- State Government commits $2 million for upgrades to improve accuracy of water monitoring in the Warren-Donnelly catchment
- Real-time data will help growers plan for the impacts of climate change and strengthen community awareness of regional water flows
- Upgrades part of State Government's $15.3 million investment for projects to improve water security for the horticulture industry in the catchment
Communities in the Manjimup-Pemberton region will soon benefit from water monitoring upgrades that will support public access to real-time streamflow data and improve the accuracy of collected water data.
The investment will also assist growers as they adapt to the impacts of climate change, and seek strengthened understanding of streamflow trends and rainfall runoff.
The $2 million in upgrades address key recommendations from the State Government's Southern Forests Irrigation Reference Group, which called for increased water monitoring to improve confidence in streamflow data and catchment modelling.
This funding commitment forms part of a $15.3 million commitment by the Cook Government to improve water security for horticultural growers in Manjimup-Pemberton.
The funding will enable upgrades of up to 19 existing streamflow gauging stations with new technology to enable access to real-time river height and streamflow data.
The proposal will also repair and reinstate water monitoring infrastructure and instrumentation at the Record Brook gauging station and other research catchments, to strengthen streamflow monitoring in forested areas.
Two new water monitoring stations will also be installed within cleared agriculture catchments, as well as 20 new farm dam monitoring stations, to boost scientific understanding of water use and capture from farm dams.
The proposal will also review and upgrade existing groundwater monitoring infrastructure across the Warren-Donnelly catchment.
This announcement follows the recent Cook and Albanese Government's commitment of over $8 million in funding for a new Doppler radar station to deliver high-quality weather data for the Manjimup-Pemberton region, to provide local growers with detailed weather information.
As stated by Water Minister Simone McGurk:
"We are listening to the community, and we agree that having accurate, real-time monitoring data will help our growers to manage water resources in the Warren-Donnelly catchments and plan for the impacts of climate change.
"This investment forms part of a $15.3 million State Government commitment to improve water security for the horticulture industry in the Manjimup-Pemberton region - the fruit bowl of the South West.
"These upgrades will improve the accuracy of water monitoring data and along with other initiatives, such as the new Doppler radar station, will provide even more assistance to help growers plan for the future."
As stated by Regional Development Minister Don Punch:
"The Cook Government is committed to supporting regional industries and assisting in developing sustainable solutions.
"Water security is essential to horticultural production in the Manjimup-Pemberton region. This investment will help build our knowledge and provide our growers with greater certainty and transparency in the management of the important resource.
"This investment complements the Government's investment in on-farm water efficiency as part of the Southern Forest Irrigation Support Scheme."
As stated by Warren-Blackwood MLA Jane Kelsbie:
"We know there is considerable interest in streamflow data from growers in this catchment, with more than 60 people attending a community presentation on streamflow monitoring in Manjimup this August.
"This newmonitoringtechnology willensure greater accuracy of water monitoring in Warren-Donnelly.
"This investment demonstrates the Cook Government's commitment to securing sustainable water resources for the future benefit of the horticulture industry."
