North Queensland Irrigated Agriculture Strategy

North Queensland Irrigated Agriculture banner.

The North Queensland Irrigated Agriculture Strategy is a collaborative initiative of the Australian Government's Office of Northern Australia within the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport; and the Queensland Government's Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF Q).

The $10 million Strategy will build capacity for future commercial agricultural development in the north. It includes a strong focus on practical on-the-ground research and will draw together world class scientific expertise with local and commercial experience.

The Strategy will deliver a comprehensive assessment of sustainable water resource development and the potential for new irrigated agriculture in the Flinders and Gilbert catchments of north Queensland. It will also include an independent assessment of the viability of establishing new meat processing facilities in north-west Queensland.

The Strategy will deliver a number of allied regional benefits that address the needs of local, commercial and government stakeholders, including the sustainable and equitable management of public resources, due consideration of environmental and cultural issues, and the requirements of private investors.

The Strategy will apply the world's first modelling and data analysis techniques using high resolution topographic mapping and automated terrain analysis. It will:

identify and evaluate water capture and storage options, and test the commercial viability of irrigated agriculture opportunities, and
thoroughly assess potential environmental, economic and cultural impacts and risks.

The Strategy will also support commercial agricultural development and build capacity by:

working with local producers to develop enterprise practices and systems that build capacity and management practices to maximise long-term viability and sustainable benefits
establishing commercial benchmarks and best practice farming systems suited to the soils, climate and geology of northern Queensland, and
publishing key data online, such as data downloads and interactive web mapping systems.

A Program Governance Committee and a Program Steering Committee have been established to provide high level governance and leadership to the Strategy, and monitor project outcomes, associated risks and stakeholder engagement.

The Governance Committee is chaired by the Australian Government Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport and includes senior representatives from the Queensland Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF Q) and CSIRO, along with independent specialists with local experience and expertise.

Key dates in 2013 are:

12 June—ABARES Conference (Townsville)
20 June—Crop Information Forum (Georgetown)
4 July—Steering Committee (Townsville)
1 August—Governance Committee (Townsville).

Further information

Contact

Office of Northern Australia
Megan Lees
Assistant Secretary
Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport
Megan.Lees@regional.gov.au

Supported by

Logos for Australian Government Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport; the Office of Northern Australia; CSIRO; and the Queensland Government.