For further information please contact
Mr Chris Bennett, CEO, (02) 9476 0142
Irrigation Australia Limited is a national member based organisation representing the whole irrigation
services chain. IAL co-operatively develops and offers solutions to irrigation issues facing the sector.
MEDIA RELEASE
Wednesday, 20 October 2010
Irrigation Australia Meeting with Minister Burke
on the Murray Darling Basin Plan
Irrigation Australia Limited (IAL) welcomed last night’s meeting between Minister
Burke and irrigator groups at Parliament House.
Chris Bennett, IAL’s CEO, said “The meeting with irrigator groups was welcome
and positive. A clear message was conveyed to the Minister that Government must
fully identify and properly consider the socio-economic impacts in finalising the Basin
Plan, and that Government’s response must address the wider implications of the Plan
for Basin communities”.
IAL also met separately with Minister Burke on 20 October 2010 to discuss key
challenges for implementation of a final Basin Plan. Mr Bennett said “the Plan must
ensure the irrigation industry and associated communities remain viable in the
Basin. Whatever shape the Plan eventually takes, there will be a serious challenge
for both government and the irrigation sector to focus strongly on improved
irrigation water delivery and on-farm efficiency.”
While IAL supports the Commonwealth Government’s $5.8billion Sustainable
Rural Water Use and Infrastructure program, IAL is also calling for the funding
programs to be reviewed to ensure they deliver genuine efficiency gains and also
longer term legacies for irrigation communities including:
innovation and quantum change in irrigation practice, through maintaining or
improving productivity with less water, and not entrenching old technology and
practice;
increased availability, recognition and access to competent irrigation services and
skills;
increased irrigation training services available to the wider regional irrigation
communities; and
ensuring funding supports the wider communities most affected by the Plan.
“This funding is a once in a life time opportunity to achieve efficiency gains that
will be required to help meet the challenges of the Murray Darling Basin Plan” Mr
Bennett said.
“IAL is willing and able to work with government to review these funding
arrangements to ensure they deliver genuine efficiency gains”.
NEWS 
