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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, Director of the National Irrigators Council and also a Director of Western Murray Irrigation.

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

Vice Chair - Mr Ian Cush

Mr Ian Cush was elected a Director of the New South Wales Irrigators' Council in November 2004 and Vice Chair in November 2008. He is also Chair 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 in developing eight properties for irrigation making significant water efficiency advances.

Director - Mr Bernard George (Bernie)

Mr Bernie George was elected a Director of the New South Wales Irrigators' Council in November 2008 and is the General Manager of Auscott's Namoi Valley Operations. Mr George lives near Wee Waa where the company operates a vertically integrated cotton and grains business including farming, processing and marketing.

Mr George is the past Chairman of Cotton Australia, a Fellow of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation and a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Australian Institute of Management. He holds an MBA in Agribusiness.

Director - Mr Matt Linnegar

Mr Matt Linnegar was elected a Director of the New South Wales Irrigators' Council in November 2008 and is also a Director of the National Irrigators Council. He is a graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Program and a Fellow of the Australian institute of Company Directors.

Matt lives in Griffith, is married to Regina and has three young children.

Director - Michael Bennett

Mr Michael Bennett was elected a Director of the New South Wales Irrigators' Council in November 2003 was elected to the position of Treasurer in November 2008. He is also a member of Macquarie River Food and Fibre.

He was appointed a director of the State Water Corporation during 2004. Mr Bennett is Chairman of the Macquarie Cudgegong State Water Customer Service Committee. This committee provides customers input into State Water's operation of its bulk water delivery business. He was also a member representing Macquarie River Food and Fibre/Cudgegong River Management Committee which undertook the development of the Macquarie Cudgegong Water Sharing Plan for the Minister for Infrastructure Planning and Natural Resources which dictates irrigator entitlements till 2014.

Mr Bennett is a partner of Bennett Bros which operates the 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 Chair of Southern Riverina Irrigators and a graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Program.

Mr Hatty lives at Tocumwal where he operates a 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. He 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.

Policy Analyst - Mark Moore

Mr Moore was appointed to the position of Policy Analyst in September 2008 and is originally from Vancouver, Canada.

Mark has worked extensively in the hospitality field and specialised in training and development for companies undergoing organisational restructuring. Internationally, he helped manage the entertainment department of Celebrity Cruises and Cruise Sales for Princess.

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.