Australia's statistical agency published experimental estimates of irrigation water use for 2022–23 and 2023–24 using a method developed by CSIRO. The approach combines satellite-derived evapotranspiration with rainfall, soil-water and runoff information, alongside agricultural land-use data. Calculations are made monthly on a 100-metre grid before aggregation into annual regional and state statistics.
The release represents a change from the agricultural surveys used previously. ABS cautions that the new results should not be interpreted as a continuous series with the earlier figures. The current method also treats irrigation as surface-water input, with improved separation of groundwater planned. These are modelled water-accounting estimates, rather than direct readings from individual farm meters or a prescription for irrigation scheduling.
