NATIONAL IRRIGATORS’ COUNCIL
Advocating for the Australian irrigated agriculture industry
The National Irrigators‟ Council (NIC) is calling on the State and Federal Governments to increase budgets now to fight the invasive weed menace which is being exacerbated by major floods and the two wettest years on record. The NIC CEO, Tom Chesson said invasive weeds were a major issue in Australia and State and Federal […]
The National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) today called on both the NSW and Federal Governments to immediately rule out any environmental water releases from dams in flood affected valleys in the Murray Darling Basin as proposed by green groups. The CEO of the NIC, Tom Chesson said he was appalled that a document released by green […]
The National Irrigators’ Council said irrigators have lost a statesman with the sudden resignation of its inaugural Chairman, Stewart Ellis. Mr Ellis is an honest broker who has done what many thought impossible and has brought together for the first time since Federation irrigators from around the country and particularly across the Murray Darling Basin. […]
The National Irrigators‟ Council (NIC) has obtained an explosive document which reveals introduced fish species such as carp and trout have been a major cause of native fish extinctions in the Murray Darling Basin (MDB). NIC‟s CEO, Tom Chesson said the Ministerial Advice from the Government‟s Threatened Species Scientific Committee calling on the Government to […]
The National Irrigators’ Council today welcomed the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments announcement that environmental works at Lindsay Island in the Murray Sunset National Park will be investigated. The CEO of the National Irrigators’ Council said whilst today’s announcement was light on details, the NIC has long argued that the proposed works at Lindsay Island could […]
The closure of the Heinz’s Girgarre tomato sauce factory with the loss of 146 jobs is a sign of what will come if the Government adopts the Murray Darling Basin (MDB) Draft Plan. The CEO of the National Irrigators’ Council (NIC), Tom Chesson said without a strong, viable, internationally competitive food processing sector many communities […]
Reports of exploding bird numbers, and wetlands which haven‟t had water for over one hundred years miraculously springing back to life in the Murray Darling Basin highlights the esilience of our environment, the CEO of the National Irrigators‟ Council, Tom Chesson said today. “Whilst hell would have to freeze over before green groups and other […]
The National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) said it was willing to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Prime Minister to help her full-fill her pledge to make 2012 the year of the job, however, if she is serious she will have to ask her Water Minister to send the draft MDBA Basin Plan back to the […]
Peak agricultural industry groups from across the Murray-Darling Basin believe that the proposed Murray-Darling Basin Plan, released this morning by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, has failed to achieve the promised balance between social, economic and environmental impacts. The collective industry bodies, including the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF), National Irrigators Council, AgForce Queensland, Queensland Farmers’ Federation, […]
The National Irrigators‟ Council (NIC) today said the draft Basin Plan in its current form is unacceptable. Chairman of the NIC, Stewart Ellis, said the draft basin plan will cost thousands of jobs, put pressure on food prices, and threaten family farms and regional communities. “If the draft Basin Plan is adopted in its current […]
Irrigation communities in the Murray Darling Basin (MDB) are worried the Governments’ Basin Plan will be an expensive failure if the focus is solely on removing water from communities. The CEO of the National Irrigators’ Council, Mr Tom Chesson, said if the Basin Plan to have any chance of being supported by communities it has […]
The National Irrigators’ Council has welcomed the decision of the Commonwealth Government to revert to previous conversion factors used to determine the reliability of water entitlements in the Murray Darling Basin. “NIC CEO Tom Chesson said the news that 20 week consultation period is due to begin on the 28th of November was welcomed, however, […]
A chance discovery has left irrigation communities furious and the goodwill generated by MDBA Chairman, Craig Knowles, is evaporating, the CEO of the National Irrigators’ Council, Tom Chesson said today. “Without telling anyone, the Commonwealth Water Department has in the latest update of water purchases on its website, changed the way they work out the […]
The Chairman of the National Irrigators’ Council, Stewart Ellis today announced the appointment of new CEO, Tom Chesson saying he was joining the organisation at a crucial time. “Tom Chesson is joining the National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) at a time communities in the Murray Darling Basin are trying to recover from the worst drought on […]
The National Irrigators’ Council has welcomed the settlement of a $1.2 billion funding agreement for Victoria’s Food Bowl stage 2 development as a win for all parties. NIC CEO Danny O’Brien said the agreement signed today by Victoria and the Commonwealth was an investment in the future of irrigation regions and at last delivered on […]
The National Irrigators’ Council has welcomed the National Water Commission’s progress report on water reform in Australia, agreeing that a new push is required to continue to implement reforms first agreed seven years ago. NIC CEO Danny O’Brien said the National Water Initiative signed in 2004 remained the foundation of water policy in Australia but […]
Funding available for water saving infrastructure upgrades in the Murray Darling Basin is dramatically less than the headlines suggest, a review by the National Irrigators’ Council reveals. The $5.8 billion Sustainable Rural Water Use and Infrastructure Program (SRWUIP) has been plundered for a host of projects leaving just $3.4 billion now allocated to irrigation upgrades. […]
The $228 million deal to fund the expansion of Adelaide’s desalination plant and reports Canberra won’t be affected by the Murray Darling Basin Plan yet again expose the double-standard that applies to urban and rural communities when it comes to water reform, the National Irrigators’ Council said today. Under an agreement between the Commonwealth and […]
The National Irrigators’ Council said today it was not concerned by a further delay to the release of the draft Murray Darling Basin Plan if it meant a better balanced outcome was the result. NIC CEO Danny O’Brien said much was made of the need for certainty but this had to be weighed against the […]
A social and economic impact study released today by the Murray Darling Basin Authority highlights the significant damage that will be wrought on local communities and Australia’s food and fibre production base by an unbalanced Basin Plan. The National Irrigators’ Council said the report clearly indicated that a Plan that favours the environment without regard […]
Irrigators have welcomed acknowledgement by a Senate committee that the Water Act 2007 is fundamentally flawed and needs amendment. The National Irrigators’ Council said the report of the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs committee highlights the lack of balance in the Act and calls on the Government to release all legal advice relating to the […]
Irrigators will judge Murray Darling Basin reform on environmental outcomes and balance with social and economic impacts, not a simplistic focus on numbers and volume that ignore the complexity of river management. These views are among issues listed in a position paper released today by the National Irrigators’ Council titled “A Balanced Plan for the […]
The short-listing of Melbourne’s Yarra River for the International Riverprize, billed as the “world’s most prestigious environmental prize”, just goes to highlight how farcical the debate over river health has become. The National Irrigators’ Council said while the Yarra is being lauded as among the world’s best, the Murray-Darling Basin –which has more water available […]
Recommendations from the Regional Australia committee on the proposed Murray Darling Basin Plan have been welcomed by irrigators but will mean nothing unless acted upon by Government. The National Irrigators’ Council has congratulated Chair Tony Windsor and the members of the committee across party lines for their recognition that a healthy Basin can be delivered […]
The National Irrigators’ Council is pleased that today’s Ministerial Council meeting Adelaide has made progress on Murray Darling Basin reform but remains frustrated at the slow pace of infrastructure roll-out. NIC CEO Danny O’Brien said funding for feasibility studies on environmental works and measures was a positive step in the right direction and recognition that […]
The National Irrigators’ Council said today it was right for Tony Windsor’s Regional Australia committee to delay its final report on the Murray-Darling basin Plan to ensure it finds the right balance, a fact that seems to have eluded the Wentworth Group. “We expect that the best available science –environmental,economic and social –will be used […]
The National Irrigators’ Council says the appointment of a new CEO at the Murray Darling Basin Authority is an opportunity for the Authority to deliver on its promises of a balanced Basin Plan. NIC CEO Danny O’Brien welcomed Dr Rhondda Dickson to the job. “Both the Chair and CEO that were responsible for the Guide […]
Irrigators from across the country have called on governments to treat all water users fairly in water planning decisions and deliver on commitments made on interception activities in the National Water Initiative. The National Irrigators’ Council has adopted a policy position that all water use, including interception activities such as farm dams, forestry plantations and […]
The National Irrigators’ Council is encouraged by the Communiqué issued by Murray Darling Basin Water Ministers after their meeting today but says it’s time their words were translated into action. NIC CEO Danny O’Brien said an increased focus on getting water use efficiency money out the door and on the ground was welcome, but now […]
The National Irrigators’ Council said when it comes to water the only thing flowing out of Adelaide and Canberra was hypocrisy. The CEO of the National Irrigators’ Council(NIC), Tom Chesson said despite making plenty of noise about the need for reform in the Murray Darling Basin, neither Adelaide or Canberra were giving up one drop […]
Murray Darling Basin Authority Chairman Craig Knowles will be the keynote speaker at a meeting of irrigators from across the country in Moree, NSW, next week. The National Irrigators’ Council will hold its March meeting in Moree on Tuesday, following a local tour of irrigation sites in the region on Monday. The visit is part […]
The National Irrigators’ Council said the Commonwealth has taken a good step in delivering on its promise of balanced water reform with tax changes and other initiatives announced today. NIC CEO, Danny O’Brien, said Water Minister Tony Burke was making progress with the announcement of changes that will help limit the impact of Murray Darling […]
The House of Representatives Regional Australia committee is on the right track with the interim findings handed down today on the impacts of the Murray Darling Basin Plan. The National Irrigators’ Council said it was pleased that the Committee had listened to some of the key problems outlined by Basin communities and had provided early […]
The National Irrigators’ Council has welcomed the decision of the Senate to instigate an inquiry into the Water Act 2007 and its capacity to deliver a Murray Darling Basin Plan that balances environmental, economic and social factors. The NIC has long voiced its concerns about the Water Act and the inquiry by the Senate Legal […]
The National irrigators’ Council has welcomed the appointment of Craig Knowles to the position of Chair of the Murray Darling Basin Authority and urged him to do everything in his powers to develop a Basin Plan that delivers a triple bottom lineoutcome. NIC CEO, Danny O’Brien, said Mr Knowles was known in water circles for […]
The National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) today expressed its disappointment and frustration over the continued downgrading of ‘practical’ agricultural research which is in direct contradiction to recommend ation 14 of the Windsor Inquiry The CEO of NIC, Tom Chesson said hopes of a last minute reprieve for the former CSIRO research station at Merbein have been […]
Parliamentary inquiries into the management of the Murray Darling Basin can help governments to deliver water to the environment by helping to identify innovative engineering works and measures. The National Irrigators’ Council has lodged its submissions to the House of Representatives and Senate committees, highlighting the fact that engineering solutions to provide more efficient environmental […]
Significant flaws and a lack of certainty in the science and data used by the Murray Darling Basin Authority highlight the need for elected politicians to take control of the Basin Plan process. The National Irrigators Council has lodged its submission to the MDBA’s “Guide to the proposed Basin Plan” which outlines the problem of […]
The National Irrigators’ Council said the resignation of Murray Darling Basin Authority Chair, Mike Taylor, provides an opportunity for the Federal Government to fully address widespread community concern about the proposed Basin Plan and its capacity to considersocial and economic impacts. NIC CEO Danny O’Brien said irrigators had always been concerned that the Water Act […]
The National Irrigators’ Council has continued its recent growth, with the Council welcoming two new members at its AGM in Canberra today. Southern Riverina Irrigators (NSW) and Sunraysia Citrus Growers (Vic) were both admitted as new members on top of the recent addition of Renmark Irrigation Trust (SA) and a further three corporate observer members. […]
The National Irrigators’ Council has welcomed the Commonwealth Government’s announcement confirming its $1 billion commitment to the upgrade of northern Victoria’s irrigation infrastructure. NIC CEO, Danny O’Brien said investments of this type were critical to enabling a strong future for irrigation districts and would help in achieving the balance necessary in the proposed Murray Darling […]
The revelation today that Australia now has a trade deficit in food and grocery manufacturing should be a warning sign to the Federal Government that it cannot afford to needlessly slash food production in the Murray Darling Basin. The National Irrigators’ Council said the release of the Australian Food and Grocery Council’s “State of the […]
The National Irrigators’ Council says the path is now clear for a triple bottom line approach to the proposed Murray Darling Basin Plan. Commenting on the release of government legal advice on the Water Act 2007,NIC CEO Danny O’Brien said it was now up to the MDBA or Water Minister Tony Burke to put some […]
The Murray Darling Basin Authority has confirmed again today that it has no power to give equal consideration to the needs of the environment, food production and regional communities when setting new sustainable diversion limits. The National Irrigators’ Council said no further evidence was needed now that the Water Act is ill – equipped to […]
Irrigators have welcomed the Federal Government’s change of tone on water recovery in the Murray Darling Basin, saying that engineering works and measures can help deliver a better environment while reducing the need to remove water from rural communities. Minister for Regional Australia, Simon Crean and Minister for Water, Tony Burke have both highlighted the […]
The National Irrigators’ Council has welcomed the announcement of a Parliamentary inquiry into the social and economic impacts of the proposed Murray Darling Basin Plan but says its terms of reference must allow it to examine the Water Act2007 and consider amendments. NIC CEO Danny O’Brien said the inquiry announced today by Ministers Crean, Burke […]
The Murray Darling Basin Authority must immediately release the scientific and economic modelling behind its “Guide to the Proposed Murray Darling Basin Plan” if it is truly committed to genuine consultation with basin communities. The National Irrigators’ Council said Water Minister Tony Burke needed to understand it is impossible for the community to engage in […]
he National Irrigators’ Council has outlined the first 10 issues it believes the Murray Darling Basin Authority must urgently address with its Guide to the Proposed Basin Plan. NIC CEO Danny O’Brien said while proposed cuts to water for productive use clearly failed to deliver balance between the needs of the environment and those of […]
Drastic new limits on the amount of water that can be used for food and fibre production in the Murray Darling Basin will be an unmitigated disaster for all Australians and must be rejected by the Federal Government and Water Minister Tony Burke. The National Irrigators’ Council said the proposed new sustainable diversion limits (SDLs) […]
Reports that the Murray Darling Basin Authority will release only an upper and lower “range” that new Sustainable Diversion Limits (SDLs) may fit into will prolong the uncertainty surrounding the new Basin Plan, according to the National Irrigators’ Council. The reports, confirmed by sources tonight, add insult to the injury of the likely scale of […]
The proposed Murray Darling Basin Plan to be released this week will fail the nation if it doesn’t adequately balance the needs of the environment, food and fibre production and regional communities. The National Irrigators’ Council is concerned that the Plan will focus too heavily on the environment to the detriment of all Australians. “Irrigators […]
Frustration is building among irrigators and communities in the Murray Darling Basin as delays to the release of the Basin Plan continue. The National Irrigators’ Council said the ongoing delays were causing anxiety and uncertainty in communities throughout the basin and the lack of communication from the Murray Darling Basin Authority is only worsening the […]
The National Irrigators’ Council has welcomed the Coalition’s commitment to fully assess the social and economic impacts of the proposed Murray Darling Basin Plan through a review by the Productivity Commission and ABARE. The NIC said the commitment was consistent with the Council’s pre – election policy platform and would ensure a thorough, independent understanding […]
Irrigators have welcomed an ALP commitment to “recover the gap” between current diversions in the Murray Darling Basin and proposed new “sustainable diversion limits” (SDLs) but warned this should not be seen as acceptance of any recommendations contained in the forthcoming Basin Plan. The National Irrigators’ Council said the position of the ALP to buy […]
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