QUEENSLAND farmers have welcomed the board appointments of the eight local management irrigation schemes by the State Government.
Legislation has been introduced into parliament to facilitate the future implementation of local management arrangements for SunWater’s channel irrigation schemes. This includes both the first round of transitioning schemes and the second group that will be carrying out further investigation on how they could operate under local management.
Queensland Farmers Federation president Stuart Armitage said the appointments were another step towards empowering Queensland’s agricultural communities with the control required to manage and grow the sector in their respective regions.
“All eight of the schemes fall within major intensive agricultural regions with the cotton, horticulture and sugar cane industries represented. And the local management arrangements empower local growers to control key water infrastructure,” Mr Armitage said.
“The local chair appointments are a culmination of over 2.5 years of local, industry and government cooperation and discussions. QFF and its member organisations have been integral in this process.
“QFF hopes to see the selection of SPV 5 chair finalised soon, and welcomes the appointment of an interim chair for the SPV 5 to maintain momentum behind this project.
“QFF have and continue to play a role in ensuring the state government understands the importance of moving forward with the implementation of locally managed irrigation schemes.”
Transition scheme boards will be responsible for managing the transition of operations and control from SunWater to local management. Boards for these four schemes are:
Emerald: Annette Smith, Anne-Marie O’Callaghan, David McDougall, Peter Galea, Ross Burnett, and Hamish Millar.
Eton: Lee Blackburn, John Mucscat, John Palmer, Josephine Prior, Tom Wallwork,
St George: Luke Stower, David Moon, Glen Price, Ross Landsberg, Scott Armstrong,
Theodore: Liz Alexander, Ed Donohue, Greg Austin, Kirk Anderson, Malcolm Finlayson, and Peter French.
The Investigation scheme boards are:
Bundaberg: Maurie Maughan, Dale Holliss, Lynn Smart, Mark Mammino, Peter Borrows, and Phil Miller.
Burdekin-Haughton: Mario Barbagallo, Dan Coutts, Evan Shannon, Mauro Garbuio, Peter Gilbey, and Peter Hall.
Lower Mary: Geoffrey Wormwell, Allan Birt, Bernie Wilson, Trevor Crook, Trevor Dean, and Warwick Yates.
Mareeba-Dimbulah: Joe Moro, Brett Stevenson, Grahame Kirkwood, Maryann Salvetti, and Murray Smith.
Mr Armitage encouraged irrigators to work with their boards to ensure the success of the LMAs, saying they were the results of successful advocacy by QFF and irrigators over many years.
