The SA Government have made changed the state’s approach to salinity management, making it easier for farmers along the River Murray to irrigate. 
Irrigators will now have an easier time getting approvals for new irrigation development and to convert to high water use crops. This will also be done while making sure river salinity levels remain suitable for agriculture, the environment and human waters supplies.
There are currently no changes to existing site use and approvals, meaning existing irrigators can continue to use water defined on their site use approval.
The changes have been developed by a review panel set up jointly by the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources and the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin Natural Resources Management Board, and are based on feedback from stakeholders and the community.
As part of the review, an estimated 14,200 hectares of land is available to new irrigation development.
This follows an update to the water allocation policy which gave River Murray irrigators increased allocations in dry years by factoring in the Adelaide Desalination Plant.
SA Water and the River Murray Minister Ian Hunter said the updates were developed from valuable feedback from the community.
“The new approach shows this Government’s commitment to regional development and to supporting the production of world class food, wine and beverages that come from a healthy environment,” he said.
“The policy changes are a win-win − they support regional productivity while also ensuring good water quality for agriculture, the environment and water supplies for up to 90 per cent of the state’s population.”
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