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Farm Water Program Elated About AWA National Award Win

The Farm Water Program (FWP) was honoured and elated to receive the Australian Water Association’s (AWA) 2015 National Program Innovation Award recently.

The awards were held at a gala dinner at the Adelaide Convention Centre on Wednesday 13 May and attended by staff from the Farm Water Program and the Program’s Consortium Partners. Mr Chris Norman, Chief Executive Officer for Goulburn Broken CMA, accepted the award on behalf of the Farm Water Program in front of over 950 water practitioners from Australia and overseas.

“The Farm Water Program is ecstatic about the national award win. The key to the program’s success has been the innovative combination of a consortium of well-respected industry and agency partners combined with the crucial support and funding of the State and Federal Government,” Mr Norman said.

“The program could not have achieved this win without the dedication and commitment of our ownFarm Water Program staff, complemented by the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources on-ground staff. They are a team of hardworking, diligent individuals who engage with our irrigators and ensure works complement the G-MW Connections Program’s $2 billion modernisation of the delivery system,” Mr Norman added.

“We were up against some incredibly innovative programs from industry leaders across Australia. Unitywater, MAK Industrial Water Solutions and Carnegie Wave Energy, the South Australian Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources and the South East Natural Resource Management Board were all finalists in our category. We extend our congratulations to our fellow nominees, the Australian Water Association and all involved in organising the event,” he said.

“Awards aside, the real win is for the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District which has benefited from on-farm modernisation improvements. So far, over $120 million in funding to more than 500 irrigators has generated over 50 gigalitres of water savings to benefit the environment.Not to mention the significant economic, social and regional benefits, including increases in farm productivity of between 0.6-2 tonnes dry matter per hectare” said Mr Norman.

“From here, the Farm Water Program Consortium will continue to lobby for future funding for the region’s ongoing growth through on-farm irrigation improvements.”
The Farm Water Program consortium, is led by the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (CMA) and includes North Central CMA, North East CMA, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, Goulburn Murray Water, Dairy Australia, Murray Dairy and Northern Victorian Irrigators.

For more information visit our website www.gbcma.vic.gov.au/sustainable_irrigation/farm_water.

The Goulburn Broken CMA acknowledges and respects First Nations people and the deep connection they have with their land and waters.


We acknowledge the Yorta Yorta and Taungurung people and their ancestors/forbears as Traditional Owners of the land and waters in the Goulburn Broken Catchment (and beyond). We value our ongoing partnerships with Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation and Taungurung Land and Waters Council for the health of Country and its people.


We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge and recognise the primacy of Traditional Owners obligations, rights and responsibilities to use and care for their traditional lands and waters.

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