Establishment of a working party to co-ordinate deep drainage practices announced

5/8/99
Primary Industry Minister Monty House today announced the establishment of a working party to develop a protocol to co-ordinate deep drainage practices.
The working party will be chaired by Dexter Davies, Member for the Agricultural Region, and will consist of:

• Gordon Davidson Dumbleyung
• Mike McFarlane Doodlakine
• Noel Dodd Kalannie-Goodlands Landcare Technician
• Ken Pech Gnowangerup
• Michael Georgeff Narembeen
• David Hartley Sustainable Rural Development, AGWEST

Mr House said that there was a need to consider the option of deep drainage as part of the landcare tool kit.
"I acknowledge and accept the important role of surface water management and the many landcare practices available to combat rising water tables, however, each practice needs to be utilised as part of a coordinated approach to maximise the benefits," Mr House said.
"It is essential to view deep drainage practices as only one of the tools available and if appropriate it can be combined in the overall approach.
"Individual landholders cannot deal with these deep drainage techniques in isolation and therefore the working party will provide a whole of catchment approach to minimise the impact of disposing of water."
The working party is charged with developing a protocol to coordinate deep drainage practices within catchment areas to maximise any benefits in treating salinity and
waterlogging, whilst taking into account any possible negative impacts of fresh or saline water disposal.
The protocol will provide guidelines for evaluating the impact of deep drainage at a catchment level for farmers, land conservation district committees, drainage contractors, Shires and government agencies.
The working party will be concentrating on the impact of:

• deep drains;
• underground pumping of saline water; and -
• relief wells.

The working party will consult with the community and report their findings to the Minister within three months.
Media contact: Julie Cole 9481 2044