We are now well and truly into 2006 with a number of exciting projects and initiatives already underway.

One project that is set to begin is the Darling-Anabranch Pipeline in Western NSW.

In February, I announced that the $28 million tender for the pipeline was awarded to Mitchell Australasia Pty Ltd.

Mitchell Australasia Pty Ltd has a proven track record in large construction and pipeline projects.

This multi-million dollar pipeline is a large component of the $54 million Darling-Anabranch project.

The former water management system which was causing stagnation and diminished water quality along the Anabranch will now be replaced.

Overall, the Darling-Anabranch project will remove weirs, improve fish passage, give landholders more water security and reallocate water for environmental flow purposes,to restore the natural wet-dry flow cycle of the river.

The pipeline will save around 47 000 megalitres of water each year which is equivalent to about 47 000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

The pipeline construction will involve the laying of 300km of water supply pipeline and the installation of two main pump stations.

Pipeline construction and pump station design and construction should be completed by December.

Sheepmeat exports

On February 28, the sheep industry launched the 'Australian Sheepmeat Fair Go Campaign' to help raise awareness of the current trade in equities our sheep exporters face.

The campaign aims to highlight the fact that access to many international export markets is severely hampered by restrictive trade practices.

This is particularly a problem with the European Union which is the world’s second largest consumer of sheep meat.

The EU places restrictive quotes on sheep meat exports and subsidises its own sheep producers. This denies our Australian sheep meat producers a fair share of the market.

Estimates indicate that Australian sheep meat producers could boost their overall income by $60 million each year, if EU quotas were increased by just 20 per cent above the current 18 650 tonnes.

This is a situation that must not be allowed to continue and I have called on the Federal Trade Minister Mr Mark Vaile, to fight hard to progress this issue at upcoming Doha round of World Trade Organisation talks.

- IAN MACDONALD

This column appears in Agriculture Today.