Water quality in northern Victorian waterways is being improved under a program led by the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE).

Water, catchment and environment authorities are working together to improve the quality of water drained from the Shepparton and Loddon-Campaspe irrigation areas into waterways.

An independent environmental review concluded that many aspects of the irrigation drainage program in northern Victoria were performing at world's best practice. But the review also concluded that environmental performance could be further improved by enhancing environmental accountability and clarifying the management framework for drainage.

The Memorandum of Understanding records the arrangements between agencies working on irrigation drainage management in the Goulburn-Murray Water irrigation areas. The program is based on a partnership agreement between DSE, the Environment Protection Authority, Goulburn-Murray Water, the Goulburn-Broken and North Central Catchment Management Authorities, and the Department of Primary Industries.

The main aim is to demonstrate that the management of irrigation drains is actively reducing adverse impacts on receiving waterways. This is achieved by:

• ensuring a consistent and transparent process is used to set water quality targets for irrigation drains in priority catchments
  
• making sure management actions are linked to resource condition targets
  
• fostering and maintaining good working relationships and clear accountabilities between responsible agencies
  
• fostering continual improvement in monitoring and reporting systems
  
• working closely with farm and environment programs.
  

Irrigation Drainage and Water Quality Memorandum of Understanding (PDF~814kB)