15 Sept 2016
The Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF) has 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 (transition schemes) and the second group that will be carrying out further investigation on how they could operate under local management (investigation schemes).
QFF President Stuart Armitage welcomed the appointments as yet 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.”
“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 finalized 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 | Eton | St George | Theodore |
| Ms Annette Smith (Chair) | Mr Lee Blackburn | Mr Luke Stower (Chair) | Ms Liz Alexander (Chair) |
| Ms Anne-Marie O’Callaghan | Mr John Mucscat | Mr David Moon | Mr Ed Donohue |
| Mr David McDougall | Mr John Palmer | Mr Glen Price | Mr Greg Austin |
| Mr Peter Galea | Mr Josephine Prior | Mr Ross Landsberg | Mr Kirk Anderson |
| Mr Ross Burnett | Mr Tom Wallwork | Mr Scott Armstrong | Mr Malcolm Finlayson |
| Mr Hamish Millar | Mr Peter French |
Investigation scheme boards will be responsible for carrying out further investigations and preparing revised business proposals for submission to the government. Boards for these four schemes are:
| Bundaberg | Burdekin-Haughton | Lower Mary | Mareeba-Dimbulah |
| Mr Maurie Maughan (Chair) | Mr Mario Barbagallo (Chair) | Mr Geoffrey Wormwell (Chair) | Mr Joe Moro (Chair) |
| Mr Dale Holliss | Mr Dan Coutts | Mr Allan Birt | Mr Brett Stevenson |
| Ms Lynn Smart | Mr Evan Shannon | Mr Bernie Wilson | Mr Grahame Kirkwood |
| Mr Mark Mammino | Mr Mauro Garbuio | Mr Trevor Crook | Ms Maryann Salvetti |
| Mr Peter Borrows | Mr Peter Gilbey | Mr Trevor Dean | Mr Murray Smith |
| Mr Phil Miller | Mr Peter Hall | Mr Warwick Yates |
Stuart Armitage encouraged irrigators to work with their boards to ensure the success of the LMAs as they had been results of successful advocacy from QFF and irrigators over many years.
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