The SunWater Eton distribution scheme has been transferred to a local management arrangement after attracting overwhelming support among Mackay region irrigators.
Irrigators on the scheme accepted an offer for the channel assets to be transferred from SunWater in December 2019, with Eton Irrigation Cooperative Limited taking over ownership and management this week.
QFF president Allan Dingle congratulated the local irrigators on becoming the fourth of Queensland's irrigation schemes to transition to local management, empowering the local community to manage and grow irrigated agriculture in the region.
"The Local Management Arrangement has benefits for local irrigators by delivering the best outcomes in service levels and the distribution price of irrigation water while improving transparency and accountability."
The irrigators now have control of distribution to around 300 customers across 15,000 hectares of land.
