We farewelled Barry Schier on Friday, 4 April at the Paringa Friendship Centre, marking the end of an incredible 47-year journey with the Trust.

Barry began his career with the Trust in January 1978. By 1984, he had taken on the role of senior electrician. Not long after, the automation of the pump station took place, and Barry played a key role in making that upgrade a success.

From 1992 to 2000 Barry served as Operations Manager and then transitioned into the role of IT Manager in 2000. He later served as the chief executive for a 10-year term from 2009 to 2019 — during a period of major change and reform at the Trust. His exceptional project management skills were particularly evident during the SARMS 3IP project, which ran from 2014 to 2017. This initiative improved the efficiency of the pipeline network and extended the pipeline from Begara Street to deliver water to Block X.

Barry was known for his reliability, punctuality, and unwavering support for his colleagues. He was always enthusiastic about giving tours of the Main Pump Station, most recently doing so during the celebration of its 50th anniversary in December 2022.

Barry’s deep knowledge of the Trust’s infrastructure and his dedication over five decades leave a lasting legacy. He will be greatly missed by all of us.

Good news for River Murray irrigators.

The announcement today by the Department for Environment and Water will ensure that irrigators will be able to access 100 percent of their allocation in 2025-26.

As the projected minimum opening allocation is 100 percent, no more allocation announcements are scheduled in relation to the 2025-26 water year. In mid-June 2025, the volume of water available for allocation will be gazetted and allocations issued for use from 1 July 2025.

More details about this announcement can be found here

New opening hours for the New Year!

The RIT office will now be open from 9 am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday

The Trust office will open again on Monday 6 January at 9am.

For pipe breaks/emergencies there is always someone to call 24/7. Phone (08) 8586 6050

Notice is hereby given that nominations will be received at the Trust Office until 4.00 pm on Friday 8 November 2024, to fill vacancies caused by expiry of the term of office of the following:

        DIRECTORS

                     HOWIE, Richard Humphrey

                     DEMIR, Ibrahim

                     MARKEAS, Dimitrios (Jim)

Nomination forms in accordance with the Renmark Irrigation Trust Act 2009 are available at the Trust Office.  Should more nominations be received than there are vacancies to be filled, an election by ballot will be conducted at the Annual General Meeting of Members on Monday 2 December 2024.

 R Auricht, Returning Officer

Join the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board for a series of free workshops and feedback sessions designed to share current information, facilitate discussion and inform agri-business directions – the sessions will comprise multiple break-out sessions to enable discussion of related scenarios, questions, problems and ideas.

Please click on the flyer link below to see session dates, times and locations

Carbon Essentials for Agribusiness

Data accuracy on trade forms

From 1 July 2024 there are new Commonwealth requirements on people trading water. 

All information provided by water markets participants in a trade or transfer application form must be comprehensive and accurate. There is also an obligation to keep certain records for 5 years.

The Inspector-General of Water Compliance has put together handy FAQs on these new obligations; you can find these here

These changes are part of broader reforms aimed at enhancing the integrity and transparency of Murray–Darling Basin water markets, following recommendations from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) inquiry.

To find out more information please visit Water market reform – DCCEEW.

For further details, please do not hesitate to contact our office.

Please be aware that recent environmental flushes of the lower Darling River to help clear blue-green algae are now reaching Renmark. We have noticed a decrease in river water quality in the last day or two. The algae can cause water discolouration and has an unpleasant odour.

The effect on water quality is likely to last a few weeks.

For more detail please see the DEW Flow reports

RIT hosted a panel event on May 29 about the Channels to Pipes program which the Trust undertook from 1968-1977. This event is part of the SA History Trust, History Festival, which is an annual festival that highlights local history and important events in the history of South Australia.

The event was held at the Renmark Paringa Council library and was well supported.

The panel, Ray Najar, Phil Sims and Robert Tucker, spoke about the program and how it affected their lives and the Renmark community more broadly. The program was ground-breaking and resulted in an increased pumping efficiency far in excess of expectations.

The insights of the panel were supported by a display of maps and photos which bought the program to life.

A video of the event can be found here

More information including a slideshow, a 1970s 16mm film, and some background information can be found here

All irrigators and other customers of the Renmark Irrigation Trust are advised that the Trust will cease pumping water at the Main Pumping Station at 9pm on Sunday 12 May 2024.

Water supply will be restored by approximately 11.59pm on Friday 17 May 2024.

The annual shutdown enables planned preventative maintenance and other works which cannot be carried out while normal pumping is in progress.

Domestic and industrial water users should maintain storage capable of holding up to 7 days water supply at all times.

We wish to acknowledge the service and sacrifice of men and women who have served our country in all theatres of war.

This year we are highlighting Harry Katekar’s service in WWII. H.J (Harry) Katekar was on the RIT Board from 1957-1972. He was the son of Charles Katekar MBE who was the chairman of the Board from 1925-1945.

Harry was born in 1914 in Renmark, and graduated from the University of Adelaide in 1937. He enlisted in the SA 2/27 Infantry Battalion in May 1940 as a private, but due to his education was offered a commission and promoted to Lieutenant.

Harry fought in Syria and New Guinea. A pivotal battle for Harry and his battalion took place on the slopes of Mission Ridge in Central New Guinea, on the days after September 7, 1942. The Japanese had outflanked the Australians who were also outnumbered. Japanese snipers were effective and many Australians died or were wounded in the ensuing days. Harry went on to fight in the battle of Gona in New Guinea in December 1942.

After the war, Harry Katekar was Chairman of the Renmark Flood Emergency Committee, which had responsibility for defending and/or evacuating the town if the flood waters rose significantly in July-August 1956.

Harry conducted two interviews which are available on the Australian War Memorial website – Rob Linn in 1990 and Peter Brune in c.2009.

Rob Linn interview and transcript

Peter Brune interview

*Photo from the Kokoda Historical webpage which includes a detailed account of Harry Katekar’s war service

https://kokodahistorical.com.au/diggers-stories/captain-harry-katekar-m-i-d