In a Mayoral Minute at council’s meeting on March 17, Federation Council Mayor Pat Bourke referred to the closer working relationship “going forward including on possible projects”.
“Council has regularly engaged with the Board of Management to assist in their advocacy for water availability, as for several years, they have had zero allocation,” Mayor Bourke said.
“The NSW Government was able to, through the efforts also of Local State Member for Albury, Justin Clancy, and their own advocacy and council’s efforts, allocate 3,000 mega litres to allow for a stock and domestic run late last year to fill dams.”
To further raise awareness of the issues facing the district, Federation Council also invited West Corurgan representatives to present to the recent Murray Darling Association Region 1 Annual General Meeting, held at Corowa late in 2019.
“This proved to be a very informative presentation by General Manager Andrew Kelly to the Region 1 attendees. Councillors and staff met with members of the Board including the Chair James Nixon, and their General Manager at Oaklands on Tuesday, 10 March 2020.”
Corurgan Private Irrigation District serves approximately 300 properties covering an area of some 212,000 hectares, between the Murray River and the Billabong Creek. The area is bounded by the towns of Corowa, Daysdale, Oaklands, Jerilderie, Berrigan, Savernake and Rennie.
The district covers a fair portion of Federation Council, and parts of the Murrumbidgee and Berrigan Council areas.
The Board of Management has an annual water allocation of 80,828 mega litres delivered to landholders via 565 kilometres of open channel.
The scheme was officially opened on April 12, 1969. The scheme’s 50th anniversary was celebrated at its original pumps site in Corowa on April 12, 2019.
Federation Council is to receive a further report following the latest meeting on this matter, and as and when any other opportunities arise regarding greater collaboration.
