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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 - South Australia
South Australia
Extent of irrigation in South Australia
The overall area irrigated in South Australia has remained relatively unchanged between 1992/93 (117,104 ha) and 1996/97 (115,479 ha), with a slight decrease of 1% observed across the State. 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 (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SA | 86,943 | 117,104 | 115,479 | -1.39 |
| Georgina River (SA) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Diamantina River (SA) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Cooper Creek (SA) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Lake Frome (SA) | 23 | 28 | 8 | -72.09 |
| Finke River (SA) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Hay River (SA) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Gairdner | 21 | 3,724 | 110 | -97.07 |
| Nullarbor (SA) | 0 | 1 | 0 | -99.62 |
| Warburton (SA) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Mackay (SA) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Glenelg River (SA) | 194 | 263 | 647 | 146.01 |
| Millicent Coast (SA) | 31,215 | 46,368 | 51,717 | 11.54 |
| Mallee (SA) | 14,801 | 18,839 | 17,661 | -6.25 |
| Lower Murray River (SA) | 25,967 | 24,697 | 26,441 | 7.06 |
| Fleurieu Peninsula | 977 | 1,496 | 1,530 | 2.25 |
| Myponga River | 229 | 366 | 432 | 18.02 |
| Onkaparinga River | 3,249 | 4,564 | 5,129 | 12.38 |
| Torrens River | 1,349 | 1,377 | 1,466 | 6.45 |
| Gawler River | 7,314 | 7,994 | 8,333 | 4.24 |
| Wakefield River | 333 | 919 | 643 | -30.00 |
| Broughton River | 692 | 3,909 | 899 | -77.01 |
| Mambray Coast | 136 | 295 | 34 | -88.67 |
| Willochra Creek | 172 | 577 | 65 | -88.87 |
| Lake Torrens | 1 | 1 | 1 | 857.14 |
| Spencer Gulf | 5 | 1,389 | 4 | -99.73 |
| Eyre Peninsula | 22 | 6 | 12 | 102.33 |
| Kangaroo Island | 94 | 11 | 51 | 360.28 |
ABS AgStats 97, 93 & 84 (concorded to 1996/97 SLA boundaries by BRS)
The total consumption of water for irrigation in South Australia represents 70% of the total water use in the State. In 1996/97, an estimated 819 GL of water was used to irrigate 115,479 ha. This represents 4.6% of the total volume of water used for irrigation in Australia and 5.6% of the total national irrigated area. Pasture accounts for 44% of the irrigated area, grapevines 26% and horticulture 19%. Cereals account for 2% and other crops about 9%.
Since 1983/84 the total irrigated area has increased by 28,537 ha, or 33% and water usage has increased by 97 GL/yr or 13%.
The gross value of irrigated production in 1996/97 was estimated at $841 million, representing 10.4% of the national total.
On average, 74% of the total area within the irrigation water supply systems in South Australia 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| SA | 16,279 | 16,111 | 12,036 |
| Central Irrigation Trust | 11,000 | 11,000 | 10,700 |
| Golden Heights Irrigation Trust Inc. | 807 | 744 | 618 |
| Lower Murray Swamps | 3,572 | 3,572 | 0 |
| Sunlands Irrigation Trust Inc. | 900 | 795 | 718 |
ANCID 2000
Further information
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