victorian mallee irrigation development guidelines. mildura farming district. victorian mallee...
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Victorian Mallee Irrigation Development
Guidelines Overview of the Irrigation Development Assessment Process
This fact sheet provides an overview of the new irrigation development approvals process for the Mallee CMA region.New developers must comply with a number of legislative requirements aimed at ensuring new irrigation developments in the Victorian Mallee are established to best practice standards with minimal negative impacts on other people and the environment.
It is up to the proponent to investigate and develop a suitable business case that supports the proposed development. The detail and size of an application depends on the complexity of associated issues.
What do you need to consider when investigating a potential development?It is important that the Irrigation Development Application Form is completed and discussed with the Irrigation Development Coordinator early as part of the preliminary investigation into a potential new development. This form will assist assessment agencies understand the activity being undertaken and the early identification of potential issues. The application will formally register the activity within the irrigation development process.
There are two parts to the new irrigation development process. One or both may be relevant depending on the works proposed. When both are needed they are generally developed concurrently.
The two parts are:
• Works Licence which relates to pumps, pipelines and associated infrastructure to deliver water to the property boundary; and
• Water Use Licence (WUL) which relates to property development and re-development.
Works LicenceTo install a pump and pipeline to supply water to the property, it is a legislative requirement that the proponent obtain a Works Licence issued from the relevant Water Corporation. A Works Licence will not be issued without considering the following:
• A Works Plan - containing detail on siting, construction, operation and maintenance plans;
• Pump site location – there are restrictions on the siting of pumps/pipelines and standards for the construction of pumping infrastructure located on Crown Land. Public Land Managers and / or Land Owners Consent from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) is required for any works on or across Crown Land;
• Planning permits may be required from your local council;
• Developments on the Murray River may also require appropriate approvals from relevant NSW authorities;
• Electricity supply and infrastructure requirements to the pump;
• Route of the proposed pipeline – there may be existing easements crossing roads and freehold properties;
• Flora and fauna – there are various Commonwealth and Victorian Legislation aimed at protecting and managing native flora and fauna species and ecological communities;
• Cultural heritage – The Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 provides for the protection and management of Victoria’s Aboriginal heritage;
• Community amenity – while not a specific requirement, the proponent should consider the affects on recreation and local communities;
• Metering – all water used for irrigation must be metered.There are set standards for meters and their installation; and
• Water Use Licence – the Water Corporation will not issue a Water Use Licence without consideration of an associated Works Licence.
More information is available from information kits available from the
Mallee Irrigation Development Co-ordinator.
Mildura farming district.
Victorian Mallee Irrigation Development
Guidelines Overview of the Irrigation Development Assessment Process
Water Use LicenceIn order to apply water to land for the purposes of irrigation, it is a legislative requirement that the developer must first obtain a Works Licence issued from the relevant water corporation. A Water Use Licence will not be issued for new developments without considering the following:
• Irrigation Drainage Plan (IDP) that includes;
- A map defining the entire proposed development;
- Topography survey and soil assessment;
- Irrigation design and management;
- Arrangements for drainage disposal;
- Biodiversity protection arrangements;
• Annual use limit (AUL) requirements. Irrigators are required to have appropriate amounts of AUL attached to their Water Use Licence. AUL can be purchased from existing irrigators or obtained by the payment of salinity offset charges. Upper limits exist on the collective amount of AUL that can be held within salinity impact zones;
• Crop types – different crops have different water requirements with the planting density also influencing water requirements;
• Soil suitability – soil types are important considerations for crop type and the irrigation system design;
• Irrigation systems must be designed to set standards (Irrigation Australia Limited (IAL) accredited design standards);
• Irrigation scheduling arrangements – the proponent must nominate the inclusion of soil moisture monitoring equipment and/or other appropriate means of scheduling irrigations;
• Developments must include an appropriate contingency plan for the disposal of drainage;
• Hydrogeological report - for high risk developments, a hydrogeological report may be required to ascertain any groundwater risk;
• Flora and fauna - there are various Commonwealth and Victorian Legislation aimed at protecting and managing important native flora and fauna species and ecological communities. Native vegetation cannot be cleared, lopped or destroyed without approval; and
• Monitoring and reporting – groundwater monitoring may be required. Bore construction standards apply.
Agriculture Victoria employs an Irrigation Development Coordinator to provide assistance in navigating proponents through the approvals process for individual developments.
Prospective developers should consider the requirements and matters raised within this overview factsheet to inform their application.
Those who wish to proceed and formally enter the Mallee irrigation development assessment process should complete the following Irrigation Development Application Form and forward it to:
Mallee Irrigation Development CoordinatorAgriculture VictoriaPO Box 905Mildura VIC 3502Ph 03 [email protected]
Almond development under drip irrigation.
Victorian Mallee Irrigation Development
Guidelines
Irrigation Development Application FormTo be filled out by the Proponent/Manager registering the irrigation development activity
Property owner(s) contact details
Company name: .....................................................................................................
Property owners name: ..........................................................................................
Postal address: ......................................................................................................................... P/code: ....................
Telephone: ........................................................................ Fax: ..............................................................
E-mail:.................................................................................................. Mobile: .....................................................
Project Manager/Proponent contact details (if acting on behalf of the owner)
Name: ..........................................................................................................
Telephone:............................................................ Mobile:.......................................................................
Email: ........................................................................................................................................................
Property details
Road or street name that provides access: .......................................................................................................................
Crown allotments: ............................................................... Section(s): ............................................................
Parish(es): .............................................................................................................................................................
Council property number: ........................................................ Municipality: MRCC p or SHRCC p
Responsible Water Corporation
Name of the responsible water corporation: .......................................................................................................................
Has the water corporation been contacted: Yes p No p Name of contact: ..........................................................
Private diverter: Yes p No p Pumped irrigation district or groundwater area (name): .............................................
Development details
Total size of property (ha): ................................... Total size of proposed development (ha): ................................
Past land use (eg cropping, grazing): ......................................................
Nature of development (eg wine grapes, olives, potatoes): ................................................................................................
Maximum Annual Use Limit (AUL) proposed (ML per ha): ..................................................................................................
Proposed method of irrigation (eg drip, pivot, etc) and drainage: .......................................................................................
Are you proposing to re-use water: Yes p No p Is a storage dam required: Yes p No p Size: ...........................
Is a new pumpsite/pipeline sourcing water from the Murray River required? Yes p No p
Victorian Mallee Irrigation Development
Guidelines
If no, how will water be sourced? .......................................................................................................................................
If using an existing pump please quote works licence number: ......................................................................
Proposed timelines (infrastructure, plantings, staged development, etc): ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Is native vegetation removal proposed: Yes p No p Approx Number of trees or Ha: .......................
Do you anticipate further development on this or adjacent properties? Yes p No p
If yes, describe: .................................................................................................................................................................
Is a subdivision required or amalgamation of titles: Yes p No p If yes, describe anticipated requirements: ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Adjacent land usesIdentify the land uses immediately adjacent to the development/property:
p native vegetation pdryland cropping p grazing pexisting irrigation p wetland p public land
pother.................................................................
Drainage detailsProposed method of drainage (eg surface, sub-surface, woodlot): ...................................................................................
Proposed point of drainage discharge: ..............................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................................................................
Crown Land (Public Land Managers consent maybe required for works on Crown Land)Are any proposed works near or involve the use of Crown Land? Yes p No p
If yes, briefly describe the proposed works and show on attached development plan: .....................................................
............................................................................................................................................................................................
Plans (attach a development plan to this proposal)• Attach a general plan of the development area (indicating current and proposed buildings, dams, irrigation
storages, re-use systems, waterways, irrigation systems, planting layout, pump/pipeline, groundwater bore etc).
• Attach a locality map (eg Parish plan, map showing property and adjoining roads with allotment details etc).
……………………………………… …………………………………………. Date ……/….../……
Signature of Land Owner Print Name
……………………………………… …………………………………………. Date ……/….../……Signature of Agent Print Name