NATIONAL IRRIGATORS’ COUNCIL
Advocating for the Australian irrigated agriculture industry
NIC is hosting two online feedback sessions on the draft Water Act Review Submission. This is to maximise opportunity for Members to
provide direct feedback.
Only one session needs to be attended, but you are welcome to both.
Session 1 - Monday 24th August 1:30pm-2:30pm
Session 2 - Thursday 27th August 10am-11am
Click this link to RSVP and receive the Teams link for Session 2.
NIC is hosting two online feedback sessions on the draft Water Act Review Submission. This is to maximise opportunity for Members to
provide direct feedback.
Only one session needs to be attended, but you are welcome to both.
Session 1 - Monday 24th August 1:30pm-2:30pm
Session 2 - Thursday 27th August 10am-11am
Click this link to RSVP and receive the Teams link for Session 1.
The Peter Cullen Trust is inviting Expressions of Interest from outstanding leaders to join our Board of Directors which will help shape the next phase of the organisation but also future leaders in water, environment and climate.
The position is voluntary but offers the opportunity to provide your voice and experience in the direction of one of NIC Partner
organisations.
EOI close 25 September 2026. More information is available by clicking the link.
The Australia Government together with State and Territories have agreed to released the proposed new National Water Agreement following the recent National Cabinet Meeting.
Australia's food security strategy cannot ignore water as a critical input, according to irrigation industry leaders in Canberra attending the National Farmers Federation Summit today.
National Irrigators' Council, NSW Irrigators' Council, Ricegrowers' Association, Citrus Australia and Cotton Australia were united in their call that water policy belongs in Australia's food security conversation. [...]
A first Draft following initial Member discussions has been preared for the Water Act Review Dicussion Paper response.
Please review and consider feedback, preferably in tracked changes. A Policy drop in session will be held to work through feedback
also.
This is a frist Draft, we expect further additional work in a few areas including the inclusion of data from our proposed survey on water
information. We will also be cross checking our Basin Plan submission table to the recommendations to ensure we have captured
everything.
A lot is changing in water and water-related businesses and National Irrigators' Council is changing too.
We have introduced new membership options recognising that organisations are structured differently and may already contribute to NIC
through local or valley representation. Our structure also provides options for organisations with operations outside the
Murray–Darling Basin,
making direct national representation more accessible while recognising existing contributions.
Is now the time to explore our options?
Cotton Australia is looking for a Water Policy Officer to join their team. The role works closely with the General Manager, the CEO and other members of the Policy Team to ensure the cotton industry’s interests are well represented across water policy, planning and regulatory processes — engaging with stakeholders including the National Farmers’ Federation Water Committee, National Irrigators Council, Queensland Farmers’ Federation Water and Energy Policy Committee, New South Wales Irrigators Council, valley-based irrigator groups and Cotton Grower Associations.
We are preparing for our Annual General Meeting and General Meeting for the 13th and 14th October in Canberra.
The event will be at Old Parliament House from 2pm 13th October through to 1pm on 14th October, with a dinner at Hotel Kurrajong on Tuesday evening.
As these dates are a sitting week, please book flights and accomodation.
NIC provided a submission into the Snowy Water Inquiry Outcomes Implementation Deed Draft Report following a review of the recommendations.
NIC recognised that a modernised, transparent and evidence-based Deed framework is needed. NIC also welcomed the Panel’s stated intent that
improved environmental outcomes should be pursued without compromising the reliability of water supply for irrigation. NIC has identified
several areas where the draft recommendations, create material risk to the reliability of downstream consumptive entitlements, extend to
shared interstate water resources, and sit uneasily with the risk-allocation and compensation principles of the National Water Initiative
(NWI) and with the Review Framework’s own stated principles.
NIC provided a submission into the Productivity Commissions National Water Reform Interim update.
The submission reinterated our key points from our initial submission but also explored a number of topics where the interim update was seeking information, covering intitial assessments, sustainable water limits, managing climate change and metering.
Every organisation has someone with the potential to lead through complexity, inspire others and make a lasting difference. Who
comes to mind for you?
The Peter Cullen Trust is looking for the next cohort of emerging and established leaders to join our 2027 Leadership Program.
A webinar is being held on 25 Aug 2026 12:30 PM to find out more.
Water professionals from across New South Wales will come together in Wollongong to explore practical solutions, fresh thinking and the
partnerships needed to tackle today's biggest water challenges.
Under this year's theme, Squeezing Every Last Drop: From Survival to Strength: No Excuses, No Waste. Do More with Less,
the program brings together government, utilities, local councils and industry leaders to share real-world insights you can take back to
your organisation. 17 - 19 August 2026.
We are running a bit behind schedule but attached is a brief DRAFT submission into the PC Interim Report on National Water Reform. Please review and provide comments no later than Tuesday 5pm, as the submission is over-due. Comments to Zara.
The NIC provided a submission to the Water Act Review Discussion Paper: Strong Voices, Healthy Waters.
The IGWC released its SDL compliance report for the Murray Darling Basin 2024-2025 water year.
The report presented evidence that the MDB remains within SDL and there is continuing under-use occuring around the Basin.
DCCEEW are hosting an online webinar at 10:30am AEST on 28 July 2026 - you can register
here.
The webinar will provide information to support participation in the current review of The Water Act 2007 (Cth) with the
release of a Review Discussion Paper.
This webinar will be recorded and will be available on our website following the event.
A new report has found levels of water use across the Murray-Darling Basin are fully compliant with the Basin Plan’s Sustainable Diversion
Limits (SDLs), which irrigators say shows ‘the job is done’.
“Water use across the Basin is fully compliant with the Sustainable Diversion Limits set by the Basin Plan,” said Zara Lowien, CEO of the
National Irrigators’ Council (NIC).
“It’s very clear that over-extraction is no longer the issue for the Murray-Darling Basin.”
Find out more about our community, and join our mission advocating for the Australian irrigated
agriculture industry.