Irrigation water use down by 29%
In 2006–07, irrigation water use decreased by 29% from the previous year to 7636 gigalitres, according to figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
The largest decline in irrigation water use was for rice, with volumes down more than 81%, followed by cotton (50%) and pasture for grazing (30%).
The major use of irrigation water in 2006–07 was pasture for dairy cattle, which accounted for 15% (1163 gigalitres) of all irrigation water use.
With a decline of over 42% since 2005–06, New South Wales reported the largest decrease in water for irrigation.
Water use for irrigation in Tasmania increased by 29%, and by 8% in South Australia; most of this increase included pasture for grazing.
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