Media release - 18 January
2010 - Climate change is expected to reduce
both rainfall and runoff in Tasmania by
2030, a report into Tasmania’s future water
availability has today found.
The CSIRO Tasmania Sustainable
Yields report - a snapshot of the expected
impacts on Tasmania’s water availability
into the future – was released today in
Hobart by the Minister for Climate Change
and Water, Senator Penny Wong.
The 18-month project,
undertaken in partnership with the Tasmanian
Government, looked at the impacts of climate
variability and expected climate change,
catchment development and changing groundwater
extraction on the availability and use of
water resources in Tasmania.
Surface water and groundwater
across almost 50,000 sq km of northern,
eastern and central Tasmanian – approximately
72 per cent of Tasmania – was considered
for the report.
The report found:
The recent climate (1997-2007)
had been significantly drier than the historical
climate.
By 2030, the projected
impact of climate change on rainfall will
be a 3 per cent reduction under a median
future climate (ranging from an increase
of 1 to a decrease of 7 per cent under wet
and dry extremes).
The reduction in rainfall
is projected to lead to a 5 per cent reduction
in runoff under a median climate (ranging
from an increase of 1 to a decrease of 10
per cent under wet and dry extremes).
Of 150 key ecological
sites identified in this project, 71 are
potentially impacted by changes in the flow
regime due to the recent climate and its
significant drought conditions.
Senator Wong said the
findings of the report were critical to
the development of water management initiatives
for Tasmania.
“The Australian Government
is working with all states and territories
to prepare for the impacts of climate change,
including reduced water availability,” Senator
Wong said.
“We know from the Bureau
of Meteorology’s 2009 Annual Climate Statement
that 2009 was the second hottest year in
Australia on record and finished off the
hottest decade in Australian history.
“The project findings
will provide critical information needed
to underpin statutory water management planning
in Tasmania and to assist in developing
sustainable irrigation proposals.’’
The report is one in
a series of sustainable yields projects
commissioned by the Australian Government,
following on from the Murray-Darling Basin
Sustainable Yields project. The Australian
Government provided $4.2 million under its
Water for the Future plan for the project.
.
Regional briefings on
the report will be held in Hobart (Jan 20),
Burnie (Jan 21) and Launceston (Jan 22).
The full report is available at: www.csiro.au/partnerships/TasSY.html.
+ More
Commonwealth welcomes
additional water for the lower lakes
Media release - 19 January
2010 - South Australia’s Lower Lakes will
benefit from 148 gigalitres of northern
Basin floodwater, following an agreement
between the Australian Government and Murray-Darling
Basin states.
The Minister for Climate
Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, said
the heavy rains in northern NSW had provided
an opportunity to make a real difference
to the Lower Lakes.
“The Lower Lakes have
been in desperate need of additional flows,’’
Senator Wong said.
“This water, combined
with existing environmental water commitments
to the Lower Lakes, will reduce the risk
of acidification and improve habitat for
many waterbirds and other species.’’
Senator Wong said the
decision of all Basin states to cooperate
in the agreement was very welcome and showed
that states could come together in the best
interests of the Basin.
“This agreement is a
further example of Commonwealth and state
governments working together in the national
interest,’’ Senator Wong said.
“It also demonstrates
that the Basin Reforms initiated by the
Rudd Government, and agreed to by Basin
States at COAG in 2008, are working well.’’
This water includes
48 GL from allocations to The Living Murray
initiative directly arising from the recent
flooding.
+ More
Extra 20 billion litres
to benefit lower lakes
Media release - 20 January
2010 - A further 20 billion litres of environmental
water will flow down the Lower Lakes, following
a decision by the independent Commonwealth
Environmental Water Holder.
The Minister for Climate
Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, said
the 20 billion litres was a welcome addition
to the 148 billion litres of Darling River
floodwaters announced yesterday.
Senator Wong said the
Commonwealth expected the additional water
to start flowing into the Lower Lakes from
March, providing welcome relief to the ailing
Lower Lakes.
“All-up, these two decisions
will provide almost 170 billion litres of
much-needed water to the Lower Lakes,’’
Senator Wong said.
Previously the South
Australian Government had committed 170
billion litres to return this year to the
Lower Lakes Ramsar wetland complex near
the mouth of the Murray River. The additional
flows of 168 billion litres represents a
near doubling in extra water for the Lower
Lakes.
“These decisions will
deliver nearly 340 billion litres of water
to reduce the risk of acidification and
improve habitat for waterbirds and other
species,’’ Senator Wong said.
“These flows will also
benefit the River Murray by improving water
quality and reducing the threat of further
riverbank slumping.’’
Senator Wong said, over
the last four years, the average amount
of water flowing into the River Murray equated
to less than one-quarter of the long-term
annual average.
“This record breaking
drought, which continues across the southern
Basin, has meant that we haven’t had enough
water in the system to do everything that
we want,’’ Senator Wong said.
“That’s why these new
announcements to provide a total of 170
billion litres in additional flows to the
Lower Lakes are so important.’’
In addition to securing
additional flows to the Lower Lakes, the
CEWH has also decided to deliver a further
26.2 GL to five sites: 8.2 GL to Chowilla
Floodplain and Katarapko wetlands in South
Australia, and 18 GL to Lake WSource: Australian
- Department of the Environment and Heritage
(http:// www.environment.gov.au)
