Critical Events for the Murray Darling Basin
Timeline – The River Murray and irrigation, South Australia
Pre European settlement
1802
Matthew Flinders and Nicholas Baudin explore "unknown southern coast'; mouth of Murray not detected
1830
Charles Sturt's expedition (1829–30) traces the Murrumbidgee River downstream to its junction with the River Murray, and then follows the Murray, reaching the Murray Mouth on Feb 12, 1830
European Settlement
1863 Intercolonial Conference on navigation and management of River Murray; representatives from SA, NSW, Victoria. The River Murray provides the main transport and trade corridor between the States and is particularly important to South Australia and its economy
Self Sufficiency of the Colony / Development of Transport
1887
SA Royal Commission on River Murray to investigate issues of irrigation and navigation reflecting concern that the development of irrigation upstream would threaten the navigability of the River Murray and therefore the SA economy
1888
Irrigation of horticultural crops in the Riverland commenced in a significant way with the establishment of Renmark by the Chaffey Brothers
1894–95
Village settlements established by SA Government at Gillen, Pyap, Lyrup, Murtho, New Era, Waikerie, Ramco, Holder, Kingston, Moorook (all established in 1894) and New Residence (established in 1895). Most of the settlements had difficulty in pumping water from the river; some were abandoned, some absorbed into subsequent irrigation districts, while Lyrup continues today; and despite enormous difficulties further demonstrated that irrigation could be successfully established
1895–1902
Prolonged drought (the Federation Drought)
1897
Australasian Federal Convention sessions in Adelaide and Sydney - River Murray management discussed. SA’s interest in the River Murray was primarily as a transport link with little requirement for irrigation and water supply; hence the emphasis on maintaining a navigable depth in the river and the requirement for weirs and locks. The consideration of irrigation development subsequently arose – particularly after WW1, and for water supply after WW2 following the construction of the barrages and the resulting protection of water quality in the lower reaches, necessary if water was to be diverted to Adelaide.
1901
The Commonwealth of Australia inaugurated on 1 January.
Free trade established between States.
1902
Corowa Water Conference. The Conference was initiated by NSW interests in irrigation development and water security during drought; its importance shown by attendance by the Premiers of NSW and Victoria, and the SA Attorney-General. Led to the Interstate Royal Commission on waters of River Murray for purpose of irrigation, navigation and water supply.
1902
Interstate Royal Commission on waters of River Murray for purpose of irrigation, navigation and water supply. The Royal Commission laid the groundwork and set the framework out for the management arrangements subsequently set in the River Murray Agreement, that endure to today – the waters of the River Murray and its tributaries shared equally by NSW and Vic, with an agreed allocation to SA provided equally by NSW and Vic, the water sharing arrangements to be managed by an independent body.
1903
High Court established.
1904
SA Government begins draining of Lower Murray wetlands near Murray Bridge, Mannum and Wellington for irrigation agriculture – some private drainage of wetlands occurred earlier.
1904
On-going dissatisfaction from SA on the water management arrangements for the River Murray. SA government retains legal counsel for a possible High Court challenge to proposed irrigation projects in Victoria – legal opinions tabled in SA House of Assembly in July 1906.
Research and Irrigation
1907
Development of dried fruits industries at Renmark and Mildura; Australian Dried Fruits Association formed by grower associations from both towns.
1908
SA Government begins to establish irrigated fruit blocks in Riverland. Kingston, Waikerie, Moorook, Ramco and Holder (former village settlements) reorganized. Irrigation is generally organized in district or community schemes as a central pumping system could be utilised to lift water from the River, with channels (later pipelines) to distribute the water by gravity to individual farms. Disadvantages of this approach included the roster supply system and de-pendence on gravity irrigation practices.
1910
Berri established as irrigation settlement.
1911
Further disagreement between the states regarding arrangements to manage the waters of the River Murray. Premiers Conference agrees a State Engi-neers report on management of the River Murray; and for SA to utilise Lake Victoria, upstream of the SA border, for water storage.
1912
Capt EN Johnston of US Army Corps of Engineers employed by SA Government to prepare plan for series of locks and weirs to improve navigation of River Murray.
1913
Construction of Lock 1 at Blanchetown begins.
1914
End of most commercial navigation on Murray-Darling system.
1914
River Murray Waters Agreement on management and sharing of waters of the River Murray signed by the governments of Australia, NSW, Victoria and SA, on 9 September, providing for the construction of a number of storages, weirs and locks; and other matters including the distribution of waters. After 12 years the recommendations of the 1902 Royal Commission agreed and formalised between the States. The Agreement includes minimum monthly volumes to be provided to SA.
1915
River Murray Waters Act (Cwth). Ratifies the 1914 Agreement through passage of legislation by each of the States, and the Commonwealth.
1917
The River Murray Commission established to put the River Murray Waters Agreement into effect, particularly to ensure that each state receives its agreed share of the Murray's water.
1918
Cobdogla established as irrigation settlement.
1919
Soldier Settlement Bill passed in South Australia; soldier settlement at Kingston, Waikerie, Berri, Cadell, Chaffey (Ral Ral), Renmark, Barmera.
1922
First lock and weir completed on River Murray at Blanchetown.
1924
Reports of salinity problems related to irrigation at Cobdogla. Irrigation applications generally exceeded the water storage capacity of topsoils resulting in a large proportion of the applied water draining through the rootzone and perching on underlying aquacludes. The resultant shallow watertables that developed led to surface evaporation and soil salinisation. Tile drainage systems connected to a district or comprehensive collection network were necessary to mitigate this problem – until the 1970s improved irrigation was not understood sufficiently to provide for remediation.
Great Depression
1934
River Murray Waters Agreement amended; five barrages to be built near Murray Mouth to prevent seawater entering river system during periods of low river flow.
1937
Mount Bold Reservoir in Adelaide Hills opens, with major impact on the water supply to South Australia: Adelaide's water storage capacity is almost doubled.
World War 2
1940
Murray Mouth barrages completed to prevent seawater from entering Lower Murray and Lake Alexandrina. SA can now utilize waters below lock 1 without risk of high salinity – commencement of the pipeline construction era.
1944
Morgan-Whyalla pipeline completed supplies Whyalla, Port Pirie, Port Augusta.
Post War boom
1946
Loxton and Cooltong soldier settlement schemes.
1949
Construction of the Snowy Mountains Scheme begins in southern NSW.
1949
Morgan-Whyalla pipeline extended to Woomera.
1954
Mannum-Adelaide pipeline begins providing the first water from the River Murray for Adelaide reservoirs.
1956
Severe flooding of River Murray for several months. Widespread damage to some Riverland irrigation districts and to the Lower Murray reclaimed swamps when levy banks failed.
1959
Golden Heights Irrigation Area (adjacent to Waikerie) established – the first large private irrigation development in SA from the River Murray. Irrigation expansion became possible as new pumping technologies were developed and the power network was expanded. Golden Heights was an initiative of Waikerie irrigators to expand their district under new, private development arrangements. Other new developments by individuals and corporations, of large vineyards and orchards, were being initiated around the same time – partly influenced by availability of electrical power for the pumps, as the state’s electricity grid expanded. The new developments also used new sprinkler irrigation systems, and plastic piping.
1960s
Increasing awareness of escalating salinity and drainage problems in Murray-Darling Basin - reports from various state authorities and River Murray Commission.
1960
SA proposes construction of Chowilla dam to protect river communities and Adelaide from drought.
Rapid technological development
1966
Waters from the Snowy-Murray Development diverted west to the River Murray catchment for the first time.
1967
Construction of Chowilla dam ceases due to construction costs and concerns about salinity.
1967
Major drought, elevated salinity levels in SA cause significant irrigated crop damage (in the 42 months from Jan 1965 to Jun 1968, the salinity level at Morgan was above 800 EC for 31 months and peaked at 1400 EC in Feb 1968).
1968
SA ceases issuing new water licences for irrigation and in effect caps the volume of water on for irrigation (noting that use could continue to increase to the level of entitlement, which as a total was about 500 GL).
1968
Replacement of Riverland irrigation district channel supply by pipelines commences – Renmark, followed by Kingston (1973), Waikerie (1974), Berri (1981), Cobdogla, Moorook, Cadell, Mypolonga and Loxton (completed 2007). The initial driver for rehabilitation was to reduce the management costs as old channel supply systems failed. However, the rehabilitated schemes could be managed so to provide for water on order and ultimately for much improved water supply and irrigation scheduling, leading to reduced drainage, efficient irrigation and increased productivity.
1969
Murray Valley Salinity Investigation (by Gutteridge, Haskins and Davey, published 1970) conducted for River Murray Commission. Recommendations included works to reduce saline inflows to the River, improved irrigation management, and drainage for irrigation districts in the Riverine zone.
1969
Swan Reach-Stockwell pipeline completed.
1970
Tailem Bend-Keith pipeline completed.
1970
SA Government commits to Dartmouth Dam instead of Chowilla but insists on 20% increase in its entitlement (subsequently Hall Government (pro-Dartmouth) falls. Dunstan elected on a pro-Chowilla policy, but Dunstan eventually agrees to Dartmouth proposal. SA River Murray water entitlement increased from 1500 GL to 1850 GL.
1971
Department of Agriculture opens new Loxton Research Centre, making a number of new staff appointments including a new position in irrigation extension.
A decline of health of vineyards in some Riverland districts an emerging problem with no obvious solution.
1973
Department of Agriculture initiates irrigation research in the Riverland. Many irrigated properties exhibited excess water in the rootzone, due to application of water volumes much in excess of the soil water deficit and as a result root systems were in poor health. Drainage by tile drains did not appear to provide a ready solution and attention moved to consideration of modifying irrigation practices. Ultimately this work, and related irrigation district operational and policy considerations, led to a complete rethink on irrigation management, the adoption of improved irrigation practices, improved water use efficiency and improved productivity.
1973
Murray Bridge-Onkaparinga pipeline completed.
1974
Snowy Mountains Scheme completed-provides irrigation water and generates hydro-electricity.
1976
New SA Water Resources Act. Required conversion of water licences to volumetric water allocations (from area base); a fundamental reform towards improving irrigation efficiency, and also facilitated the trading of water between irrigators.
1976
Department of Agriculture advocates for improved irrigation management (in addition to engineering works) as a key strategy to reduce drainage run-off - improved irrigation could reduced drainage and salinity problems, leading to increased farm productivity.
1978
Dwyer Leslie Report on Murray-Darling Basin salinity and drainage. Recommendations provided in this report directly led to the Department of Agriculture setting up of the River Murray Salinity and Irrigation Investigation Program (RMISIP) for the River Murray in South Australia.
1978
Rehabilitation of the Berri-Cobdogla Comprehensive Drainage Scheme – Department of Agriculture report to Public Works Committee argues that improved irrigation management important and that dependence on drainage requirements should reduce.
1979
Some SA irrigation entitlements reduced following conversion from area based entitlements to volumetric entitlements (eg those unused irrigation entitle-ments with no history of development cancelled) – the first reduction in SA of water previously allocated to irrigated agriculture.
1979
RMISIP initiated; themes of irrigation efficiency, salinity management; irrigation extension, irrigation equipment etc. This was a major initiative for the De-partment and led to major change in water management in the Riverland. Programs also developed for Lower Murray Reclaimed Swamps. New extension services developed.
1979
Information exchange initiated with the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture aimed at introducing relevant technologies – learnings from irrigation equipment testing and soils and irrigation field services assisted the development of the Australian Irrigation Technology Centre, the Irrigated Crop Management Service, and salinity management in horticulture.
1979
Noora Drainage Disposal Scheme – Noora to be constructed to accept saline drainage waters from irrigation districts. Department of Agriculture submission to Public Works sets out requirement to reduce the depressing effect of salinity on horticultural production and the need to maximize the benefits from efficient irrigation.
World markets
1981
Murray Mouth closes following low flows during drought period.
1982
The River Murray Waters Agreement amended so the River Murray Commission can take environmental problems, including water quality issues, into account.
1982
Elevated salinity levels (at Morgan, above 800EC for 18 consecutive months, peak of 1400 EC in July 1982).
1982
Irrigated Crop Management Services (ICMS) initiated in the Riverland – a technology development and transfer initiative aimed to improve irrigation efficiency and crop productivity.
1982
Information exchange initiated between the SA Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service Water Management Laboratory at Fresno, California. Officer exchanges assisted development of better estimation of crop water use, district water balances and irrigation scheduling.
1983
Agricultural requirements in strategies for River Murray salinity management set out – salinity ‘dose’ concept of salinity level extent, duration above threshold – and crop sensitivity – still holds today.
1985
Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council established for providing the policy and direction to implement the Murray-Darling Basin Initiative, when Ministers from SA, NSW, Victoria and Commonwealth meet in Adelaide to discuss resource and environmental problems of Murray-Darling Basin.
1987
Murray-Darling Basin Agreement for management of water, land and natural resources across the Basin.
1989
Australia-wide environmental strategy (Landcare) launched by Prime Minister (at Wentworth, at the Murray-Darling junction).
1989
First interstate environmental agreement: Murray-Darling Basin Salinity and Drainage Strategy. The Strategy proposed works to reduce saline inflows to the River Murray and thus reduce salinity levels, also allowed a salinity credit/debit account that would permit disposal of saline irrigation drainage to the River.
1991
First salt interception scheme commissioned (Woolpunda, in SA).
1992
New Murray-Darling Basin Agreement signed. Murray-Darling Basin Commission established to replace the former River Murray Commission.
1993
Murray-Darling Basin Act.
1995
Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council agrees to interim cap on water diversions.
1997
Permanent cap adopted by the MDB Ministerial Council on the volume of water which can be diverted from Murray-Darling Basin rivers by SA, NSW and Victoria.
Focus on sustainability
2000
Commonwealth government $700 million salinity package over 7 years introduced – funding to state governments dependent on meeting federal targets for land clearing and water quality.
2000
Murray-Darling Basin Salinity Management Strategy 2000–2015 replaces former Salinity and Drainage Strategy. A salinity target introduced for the first time (effectively 800 EC at Morgan, SA) along with measures to reduce salinity risks in catchments and a continuation of the salt interception program.
2000
Millennium drought of 2000–2010 commences. Extended period of low inflows (lowest on record in 2006) led to severe economic losses in irrigated agriculture. In 2008/09 water allocations against SA irrigation entitlements were only 18% and did not return to 100% until 2011/12.
2002-2003
Threatened closure of Murray Mouth – SA government project to remove sand and develop management policy.
2003
The Adelaide Declaration – bipartisan (in SA) political support for improved River Murray environmental outcomes for SA – proposed 1500 GL extra flows.
2004
Federal and South Australian governments announce a package of measures aimed at reducing salinity, improving water quality and protecting biodiversity in the Murray-Darling region under the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality and National Heritage Trust.
2004
The Living Murray – first step in water recovery (500 GL).
2007
Replacement of Riverland irrigation district channel supply by pipelines concludes (Loxton) – 40 year program of works finalised.
2007
Prime Minister announces, partly in response to on-going drought conditions, National Plan for Water Security.
2007
Water Act (Cwth) establishes increased Commonwealth responsibility for water management, in response to impacts of drought and ‘over-allocation’ of water for irrigation by the states.
2008
Agreement on Murray-Darling Basin Reform. Commonwealth commences water purchases from irrigators to meet water recovery targets.
2008
Commonwealth program, Water for the Future.
2008
Water Act (Cwth) revised, established Murray-Darling Basin Authority.
2012
Basin Plan (signed Nov 22, 2012). Water recovery target of 2750 GL, to be achieved through water purchases from irrigators, and by removal of constraints to environmental flows. Other policies allow for water trade, environmental water management, salinity and water quality management.
Cartoons
Click the link below to view cartoons by Tim Dendy.
Water cartoons (PDF 5.1 MB)