❓ Hon Robin Chapple asks about the extent, cause, and management of salinity on the Packsaddle outside Kununurra. The government acknowledges the problem, outlines contributing factors, and details ongoing research and management efforts, including potential funding from the National Action Plan.
AnsweredQoN 816Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
With regard to Salinity on the Packsaddle outside Kununurra -
(1) What is the extent of the saline area on the Packsaddle?
(2) Is the impact of salinity on the area getting worse?
(3) What is the cause of this salinity problem?
(4) What is being done to address this problem?
(5) Does the State salinity action plan extend to this area?
(6) If not to (5), why not?
(7) Does the National Salinity and Water Action Plan consider this a priority area for intervention?
(8) If yes to (7), who will administer this intervention and in what time frame?
(1) What is the extent of the saline area on the Packsaddle?
(2) Is the impact of salinity on the area getting worse?
(3) What is the cause of this salinity problem?
(4) What is being done to address this problem?
(5) Does the State salinity action plan extend to this area?
(6) If not to (5), why not?
(7) Does the National Salinity and Water Action Plan consider this a priority area for intervention?
(8) If yes to (7), who will administer this intervention and in what time frame?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
24 June 2003
Responded by
Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Response time
14 days
(2) The area affected has increased about four-fold over the last 3-4 years with a visible slowing in the rate of increase this year. Aerial photography from the 1980s indicates some apparent salinity at the larger site at that time, but it is unclear how long symptoms have been present prior to that, or the rate of development prior to the last few years (3) The salinity is a result of rising groundwater which mobilises salt stored in the soil, bringing salt into the root zone of plants. While there are a number of likely causes for the rising groundwater, it is still unclear as to how much each source contributes to the overall rise. Likely contributing factors include: leakage from Lake Kununurra underground to Packsaddle Creek; irrigation activities on the Packsaddle Plain and wet season rainfall. While the rate of increase in affected areas prior to the last few years is unclear, near record rainfall in recent years may have contributed significantly to the recent rapid increase. Conversely, both low rainfall and reduced rate of increase in affected areas occurred this year. (4) The Department of Agriculture, Water and Rivers Commission and CSIRO have undertaken considerable research, monitoring and modelling of both the Packsaddle Plain and the Ivanhoe Plain. Growers are given advice on methods to improve irrigation efficiency. In the northern Ivanhoe Plain a trial is underway examining the feasibility of pumping the aquifer under the irrigation area to lower the watertable. Where the groundwater water quality is suitable for irrigation it will be recycled and used in conjunction with water from the supply channels. (5) While the State Salinity Strategy of March 2000 concentrates on dryland salinity it does recognise the salinity risk in the Ord Irrigation Area. As mentioned above, government agencies are active in developing and extending methods to manage salinity in the area. (6) Not applicable – see (5). (7) The Commonwealth proposed the Ord Catchment as a priority catchment under the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality (NAP). The State Government has accepted the Ord Region as a priority under the NAP. However, given the State support already going into the region and the five-year joint State/Commonwealth Ord Bonaparte Program with an annual budget of approximately $1.5 million, the level of NAP support has not been determined. (8) The administration and timeframe will be determined following a decision on the level of NAP support.
(3) The salinity is a result of rising groundwater which mobilises salt stored in the soil, bringing salt into the root zone of plants. While there are a number of likely causes for the rising groundwater, it is still unclear as to how much each source contributes to the overall rise. Likely contributing factors include: leakage from Lake Kununurra underground to Packsaddle Creek; irrigation activities on the Packsaddle Plain and wet season rainfall. While the rate of increase in affected areas prior to the last few years is unclear, near record rainfall in recent years may have contributed significantly to the recent rapid increase. Conversely, both low rainfall and reduced rate of increase in affected areas occurred this year. (4) The Department of Agriculture, Water and Rivers Commission and CSIRO have undertaken considerable research, monitoring and modelling of both the Packsaddle Plain and the Ivanhoe Plain. Growers are given advice on methods to improve irrigation efficiency. In the northern Ivanhoe Plain a trial is underway examining the feasibility of pumping the aquifer under the irrigation area to lower the watertable. Where the groundwater water quality is suitable for irrigation it will be recycled and used in conjunction with water from the supply channels. (5) While the State Salinity Strategy of March 2000 concentrates on dryland salinity it does recognise the salinity risk in the Ord Irrigation Area. As mentioned above, government agencies are active in developing and extending methods to manage salinity in the area. (6) Not applicable – see (5). (7) The Commonwealth proposed the Ord Catchment as a priority catchment under the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality (NAP). The State Government has accepted the Ord Region as a priority under the NAP. However, given the State support already going into the region and the five-year joint State/Commonwealth Ord Bonaparte Program with an annual budget of approximately $1.5 million, the level of NAP support has not been determined. (8) The administration and timeframe will be determined following a decision on the level of NAP support.
(4) The Department of Agriculture, Water and Rivers Commission and CSIRO have undertaken considerable research, monitoring and modelling of both the Packsaddle Plain and the Ivanhoe Plain. Growers are given advice on methods to improve irrigation efficiency. In the northern Ivanhoe Plain a trial is underway examining the feasibility of pumping the aquifer under the irrigation area to lower the watertable. Where the groundwater water quality is suitable for irrigation it will be recycled and used in conjunction with water from the supply channels. (5) While the State Salinity Strategy of March 2000 concentrates on dryland salinity it does recognise the salinity risk in the Ord Irrigation Area. As mentioned above, government agencies are active in developing and extending methods to manage salinity in the area. (6) Not applicable – see (5). (7) The Commonwealth proposed the Ord Catchment as a priority catchment under the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality (NAP). The State Government has accepted the Ord Region as a priority under the NAP. However, given the State support already going into the region and the five-year joint State/Commonwealth Ord Bonaparte Program with an annual budget of approximately $1.5 million, the level of NAP support has not been determined. (8) The administration and timeframe will be determined following a decision on the level of NAP support.
(5) While the State Salinity Strategy of March 2000 concentrates on dryland salinity it does recognise the salinity risk in the Ord Irrigation Area. As mentioned above, government agencies are active in developing and extending methods to manage salinity in the area. (6) Not applicable – see (5). (7) The Commonwealth proposed the Ord Catchment as a priority catchment under the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality (NAP). The State Government has accepted the Ord Region as a priority under the NAP. However, given the State support already going into the region and the five-year joint State/Commonwealth Ord Bonaparte Program with an annual budget of approximately $1.5 million, the level of NAP support has not been determined. (8) The administration and timeframe will be determined following a decision on the level of NAP support.
(6) Not applicable – see (5). (7) The Commonwealth proposed the Ord Catchment as a priority catchment under the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality (NAP). The State Government has accepted the Ord Region as a priority under the NAP. However, given the State support already going into the region and the five-year joint State/Commonwealth Ord Bonaparte Program with an annual budget of approximately $1.5 million, the level of NAP support has not been determined. (8) The administration and timeframe will be determined following a decision on the level of NAP support.
(7) The Commonwealth proposed the Ord Catchment as a priority catchment under the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality (NAP). The State Government has accepted the Ord Region as a priority under the NAP. However, given the State support already going into the region and the five-year joint State/Commonwealth Ord Bonaparte Program with an annual budget of approximately $1.5 million, the level of NAP support has not been determined. (8) The administration and timeframe will be determined following a decision on the level of NAP support.
(8) The administration and timeframe will be determined following a decision on the level of NAP support.
(3) The salinity is a result of rising groundwater which mobilises salt stored in the soil, bringing salt into the root zone of plants. While there are a number of likely causes for the rising groundwater, it is still unclear as to how much each source contributes to the overall rise. Likely contributing factors include: leakage from Lake Kununurra underground to Packsaddle Creek; irrigation activities on the Packsaddle Plain and wet season rainfall. While the rate of increase in affected areas prior to the last few years is unclear, near record rainfall in recent years may have contributed significantly to the recent rapid increase. Conversely, both low rainfall and reduced rate of increase in affected areas occurred this year. (4) The Department of Agriculture, Water and Rivers Commission and CSIRO have undertaken considerable research, monitoring and modelling of both the Packsaddle Plain and the Ivanhoe Plain. Growers are given advice on methods to improve irrigation efficiency. In the northern Ivanhoe Plain a trial is underway examining the feasibility of pumping the aquifer under the irrigation area to lower the watertable. Where the groundwater water quality is suitable for irrigation it will be recycled and used in conjunction with water from the supply channels. (5) While the State Salinity Strategy of March 2000 concentrates on dryland salinity it does recognise the salinity risk in the Ord Irrigation Area. As mentioned above, government agencies are active in developing and extending methods to manage salinity in the area. (6) Not applicable – see (5). (7) The Commonwealth proposed the Ord Catchment as a priority catchment under the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality (NAP). The State Government has accepted the Ord Region as a priority under the NAP. However, given the State support already going into the region and the five-year joint State/Commonwealth Ord Bonaparte Program with an annual budget of approximately $1.5 million, the level of NAP support has not been determined. (8) The administration and timeframe will be determined following a decision on the level of NAP support.
(4) The Department of Agriculture, Water and Rivers Commission and CSIRO have undertaken considerable research, monitoring and modelling of both the Packsaddle Plain and the Ivanhoe Plain. Growers are given advice on methods to improve irrigation efficiency. In the northern Ivanhoe Plain a trial is underway examining the feasibility of pumping the aquifer under the irrigation area to lower the watertable. Where the groundwater water quality is suitable for irrigation it will be recycled and used in conjunction with water from the supply channels. (5) While the State Salinity Strategy of March 2000 concentrates on dryland salinity it does recognise the salinity risk in the Ord Irrigation Area. As mentioned above, government agencies are active in developing and extending methods to manage salinity in the area. (6) Not applicable – see (5). (7) The Commonwealth proposed the Ord Catchment as a priority catchment under the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality (NAP). The State Government has accepted the Ord Region as a priority under the NAP. However, given the State support already going into the region and the five-year joint State/Commonwealth Ord Bonaparte Program with an annual budget of approximately $1.5 million, the level of NAP support has not been determined. (8) The administration and timeframe will be determined following a decision on the level of NAP support.
(5) While the State Salinity Strategy of March 2000 concentrates on dryland salinity it does recognise the salinity risk in the Ord Irrigation Area. As mentioned above, government agencies are active in developing and extending methods to manage salinity in the area. (6) Not applicable – see (5). (7) The Commonwealth proposed the Ord Catchment as a priority catchment under the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality (NAP). The State Government has accepted the Ord Region as a priority under the NAP. However, given the State support already going into the region and the five-year joint State/Commonwealth Ord Bonaparte Program with an annual budget of approximately $1.5 million, the level of NAP support has not been determined. (8) The administration and timeframe will be determined following a decision on the level of NAP support.
(6) Not applicable – see (5). (7) The Commonwealth proposed the Ord Catchment as a priority catchment under the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality (NAP). The State Government has accepted the Ord Region as a priority under the NAP. However, given the State support already going into the region and the five-year joint State/Commonwealth Ord Bonaparte Program with an annual budget of approximately $1.5 million, the level of NAP support has not been determined. (8) The administration and timeframe will be determined following a decision on the level of NAP support.
(7) The Commonwealth proposed the Ord Catchment as a priority catchment under the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality (NAP). The State Government has accepted the Ord Region as a priority under the NAP. However, given the State support already going into the region and the five-year joint State/Commonwealth Ord Bonaparte Program with an annual budget of approximately $1.5 million, the level of NAP support has not been determined. (8) The administration and timeframe will be determined following a decision on the level of NAP support.
(8) The administration and timeframe will be determined following a decision on the level of NAP support.
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