CICL Update April 2025
Dear Members,
This newsletter provides Members with an update on key water issues affecting CICL and its Members’ businesses.
In this month's newsletter -
Department of Climate Change Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW)
Allocation announcements
01/04/2025
High Security 95%
General Security 39%
Groundwater 100%
(Lower Murrumbidgee)
2024-25 CICL announcement and offers
Member benefit 10%
Additional water offer 6%
Water allocation update – NSW – DCCEEW released a water allocation update on Monday 1 April 2025. It is here. The next allocation announcement will be published at 2.30pm on Tuesday 15th April 2025.
Water Operations Update
The end of the water supply season is approaching. At this stage we are planning to close the river offtake in mid-May to start the annual winter maintenance period.
In late April we will be requesting information on late season water requirements to assist with determining the closure date. In planning late season irrigation needs, members should consider the supply of orders is not guaranteed after the river offtake closure, with water deliveries continuing subject to availability at outlets.
Contact Water Operations during business hours on T:02 6954 4003 or after hours on M:0427 544 269 to report any supply or ordering issues.
Removal and modification of walkways and handrails
We remind customers that walkways, handrails and coverings on and around outlets and regulator structures have been installed for the safety of our employees, contractors and customers.
If you need to temporarily move these items or make modifications, please contact us to discuss your requirements so we can ensure that the site is still able to be accessed safely. Removal or modification of these items without permission from CICL can be treated as intentional property damage/vandalism.
Photo courtesy of Joe Briggs
Advance Notice - End of season annual allocation closure
CICL will close all trades at 12 noon on Monday 30 June 2025
Annual intravalley transfers to and from CICL’s licence - close at 12 noon Monday 30 June 2025.
Annual internal transfers between CICL farms – close at 12 noon Monday 30 June 2025.
Single Farming Unit Accounting – close at 12 noon Monday 30 June 2025
Save the date - Member Meeting 1st May 2025
Zara Lowein, CEO of National Irrigators’ Council will be our guest speaker.
Zara is an engaging speaker, leading advocacy in the best interests of the irrigation sector.
This meeting is a great opportunity for you to listen to and talk to Zara about the NIC’s approach and her thoughts on advocacy for irrigators.
Venue – Coleambally Town Hall
Time – 6.00pm – 8.00pm
Finger food and light refreshments provided
Please RSVP by Tuesday 22 April 2025 to eassistant@colyirr.com.au or T. 02 6954 4003.
Drainage water
Customers are reminded that draining water contaminated with pesticides, at a level above the EPA notification level, into the CICL drainage system is a breach of CICL’s Rules. As part of routine compliance monitoring for our Environment Protection Licence, CICL staff regularly monitor the drainage network and sample water from drainage outlets. If you are unsure of the quality of on-farm water you wish to drain, you may request on-farm water testing.
If you have accidently released contaminated water into the drainage system, please contact Keith Thompson on M. 0439 084 569.
Assets and Maintenance
CICL has replaced a number of bridge guard rails, including installing 150mm blocks between the kerb beam and guard rail. This innovation is the maximum legal clearance, and at these sites the guard rail now sits outside the kerb beam.
There is a high cost to repair guard rails. Members are reminded to ensure they, and any employees or contractors take more care when moving between farms and avoid moving equipment which exceeds the width of road bridges.
CICL is well progressed with preparation for its winter works program during the “shut down” period. Significant works are planned for some main canal regulators, including two refurbished radial gates being installed at the Tubbo offtake and two new radial gates being installed at Grants regulator.
CICL Farewell Bernard Star
CICL Farewell Bernard Star - his last working day at CICL is Friday 4 April
Bernard started out as the Ricegrowers Environmental Champion group leader based in the CICL office. He then joined CICL as part of the Natural Resource and Environmental Department where he was part of the team that delivered the Land and Water Management Program, PIIOP, OFIEP and many other programs. Bernie then went onto work in the Compliance, WHS and Customer Service areas of CICL. Over his 17 years with CICL, Bernard worked closely with members, stakeholders, contractors, schools and universities, government agencies and farming groups.
His commitment to achieve the best outcome for members and the business will be missed. CICL would like to thank Bernard for his valuable contribution and dedication to the members and the business.
New Staff
L-R Vanessa Clark and CEO Julian Speed
Last week, CICL welcomed Vanessa Clark as Chief Operating Officer overseeing our operations. Vanessa comes to CICL with significant leadership experience in operations, engineering and project management, most recently with SunRice in Leeton. Please welcome Vanessa to Coleambally.
CICL is also pleased to announce the appointment of Jaxon Chirgwin, as a Water Systems Operator. Jaxon commenced in February.
Staff Milestones
CICL recently celebrated 80 years of service, with four staff reaching their 20 year milestones .
Well done to Bill Trengrove, Craig Mark, Kathie Okely and Yve Porter (pictured below). It was fabulous for us to acknowledge their individual contributions to CICL and its members.
L-R Bill Trengrove, Craig Mark, Kathy Okely, Yve Porter.
EXTERNAL ISSUES
IPART’s Water NSW and Water Administration Ministerial Corporation (WAMC) pricing determination
CICL has been advocating hard on this issue, and watching closely. IPART has recently advised it will issue a Draft Report in early April 2025.
To access the most up to date information you can subscribe for updates here. The most current information from IPART is here.
NSWIC has been running a social media campaign to elevate the significance of the proposed price increases, an example is below.
NSW Review of Minimum Inflows
The NSW Water Minister has asked the Office of the Chief Scientist and Engineer (OCSE) 'to convene an independent expert panel to review a draft method to review the minimum inflows used in making available water determinations (AWDs) in regulated water sources.’ The focus is on the method the NSW Department of Climate Change Energy the Environment and Water (the Department) uses to operationalise climate risk into AWD decision making.
The announcement is found here and the terms of reference for the panel is here.
The method is being trialled in the Border Rivers and the Murrumbidgee.
This is an important piece of work with the potential for impacts on general security allocations. The outcomes of this work are expected to be reflected in renewed Water Sharing Plans.
CICL along with other Murrumbidgee water users has requested that the Department consult effectively with water users about this potential new method.
Natural Resources Commission (NRC) Review of the Water Sharing Plan (WSP) for the Murrumbidgee Regulated River Water Source 2016
The NRC has released its review of our Water Sharing Plan, with the Plan due for replacement or extension by 1 July 2026. The NRC is recommending it is replaced.
The documents released by the NRC are here. The review was completed in September 2024, the Minister responded to the final report here in November. The report has now only been released publicly, giving government five months to consider the 29 recommendations.
A summary is here. Some of the recommendations have the potential to impact on the reliability of irrigators’ water entitlements, with the NRC’s approach biased towards the environment. The approach lacks proper consideration of social and economic issues and is in isolation from the significant changes in water availability because of the Murray Darling Basin Plan.
The object of the Natural Resources Commission Act 2003 (NSW) is:
The object of this Act is to establish an independent body with broad investigating and reporting functions for the purposes of establishing a sound evidence basis for the properly informed management of natural resources in the social, economic and environmental interests of the State.
CICL’s view is the NSW Government needs to commence immediately an effective process for the replacement of the WSP, which provides irrigators with genuine opportunities to provide input.
Recent experiences with the unregulated Water Sharing Plans demonstrate the Department’s consultation processes need significant improvement.
Water Sharing Plan Changes
The Department recently advised Murrumbidgee stakeholders it intends to make amendments to the WSP to provide a new 14GL Special Purpose Access Licence for Riverina County Council because of PFAS contamination of the groundwater. Other changes relate to allowing trade between the ACT and the regulated Murrumbidgee.
The Department is not consulting; it is telling us the changes it will be making. Both changes are modelled to have an impact on water availability to general security water entitlement holders.
CICL is considering its response to this decision.
Government Legislative Assembly Inquiry
An inquiry has been established to look into the impacts of the Water Amendment (Restoring our Rivers) Act 2023 on regional communities. The Committee responsible is a Legislative Assembly Committee on Investment, Industry and Regional Development, chaired by Member for Barwon, Roy Butler (Independent).
The Terms of Reference are wide ranging, with submissions due on Monday 14 April 2025. CICL will make a submission including the key points that the NSW Government should focus on minimising impacts of the Restoring our Rivers Act, and stop rolling out new projects which threaten the reliability of NSW general security water entitlements. It is our view that entitlement holders are already busy enough dealing with the actions in the Murray Darling Basin Plan.
NSW Sustainable Communities Program
The NSW Sustainable Communities Program opened for applications for the first $15M (Early Investment Round) on Thursday 13 March 2025.
Organisations eligible for the Early Investment Round can apply for $50,000 to $1 million for programs, initiatives, and capital investment projects and between $250,000 and $4 million for infrastructure projects. Funding will be rolled out until the $15 million is exhausted. More information is here. The Early Investment Round has relatively open criteria and will be granted on a first-in basis until funds are committed. On farm works are not eligible.
Lowbidgee tour
CICL directors, staff and members recently spent a full day visiting the mid-Murrumbidgee wetlands and Lowbidgee wetlands. Our day was an excellent opportunity to improve our understanding of delivery of environmental water in the Murrumbidgee, including outcomes being achieved and the interaction with delivery of water to meet irrigation orders. More information about environmental watering in the Murrumbidgee is here.
Commonwealth starts the review of the Snowy Water Inquiry Outcomes Implementation Deed (SWIOID)
The Department of Climate Change Energy Environment and Water (the Department) has announced the Terms of Reference for the review of the Snowy Water Inquiry Outcomes Implementation Deed (SWIOID) here. The review is to commence no later than April 2025 and be finalised no later than 30 June 2027. The focus is on the Upper Murrumbidgee. The Commonwealth is involving the ACT, even though they are not parties to the SWIOID. The initial scope is the upper Murrumbidgee, noting it may be expanded.
CICL is most interested in how this review will include the voices of downstream irrigators and address any potential impacts on the reliability of NSW general security water entitlements in the Murrumbidgee. More information is here.
National Irrigators’ Council approves Basin Plan Policy Positions
At National Irrigators’ Council General Meeting in mid-March three Basin Plan Policy Positions were approved, these can be accessed here. In a well-attended meeting, members heard first-hand about the NSW Government’s actions to avoid fish deaths in the Menindee Lakes and the MDBA’s operations review of the Menindee Lakes.
The political landscape and the importance of the irrigation sector being united with a strong focus on ensuring access to water is not eroded by government were key issues for the meeting.
NIC: Pictured Jenny McLeod (Chair) Zara Lowein (CEO) Christine Freak (Policy Manager) and Michael Murray (Treasurer).
Conclusion
It seems the number of external issues facing the productive irrigation sector continues to grow, despite the significant increase in the volume of water available to improve the environment.
In what is a complex and challenging external environment, I am confident the irrigation sector is using its combined resources and skills to ensure our views are heard and the industry is taking proactive steps.
Our tour of the mid-Murrumbidgee and LowBidgee was a great opportunity to build our knowledge and understanding of the objectives of environmental water holders, and how they make decisions in our regulated system. Directors and staff valued the opportunity to talk at length with the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder staff including Hilary Johnson, Director Environmental Water Holdings, Southern Basin, Local Engagement Officer Michele Groat and Erin Lenon, Murrumbidgee Delivery.
CICL is anxious to read IPART’s draft report for both WaterNSW and WAMC charges effective from 1 July 2025.
We have invested significant time and effort in our submission and communications, challenging the basis and justification for the proposed increases. To what extent IPART agree will become clearer when their draft report is released in early April.
It will be important that, when the draft report is released, IPART hears directly from irrigators, not just organisations like CICL.
We are fortunate to have Zara Lowein CEO of National Irrigators’ Council attending our next member meeting in May. This will be a great opportunity for members to meet and talk with Zara about her work on behalf of the industry.
I encourage you to attend and RSVP (we need your RSVP for catering) and I look forward to seeing you there.
The member meeting in May will also be an opportunity for you to meet Vanessa Clark, our newly appointed Chief Operating Officer. Our investment in quality people will continue to improve overall service to customers.
Julian Speed
CEO
