Established and Supported Under the Australian Government’S Cooperative Research Centres Program
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better irrigation • better environment • better future www.irrigationfutures.org.au Established and supported under the Australian Government’s Cooperative Research Centres Program © Cooperative Research Centre for Irrigation Futures, 2006 Established and supported under the Australian Government's Cooperative Designed by USQ Graphics, Media Services, DeC (06-454) Research Centres Program Cooperative Research Centre for IRRIGATION FUTURES PO Box 56, Darling Heights Qld 4350 » CRC IF Vision Ph: 07 4631 2046 | Fax: 07 4631 1870 Email: [email protected] Our vision for irrigation practice and water use in Australia is that by 2020, as a nation we will have: www.irrigationfutures.org.au • Defined and implemented the principles of sustainable irrigation practice in all environments; • Processes that resolve the water use compromises necessary for people’s needs, the environment, production and amenity. » CRC IF Mission We facilitate cooperative research and training networks and programs which continuously improve better irrigation irrigation policy, tools, practices and processes to: • double irrigation water use productivity; • improve profitability for commercial irrigation enterprises; and • protect and enhance our landscapes and environment. » CRC IF Values better environment • Leadership • Excellence • Creativity and innovation • Outcome focus • Honesty and sensitivity • Teamwork and collaboration • Kool & funky better future » Contents 1 » Executive Summary ............................................................................................2 1.1 Chairman’s report ................................................................................................... 2 1.2 CEO’s report ............................................................................................................. 3 2 » Governance, structure and management ..........................................................5 3 » Context and Major Developments during the Year ............................................9 4 » Commercialisation, Technology Transfer, Utilisation .......................................11 4.1 Commercialisation and utilisation strategies and activities .............................. 11 4.2 IP management ..................................................................................................... 16 4.3 End-user involvement and impact on end-users .................................................. 17 5 » Research ..........................................................................................................19 5.1 Research activities and achievements ............................................................... 19 5.1.1. Policy and Planning for Change ................................................................. 19 5.1.2. System Sustainability – Rural and Urban ................................................. 25 5.1.3 Future Irrigation – Practice and Technology ............................................... 31 6 » Education and Training......................................................................................37 7 » Collaboration ....................................................................................................44 7.1 National Collaborative Linkages ........................................................................... 44 7.2 Collaboration with other CRCs .............................................................................. 46 7.3 International Collaborative Linkages .................................................................... 47 8 » Specified Personnel .........................................................................................48 9 » Communications and Marketing ......................................................................49 9.1 Media .................................................................................................................... 53 9.2 Public Presentations ............................................................................................. 53 10 » Publications....................................................................................................54 10.1 Books or Book Chapters ...................................................................................... 54 10.1 Books or Book Chapters ...................................................................................... 54 10.2 Refereed Journal Articles .................................................................................... 54 10.3 Conference Publications ..................................................................................... 56 10.4 Reports ................................................................................................................ 61 11 » Grants ............................................................................................................64 12 » Performance Measures ..................................................................................65 13 » Financial information ......................................................................................67 13.1 In-kind Contributions ........................................................................................... 67 13.2 Cash Contributions ............................................................................................. 71 13.3 Resources .......................................................................................................... 73 13.4 Allocation of Resources Between Categories ................................................... 74 14 » Auditors report ................................................................................................75 [1] 1 » Executive Summary 1.1 Chairman’s report I open this report by noting that we have continued to see substantial change in the organisation, programs and staffing arrangements of the Cooperative Research Centre for Irrigation Futures (CRC IF), this being reflective of the dynamic environment within which we operate. Social, environmental and economic pressures on irrigation policy and practice remain at the fore and continue to evolve in their expression and impact, and a number of significant opportunities for freshly directed R&D have also emerged. In addressing achievements of the CRC IF during these past twelve months, I note the detailed reports of the CEO/Chief Scientist and the content of this report and make specific comment on: • The high level of interaction and cooperation between individual researchers that has added a much needed dimension to interstate and cross regional irrigation research and extension. • The building of a substantive body of reports, papers, brochures and software products that embody many outputs from our first three years of operation. • An unprecedented level of interaction with participants and external clients that continues the critical relationship building process between the CRC IF as a research provider and end user, from policy developer to irrigation enterprise manager. • The graduation of our first CRC IF supported post-graduate and the building enthusiasm and potential capacity of our student cohort. • The initiation of the Regional Irrigation Business Partnerships™ (RIBPs) as a means of engaging with and delivering outcomes from the Irrigation Toolkits™ and System Harmonisation™ programs from our next phase of research and influence. It is heartening to see that the over $30 million committed in cash and seconded RD&E has enabled a significant consolidation of current capacity, enhanced development of future capacity and has generated novel, effective ways of more rapidly delivering R&D to keenly interested irrigation communities and public agencies. Our prime staffing change arose with the loss of our inaugural CEO, Matthew Durack, who resigned to take up a senior position in agribusiness; this move created some initial challenges, however, the commitment of Dr Wayne Meyer to the Interim CEO role, and the subsequent appointment of Ian Atkinson to the Chief Executive position, has seen progress substantially uninterrupted. My sincere thanks are extended to Matthew for his leadership in the early days of the CRC IF and for the legacy of a well distributed and connected regional network of researchers and irrigation interests, both public and commercial. Similarly, sincere thanks are extended to Wayne for his ongoing commitment and excellent contribution during his five months as Acting CEO and the delivery of the new four year R&D plan. During this period, we also saw the term of appointment of all Board Members conclude with Dr Peter Cullen, Dr John Williams and Mr Stephen Mills standing down. The very considerable enthusiasm, insight and intellect contributed by these notable personalities will provide an enduring and substantial impact on the thinking applied to national R&D [2] Cooperative Research Centre for IRRIGATION FUTURES and its delivery. The subsequent appointment by the participants of new Board Members, Associate Professor Diana Day, Mr Russell Cooper and Professor Snow Barlow, together with the re-appointment of the remaining original Board Members, will see the Board retain adequate continuity and a very high level of insight, foresight and credibility. The future of irrigation in the increasingly complex and challenging Australian environment will be highly dependent on relevant, quality R&D and the CRC IF is very well structured and positioned to deliver across our diverse regions. In fact, a major outcome from our first three years in operation