1386.0 - What's New in Regional Statistics, Dec 2008  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 03/12/2008   
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ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY


RECENT RELEASES

Water and the Murray-Darling Basin - A Statistical Profile

Water Use on Australian Farms

Natural Resource Management on Australian Farms


WATER AND THE MURRAY-DARLING BASIN - A STATISTICAL PROFILE

Released on 15 August 2008, Water and the Murray-Darling Basin - A Statistical Profile, 2000-01 to 2005-06 (cat. no. 4610.0.55.007) draws together data from ABS and other sources, presenting a range of water, social, environmental and economic statistics about the Murray-Darling Basin. This region produces a high proportion of Australia's agricultural production and uses approximately 70% of the water applied to agriculture in Australia. Approximately two million Australian's live in the Basin, and are mainly employed in retail, health and agriculture. The region is environmentally significant in terms of internationally recognised wetlands, red gum forests, and the river ecosystem itself.

The information about the Murray-Darling Basin included in the publication covers climate; water availability; water consumption; agricultural production; Gross Value of Irrigated Agricultural Production; population; employment; social characteristics; and natural resource management.

The publication covers the period from 2000-01 to 2005-06 and where available, presents data for smaller areas within the Basin. Maps are used extensively throughout the publication.

Key findings from the publication include:

  • The Murray-Darling Basin generated 39% ($15 billion) of Australia's agricultural production.
  • The Murray-Darling Basin contained 65% of Australia's irrigated land.
  • Over a third (38%) of Australia's farmers reside in the Basin.
  • 13% of water consumption in the Murray-Darling Basin was by the water supply industry (mostly lost in delivery systems), 2% by households, 1% by manufacturing and 2% by other industries.
  • The highest agricultural water users in the Basin were cotton (20%), dairy farming (17%), pasture for other livestock (17%) and rice (16%).

WATER USE ON AUSTRALIAN FARMS

Released on 27 August 2008, Water Use on Australian Farms, 2006-07 (cat. no. 4618.0) presents data on the type and area of crops irrigated, volume of water applied, and the sources of water used in agriculture. Data is available for each State, Statistical Division (SD), Natural Resource Management (NRM) region and the Murray-Darling Basin. Some previous estimates are included for 2002-03, 2003-04 and 2004-05.

Key findings from the publication include:
  • The NRM regions with the largest area of irrigated land were the Murrumbidgee (includes ACT) and Murray (NSW), and Goulburn Broken and North Central (Vic).
  • These regions also had the largest volumes of irrigation water applied followed by Burdekin (Qld) and Murray Darling Basin and South East (SA).


NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ON AUSTRALIAN FARMS

Released on 25 June 2008, Natural Resource Management on Australian Farms, 2006-07 (cat. no. 4620.0) presents estimates compiled from the second survey conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics dedicated to Natural Resource Management. Information is presented on natural resource management issues, activities and costs on Australian farms along with data on weeds, pests, land and soil. Data is presented at the Australian, State and Regional (NRM Region) levels.