The Federal Minister for Agriculutre, Senator Joe Ludwig, has announced that following the advice from the National Rural Advisory Council (NRAC), an Exceptional Circumstance (EC) for the River Murray and Lower Lakes Corridor will expire as scheduled on 31 March.

 

NRAC considered that improved seasonal conditions and irrigation allocations in the River Murray and Lower Lakes Corridor area gave producers the opportunity to return to typical farm management practices.
 
NRAC advised that it considered a majority of the area had undergone a seasonal recovery and noted this was supported by a 100% allocation against irrigation entitlements for 2011-12.
 
NRAC also considered information from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES), the Department of Primary Industries and Regions South Australia (PIRSA), as well as local producers. Observations from on-ground inspection of the EC-declared area were also considered in the assessment.

 

Details of NRAC’s recommendation can be found on the DAFF website at: www.daff.gov.au/agriculture-food/drought/ec