Drought spreads across southern
NSW. Landholders begin serious lobbying of the NSW Government
seeking the development of irrigation in the region.
1895-1902
The Federation Drought again decimates
the NSW Riverina landscape.
There is growing conflict along river and creeks systems over
water and landholders increase the intensity of their efforts
to have dams and irrigation systems built to secure more reliable
water supplies.
1901
Federation: After considerable
debate about control of the nation’s water resources,
and the use of the Murray River’s water in particular,
the new Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900, Section
100 provided the protection of the States’ rights to
the “reasonable use of the water of rivers for conservation
or irrigation”.
1902
The Corowa Water Conservation Conference
was held in Corowa, NSW, attended by State Premiers and the
Prime Minister. The conference agreed to a Royal Commission “to
inquire and report on the conservation and distribution of
the Murray and its tributaries for the purpose of irrigation,
navigation and water supply.”
1906
NSW begins development of the Murrumbidgee
Irrigation Area.
1907
Construction of Burrinjuck Dam
begins to supply water for the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area
1912
The NSW Water Act is gazetted,
creating the Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission which
is to oversee the development and operation of irrigation in
state for more than 60 years.
1913 - 14
The Murray and Edward Rivers cease
to flow because of severe drought.
1914 - 1919
World War 1: Australian troops
are called to arms.
1915
NSW, Victoria, South Australia
and the Commonwealth finally reach agreement on the sharing
of the Murray Rivers resources and the River Murray Waters
Agreement is enacted. Plans are drawn for a series of
storages which include Hume Dam which will hold 1,360,000ML,
Yarrawonga Weir, Lake Victoria and a series of locks and weirs
along the Murray to enhance navigation.
1919
The first sod is turned in the
construction of Hume Dam.
1920s
The Government begins serious implementation
of its closer settlement policy, resuming land from larger
properties for lease or sale to settlers, and particularly
soldier settlers. However drought and the lack of reliable
water causes some settlers, particularly in the Wakool region,
to abandon their properties.
1925
First water is released from Hume
Dam.
1929
The NSW Government announces it
will begin development of the first large scale irrigation
scheme to make use of water from the Murray River. This is
the Wakool Irrigation District Stock and Domestic Irrigation
District.
1933
Construction of Wakool Irrigation
District begins.
Date. Before a crowd of 400 NSW Premier Bertram Stevens drives
in the first pile to begin the building of Steven’s Weir
on the Edward River, downstream of Deniliquin which will regulate
flows for the Wakool Irrigation District.
1935
Premier Bertram Stevens turns the
first sod in the construction of the Mulwala Canal at Mulwala
in April.
The first water is supplied to
farms through the Wakool Stock and Domestic Water Supply and
Irrigation District.
Construction of Yarrawonga Weir
on the Murray River begins. The weir is to create a pool
capacity of 120,000ML.
1938
Hume Dam completed, to stage one,
with a capacity of 1,540,000ML, slightly increased on the original
proposal.
1939
Yarrawonga Weir is completed.
The first stage of the Berriquin
Irrigation District, which reaches Finley, is officially opened
by the NSW Premier Alex Mair.
Construction begins on the Lawson
Syphons to provide water to the Deniboota Irrigation District. Premier
Alex Mair turns the first sod in August. Work was expected
to take four years to complete.
World War II begins, resulting
in shortages in labour, materials for construction projects, and
some foods across the nation.
1942
Construction of the Lawson Syphons
is suspended.
1940-45
Drought again bites deeply across
most of south eastern Australia.
1942
Experimental rice production began
at Tulla Estate, near Wakool, (pictured right)
This followed a request from the
Commonwealth to the NSW Government and WC&IC to increase
rice production to aid wartime food shortages and marked the
beginning of rice growing in the Wakool District. Rice
production had previously been prohibited in the Murray.
1945
Work resumes on the Lawson Syphons
and Deniboota Irrigation Scheme with the appointment of a resident
engineer.
1946
The Tullakool Irrigation Area is
established for soldier settlement as part of the Government’s
Home Maintenance policy. The Government also creates
subdivisions in other areas for soldier settlement including
land near Blighty.
1946 - 48
Flooding, material and plant shortages,
and industrial disputes hamper construction of the Lawson Syphons.
1949
Work begins on construction of
the Snowy Mountains Scheme.
Construction of Mulwala Canal and
Deniboota Main Canal are complete.
19501
The arrival of immigrants provide
labour for wFloods continue to stop work periodically on the
Lawson Syphons and labor shortages also hamper construction. The
arrival of migrants helps to ease labor problems.
Although the NSW Government is
having trouble raising loan funds for infrastructure projects,
the Lawson Syphons and Deniboota Scheme are high on its priority
list. Construction at the syphon goes to three shifts,
24 hours a day.
1955
The official opening of the Lawson
Syphons is conducted by NSW Premier, Hon John Cahill in April,
with the first water available to 40 holdings in Deniboota
District.
1956
There is record flooding in the
Edward and Murray Rivers. Small pockets of land show
signs of salinisation, as flood waters mobilise salts in the
soil.
Mid 1960’s
The recurrence of drought and water
shortages raise concerns about Murray River water sharing arrangements,
as demand outstrips supply for the first time.
1967
Volumetric water allocations are
introduced in the Area and Districts. Subdivisions
are no longer automatically entitled to additional water rights.
1974
Major flooding again affects the
region. Rising watertables and increasing salinisation
are identified as significant issues which could affect the
health of the landscape.
1978
Construction of Stage 1 of the
Wakool Tullakool Sub Surface Drainage Scheme begins. The
scheme is designed to reduce the levels of highly saline groundwater
in the Wakool District which is threatening the health of the
local landscape.
1979
Dartmouth Dam is completed with
a capacity off 3,906,000ML. Water entitlements are
increased.
1987
Irrigators take a “no pay” stand
against proposed water price increases.
The Government establishes Irrigation
Management Advisory Boards allowing irrigators greater involvement
in the operation of the irrigation supply system.
The Federal Government, NSW, Victoria
and South Australia sign the Murray Darling Basin Agreement
to develop integrated management for the basin’s natural
resources. Queensland and the ACT are now also signatories
to the agreement.
Hydrological modelling predicts
that up to half of the region may be affected by watertables
within 2 metres of the surface by 2020.
1988
Stage 2 of the Wakool Tullakool
Sub Surface Evaporation Scheme begins. Work is completed
by 1992.
1989
The findings of a detailed NSW
Government inquiry leads to the separation of the State’s
regulatory and commercial operation. Irrigators ask government
to consider privatisation.
1991
Landholders begin to develop regional
strategies to deal with rising water tables which threaten
productivity. These strategies evolve into the Murray
Land and Water Management Plans.
1992
Box Creek Drainage Channel was
built, draining land on the southern side of the Mulwala Canal
between Finley and Blighty.
1993
Discussion between local Irrigation
Management Boards and government produces framework for legislation
which will allow privatisation to proceed.
The Barmah Millewa Forest is granted
the first “environmental allocation” of water to
help restore forest and wetland health.
1995
Murray Irrigation Limited is formed
on March 3. The company’s operating licence conditions
include implementation of the $498 million, 30 year Murray
Land and Water Management Plans, with a pledge of $116 million
State and Federal funding over the first 15 years.
1995 - 96
Murray Darling Basin Cap on extractions
is introduced, limiting the volume of water extracted from
the Murray River system to the 1993/94 level of development.
2002
The Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial
Council establishes The Living Murray which aims to maintain
and improve the health of the River Murray System.
Widespread drought affects the
region with record low rainfall and record low water allocations
for irrigation.
2004
The Federal and State Governments
commit to the National Water Initiative, giving irrigators
more security over their entitlements, but also seeking to
expand water trading and provide water allocations to the environment.
2007
Federal Government announces National
Plan for Water Security
