Latest News

Water buybacks decision delayed

The Federal Government has delayed a decision on water buybacks which would retire part of the Murray Irrigation Area.

Gardeners welcome greater watering flexibility

The Nursery and Garden Industry Association says an easing of water restrictions for home gardeners in Adelaide will make little difference overall.

Cubbie Station will sell: agents

The real estate agents offering Australia's largest irrigation property Cubbie Station for sale are hopeful the property will soon change hands.

Flood rain reaches Murray-Darling Basin

A river expert says water from the Paroo River in south-west Queensland is flowing into the Darling River in New South Wales for the first time in 20 years.

Government to spend $3.88m investigating coal seam gas mining effect on underground water supplies

THE Federal Government today said it will fund research to help government and mining companies better manage the risks to ground and surface water systems from coal seam gas mining.

Warning of severe water shortages

Demand for water could rise by as much as 70 per cent across WA and the Perth and Peel regions face serious shortages by 2020, a startling new report predicts.

Extra water boosts Murray's lower lakes

South Australia's parched lower lakes are showing signs of recovery because of increased water flows down the Murray, the state government says.

Langbroek pledges rural policy shake-up

Queensland Opposition Leader John-Paul Langbroek says he will overhaul land and water laws if he wins the next state election.

Qld tops states in irrigation water use

Queensland has used more water for irrigating farmland over the last financial year than any other Australian state.

Nine-year wonder as state's big dry shrinks

THE rain dances must have worked, with NSW suffering less drought than at any time in the past nine years - this month, just 7.3 per cent of the state is declared.

Cold water poured on Wong ABARE report claims

The executive officer of Namoi Water says the Water Minister's claims that a new ABARE report vindicates her water buybacks, are premature and misguided.

Legal advice sought to kick-start water study

The chairman of the Namoi Water Study, Mal Peters, says he is seeking legal advice to release the stalled request for tender document.

Budget criticised for water infrastructure shortfall

The general manager of the Murray-Darling Association, Ray Najar, says the federal budget lacks money for water infrastructure upgrades.

More bore water for Eurobodalla

The Eurobodalla Shire Council in South East New South Wales says it plans to upgrade a water treatment plant to provide back-up supplies to the area.

Report card for Australia's water utilities

Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Water, Dr Mike Kelly, has launched two national ‘report cards’ that tell Australians how urban and rural water providers are performing.

ABC Rural Report - Lachlan may dry up again

State water says unless the next two month are very wet, it's likely there won't be enough water to keep the Lachlan River in central west New South Wales, flowing after July.

Dam to replace poor quality bore water

The Cloncurry Shire Council is considering possible dam sites to supply Dajarrra in north-west Queensland with water.

MP demands Paradise Dam pumping assurance

Member for Bundaberg Jack Dempsey says the Queensland Government must guarantee water will not be pumped from Paradise Dam to solve the state's south-east water crisis.

Radical water concepts floated

RADICAL new ways of managing water in south-west Victoria including licensing and zoning in farming areas are proposed in a draft government strategy.

Just 1.4% of Queensland still in drought

Queensland's big wet has seen drought declarations lifted in 15 shires, with just 1.4 per cent of the state now drought declared.

Siemens signs wind desalination MoU in Australia

Siemens Australia has announced a partnership with Windesal, a South Australia company using technology designed in Denmark, to develop clean technologies and wind-powered desalination plants.

Water management focus of submission

Northern Grampians Shire Council has called for water management to be undertaken for the benefit of regions, in its submission to the Western Region Sustainable Water Strategy.

Water pipeline expansion to cater for growth

SA Water says it is preparing for expected growth on Yorke Peninsula with plans to increase the existing pipeline, pumping and storage capacities in the area.

The hands on the tap

A question: What is supplied "the way nature intended it to be", "to keep your family hydrated"; "keeps hardworking Australians hydrated" and is "the affordable hydration solution for your workplace"?

Keneally defends Water Minister over Tillegra Dam

The New South Wales Premier Kristina Keneally has jumped to the defence of her Water Minister - who was yesterday accused of misleading parliament over the Hunter's Tillegra Dam.

Time to come clean on the cost of water

Victorians haven't been told the full story on how much they could pay.

$300K to target water pipeline study

The Mayor of Tamworth Regional Council says there is enough water in Split Rock Dam to supply Barraba for more than 10 years.

Irrigator attacks water sale process

A southern Riverina farmer has accused the Federal Government of being irrational over the sale of water.

Brumby defends water plan

PREMIER John Brumby has launched a passionate defence of the $2 billion upgrade of northern Victoria's irrigation system, amid claims some of the public money is being wasted.

More water for Murray-Darling, says report

Climate change experts warn that more water needs to be diverted into the Murray-Darling Basin to sustain future agriculture.

Newman defends 5pc rates rise for Brisbane residents

The Brisbane City Council will raise household rates by an average of 5 per cent in tomorrow's council budget.

Water fees soak up more dollars

From July 1 water rates in Lithgow will increase significantly causing residents’ water bills to skyrocket.

Sewerage, water rises held to 5pc

TREASURER Michael Aird yesterday reassured Tasmanians that water and sewerage prices had been capped and would increase no more than 5 per cent in 2010-11.

Australian water reform in the international eye

One of the world's leading water scientists has labelled Australian water reform as critical to international efforts to make irrigation sustainable.

Water system in for revamp

The Wingecarribee Shire Council says federal funding will help it address some of the issues it faces with an ageing water system.

A future with less water

For more than 100 years Australians have argued over the waters of the Murray-Darling Basin. We now know that as we developed extraction industries, we have left too little water in the rivers to sustain a healthy river system.

Price of water to rise after overhaul

THE Rudd government's key infrastructure body will propose an overhaul of the way states charge for water, a move that could result in higher prices.

Water supplies not yet desperate

The Water Minister Graham Jacobs says Perth's drinking water supplies are not getting desperate despite a long, dry winter spell.

Western councils unite to plan for future

Three strategy plans looking at future water management in local government areas in north-western New South Wales have been completed.

Election may delay water plan for basin

CRUCIAL details of the plan to save Australia's most significant river system may not be made public before voters go to the polls in a possible August election, a well-informed source says.

Irrigation water price rise stresses dairy farmers

Dairy farmers are looking for cost savings in coastal NSW, after irrigation water charges jumped 10 per cent with the new season water allocations.

Opposition to using Logue Brook for drinking water

The Water Corporation has reiterated its opposition to using any recreational dam for drinking water.

Rule change leads to record water carryover

Northern Victorian irrigators have carried over a record amount of irrigation water from last season.

Farmers 'irate' as Murray plan delayed

Farmers are not happy with an election-related delay in unveiling the new plan for the Murray-Darling Basin.

Report card gives state's roads and rail a fail, but drinking water makes the grade

The quality of the state's infrastructure has gone backwards over the past seven years, and is generally rated as being only poor to average, a survey has found.

Wastewater to get a second life under city recycling plan

Turn on a tap for a drink, water a garden, or flush a toilet in inner Sydney and the water you use is probably all of the same quality.

Fear over water bill bungle

TASMANIAN households may be flooded with thousands of dollars in water and sewerage bills because of a bungle at the state's new water corporations.

Farmers face water cuts

FARMERS say their crops could dry up if the State Government pursues its plan to reduce their water allocation, improving the health of the Hawkesbury River.

Labor to provide more for water projects

A re-elected Labor government will help more communities across Australia roll out stormwater projects to help secure future water supplies, Prime Minister Julia Gillard says.

Queenslander's pipe dream for PNG water

A Queensland tourism entrepreneur's pipe dream is one step closer to realisation with the launch a feasibility study into piping fresh water 3000 kilometres from Papua New Guinea to Australia.

Joyce accepts water debate, on condition

Nationals senator Barnaby Joyce says he'll happily take up Water Minister Penny Wong's challenge for a debate on water policy, so long as she releases hers.

Faults 'will not' blow out Tillegra Dam cost

OPPONENTS of Tillegra Dam seized on a report they said proved there were fault lines around the site, but Hunter Water denied the problems would blow out the projected cost.

Gillard budgets for Murray-Darling water buy-backs

Prime Minister Julia Gillard says she will sign up to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority's water plan, despite not having seen it, if the Government is re-elected