WQ Risk
Lowest
Weighting |
Management Practice |
Haughton |
|
|
/ Barratta |
Lower Burdekin / Don
In field sensors are used in an automated system that manages applications to ensure irrigation volume is matched to soil water deficit , and irrigation ceases when tailwater is detected . |
0 % |
0 % |
25 % Which best describes how you deal with irrigation runoff ?
High |
No farm runoff or tailwater is captured |
28 % |
90 % |
Moderate |
Recycle pit / s are not in place across all of the farm . Only some blocks drain into recycle pits . |
14 % |
10 % |
Moderate |
Recycle pit / s capture most runoff , most of the time . Re-use can be limited by pumping capacity at times . |
50 % |
0 % |
Low / Lowest |
Recycle pit / s capture all irrigation runoff , pumping capacity allows rapid re-use of recycled water . Storage is regularly emptied and refilled . |
5 % |
0 % |
Low / Lowest |
Recycle pit / s capture all irrigation runoff AND some rainfall runoff . Pumping capacity allows rapid re-use of recycled water . Storage is regularly emptied and refilled . |
3 % |
0 % |
It is acknowledged that water use and therefore management of groundwater levels in the region is strongly influenced by water pricing , in addition to licensing requirements . Water costs were increased in year 2000 ( Part A and Part B ), which has discouraged conjunctive use of groundwater and is likely to have contributed to the rise in water tables in the region over the last 15 years . Legislative arrangements to restrict access to groundwater for conjunctive water use have also made a significant contribution to the rising groundwater issue ( Shaw , 2014 ). The Queensland Government policy decision referred to as the ‘ one in eight rule ’ limits groundwater use to 1 part groundwater to every 8 parts of surface water applied , ( 12.5 per cent ) ( Petheram et al . 2008 ), limits the ability of individual BHWSS irrigators to address rising groundwater water levels . This has been difficult to achieve without growers having some certainty on investment and water yield , the lack of incentives in the water pricing policy to use groundwater , the difficulty of getting authorisation to use groundwater , the uncertain quality of groundwater and difficulty of extraction in some areas ( Shaw , 2014 ). Energy price increases over the past decade or so , have also increased pumping costs . This price increase has also caused a reduction in the amount of groundwater pumped ; in many cases surface water is gravity fed ( ie no pumping required ) or if pumping is required , then a smaller pump ( compared to that used to lift groundwater ) would be used .
Until the Lower Burdekin Groundwater Strategy was initiated , there have been limited management arrangements that have made a change to groundwater use and a reduction in the rate of rise of groundwater levels . In the Discussion Paper associated with this strategy ( DNRME , 2017 ) it was recognised that it will take a concerted effort to lower the water table because of leakage into streams , dewatering of the saturated zone as well as lowering the water table . The cost of infrastructure to do this and the costs and maintenance for pumping and the disposal of groundwater of poor quality or unacceptable pollutant load and appropriate monitoring will be high ( Shaw , 2014 ). It is therefore essential that any efforts to address the major irrigation management issues in the Lower Burdekin are delivered as part of a larger collaborative and complimentary program of works .
6.1.2 Nutrient management The following points are highlighted for the current adoption of nutrient management practices :
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The nitrogen fertiliser rate is higher than Six Easy Steps and / or > 1.9kg N applied ( High risk ) in 40 per cent of the Haughton / Barratta and 60 per cent of the Lower Burdekin / Don . Approximately 43 per cent of the Haughton / Barratta adopt rates consistent with the Six Easy Steps guideline for District
40