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About NSWIC

The NSW Irrigators' Council supports the development and growth of sustainable irrigated agriculture through:

• a commitment to the ongoing management of our working rivers to ensure the indefinite provision of water for human use, ecosystems and biodiversity values;
  
  
• the adoption of appropriate Government policies, laws and regulations;

• the coordination of irrigation industry policy; and

• the provision of authoritative information to the community.

Mission Statement

To contribute to efficient, responsible and profitable water use by objectively analysing the issues and serving as the peak body representing all irrigators in all the strategic decisions concerning the use of water in NSW.

Information on Members

The NSW IRRIGATORS' COUNCIL is the peak body representing irrigation farmers across the State of New South Wales (in Australia).

The NSWIC consists of a diverse and extensive group of members from the irrigation corporations through to food & fibre and commodity groups. Each member plays a critical role in supporting the NSWIC in its role as representative to irrigation farmers within NSW.

For more information on these individual members please select the link to members or select LINK from the main menu.

Information on Board

Chair - Colin Thomson

Mr Colin Thomson was elected Chair of the New South Wales Irrigators' Council in April 1997.

He is also Chair for the NSW State Water Customer Service Committee, Chair of the South Western Water Users Association and also the Vice Chair of Western Murray Irrigation.

With his wife, Mr Thomson owns and operates a farming business near Wentworth, NSW.

Vice Chair - Mr Laurie Arthur

Mr Laurie Arthur was elected Vice Chair of the New South Wales Irrigators' Council in October 2002.

Mr Arthur is also President of the Ricegrowers' Association of Australia Inc. and President of Irrigators' Inc.

He is also a delegate to the National Farmers Federation, member of NFF Water Taskforce and a member of the MDBC Community Reference Panel for The Living Murray.

He graduated in Agricultural Science at Melbourne University and resides on his rice and winter cereals property at Moulamein, NSW, with his wife Debbie and three children - John, Andrew & Lauren.

Treasurer - Dick Thompson

Mr Dick Thompson was elected Treasurer of the New South Wales Irrigators' Council in October 2002.

Mr Thompson is the inaugural Chairman and Director of Murrumbidgee Irrigation Limited as well as Executive Member of Australian National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (ANCID), and committee member of State Water Murrumbidgee Customer Service Committee and Tumut River Advisory Council.

Mr Thompson has also recently been appointed to the Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority.

Mr Thompson has a strong background in Accounting and was formerly the Chair of Ricegrowers Association of Australia (RGA) Economic Sub Committee.

Mr Thompson together with his wife Jan own and operate a rice farm in Griffith, NSW.

Director - Ian Cush

Mr Ian Cush was elected a Director of the New South Wales Irrigators' Council in November 2004 and is also a member of the Gwydir Valley Irrigators Association Inc.

Mr Cush is Managing Director of Pechelba Trust, and has been an irrigator since 1979. Pechelba now operates at Dirranbandi, Moree and Wee Waa covering three irrigation valleys. Mr Cush has been involved developing eight properties for irrigation making significant water efficiency advances. Mr Cush also has an interest in the Waterexchange, a water trading company.

Director - Michael Bennett

Mr Michael Bennett was elected a Director of the New South Wales Irrigators' Council in November 2003 and is also a member of Macquarie River Food and Fibre.

Mr Bennett is Chair of the State Water Customer Service Committee. This committee serves as irrigator's input into State Water's operation of its bulk water delivery business. He is also a member representing Macquarie River Food and Fibre/Cudgegong River Management Committee which is undertaking a Water Sharing Plan for the Minister for Infrastructure Planning and Natural Resources and will dictate irrigator entitlements for the next 10 years.

Mr Bennett is a partner of Bennett Bros which operates a farming and grazing property "Killowen" at Narromine where he lives with his wife and 5 children.

Director - Ted Hatty

Mr Ted Hatty was elected a Director of the New South Wales Irrigators' Council in Sydney in November 2007 and is also a member of Southern Riverina Irrigators.

Mr Hatty lives at Tocumwal where he runs his farming enterprise growing rice, wheat barley and canola within the Murray irrigation system. Murray Irrigation supplies irrigation water to 1600 farm business along the Murray Valley.

Mr Hatty is married to Fran who is a nurse at the local hospital and together they have 3 young children.

Chief Executive -Andrew Gregson

Mr Andrew Gregson was appointed Chief Executive in August 2007.

Andrew holds Degrees in Economics and law from the University of Tasmania and is Admitted to Practice as a Barrister and Solicitor.

Andrew has been engaged in political strategy at both a state and federal level as State Director of a major party and Chief of Staff to a parliamentary leader.

Andrew is married to dina and is the proud father of Grace. They live in Sydney.

Company Secretary - Charmaine Silvello

Mrs Silvello was appointed to the position of Company Secretary in July 2007. Charmaine has worked for the Company for over 10 years.

About the Site

The NSW Irrigators' Council web site has been created as an information source for members and a method by which interested parties can obtain details with regard to irrigation within NSW and Australia.

The site has been designed for ease of access, relevance and clarity. The aim of the site is to provide its members with the information required to facilitate learning, knowledge and effective decision making with regard to irrigation practices and principles.

Within the site there are links to a number of PDF (Portable Document Format) files. This format allows the reader to view a document whilst maintaining its original format. To view the PDF files you will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. To install this FREE program please select the above link, or click on the icon to the left of the screen.

View the site to gain a better understanding about what NSWIC has to offer its members and others. The main menu is situated across the top of the screen while sub-headings are located along the left hand side of the screen. The sub-headings show the contents of the main menu items.

Start by selecting one of the main menu items to navigate through the site.