2 Oct 2015
The Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF) has welcomed the move by the State Government to transfer ownership of the Eton, Emerald, St George and Theodore irrigation schemes to local hands.
QFF President Joanne Grainger said this was a welcome reform by the state government that empowered local irrigators to better service their regions.
“All four of the schemes fall within major intensive agricultural regions; the cotton and fruit growing regions of St George and Emerald, cotton growing around Theodore and the major sugar cane region in Eton in the Mackay area.
“This announcement is a culmination of over 2 years of local, industry and Government cooperation and discussions in which QFF and their member organisations played a major role.”
“We have particularly made an effort to ensure that the new State Government understands the importance of moving forward with the implementation of locally managed irrigation schemes.”
“QFF remain committed to the transition of all eight SunWater distributions schemes across the state to local management as the best option to facilitate the development of a viable irrigation sector into the future.”
“We hope that over the next 12 months the Burdekin-Haughton, Bundaberg, Lower Mary and Mareeba-Dimbulah channel irrigation schemes can too complete their investigations and be transitioned to local management.”
“We look forward to working with the Queensland Government and our member organisations to ensure the success and viability of these locally managed irrigation schemes and assist in the transition of the remaining irrigation schemes.”
“We commend the Government for taking this step in supporting locally managed viable agriculture into the future”.
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