The ACEDP funded a joint study tour of Chinese and Australian experts to Australia during 13-26 September 2008. The study tour assessed two project proposals that were approved in the Annual Plan I (2007-08): “The Management for Large Irrigation Districts (Yellow River Basin)” and “Water Rights and Allocation Trading in the Yellow River Basin”. The delegation from China consisted of 3 representatives from the Ministry of Water Resources, 3 from the Yellow River Conservancy Commission, and 1 member from the Beijing PCO. Australian Experts involved in the tour included the EAT Chairperson, 4 members of the Activity Design Team, and the Principal Policy Coordinator from GHD.
Following on from the Chinese design mission in June 2008, the objectives for this study tour were to visit Australian counterpart agenciesfor both activities, refine and consolidate the activity design for the Management for Large Irrigation Districts (Yellow River Basin) Activity, and to study the feasibility of merging the Management for Large Irrigation Districts (Yellow River Basin) and Water Rights and Allocation Trading in the Yellow River Basin Activities together.
During the 12-day visit, the delegation took part in a number of meetings and workshops with AustralianNational water policy makers and academic agencies including DEWHA, MDBC, CSIRO and IC Water. They also met with water suppliers such as Goulburn-Murray Water in Victoria, and communicated with two representative water users, theColeambally Irrigation District in New South Wales and the Murrumbidgee Irrigation District in Victoria.A workshop was also held with the now completed AusAID-funded Water Entitlements & Trading (WET) Project.
The study tour was successful in helping delegatesgain a deeper understanding surrounding the ongoing drought conditions within Australia and the continuing reform of Australian water management, as well asmodernisation. Delegatesalso gained an understanding of Australian arrangements regarding irrigation, water entitlement and trade, and helped the establishment of important relationships with potential cooperation partners.
Following the study tour, it was agreed by the Chinese delegation to merge the two Activities together. During the final workshop on September 25th 2008， the delegation, together with the design team,finalisedthe design of new Activity to be implemented. The resulting merged Activity was renamed “Improving Water Efficiency through Better Irrigation District Management and Water Right Trading”.
The draft Activity Design Document (ADD) for this newly merged Activity will be available for EAT and Chinese partners comments by early November. Following comments received, the new design document will be issued to AusAID and MOFCOM for approval.