Rural water and irrigation publications
Publications on irrigation and rural water supply, planning and pricing.
Waterlines reports
Overview of recent changes in irrigated agriculture in the Murray-Darling Basin: 2006-07 to 2008-09 - Waterlines report No 64
ABARES has prepared an overview of changes in irrigated agriculture in the Basin for use by the Commission in its 2011 biennial assessment.
Water-dependent ecosystems: the ecological consequences of irrigation infrastructure refurbishment - Waterlines report No 33
Outlines ecological considerations that authorities may find useful to inform their decision making and minimise adverse impacts of infrastructure upgrades on the ecological values of associated water-dependent ecosystems.
Surface and/or groundwater interception activities: initial estimates - Waterlines report 30
Shows that the total volume of water unaccounted for as a result of land use activities outside our current water entitlement regimes and planning frameworks equates to almost one quarter of all the entitled water on issue in Australia.
National Performance Reports and documents
National Performance Report 2010-11: rural water service providers - April 2012
Publishes comprehensive data for 13 rural water service providers across Australia, representing 90% of Australia’s rural network water supply.
2010–11 National Performance Framework: rural performance reporting indicators and definitions handbook - April 2012
Provides detailed definitions for all indicators included in the National Performance Report 2010–11: rural water service providers.
National Performance Report 2009-10: rural water service providers - April 2011
Publishes comprehensive data for 13 rural water service providers across Australia, covering up to 54 performance indicators across key areas spanning characteristics, service, environment and finance.
2009-10 rural water performance reporting indicators and definitions handbook - August 2010
Outlines national performance report indicators and definitions that will be used to compile the 2009-2010 rural performance report, due for release in 2011. The handbook will assist rural water service providers in providing data and information to support the National Benchmarking Framework.
National Performance Report 2008-09: rural water service providers - April 2010
This publishes comprehensive data for 12 rural water service providers across Australia, covering up to 54 performance indicators across key areas spanning characteristics, service, environment and finance.
2008-09 rural water performance reporting indicators and definitions handbook - September 2009
Outlines national performance report indicators and definitions that will be used to compile the 2008-2009 rural performance report, due for release in 2010. The handbook will assist rural water service providers in providing data and information to support the National Benchmarking Framework.
2007-08 National Performance Report: rural water service providers - April 2009
The second annual performance report, it publishes comprehensive data for 13 rural water service providers across Australia, covering up to 54 indicators of performance.
2007- 08 rural water performance reporting indicators and definitions handbook - September 2008
Outlines national performance report indicators and definitions that will be used to compile the 2007-2008 rural performance report, due for release in 2009.
2006-07 National Performance Report rural water service providers - April 2008
Reports the performance of the 13 largest rural water service providers across five states. It is the first performance report for the rural water sector under the National Water Initiative.
Other publications
Impacts of water trading in the southern Murray–Darling Basin between 2006–07 and 2010–11 - April 2012
Examines the impacts of water trading on individual irrigators, industries, regional communities and the environment in the southern Murray-Darling Basin.
The impacts of water trading in the southern Murray-Darling Basin - June 2010
This report identifies and assesses the economic, social and environmental impacts (both positive and negative) of water trading in the southern Murray-Darling Basin from 1998-99 to 2008-09.
Stocktake of approaches to charging for water storage and delivery in the rural water sector - February 2007
Prepared by the National Water Commission with assistance from the Steering Group on Water Charging.
Investing in irrigation - achieving efficiency and sustainability: case studies - March 2006
Assisted the irrigation sector to respond to a call for funding proposals under the Water Smart Australia Program.