Celebrating National Ag Day
Celebrating National Ag Day in the Gwydir.
Irrigation in the Gwydir supports
* 230,000 Pecans
* 360,000 Orange and
* up to 70,000ha irrigated Cotton.
GWYDIR VALLEY IRRIGATORS ASSOCIATION
GWYDIR VALLEY IRRIGATORS ASSOCIATION
Celebrating National Ag Day in the Gwydir.
Irrigation in the Gwydir supports
* 230,000 Pecans
* 360,000 Orange and
* up to 70,000ha irrigated Cotton.
The New England North West AI Forum, in association with Telstra, and supported
by Moree Business Chamber, is a must-attend event for regional businesses ready to harness the power of artificial
intelligence. Hear from leading voices from across the region and beyond as they share their expertise and answer your questions.
Unlocking AI: Tools, Tactics and Transformation
Date: Wednesday, 19 November 2025
Time: 10:45 AM to 2:00 PM (includes networking lunch)
Venue: Social Co House, 157 Balo Street, Moree NSW
Tickets: Register
Here
This month we celebrated the 30th anniversary of the creation of the GVIA following a motion from July 1995 proposing to bring
the irrigation associations of Biniguy / Moree Water Users' Association, Carole/Gill Gill Water Users' Association, Copeton / Biniguy Spray
Irrigators' Association, Gwydir Co-operative Ltd and the Mehi / Moomin Water Users' Association together to form the Gwydir Valley
Irrigators Association. The intention was to "employ and take any necessary action to promote the interests of the irrigators in the
Gwydir Valley."
Save the Date
Thursday 24th July 2025, we will be celebrating 30 years of the GVIA.
More details to follow shortly.
Please find included information on a film being screened at the Town and Country Club, 5 Frome St Moree on Friday the 4th of April.
The film writer Leila McDougall will be a special guest at the event.
This screening is proudly sponsored by mcGregor Gourlay Agricultural Services, AFF, NSW Farmers and CWA Moree
The event beguins at 6pm and there is no charge.
| NSW online workshop invitation |
|
The NSW Government invites NSW stakeholders who have participated in the Australian Government’s consultations on a new national water
agreement to join one of three online workshops to discuss the updated draft agreement. The NSW-hosted workshops are an opportunity to:
Monday 3 February, 10:00am to 12:00pm Monday 3 February, 1:30pm to 3:30pm Tuesday 4 February, 10:00am to 12:00pm |
The DCCEEW will be hosting a webinar on the draft Water Sharing Plan for the Gwydir Unregulated River Water Sources 2025.
This webinar on Tuesday 19th November 2024 from 12 noon will cover the following topics:
This month’s focus is on Water Sharing Plans, what they are and why we need them. The presentation will cover how water sharing plans
are remade and outline which inland plans are due to be remade by 1 July, 2025 and how you can comment on the proposed
changes.
Speakers from the Water Group at the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water include:
The National Farmers Federation (NFF) is holding a farmer rally in Canberra to highlight the key issues impacting on Australian agriculture and its communities -- including the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. If you cannot make the rally NFF have a petition
going.
The Rally in front of Parliament House will begin at 11am on Tuesday, September 10. Further details can be found here - https://nff.org.au/national-farmer-rally/ .
The Water Engagement Roundup is a live monthly webinar about all ongoing and upcoming engagements and consultation on important water
policy, reforms and programs for New South Wales, and includes a guest presentation topic each month. This month’s focus topic is a deep
dive into some of our work under the Hydrometric Networks and Remote Sensing Program, following with an open question and answer
session.
Speakers from the Water Group at the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water include:
On 4 July 2024, the Australian Government released the Framework for delivering the 450 GL of additional environmental water.
The Framework sets out how the government will recover 450 GL of water for enhanced environmental outcomes.
There are three programs:
The Moree AgTech Breakfast will be on Wednesday 19th June from 7:30 - 9:30am
Supported by UNE SRI and Cicada Innovations, the breakfast will delve into the future of agriculture, showcasing the power of technology
and innovation in transforming Moree's and Australia's agricultural landscape.
Panellists include Oscar Pearse (Director of NSW Farmers Association), Lachlan Elworthy (Agronomist McGregor Gourlay), Jack Rickers
(Hiringa Energy, green hydrogen), Sophie Venz (President of Young Aggies) facilitated by Brooke Sauer (owner & director of
IntellectAg). Following the TED-style talks will be interactive discussions, Q&A and breakfast.
Cost: $20
Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/moree-ag-tech-breakfast-tickets-895726230267?aff=oddtdtcreator
Business NSW are conducting a re-run of the Workplace Law Training for Business Zoom webinar this Friday 17th May at 10am. It is free to
register as a member of Moree Chamber of Commerce.
This is the 'blurb' to intro the webinar: Due to overwhelming popularity, we are excited to announce that we will run the Expert
Industrial Relations Guidance: Workplace Law Training for Business webinar again, in partnership with Australian Business Lawyers &
Advisors. Learn invaluable insights into the recent changes in workplace and industrial relations laws following the passing of the Closing
Loopholes Bills.
You can register here:
https://businessnsw.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Vb226DQxTGKZnZUYN8iCdQ#/registration
THe GVIA office will be closed from 22nd December 2023 through to 8th January 2024.
For any urgent inquiries, please call the office mobile numbers.
The Water engagement roundup is a live monthly webinar update about ongoing and upcoming engagements and consultation on important water
policy, reforms and programs for NSW. This month we focus on the NSW Groundwater Strategy.
Date: Wednesday, September 20, 2023
Time: 11:00 AM Australian Eastern Standard Time (New South Wales)
Duration: 1 hour
The Australian Government has announced consultation into ideas and ways to finalise the Murray Darling Basin Plan.
The Gwydir Valley has 5,000 ML of environmental water over the legal requirements for the Basin Plan and the consultation open at the
moment presents an opportunity to highlight this and the inequity that exists for the region who has over-recovered water compared with regions that have progress still to make.
DPE are hosting one-hour, on-on-one (in-person) session to help develop property measurement plans for floodplain harvesting.
Venue: Moree Services Club, 3 Albert St, Moree
Time: 9:30 am to 5.00 pm
Dates: Tuesday 27 June to Thursday 29 June
Available times:
Monday 20th March - Learn about your local river, its cultural heritage and the creatures that call it home.
Join CottonInfo for a FREE, FUN and INFORMATIVE kayak trip at Moree's Tareelaroi Weir. You will hear from aquatic experts, entomologists and ecologists about what animals contribute to natural pest control in your region and what you can do to manage their
habitats.
Presenters: Simone Heimoana (CSIRO entomologist) – Pest Suppressive landscapes, Dr Rhiannon Smith (UNE ecologist) – Valuing biodiversity and how best to revegetate floodplains Dr Susan Fuller (QUT ecologist) – Innovative acoustic monitoring technology David Preston (DPIE) –
Environmental flows and river management, Rodney Price (NSWDPI ecologist) – Fish Screening program, Jay Barnett (OzFish unlimited) – River Repair Bus, Kerrie Saunders (Yinarr-ma) – Cultural Heritage and bushtucker
Sundown Pastoral Company would like to invite you to join them for the 2022 Bayer Grower of the Year Field Day at Keytah, Moree on
21st February 2023
from 10am.
Industry-led panel sessions will explore:
1. Carbon and Greenhouse Gas Emissions.
2. Customer expectations along the value chain.
3. The power of Supply Chain Traceability.
4. Adaptive Agriculture and Innovative Solutions for Growers
5. Practical Applications and Field Innovations
Please see your invitation included. A detailed agenda is available here.
Could you please share this information with your network as this will be a fantastic day where all aspects of the cotton supply chain from
field to fabric will be explored. .
We hope to see you there! Please RSVP for catering purposes.
Link to RSVP: https://forms.gle/L2FuBvymtxNgmuK16
Event Webpage: https://www.sundownpastoral.com.au/field-day/
Carbon is one of the topics getting attention at present. It is important for our members to understand what it means for them. To help we are hosting the Gwydir Regional Carbon Forum in partnership with UNE, NSW DPI and the CRDC. We are looking to provide information on Sustainable Soil Management and how this links with a productive cropping system and Carbon.
This months resource assessment provided a further 8.6% allocation to general security accounts, with the ECA and environmental water
accounts at maximum level. Irrigation water availability is just below the 600GL maximum account limit.
The main summer irrigation season is drawing to a close and deliveries to the Gwydir Wetlands are also slowing down, which should see
releases at Copeton Dam ease off and the majority of this water carried over for future use.
Copeton Dam is holding steady at 93% capacity which means there is plenty of water to enjoy at the Holiday Park. At this level at the end of the irrigation season we anticipate, a few good years of economic activity from the stored water.
NSW DPIEW are providing an update on groundwater levels in the Gwydir Valley on Tuesday, 15th March 2022 - 9:30- 11:30am. This
meeting is a face to face meeting in Moree at the Services Club.
Groundwater levels have generally fluctuated within acceptable levels of decline and recovery. However, in some localities, with
concentrated areas of pumping, groundwater levels are not able to fully recover before the following irrigation season starts. The
Department have more information on this and have provided a brief report accessed via the below link.
Please register to attend using the online form - Community
meetings on groundwater levels - Lower Gwydir - Moree Tickets, Tue 15/03/2022 at 9:30 am | Eventbrite
Join us for discussions on the Siphon-less tailwater backup design at Saunders Farming "Thuraggi Overflow" St George on Tuesday
8th March 2022. The field day is the second half of the CSD Cotton Management Field day.
The irrigation session will start at 10am with an update on the Water productivity benchmarking followed by an introduction to the system
from Craig Saunders. We will then have a panel session with Glenn Lyon, Lucas Wuersching, Andrew McKay, Grant Oswald and Malcolm
Gillies to discuss the design, the performance and some of the considerations for implementation.
We will be leaving Moree a 7am on Tuesday. Please contact Lou on 0427521498
The Gwydir Valley is currently experiencing a once in a decade event with Copeton Dam filling and spilling, along with most rivers and
streams flowing naturally.
Zara Lowien, Executive Officer of Gwydir Valley Irrigators Association who represents water users in the valley said whilst it is rare to
see Copeton Dam this full and spilling, this signifies the region is at the start of the boom, of our historical boom and bust cycle here in
the Gwydir Valley.
“Copeton Dam filling and our rivers constantly flowing, as they have for nearly a year now, is exactly what happens here when it finally
does rain” she said.
“These conditions are a far cry from those a few years ago, when environmental water and high security deliveries were the only sources of
water keeping parts of our rivers flowing, while others just didn’t flow at all” she said.
Want to find our for yourself what the new NSW Metering Rules mean for you? The NSW Government is holding two virtual metering field
days
to help you understand the rules and what you need to do to be compliant.
You will be able to ask questions to a panel from the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment - Water group, WaterNSW and NRAR
staff. Fee free to ask these questions when registering.
Metering suppliers will also be presenting information on their products and available to answer your questions.
Session
1
Thursday 28 October
Session1: 12:30pm – 3.00pm
Session
2
Friday 29 October
Session1: 12:30pm – 3.00pm
DPIE is currently seeking watercourse landholder input to develop business cases for the Lower Gwydir and Gingham Watercourses, Lower Mehi
River and Ballin Boora Creek.
Over the next few months they will be working with the local community to develop the business case. There will be a series of community
gatherings followed by local workshops to: discuss project objectives and opportunities, bring local knowledge and community needs into the
scoping of potential measures, create strategies for on-ground outcomes.
Landholders in the project area should have received information in the mail however if you are located in the project area and did not
receive a letter please contact us. The community gatherings from next Monday 19 July – 22 Thursday July 2021
Find out more:
Online: environment.nsw.gov.au/nbtk/gwydircmp
Email: gwydir.cmp@environment.nsw.gov.au
The Gwydir Valley Floodplain Management Plan is due for it's five-year review as per the plan requirements. The review is to determine whether its provisions remain adequate and appropriate for ensuring the effective implementation of the water management principles. The public submission period provides opportunities for water users, stakeholders and other interested parties to inform the review of these plans. Comment is specifically being sought on:
The NSW Government session will cover key information to help you get measurement ready. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions
to a panel from the department's Water division and NRAR.
Trade stalls will be held after the information session so you can meet and connect with metering suppliers, installers and key department
staff from the floodplain harvesting licencing and approvals team.
Moree
Thursday, 11 March
10:00am – 1:30pm
Max Theatre, Level 1/30 Heber St, Moree
Register
to attend this session
NSW Department are holding face-to-face consultation on proposed rules for floodplain harvesting in the Gwydir Valley for the regulated and
unregulated water sources, in Moree on Wednesday 24th February and Thursday 25th February. Due to COVID safe restrictions you must
register. Visit the Department website below.
We encourage all members and associated agricultural businesses to attend to hear about this historic reform and how NSW intends to manage
it into the future. Implementing floodplain harvesting will be a significant regulatory shift for our industry and will have
community impacts, ad water users adjust to new rules.
There will be an NDrip field day in Wee Waa, on Thursday 28th January from 10:00 to 11:00am. If you are interested in looking at this gravity powered micro-irrigation system, Please RSVP to peter.birch@elders.com or phone 0428.669.157
