NATIONAL IRRIGATORS’ COUNCIL

POLICY PORTFOLIO - ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND INDUSTRY SUTAINABILITY

Advocating for the Australian irrigated agriculture industry

Australian irrigators are among the most efficient in the world and this has been achieved through locally driven innovation and investment in research and development. 

Not all water in our rivers, our creeks and our groundwater aquifers is available for irrigation use.  All water users must strive to ensure they are as efficient and effective with their water, to ensure that as Australian's we are ensuring the upmost value of this precious resource.  For this to occur, partnerships between landowners, water users, governments (local, state and federal), and first nations people will be required. 

KEY MESSAGES

The National Irrigators' Council wants to see healthy rivers and wetlands because we are locals too and we strive to ensure we make every of drop water count on our farms, for our communities and the environment.

As we have become more efficient, so must environmental water holders, and we support value adding on environmental water  through further government investment in complementary measures to deliver direct environmental benefit. 

Policy Position Statements


Water Shepherding

Policy position statement is under review 

M&E of Environmental Water

Policy Position statement is under review


Recent NIC Documents Related to Environmental Stewardship and Industry Sustainability


Check out our final submission into the Inspector General of Water Compliance Inquiry into the Northern Basin Toolkit. 

The Toolkit was a multi-pronged solution developed through the Northern Basin Review to recommit government to existing requirements (Bridging the Gap requirements), fund a series of investments over-and-above the Murray Darling Basin Plan assumptions and existing levers of just adding water, enhance environmental outcomes and minimise socio-economic impacts.  The Toolkit was the Government's initial investment into complementary measures. 

As with many of the Murray Darling Basin Plan elements, it has lacked transparency and accountability, which should be improved in future program development.  The Toolkit highlights a number of great outcomes when investment is provided to optimising environmental water delivery and environmental outcomes. 

Did you know?

Today is a great day to celebrate that 93% of Australia's fruit, nuts and grapes together with 83% of our vegetables are all grown by irrigation.

Every day, is  great day to support Aussie Farmers and buy Australian grown fruit, nuts and vegetables. 

#AgDayAU celebrating that Aussie farmers grow more crop per drop

15 November is National Ag Day, a day to celebrate the amazing work our farmers and the broader agricultural industry do for Australia.  Australian irrigators are recognised as the most water efficient in the world, growing more crop per drop than many of our international counterparts.

100% of Australia's rice is irrigated, and is world leading using 50% less than the global average [DAFF]. 

85% of Australia's cotton crop on average is irrigated, the cotton industry has increased its water use efficiency by 240% since the first crop in the 1970's [DAFF]


National Irrigators' Council  is concerned that these proposed listings are being rushed prior to the Federal election (reminiscent of a previous disallowed attempt prior to the 2013 election) and that little additional work since 2013 has been provided to support the nomination despite significant improvements and other measures being taken since that previous attempt (namely the implementation of the Murray Darling Basin Plan and evolution of environmental water management in these specific regions). [...]

The Federal Government is again being called out for rushing through risky and untested reforms that seek to gain more power for themselves, prior to the upcoming election.  Consultation soon closes on their recent grab, to list two new areas as “endangered” under national environment law, replicating a controversial and subsequently, disallowed move by the former Labor Government in 2013. [...]




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