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In this section you will find detailed information, including national overviews and state and regional level assessments, from the 2000-2002 National Land and Water Resources Audit theme assessments.
Irrigation - New South Wales
New South Wales
Extent of irrigation in New South Wales
The total area irrigated in New South Wales decreased by 22,700 hectares or 2% from 1992/93 (929,755 ha) to 1996/97 (907,051 ha). The extent of change in irrigated area varies significantly across river basins, with an increase observed in some basins.
The area irrigated has been estimated using 2 methods - 1) by aggregating ABS SLA statistics to AWRC Basins; and 2) using ANCID Australian Irrigator Provider Benchmarking Statistics reporting area irrigated in 48 systems nationally.
Because irrigation systems reported by ANCID may straddle several AWRC Basins, area irrigated is reported for all Basins and Systems in each State. The difference between the reported State / Territory totals in 1) and 2) shows the extent of irrigated area not reported by ANCID in addition to irrigation occurring outside designated systems.
| Basin | Area Irrigated 1983/84 (ha) | Area Irrigated 1992/93 (ha) | Area Irrigated 1996/97 (ha) | Change in Area Irrigated 1992/93 - 1996/97 (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | 661,589 | 929,755 | 907,051 | -2.44 |
| Coopers Creek (NSW Part Only) | 1 | 1 | 0 | -98.04 |
| Lake Frome (NSW Part Only) | 25 | 2 | 0 | -99.93 |
| Bulloo River (NSW Part Only) | 26 | 2 | 0 | -99.93 |
| Lake Bancannia | 269 | 148 | 478 | 224.82 |
| Tweed River | 1,102 | 1,657 | 1,251 | -24.50 |
| Brunswick River | 260 | 574 | 408 | -28.86 |
| Richmond River | 3,409 | 4,817 | 5,276 | 9.52 |
| Clarence River | 3,326 | 6,352 | 3,424 | -46.11 |
| Bellinger River | 1,026 | 1,835 | 1,564 | -14.79 |
| Macleay River | 846 | 2,395 | 579 | -75.83 |
| Hastings River | 847 | 1,820 | 1,354 | -25.62 |
| Manning River | 2,999 | 4,215 | 3,669 | -12.95 |
| Karuah River | 1,051 | 957 | 636 | -33.60 |
| Hunter River | 19,826 | 18,929 | 19,999 | 5.65 |
| Macquarie - Tuggerah Lakes | 1,352 | 797 | 703 | -11.77 |
| Hawkesbury River | 10,690 | 11,600 | 10,078 | -13.12 |
| Sydney Coast - Georges River | 1,102 | 573 | 539 | -5.84 |
| Wollongong Coast | 182 | 177 | 141 | -20.34 |
| Shoalhaven River | 538 | 1,862 | 842 | -54.79 |
| Clyde River - Jervis Bay | 167 | 884 | 496 | -43.89 |
| Moruya River | 46 | 89 | 101 | 12.56 |
| Tuross River | 230 | 463 | 510 | 10.30 |
| Bega River | 721 | 1,820 | 1,934 | 6.25 |
| Towamba River | 566 | 1,430 | 1,519 | 6.24 |
| East Gippsland (NSW Part Only) | 220 | 543 | 578 | 6.62 |
| Snowy River (NSW Part Only) | 203 | 664 | 196 | -70.53 |
| Upper Murray River (NSW Part Only) | 563 | 1,724 | 896 | -48.02 |
| Murray (NSW) | 146,747 | 173,714 | 159,350 | -8.27 |
| Murrumbidgee River (NSW) | 264,502 | 340,769 | 348,692 | 2.32 |
| Lake George | 37 | 377 | 35 | -90.76 |
| Lachlan River | 45,704 | 91,423 | 78,122 | -14.55 |
| Benanee | 6,335 | 5,955 | 4,528 | -23.96 |
| Border Rivers (NSW) | 22,594 | 35,734 | 39,597 | 10.81 |
| Moonie River (NSW) | 94 | 186 | 442 | 137.72 |
| Gwydir River | 31,074 | 47,766 | 59,079 | 23.68 |
| Namoi River | 37,806 | 53,812 | 67,646 | 25.71 |
| Castlereagh River | 900 | 2,997 | 1,869 | -37.66 |
| Macquarie River | 37,608 | 82,433 | 55,075 | -33.19 |
| Condamine - Culgoa Rivers (NSW Part Only) | 2,432 | 10,415 | 8,878 | -14.76 |
| Warrego River (NSW Part Only) | 968 | 1,852 | 1,925 | 3.98 |
| Paroo River (NSW Part Only) | 3,260 | 4,039 | 6,443 | 59.52 |
| Darling River | 8,388 | 9,094 | 14,218 | 56.34 |
| Lower Murray River (NSW Part Only) | 857 | 724 | 953 | 31.79 |
| Barwon Darling Management Area | 1,725 | 3,221 | 4,173 | 29.54 |
ABS AgStats 97, 93 & 84 (concorded to 1996/97 SLA boundaries by BRS)
The total consumption of water for irrigation in New South Wales represents 86% of the total water use in the State. In 1996/97, an estimated 8,643 GL of water was used to irrigate 907,051 ha. This represents 48% of the total volume of water used for irrigation in Australia and 44% of the total national irrigated area. Pasture accounts for 27% of the irrigated area, cereals 22%, cotton 18%, other crops 18%, rice 12% and vegetables, fruit and grapevines represent about 1% each.
Since 1983/84 the total irrigated area has increased by 245,462 ha, or 37%, and water usage has increased by 3,733 GL/yr or 76%.
The gross value of irrigated production in 1996/97 was estimated at $2,323 million, representing 29% of the national total.
On average, 19% of the total area within the irrigation water supply systems in New South Wales is irrigated each year. The extent of irrigation in a particular year depends on a number of factors including fluctuating commodity prices, climate, production potential of the land and water availability.
| Irrigation System | Total Area in System 1999/2000 (ha) | Actual Area Irrigated 1999/2000 (ha) | Area Irrigated (10 Year Average) (ha) |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | 1,610,360 | 262,816 | 310,330 |
| Coleambally Irrigation Corporation | 95,153 | 53,773 | 90,000 |
| Jemalong Irrigation Limited | 19,300 | 14,565 | 16,000 |
| Murray Irrigation Limited | 799,577 | 0 | 0 |
| Murrumbidgee Irrigation Corporation | 480,000 | 180,000 | 180,000 |
| West Corurgan | 212,000 | 10,148 | 20,000 |
| Western Murray Irrigation Area | 4,330 | 4,330 | 4,330 |
ANCID 2000
Further information
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