LAND AND WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN A FIRST IN PROSERPINE DISTRICT

A well-known canegrower in the Proserpine district is the first irrigator in the region to obtain a Land and Water Management Plan (LWMP), Natural Resources and Water Minister Craig Wallace said today.

Mr Wallace said canegrower Lui Raiteri prepared the LWMP to help reduce contaminated run-off into waterways and improve water use efficiency on his farm.

Prepared through the Department of Natural Resources and Water, LWMPs give landholders the opportunity to demonstrate environmentally responsible use of irrigation water.

Mr Wallace said Mr Raiteri planned to construct a recycle pit to capture stormwater and tailwater run-off from his irrigation areas, before recycling the water for irrigation.

“The LWMPs are normally required by irrigators who have purchased new, or additional, water or who have seasonally-assigned water for irrigation on a regular basis,” Mr Wallace said.

“In Mr Raiteri’s case, a plan was required to meet the moratorium on the capture of overland flow water, associated with the draft Whitsunday Water Resource Plan.”

Mr Raiteri, who farms about 156 hectares and manages run-off from about 1,000 hectares on nearby properties, said the LWMP was a useful management tool to help manage his farm more efficiently.

“Everything we do in agriculture concerns land and water,” Mr Raiteri said.

Mr Raiteri said the comprehensive plan would allow him to continuously improve his farm management.

“The best outcome is we now have records in place and, while we’ve always been environmentally aware, it helps us meet the guidelines,” Mr Raiteri said.

He said he was required to supply information including the size and pumping capabilities of his property’s pumps, details on the layout of the farm, including the location of powerlines, and contours on his block.

Mr Wallace said LWMPs took into consideration a farm’s landscape features, soil types, irrigation water quality, irrigation methods and management practices.

“LWMPs are about assisting landholders to achieve industry best management practice,” Mr Wallace said.

Photo available on request.

Caption: Proserpine canegrower Lui Raiteri is the first irrigator in the district to prepare a Land and Water Management Plan

Media contact: Paul Childs, Craig Wallace’s office, on 0407 131 6454.