' CASE eTeby: DRAIWAGE OF NANGILEC CoLiGwAN IRRIGATION SCHEME INTRODUCTION fa) () ©) The waterlogging and salinization problem The sedimentary deposits of the northern Victorian irrigaticn areas contain large amounts of salt and consequently the grow: water in this area is saline, containing from 2000 to 20,000 ppm tds. Application of irrigation water has resulted in a rise in ‘the water table, and in many places this rise has been sufficient for it to have reached the root zone of commercial horticultural crops. The presence of highly saline water around the roots ultimately results in the death of these species, and if the riso in the water table is not checke@, it can reach the surface at low lying points on the landscape, killing all vegetation und forming salt pans. . Control of waterlogging and salinization he Water Conmission of Victoria has placed before parliament a $40 million programme for the control of salinity and-drainage of irrigated lands in northern Victoria(1). This propusal, which concerns the Shepparton, Kerang and Sunraysia regions, involves sub-surface @rainage, surface drainage, diversion of saline drainaye water away from the Murray River, financial assistance to farmers tu enable improvement of farm management and regional groundwater interception. ‘The Nengiloc Colignan scheme ‘The Nangiloc Colignan scheme is one of the intesr-1 parts of the $40 the Red Cliffs Irrigation District (Maps 1 and 2) has been iilion salinity strategy. The area which is south-cast of extensively developed by private investment in recent years, expanding rapidly since the 1960's. vines, citrus, and vegetables are grown on land where water is applied by overhead sprays Present plantings cover 3600 ha and could be expanded to 5300 ha under current diversion Licences (3). Salting probiems caused by pana@ @) arise in the saline water table have become apparent in lower parts of the landscape. I£ this is not controlled, it is estimated that eventually about 40% of the productive area will be affected by salt. In 1971 the Water Commission prepared a report presenting an eccnomic analysis for the disposal of sub-surface drainage from this area (2). In 1975 a report on the environmental effects of using any of sight natural depressions and wetlands for the disposal of saline groundwater in the vicinity of Nangiloc Colignan was prepared by the Water Commission (3) (Map 2). The Group Schone As early as 1969 the Water Commission investigated a proposal for the disposal of seline drainage water from an area of 1000 ha in the south eastern section of the Parish of Colignan. In this paper alternative plons for the disposal of drainage from this area, Known as the Group Scheme, have been prepared (Hap 2). Alternative mothods of disposal Four alternative schenes of disposal of saline groundwater for the group scheme are considered viz. (i) Dixect @isposal by pumping to the Boonoonar Basins (ttap 2). (ii) Disposal by gravity via a channel to the Kulkyne basins and ‘then by pumping to the Boonconar Basins (Map 2). Disposal to the Hurray River. (Gv) on farm disposal. ‘The effects of continuing irrigation without any drainage measures are also considered. As data becomes available, other alternative methods of disposal will be considered. Those methods will include a non-structural alternative which would involve changes in land-use, as woll as/ @isposal by means of a de-salinization plan constructed in the area. MULTIOBJECTIVE PLANS (a) Purpose of plans, A number of multiobjective plans are presented with the purpose of reducing salinization and waterlogging of land in the group scheme. (b) Identifying objectives ‘The performance of respective plans is measured against the object~ ives of national economic efficiency and environmental quality. Accounts showing beneficial and adverse effects for each objective of each plan are presented. Equity and social amenity is recognised as the third planning objective, but at this stage accounts have not been prepared for this objective because of Jack of data. (c) Specification of components of objectives }. National economic efficioncy Economic costs and benefits for this scheme have been analysed in detail (2), At the moment these costs and benefits are being revised by the Water Commission and thus the economic + data presented here is subject to alterations (4). (4) Economic benefits From the nationalviewpoint, the discounted present value of @rainage has been calculated at $1-7 million using an interest rate of 8% over 40 years. This figure represents gYoss returns lees all relevant: costs of production, including the capital expenditure necossary to connect to Water Cormission drainage : i eel