: up to $100,000 per year	Interest rate subsidy to eligible farm businesses and small businesses that are in financial difficulty due to the impact of EC.	PIRSA 1800 182 235 PIRSA website
EC Exit Package Benefit: up to $150,000 plus up to $20,000 for training grant & removal expenses	Assistance to those who wish to exit the industry. Open to all eligible primary producers in EC declared areas, considering leaving the land. Includes an exit grant, advice, retraining and relocation support. Distinct from 'Farm Help'.	Drought Assistance Hotline 13 23 16 Centrelink website
Small Block Irrigators Exit Grant Benefit: up to $150,000 plus $10,000 for removal of plantings & infrastructure, $10,000 for advice and training	Support for small block irrigators with no more than 15 hectares of irrigated farm land, who wish to sell their water and cease production, but remain on their property. Available until 30 June 2009. Confirmation of changes to this measure, as per the Commonwealth Stimulus Package, are pending.	Drought Assistance Hotline 13 63 12 DEWHA 1800 218 478
Mortgage stamp duty relief Benefit: varies	Relief from mortgage stamp duty for producers needing to extend finance as a result of the drought.	Revenue SA website
Country Womens Accoc. emergency food vouchers Benefit: while funds available	Food vouchers for use at IGA and Woolworths supermarkets for families in need, provided by the CWA Emergency Aid Fund. Applications through the Rural Financial Counselling Service.	CWA (SA) 08 8332 4166 SA CWA website
Concessions and remissions Benefit: varies	Concessions & remissions for energy costs & school fees including access to school card for families impacted by the drought conditions.	Concessions Hotline 1800 307 758 DECS School Card 1800 672 758
Water transfer fees Benefit: $335.00 fees waived per application	For River Murray licence holders who buy in water for 2008-09 only to 'top up' water access to a level that does not exceed the greater of their licensed water (taking) allocation as at 1 July 2008, or the maximum licensed water (taking) allocation authorised for use between 1 July 2005 and 30 June 2008.	DWLBC website 08 8595 2053
Ex gratia payments Benefit: varies	To offset 50% of the NRM water levy for River Murray licence holders. A decision on the payment of the remaining 50% will be made prior to the 30 June 2009.	DWLBC website 08 8595 2053
Tax relief Benefit: varies	For those whose income is made in drought affected areas, provides more time to pay tax debts; instalment payments without interest charges; & measures such as deductions on water facilities.	Australian Tax Office Tony Watkins 08 7422 2518 ATO website
Youth Allowance Benefit: varies, up to $486 per fortnight	Students whose parents are receiving an EC Relief Payment are exempt from the Youth Allowance Parental Means Test and may be entitled to the maximum payment rate.	Drought Assistance Hotline 13 23 16 Centrelink website
Health Care card Benefit: various concessions	Those in receipt of EC Relief Payments may obtain health concessions such as cheaper prescriptions, as well as household, educational, recreational and transport services.	Drought Assistance Hotline 13 23 16 Centrelink website
Freeholding perpetual leases Benefit: varies	Financial relief to farmers in drought affected areas who are part of the accelerated free holding project (PLAF), by postponing payment deadlines according to individual needs.	Environment and Heritage website 1300 367 300
Farm debt mediation Benefit: up to $2,000	For primary producers in drought affected areas, who need the assistance of an independent mediator to negotiate with their bank, after having followed the Farm Finance Strategy.	PIRSA 1800 182 235

Business Management Support

Program	Description	Key Contacts
Professional Advice & Planning Grants Benefit: up to $5,500	Provides eligible farmers and irrigators in EC declared areas, access to professional advice and planning assistance to help manage through the drought and plan for recovery.	Drought Assistance Hotline 13 23 16 Centrelink website
Planning for Recovery Grants Benefit: up to $14,000	For those in receipt of EC interest rate subsidies. Up to $4,000 for expert support in preparing a farm drought recovery plan, up to $5,000 for immediate eligible works, and up to a further $5,000 on completion of their plan. The Planning for Recovery Program is currently fully subscribed.	PIRSA 1800 182 235 PIRSA website
Rural Financial Counselling Benefit: a free service	The Rural Financial Counselling Service SA provides free, confidential rural financial referral and support services to primary producers, fishers and small rural businesses.	Rural Financial Counselling Service SA 1800 836 211
FarmReady Reimbursement Grants Benefit: up to $1,500 per year	Reimbursement Grants to attend business, risk and natural resource management training courses, and associated travel, childcare and accommodation expenses.	FarmReady website 1800 067 670
Irrigation Management Grants Benefit: up to $20,000	To help eligible Murray-Darling Basin irrigators to undertake a range of activities that respond to temporarily reduced water allocations and improve on-farm practices to maximise production from the available water.	Murray-Darling Basin Assistance & Referral Line 1800 050 015 Centrelink website

Health & Wellbeing

Program	Description	Key Contacts
Personal counselling Benefit: help & support	Helping people deal with crisis situations in a way that maintains dignity and encourages self-reliance. Includes social and emotional counselling services for individuals and families affected by the drought, as well as community activities and social support, by Family Relationships Services. Psychologists & social workers provide personal & telephone counselling services, through Centrelink Customer Service Centres.	Family Relationship Advice Line 1800 050 321 Family Relationships website Drought Assistance Hotline 13 23 16 Centrelink website
Community counselling Benefit: help & support	Rural community counsellors provide confidential counselling services to community members directly affected by the drought. The service provides basic mental health capacity building to take care of social and emotional well being.	SA Drought Hotline 180 20 20
'Just Ask' rural mental health Benefit: help & support	Information service and referral for people with mental health issues, as well as to concerned friends and relatives. Also provides callers with information about relevant local services and self-help tool kits, as well as links to books and websites.	Lifeline 1300 131 114 Lifeline website
Mental health support Benefit: help & support	A 24 hour emergency assistance and information service staffed by experienced mental health nursing staff, with services and tools to assist farmers & irrigators managing their businesses & coping with stress. Please note that this an emergency assistance number only.	Rural & Remote Mental Health Services 13 14 65

Community Support & Networks

Program	Description	Key Contacts
Community Support Grants Benefit: up to $5,000	For rural communities to stage activities specifically for building resilience and coping with the drought.	PIRSA 1800 182 235 PIRSA website
Drought Support Centres Benefit: East access to drought support	One port of call for regional drought enquiries and support including: Regional Drought Coordinators, Rural Financial Counselling Service, Country Health SA and Division of General Practice.	Berri 1800 857 327 Murray Bridge 08 8532 3198 Ceduna 0427 398 888
Drought Bus information tours	Drought bus mobile offices are travelling drought affected areas to inform and assist individuals with EC support and other forms of assistance available from the Australian Government.	Drought Assistance Hotline 13 23 16 Centrelink website
Farmer Peer Support Network	A program to assist farmers and key community members to provide supportive and mentoring roles to others in their region, who may be feeling the stresses & strains of the current drought.	Country Health Stephen Toon 0488 936 474
Country Womens Assoc. Infrastructure Grants Benefit: up to $3,000	Grants to improve local clubrooms and facilities to support clubs to continue their important role as a centre for community. Applications through local CWA branches, or the SA State Office.	CWA (SA) 08 8332 4166
Rural Women's Community Grants Benefit: up to $1,000	For women in drought affected communities. The Rural Women's Community Grants 2009 provide organisations with an opportunity to receive small grants towards a community project that will build resilience within the community.	Women's Information Service 1800 188 158 Website

Workforce Skilling

Program	Description	Key Contacts
Job Search	National vacancy database for jobs notification. Immediate access to Intensive Support job search training for EC declared areas.	Job Seeker Hotline 13 62 68 Job Search website
Drought Force Benefit: Newstart/Youth Allowance plus extra $20.80 a fortnight & up to $1,600 training credits	Gives people who lose their job because of the drought the opportunity to work on properties or in the community. People receiving income support who work 30 hours or more a week, do not have to look for work while participating in the program.	Drought Force Hotline 1800 004 226 Drought Force website
SA Drought Apprentice Retention Program Benefit: up to $1,500 / apprentice	Employers in declared drought-affected areas can apply for payments for apprentices and trainees enrolled in selected rural, horticultural, and mechanical trades that support agricultural production, as well as electrical and plumbing trades.	Traineeship & Apprenticeships Services 1800 673 097
Declared Drought Area Apprenticeship Incentive Benefit: up to $3,000	To encourage primary producers and small businesses, with EC Drought Declared Area certificates, to continue skills development through apprenticeships. Applies to Certificate II rural, agriculture and horticulture Australian Apprenticeships.	Australian Apprenticeships 1800 639 629 Australian Apprenticeships website
Labour Market Transition Program	Training for regional people who derive 75% of their revenue from primary production. Areas covered will be forklift, front end loader, heavy vehicle and dump truck licenses.	TAFESA 08 8372 6802

Schooling & Education

Program	Description	Key Contacts
Drought School Card	Students from drought affected families are able to access benefits through School Card to assist with educational expenses.	Contact your local school principal
Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) Benefit: $1,000	An additional $1,000 to the AIC Additional Boarding Allowance, and an ongoing supplementary allowance of $1,000 for students who receive an AIC Distance Education Allowance.	AIC Hotline 13 23 18 Centrelink website
Drought Assistance for schools Benefit: up to $10,000 per year	Additional funding for schools in Exceptional Circumstances declared areas, to assist with ongoing education expenses, including school uniforms and the cost of educational activities such as excursions.	Contact your local school principal

Business, community and various industry bodies have a range of drought-specific assistance measures and grants available. You can seek more information by contacting these organisations directly, or by visiting their websites.

Note: This information has been produced for the assistance of the SA rural community. Every effort has been made to collate correct information. Detailed information specific to individual circumstances should be sought directly from the service providers. This is not an exhaustive list, and is current as at 01/03/09.

back to top  

Financial Support for Primary Producers & Small Businesses

Exceptional Circumstances Support - Information Series No.1

Part of an information series of specific drought assistance measures, a small guide to Exceptional Circumstances Support outlines the benefits and key eligibility for EC Relief Payments and EC Interest Rate subsidies, for farm business and farm-dependent small business.

EC regions of South Australia

The regions of South Australia listed below are EC declared, enabling eligible farmers and farm-dependant small businesses access to income and interest rate support. For detailed descriptions and maps of the regions visit the PIRSA drought conditions website.

Farm families and small businesses in these areas with questions relating to income support should call the Drought Assistance Hotline on 13 23 16 or visit their nearest Centrelink Customer Service Centre, and PIRSA Prudential and Rural Financial Services on 1800 182 235 for questions relating to interest rate subsidy.

EC Declared:

• Mid North
• Upper North
• Yorke Peninsula
• Clare Light and Barossa
• Lower Eyre Peninsula
• Central Eyre Peninsula
• Western Eyre Peninsula
• Murray Mallee
• Upper South East
• River Murray and Lower Lakes Corridor
• Fleurieu Peninsula
• Central North East (including Annexure)
• North West Rangelands
• Kangaroo Island
• Far North/South West Queensland (administered by Queensland)
• Central and Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges

Exceptional Circumstances Relief Payments

Through Centrelink, the Australian Government is helping people in communities that have been affected by the drought in a number of ways. This includes providing financial support for farmers in areas that have been declared to be in Exceptional Circumstances, such as Interim Income Support and the Exceptional Circumstances Relief Payment.

Other assistance such as Farm Help and extra support for farm hands is also available.

Centrelink is working closely with the SA Government, local services and rural counsellors to help farmers cope with the drought.

• Social Workers are available in Centrelink Customer Service Centres throughout South Australia or by phoning 13 1021.
• Centrelink Financial Information Service Officers can help farmers with free, independent and expert information to them plan for the future.

For more information on Centrelink assistance for drought-affected farmers, phone Centrelink's Drought Hotline on 13 2316 or visit the Centrelink website.

Frequently Asked Questions – Interest Rate Subsidies for Farmers & Small Business

Answers to some of the commonly asked questions in regard to the interest rate subsidies can be viewed on the FAQ page.

Exceptional Circumstances Guidelines - Farmers

Farmers in Exceptional Circumstances regions are eligible to apply for exceptional circumstances interest rate subsidy support. The PIRSA website provides the guidelines for further detail and eligibility requirements.

Exceptional Circumstances Guidelines – Small Business

Interest Rate Subsidies guidelines for small businesses deriving 70% or more of its normal total business turnover from the provision of goods or services for farming activities / substantially reliant on farmer income in the EC declared areas can also be viewed from the PIRSA website.

Mortgage Stamp Duty Relief

Mortgage stamp duty relief for farmers needing to extend finance as a result of the drought. Stamp duty relief only applies to borrowings of additional working capital to fund normal operating costs of the farm enterprise as the consequence of drought, and does not include additional borrowings for capital items such as land, property improvements, vehicles, plant and equipment, investments and farm management deposits.

In considering working capital for next year, farmers are encouraged to discuss accessing this support with their bank. More detail and guidelines are available on the Revenue SA website.

ABA advises farmers on Banking Ombudsman service

The Advisory Board of Agriculture (ABA) has advised farmers facing financial difficulty as a direct result of the drought, of the services of the Banking and Financial Services Ombudsman (BFSO). ABA Chairman Mark Dennis said the Board met with the BFSO late last year to discuss the resource for farmers who were under increasing debt pressure from their banks.

The BFSO is a free and independent dispute resolution service that considers disputes between consumers and financial service providers who are members of the scheme.

Further information on the BFSO is available from their website www.bfso.org.au

back to top  

Business Management Support for Primary Producers & Small Businesses

Business Planning Support - Information Series No.2

Part of an information series of specific drought assistance measures, a small guide to Business Planning Support provides an outline of the assistance offered through the Australian Government's Professional Advice and Planning Grant and the South Australian Government's Planning for Recovery Grant, including access, key eligibility, application support and contacts, for farm business in Exceptional Circumstances declared regions.

Rural Financial Counselling

The Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS) Program provides primary producers, fishers and small rural businesses with free and impartial support and referral information to help clients to manage the challenges of industry change and adjustment, and improve financial self reliance. Call 1800 836 211 (8am to 5pm) to get in contact with your local counsellor.

Due to the magnitude of change facing farming families in the current economic, environmental and financial climate, RFCSSA now operates under a case management approach. This will ensure that a structured and coordinated approach is provided to clients to support them while they consider their options in light of climate change, industry adjustment and drought.

Services:

• assess and prepare reports on your current financial, cash flow and viability circumstances.
• help identify financial and business options for the future of farming enterprise, including adjustment out of agriculture.
• review contracts and loan applications with lending institutions, and provide information to help assist with the preparation of loan applications.
• facilitate meetings with lenders and financial institutions and assist in non-legal appeals processes.
• provide information and referrals to government or industry assistance schemes, including specific events (drought, fire, flood, industry reform etc).
• provide information on educational services.
• Refer to a range of professional service providers, including accountants, lawyers, agricultural advisers, farm succession planners, social counsellors and personal or family mediators. Rural financial counsellors cannot provide direct referrals but can give you a list of suitable professionals.
• Assist with crisis and risk management approaches, including the preparation of cash flow budgets and assisting with bank and other financial negotiations.

Important to note that Rural Financial Counsellors DO NOT provide advice on:

• legal, financial, accounting or taxation aspects or influence decisions on financial products
• social, psychological or family counselling
• recommendation for particular or best options
• Technical or agronomic advice
• Farm succession planning.

Rural Financial Counselling Service operates a help line 1800 836 211 (8am to 5pm) with the rural financial counsellors operating throughout the state. Rural financial counsellors continue to be based in regional areas with "seamless" boundaries, and will move across the state to address hotspots or areas in crisis.

Farm Management Technical Advice

Rural Solutions SA (RSSA) is Government owned (by Primary Industries and Resources SA and by the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation) and provide consultancy services to rural South Australia. In response to the dry season, RSSA can provide advice on:

• managing livestock (sheep, cattle goats)
• feed rations and supplementary feeding
• sheep culling and selection
• finishing of livestock
• animal health issues and management
• managing soil erosion
• crop management
• pasture Management
• managing risk on-farm
• climatic risk management
• farm budgeting
• purchasing / selecting fodder, hay and grain
• farm family communications
• succession planning

Referral

• Contact Michael Wurst via email or phone 8664 1408 (during normal business hours)
• Go to the PIRSA website for a range of publications and other drought support related material

Native Vegetation and Drought Feeding

The SA Farmers Federation offers a wide range of support to primary producers across the state and is a partner with Government in responding to the poor season. While it offers the broader range of services, SAFF will provide the following to the drought response.

Services

• advice on responsibilities associated with native vegetation and stock feeding in drought
• advice on crop seeds supplies and a seed bank and register

Referral

Phone 8232 5555 or email SAFF.

back to top  

Health & Wellbeing for Primary Producers & Small Businesses

Families in Need/Crisis

Families SA provides household and personal assistance to those in urgent need: inclusive of the following services.

Services

1. Financial Assistance for help to address urgent necessities and outstanding debts (household & personal) for example
   • Food
   • Medication
   • Baby needs
   • Energy (electricity), gas, telephone
   • Travel (car registration, petrol)
2. Also provides concessions (with eligibility criteria for households) for:
   • energy (electricity) bills,
   • Emergency Services Levy,
   • water and council rates

   For further information - go to www.sa.gov.au/concessions or telephone the Concessions Hotline on 1800 307 758 or contact a Families SA Office.

Referral

Refer to District Centres list.

Families SA opening hours: Monday to Friday - 8:45am to 5:00pm

Stress and hardship

Who may be at risk because of stress?

Anyone. The drought has an impact on the entire rural community, so anyone could be feeling the effects of stress. Agricultural producers, and people who live in the townships that support them, can all experience hardship because of drought. Spouses and families are vulnerable. In these situations feeling stressed is an understandable and normal response.

Feeling stressed can affect a person's health

While "stress" maybe normal it can put a person at risk of becoming unwell with depression, anxiety or other conditions. These problems are common anyway (20% of the community in any year can have an episode of depression, anxiety or other psychological conditions), but they are more common when a person or community is under pressure.

What can I do?

Look after yourself, talk with family and friends, and seek help from family doctors and health services. To look after yourself means taking time out from work duties to spend time with family and friends, maintaining physical health through exercise and regular meals, and looking out for signs of excessive stress (see below).
Talking to family, friends and others close to you about how you are feeling is a good start, and then making sure you speak to a doctor or counsellor if needed.
Practical financial and business planning can help. It all helps to take back some control. A range of services are available through Drought Link.

Signs to watch out for

The signs of needing to help are a more severe version of normal stress. For example:

• Ruminations: It maybe normal to think a lot about finances, but not to ruminate on finances constantly
• Trouble sleeping: Not being able to fall asleep because of thoughts, or waking early dreading the day
• Hopelessness and Helplessness: Concern about the future is understandable, feeling hopeless about life, and feeling helpless to do anything about this is a sign that a person could benefit from help
• Appetite, energy and concentration: Not being able to eat well, feeling drained of energy, and unable to concentrate on reading or paperwork
• Anger and irritability: Ongoing irritability, and conflicts with others that really do not make sense
• Panic attack: Fear, heart racing, feeling short of breath. Intense worry brought on by certain thoughts or circumstances
• Increased alcohol consumption or drug use
• See no future in life: If this is how you feel see your doctor or counsellor. These thoughts are made intense by conditions such as depression which respond well to treatment. Call the Drought Link Counselling Line or one of the other services listed below

Watching out for young ones

Children will pick up on family concerns. They may have their own fears – about losing their home or leaving their school. Parents can do a lot to reassure their children. Giving children an opportunity to talk is a start. Providing simple explanations about the problem can help, along with explanations about any plans or practical strategies. Parents can help put the problem in context.

Signs to watch out for include fearfulness, poor behaviour, worsening school performance, wanting to stay home from school, isolation from friends, excessive sleep (to avoid the day) and excessive pessimism. Thoughts of hopelessness or seeing no future in life are cues to seek professional help.

A self-help book, ‘Taking Care of Yourself and your Family’ is available regionally from organisations such as SAFF, Rural Financial Counselling, Mental Health Services, General Practices, and Local Government, among others. Contact Geoff Cook (Health SA) on 8412 6339 or email countrymentalhealth@health.sa.gov.au for copies.

back to top  

Where to go for help

Drought Link Hotline - 180 2020
To link rural people affected by the drought with services and information.

Drought Link Support Worker - 1800 619 532
(Personal, family and support line, 24 hours, 7 days a week)
Advice and information about coping with distress and hardship.

beyondblue - 1300 22 4636 or their website
Information about depression and anxiety, available treatments and where to get help.

Lifeline - 131 114
They're never too far away. For anyone, anywhere, anytime - just pick up the phone.

Relationships Australia - 1300 364 277
Relationship support advice and services for individuals, families and communities.

Kids Helpline - 1800 551 800
Telephone and online counselling for children and young people.

Youth Healthline - 1300 13 17 19
(24 hours a day - 7 days a week)
Services for Youth - young people aged 12-25

Your Family Doctor
In addition, your family doctor or general practitioner can assist with the ongoing concerns of you and your family.

"Just Ask" - National rural mental health information service - 1300 13 11 14
An information and referral service for anyone who seeks mental health information, including local services, books, web sites and self-help information such as a Toolkit for getting through the drought. For more information visit www.justask.org.au

Mensline Australia 1300 78 99 78
A dedicated service for men with relationship and family concerns, staffed by paid professional counsellors, experienced in men's issues. Includes services focussed on Indigenous men, men from Vietnamese and Arabic speaking communities, and young me aged 18 - 25 years. A local call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or visit their website www.menslineaus.org.au

General Information

Brochure

Country Health SA has produced a brochure that provides important information for people seeking help to cope with the stress and emotional strain of drought.
These brochures can be ordered by email

A1 Posters

Drought Hotline posters have been produced by Country Health SA to sign post the ‘first point of call’ Drought information hotline and website to people in rural communities.
The posters are designed to be displayed in prominent locations such as: pubs, community centres, GP surgeries and other high-traffic locations.
Posters can be ordered by email

Information Cards

Pocket-sized information cards, similar to a two-sided business card, detailing the Drought Hotline and website are also now available thanks to Country Health SA.
To order a sample of these cards, please email

back to top  

Community Support & Networks for Primary Producers & Small Businesses

Community Support Grants

The SA Government Drought Response has produced guidelines to assist with applying for a Community Support Grant. Visit the PIRSA Website for a copy of the guidelines and further information.

Australian Government's Drought Bus and Murray Darling Basin Drought Bus

Drought Buses will be travelling around the worst drought affected areas in rural New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and the Murray Darling Basin to let rural communities know about the services the Australian Government is providing. People will be able to speak to someone about the assistance available - an expert who knows about working on the land - from financial counsellors to social workers and everyone in between.

View the schedule to find out where the Drought Buses are headed in South Australia.

Workforce Skilling for Primary Producers & Small Businesses

Drought Apprentice Retention Program (DARP)

Selected employers in nominated rural communities will be able to apply for payments of $1500 per apprentice or trainee enrolled in selected rural qualifications and in mechanical and electrical automotive trades that support agriculture production. For more information, or to view answers to some of the commonly asked questions, visit the DARP website, or contact the Traineeship and Apprenticeship Services on 1800 673 097.

back to top  

Schooling & Education Support for Primary Producers & Small Businesses

School Card – Dept of Education and Children's Services

As part of the State Government's assistance for South Australia's drought affected farmers, families that live in Exceptional Circumstances areas and who have experienced a change in financial circumstances may be eligible for School Card assistance in 2007.

Eligibility through this special process is dependent upon the combined family gross income for 2006/07 year being predicted to be within the School Card income limits due to:

• A family's income being directly related to farming activities which have been affected by the drought
• A family's income being affected due to loss of employment or a reduction in time/wages related to the drought

Referral

Further information can be obtained through:

• Contacting your local school
• Contacting the Department of Education and Children's Services School Card Section on 1800 672 758 (toll free)
• Online information via the School Card section of the Dept of Education and Children's Services website

River Murray Specific Information

River Murray

The Department of Water Land and Biodiversity Conservation (DWLBC) have a broad range of responsibilities for managing the state's water resources. There is interest and concern in the community and industry about the impact of the season on the flows in the River Murray, the potential for reduced allocations and the impact of these.

The information on the River Murray has been grouped on the Service SA website as follows:

• Irrigator assistance and advice
• River Murray allocations
• River Murray and Lower Lakes Condition
• National Level Water Policy and Agreements

River Murray Drought Events Calendar

The River Murray Drought Events Calendar provides a list of seminars, field days and workshops for irrigators.

Water Matters

The Water Matters information campaign was launched to keep all South Australians well informed about water issues. For further information, fact sheets and web links visit the Water Matters website at www.water.sa.gov.au

Irrigator assistance and advice

Clearing Fruit Blocks

Guidelines for irrigators clearing fruit blocks outlines elements to consider and appropriate contacts that may assist irrigators in clearing their blocks as a component of a replanting program or exiting from irrigation.

Advice to River Murray Irrigators

The SA Murray-Darling Basin Natural Resources Management (NRM) Board can provide free one-on-one advice to irrigators in relation to soils, soil moisture monitoring and irrigation system operation. The NRM Board offers:

• Subsidies for soil survey which will generate information to assist you in determining readily available water (RAW) in the crop rootzone
• Assistance with trialling soil moisture monitoring equipment to ensure that your irrigation is scheduled in a way that saves you as much water as is possible
• Irrigation system assessments which will assist you in determining your operating pressures and flow rates. This can highlight whether there are any minor adjustments that you could make to your system to save you some water over the coming season
• Free Irrigation Management Courses

The NRM Board's Irrigation Field Officers can assist you directly by providing these services or by helping you interpret information. For a course schedule listing the available training programs, or to discuss any of these issues with an irrigation field officer call: Riverland - Noel Johnston (08) 8582 4477 or Lower Murray - Michael Cutting (08) 8536 4979.

The NRM Board also operates a network of automatic weather stations which provide daily evapo-transpiration data for use in irrigation scheduling and hourly updates of rainfall, temperature, humidity and other climatic variables important for irrigated farm management. Data is updated hourly and is available free of charge online from Automatic Weather Stations at 26 locations across the region. For more general information about services the NRM Board offers, visit the SA Murray-Darling Basin NRM Board website.

Water efficiency plans

All industrial users will be able to access water during 2007-08. However, there is a requirement for industrial users to prepare a water efficiency plan that identifies where they can make water savings in any area of their operations where water is used. DWLBC and SA Water are working with Industrial water users to prepare water efficiency plans for non-process and process water.

For further information, visit the DWLBC and SA Water websites.

River Murray allocation management

River Murray Water Resources Reports

DWLBC's River Murray Water Resources Assessment Report is a new initiative for 2007-08. This fortnightly update includes information about water resource conditions in South Australia and interstate, including information on irrigation allocations and probability of improvement.

River Murray water trade

River Murray water can be traded on a permanent or temporary basis within South Australia, or with interstate water users. View the latest trading figures for 2007-08.

Carry-over water

Minister for the River Murray Karlene Maywald says South Australian irrigators will be able to carry-over all of their allocations not used in 2007-08 into the 2008-09 water year. Carry-over water application forms must be lodged with the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation between March 1 and 31, inclusive. Late applications will not be accepted.

River Murray water restrictions

For information on River Murray water restrictions, and how these restrictions are calculated, visit the River Murray Water Restrictions page.

Water availability and use diagrams

The Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation has produced the following series of new diagrams showing the total amount of water predicted to be available for sharing between SA, NSW and Victoria during 2007-08; how water available to SA for consumptive use is allocated; and how SA's dilution flow is used.

River and Lower Lakes Condition

Forecasts for the River Murray in SA

DWLBC regularly produces salinity and water level forecasts for the River Murray in SA.

Lake Albert Re-connection Project

The Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council has supported a $6 million emergency measure to pump water into Lake Albert from Lake Alexandrina to prevent soil acidification and reduce the risk of environmental damage. Media releases and a series of Frequently Asked Questions are found on the DWLBC website.

Acid sulfate soils

Low water levels caused by the drought have exposed wetlands, areas of riverbank and parts of the Lower Lakes that have been submerged since the locks, weirs and barrages were completed in 1940. This has resulted in the formation and exposure of acid sulfate soils in some of these dried areas, and other areas of the River Murray are at risk of developing acid sulfate soils. See the information sheets containing the latest information and contacts for further information about acid sulfate soils along the River Murray and Lower Lakes.

A map showing the areas most at risk of developing, or already experiencing, acid sulfate soils is available on the CSIRO website.

Proposed temporary weir

A series of fact sheets and Frequently Asked Questions have been prepared on the proposed temporary weir.

Lake Bonney

A series of Frequently Asked Questions about the temporary closure of Lake Bonney.

Boating in the River Murray and lakes

All boaters are warned to take extra care when boating on the River Murray and lakes as there are an increasing number of hazards and snags that are appearing near the water's surface. This is due to the prevailing drought conditions and resulting low water flows into the River Murray and lakes.

The Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure site enables the boating community access to hazard maps and information on ferry services and restrictions, as well as recent boating related information from Media Releases, Notices to Mariners, DTEI Information Bulletins and links to other Government Internet sites.

back to top  

General Public Information

Urban and Industry Water Restrictions

SA Water provides an information service on:

• Water restrictions and conservation measures
• Top tips to save water in your home, your garden or your business

Referral
The SA Water 'Water Restrictions Hot Line: 1800 130 952 is available 24 hours x 7 days.

Alternative Water Supplies and Options

The Department of Health has produced a series of fact sheets and guidelines on options such as the use of alternative water supplies (namely bore and rainwater) water cartage and recycled water use. These fact sheets, developed by the Water Quality and Wastewater Management Sections, have been produced in response to growing public interest from the continuing drought conditions.

Referral
Refer to the Department of Health Drought Package website for factsheets and guidelines on options such as bore water / rain water quality testing, using bore water safely, bulk carting of drinking water, rainwater quality and bushfires, blue green algae, bucketing of greywater, and installation of domestic greywater systems.

Vital data for irrigated industries goes online

The National Agricultural Monitoring System (NAMS) website has been expanded to provide vital information for irrigators – from stream flow data to climatic conditions and water availability.

The NAMS website has become a central source of climatic and production information on Australian agriculture. The extended site will now provide, relevant information for the thousands of farmers who rely on irrigation water.

Over the next few months, producers, industry bodies and government agencies will test-drive it and provide feedback so that it is in peak working order when it becomes fully operational in July.

NAMS is a collaboration of the Australian and State and Territory Governments through the Primary Industries Ministerial Council, and was developed by the Australian Government’s Bureau of Rural Sciences. It can be accessed at www.nams.gov.au

back to top  

Media and Communication

Drought E-News

Drought E-News provides regular updates on Government Drought Response activities. Subscribe to this newsletter and receive Drought E-News regular updates automatically.

View recent Drought E-News Editions.

Media Releases:

• Emergency aerial limestone trial in Currency Creek
  Department for Environment and Heritage - 15/6/2009
• Opening allocation and carry-over announced for 2009-10
  Hon Karlene Maywald MP - 15/6/2009
• Lake Albert bioremediation to intensify
  Hon Karlene Maywald MP - 12/6/2009
• Latest Murray-Darling Basin drought update provides disturbing snapshot
  Hon Penny Wong MP - 10/6/2009
• Murray-Darling Basin suffers through ninth dry autumn
  Murray-Darling Basin Authority - 10/6/2009
• First meeting of new Murray-Darling Basin authority
  Hon Penny Wong MP - 1/6/2009
• Small block irrigators exit grant deadline approaching
  Hon Penny Wong MP - 1/6/2009
• Government accepts advice on Exceptional Circumstances in NSW, NT, QLD, SA and WA
  Hon Tony Burke MP - 27/5/2009
• Virginia recycled water extension complete
  Hon Penny Wong MP - 25/5/2009
• SA Government backs dryland producers
  Hon Paul Caica MP - 21/5/2009
• Opening irrigation allocation likely for new water year
  Hon Karlene Maywald MP - 15/5/2009
• Murray-Darling Basin Authority appointments
  Hon Penny Wong MP - 14/5/2009
• Eyre Peninsula restrictions review
  Hon Karlene Maywald MP - 14/5/2009
• Adelaide to double size of its desalination plant
  Hon Mike Rann Premier, Hon Karlene Maywald MP - 13/5/2009
• Alert for Finniss River and Currency Creek
  Hon Karlene Maywald MP - 12/5/2009

See more Media Releases