non-fictionThis paper describes the water audit which has been carried out in the Murray-Darling Basin. It highlights that diversions have increased significantly since 1988 and will continue to increase unless water management arrangements are amended. This increase in diversion will have an adverse impact on river health. It concludes that the most urgent priority is to define the appropriate balance between water for consumptive uses (i.e. irrigation, domestic and industrial) and that required to be left in rivers (environmental flows) to ensure that the consumptive uses are sustainable and that the rivers remain in a healthy state. This water audit does not attempt to strike the balance between consumptive and instream water use. Rather it provides a sound body of knowledge on which to base the necessary community discussions which will lead to decisions about an appropriate balance between consumptive and instream uses.murray-darling basin, water management, water audit murray-darling

non-fictionDuring 1997 and 1998, the Hume and Dartmouth Dams Operations Review Reference Panel has undertaken a broadly based review of the way in which these two major water storages were operated. The Panel’s terms of reference were essentially to consider how the operating rules might be amended to better address the competing objectives of water supply, environmental enhancement and flood mitigation. This report includes summaries of feedback considered by the reference panel as well as its final recommendations.hume reservoir nsw, dartmouth dam victoria, water management

This photograph was taken at Samaria Farm on Sunday the 5th of September when Wooragee Landcare Group took a bus trip to the Tatong area (near Benalla) to look at land use on small farms. The day trip was organised to observe land use on small farms as well as a social event for the Group. Samaria Farm at the time was a nine-hectare property located in northeast Victoria, near Mount Samaria, 130 km Northeast of Melbourne. The photograph features several pigs believed to be the breed called Large Black. The Large Black Pig breed is a traditional, heritage breed that was first imported to Australia from the UK in the early 1900's. It is believed to have originated from the Old English Hog of the 16th and 17th Centuries. The first reference to them in the Australian Pure Bred Pig Herd Book was in 1912. They are a black pig with lop ears and were prized for their superior milking and mothering abilities and soon became popular with early Dairy Farmers who fed them whey from separated milk as part of their butter making process. They proved economical to keep and, being excellent grazing pigs, were also used to pick up windfall fruit in orchards. Their black colouring also enabled them to withstand the hot Australian summers and avoid sunburn which combined with their hardiness and docile temperament made them highly suitable for free-range pork production, however Large Black pigs tend to get very fat and were not suitable for intensive farming so were often crossed with other breeds for pork production. They are now quite rare as a pure breed having been on the edge of extinction for some time. They were rescued in the early 1990s by a rare breeds farmer in the Yarra Ranges. These days they are also the focus of a small conversation effort with six registered breeders currently in Australia. For biosecurity reasons there are no imports of live pigs or pig semen permitted into Australia. This photograph shows a group of people attending one of the events that Wooragee Landcare Group has organized within the educational framework of promoting best land management practices for all types of land uses and ensuring sustainability, in addition to encouraging community interaction via social events. The Large Black pig breed is significant because of their role in early Victorian farming. They are now quite rare as a pure breed having been on the edge of extinction for some time. These days they are the focus of a small conversation effort with six registered breeders currently in Australia. For biosecurity reasons there are no imports of live pigs or pig semen permitted into Australia. Wooragee Landcare Group is important to local community landcare and environmental management practices.Colour rectangular photograph printed on paperObverse: WAN NA EONA2N2. ANN+ 3 4240/ (No. 17) 370samaria farm, wooragee landcare, wooragee landcare group, tatong, benalla, black pigs, large black, traditional breed, heritage breed, pigs, lop ears, free range pork production, early victorian farming

The Bendigo Environmental Trust was established in 1995 with funds provided by Bendigo Mining NL. The Trust was administered by an honorary Board of Trustees. Preference was given to projects that reflected the philosophy of the Bendigo Region Conservation Strategy, namely flora and fauna, energy conservation, land and water protection and waste management. Two copies of an eight page booklet titled ' Environmental Trust Fund, sponsored by Bendigo Mining NL. One booklet date stamped 4 Sep 2002. Content identical in both: policy; how the Bendigo ining Environmental Trust works; who can apply; areas supported; how to apply; preferred format; limitations of grants; support period; when to apply, where to apply and project documentation required.Date stamp September 2005 on one copy.bendigo mining nl, environment, environmental trust, flora and fauna, energy conservation, waste management, land and water protection, kangaroo flat, goldmining