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Murray-Darling Basin support

If you have been affected by reduced water allocations and the drought, you’re not alone.

The Australian Government has been supporting irrigators in the Murray-Darling Basin affected by reduced water allocations through the following measures:

Murray-Darling Basin Small Block Irrigators Exit Grant Package

Applications for the small block irrigators exit grant package closed on 30 June 2009.

Exit grant applications that were lodged before the closing date with Centrelink and offers to sell water entitlements that were lodged with the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts are being processed.


Small block irrigators in the Murray-Darling Basin affected by drought and climate change were able to;get help to leave irrigation through the Murray-Darling Basin Small Block Irrigators Exit Grant while remaining on their farms.

An exit grant of up to $150,000 was available to eligible farmers who wished to leave irrigation. In addition, a grant of up to $20,000 was available for removal of permanent plantings and other production-related infrastructure and a grant of up to $10,000 was available for advice and training.

As an irrigator, you may have been eligible for an exit grant if you:

  • owned up to 40 hectares of irrigated farmland in the Murray-Darling Basin
  • had at least 10 megalitres of entitlements to extract water from a watercourse that met the criteria for the 'Restoring the Balance in the Murray-Darling Basin' program, and were willing to sell to the Commonwealth.

The full set of eligibility criteria is available in the program guidelines below.

Applications to Centrelink for the exit grant package closed on 30 June 2009.

Offers to sell water entitlements to the Commonwealth must have been made to the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA), in a separate process, before 30 June 2009.

For more information:

The Small Block Irrigators Exit Grant Package is a joint DAFF and DEWHA program.

Survey of small block irrigators in the Murray-Darling Basin

The South Australian Centre for Economic Studies completed a survey of 39 small block irrigators in the Murray Darling Basin in March 2009.  The report provides the department with baseline information for policy development.

The report is available below:

Irrigation Industries Workshop Program

Irrigators have been provided access to information sessions to assist them to manage their irrigation enterprises with reduced water allocations. These information sessions were delivered across the Murray-Darling Basin and provided irrigators with practical and expert advice on things such as improving water use efficiency, minimising production losses and improving production planning. They have also provided advice on what changes irrigators may need to consider to manage this water shortage crisis. The program concluded on 30 June 2009.

The workshops were delivered by industry associations and research and development corporations. Links to their websites and further information is available below:

Irrigation management grants

Applications for the Murray-Darling Basin Irrigation Management Grants program closed on 31 March 2009. Centrelink are no longer accepting new applications.

Grants of up to $20,000 (GST exclusive) were made available to Murray-Darling Basin irrigators to help them undertake a range of approved activities that address reduced water allocations and improve on-farm practices to maximise production from the water that is available.

Recipients had until 30 June 2009 to spend the grant.However, for recipients that have been paid up-front and that can demonstrate difficulty with complying with the requirement to spend funds by 30 June 2009, and can demonstrate they are making the necessary arrangements as soon as is reasonably practicable to implement the activity, the deadline to undertake eligible activities will be 31 December 2009.

Irrigators could select from the following activities:

  • piping, troughs and associated activities for stock and domestic water
  • fixed water charges
  • sinking/extending/refurbishment of bores (and pumps)
  • pruning activities to minimise the impact of low water allocations
  • reconfiguring irrigation systems
  • equipment replacement to maintain irrigation systems (including computer software, piping and pumps)
  • costs associated with implementing water efficient crop options
  • laser leveling.

Assistance will not be paid for:

  • the purchase or leasing of vehicles
  • purchasing water or fodder
  • refinancing existing loans
  • accounting fees
  • the purchase or service of assets not directly involved in the operation of the farm enterprise.

For further details on the grants for improved water management, call the Murray-Darling Basin assistance and referral line on 1800 050 015, download the fact sheet or view the frequently asked questions.

The guidelines for the Murray-Darling Basin Irrigation Management Grants provide details about eligibility requirements.

All farmers, including irrigators, living in Exceptional Circumstances (EC) declared areas are eligible to apply for a range of assistance measures, including income support payments and interest rate subsidies. You may also wish to download a map of the Murray-Darling Basin PDF Icon PDF [843kb], including Exceptional Circumstances areas.

To provide additional support to those living in the Murray-Darling Basin a dedicated unit has been set up in the region. There are also additional Rural Financial Counsellors, Centrelink Rural Service Officers and social workers available in the Basin.

For more information on the Murray-Darling Basin initiative visit the Department of Human Services website.



Last reviewed: 14 Oct 2009
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