What is an on-farm storage?

An on-farm storage is an above or below ground storage, or combination of both, that is separate from, but connected to the farm recycle system.

How would a storage benefit my farm?

On-farm storages effectively increase the supply of water available to your farm by storing rainfall run-off and off-allocation flows for later use. This additional supply can be used to increase the rate of application or irrigate previously uncommandable land. Storages also allow increased flexibility of irrigation management on farm.

What funding assistance is available for on-farm storages?

Incentives are available for on-farm storages completed before December 2014.  For each farm the incentive offered is 80% of the total cost of the storage up to a maximum of $17.000.

Can I claim a rebate for an existing storage?

If you have an existing on-farm storage that was completed after March, 1994, you may be eligible for a retrospective incentive. Storages completed before March, 1994 are not eligible for the incentive.

What are the requirements for an on-farm storage to be eligible for funding assistance?

• Complete an EM31 survey of your farm.
• LWMP compliant WFP.
• Have a holding capacity of 8mm per irrigable hectare in addition to the recycle system storage capacity of 2mm per irrigable hectare except where more than 60 hectares of summer row crop is grown per year, in which case a holding capacity of 4mm per hectare is required for the recycle system.
• Be investigated and designed by a suitably qualified surveyor / designer, in accordance with guidelines contained in “On-Farm Storages: Guidelines for siting, design, construction and management”, produced by NSW Agriculture, 1999.
• Be located on a suitable soil type such as “Rice Suitable” soils, so as to restrict seepage / leakage rates to less than 1mm per day. At least 2 metres of continuous medium to heavy clay is required below the bed of the storage. Where soil types are unsuitable, a suitably qualified surveyor / designer must specify works to restrict seepage to less than 1mm per day. If permeable soils are encountered during construction of the storage, work must stop immediately and the LWMP Project Manager notified. He/she will direct whether further soil investigation is required and what action is required for further construction.
• Be designed to a satisfactory standard. The drawings should provide plan and cross section details of the pipework and pumping arrangements, including type, size and levels of structures, and a summary table of cut and fill volumes, compacted bank volumes and bank lengths.
• Have no detrimental impact on the level and quality of the regional groundwater table.
• Be connected to the farm’s irrigation supply and recycle systems.
• Be served by a suitable pump installation.
• Comply with the planning requirements of Jerilderie or Murrumbidgee Shire Local Environmental Plans, State Environmental Planning Policy No 52, and the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. This may require that a Development Application be made to the responsible Shire Council. Also Workcover requirements should be considered.
• The landholder must complete a CICL approved education program.

How can I apply for the full on-farm storage funding incentive?

To apply for Coleambally Irrigation’s funding incentive, complete the following steps:

• Complete the Application Form (see below).
• Construct the storage, being careful to retain all receipts and associated documents.
• Payments may be made up-front to the landholder with an agreement from the landholder that the system will be completed and in full working order within a one year period.
• If the works are not completed within the due time, the incentive amount will be refunded to CICL and interest will be charged at the company rate.

How do I apply for a funding incentive for an existing on-farm storage?

To apply for Coleambally Irrigation’s retrospective funding incentive (for a storage completed after March, 1994):

• Complete the Application Form (see below).

On Farm Storages