75th National Conference & Annual General Meeting 22-24 October 2019 City Hall Toowoomba Qld

REGENERATION FOR A HEALTHY BASIN

Hosted By Presented By: Toowoomba Regional Council The Murray Darling Association Northern Basin Region 12 Tuesday 22 October 2019 The Annex, Toowoomba City Hall, 8:00 am Registrations open Ruthven Street, Toowoomba Cr David Thurley Conference opens: Welcome National President MDA 9:00 am Welcome to Country To be confirmed Mayor Paul Antonio Welcome to Toowoomba Toowoomba Regional Council Mr Mick Keelty AO Opening Address 9:30 am Interim Inspector-General of A new Inspector General for the Murray Darling Basin Murray-Darling Basin Water Resources Opening Keynote Ian McConnel Intensifying productivity – sustainably. 10.00 am Global Commodity Leader – Beef Local government’s role in the balance between regional WWF growth and water security. 10:30 am MORNING TEA Grant Barnes Cultivating the right conditions for compliance in the 11.00 am Chief Regulatory Officer Northern Basin Natural Resource Access Regulator Warrick Ragg – General Manager NRM Australian Agriculture’s Plan for a $100 Billion Industry National Farmers’ Federation presents exciting opportunities and real challenges for local Business speaker government and the communities of the Murray Darling Description 11:30 am Basin. Hear from a panel of business, industry, government Local Government speaker and natural resource management experts discuss how Description we will work together in a climate of changing water Ben Gawne – Climate Change and Water availability. Availability, MDBA 12:30 pm LUNCH Brent Kinnane – General Manager Innovation and the Next Generation. TAFE Executives 1:30 pm Dreamtime landscapes and horticultural services Kristy McDermott Queensland Vocational Student of the Year The Murray Darling Basin Authority will provide an update Phillip Glyde The Murray Darling Association welcomes delegates to our 75th National Conference and AGM on the implementation of the Murray Darling Basin Plan, 2.00 pm Chief Executive showcasing the magnificent Northern Basin region. accreditation of Water Resource Plans, and plans for Murray Darling Basin Authority regionalisation. Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE) – partnering for the future. Bruce McConnel REGENERATION 2.30 pm Driving regional collaboration between Australia’s food, General Manager agricultural and technology businesses, local government Food Leaders Australia FOR A HEALTHY BASIN and burgeoning world markets. The role of cotton in the Murray Darling Basin’s food and Paul Brimblecombe 3:00 pm In an era of constant change – in government, in legislation, in industry and farming practice, fibre future. Cubbie Station changes to energy and water availability - regeneration must be our bedrock. 3:30 pm AFTERNOON TEA Regeneration for a healthy Basin Regional growth, economic development and agricultural productivity are essential to the TBC 4:00 pm Integrating river management to deliver improved health Landcare Australia future of our Basin communities. Councils and government across Australia must work hard outcomes for inland rivers at a landscape scale to ensure we have the balance right. Regeneration of the land and river systems will ensure Emma Bradbury – CEO 4:30 pm Reading of the motions our regions survive, adapt and prosper. Working together we can nurture the leadership, drive Murray Darling Association the initiative, and build the capacity to ensure regeneration for a healthy basin. 4.45 pm Close CIVIC RECEPTION 73A Russell Street, 6:00 pm The spectacular newly refurbished Toowoomba City Toowoomba Railway Goods Shed QLD 4350 Wednesday 23 October 2019

David Post CSIRO – the hydrology of water flows across the northern CSIRO Land and Water 9.00 am Basin, and their relationship to southern connected Murray-Darling Basin Coordinator systems. Dr Carmel Pollino* Principal Research Scientist

Drue Edwards* Australia’s National Water Grid 9:30 am General Manager Australia’s Water Infrastructure needs and initiatives. National Water Grid Authority Taskforce

Jim Bentley –Water NSW Trudi Woodward – Deputy Project Director Australia’s National Water Security Plan Connections Project, Goulburn Murray Water The Basin’s water delivery specialists, and policy makers Colin Bendall – Exec. GM Operations 10.00 am REGIONAL STUDY TOUR consider the infrastructure requirements to ensure SunWater Australia’s water security into the future. Andrew Reynolds – Exec. Director, A fully guided tour through innovative farm enterprises and regional connectivity River Management MDBA and engagement across one of the most connected regions in the nation, with * National Water Grid Authority lunch at the fabled Jondaryan Woolshed – this tour has it all. 11.00 am MORNING TEA 8:30 am Depart Toowoomba The Energy Revolution is On Ashley Bland 9:00 am Toowoomba Enterprise Hub and Wellcamp Airport Development 11.30 am Opportunities for Regional Economies Constructive Energy 9:30 am Boomaroo Nursery 11:10 am Stockyard Kerwee Feedlot ARTC – Inland Rail Rebecca Pickering 11:45am Jondaryan Woolshed viewing & Lunch Once-in-a-generation project connecting regional Australia Director – Engagement, Environment and Property 1:30 pm Wetalla Treatment Plant 12:00 pm to global markets, creating the ‘spine’ of the national Jo Tait 3:00 pm Toowoomba TAFE Rural Centre of Excellence freight network between Melbourne and via Business Development Manager regional Victoria, News South Wales and Queensland. 3.45 pm Return to Toowoomba. Dress requirement: Please wear hat, sunscreen, long sleeves and covered in Andrew Kassebaum 12:30 pm Assessment of social and economic conditions in the Basin shoes to ensure access to all sites. Panellist 1:00 pm LUNCH TBC Productivity Commission TBC Commonwealth Environmental Jody Swirepik 2.00 pm Agency updates: Water Office Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder PARTNER’S TOUR Phillip Glyde Murray Darling Basin Authority Parter’s tours are available through: or create your own tour with: Chief Executive Officer, Toowoomba Sightseeing South East Queensland Food Trails City of Greater Shepparton MDA National Conference 2020: www.toowoombasightseeing.com.au www.seqfoodtrails.com.au/Toowoomba 3.00 pm Cr Dennis Patterson Region 2 Goulburn Murray Chair of Region 2 CONFERENCE CLOSE 3:10 pm AFTERNOON TEA Early Bird Discount 3:30 pm Annual General Meeting. Chair: Cr David Thurley Item Full Price 31/08/19 – 5:00 pm Agenda at www.mda.asn.au National President MDA Package Options ANNUAL GALA DINNER Delegates Conference Package $790 $699 Picnic Point 6:30 pm Celebrate a year of groundbreaking achievements. Non-member Conference Package $890 $850 164 Tourist Rd, Toowoomba City Partners Package $450 $450 Individual Options Day One $450 $405 Day Two $450 $405 Thursday 24 October 2019 Study Tour $150 $135 Annual Dinner $95 $95 Inland Rail-sponsored Regional Study Tour: A fully guided tour through innovative Civic Reception $0 $0 8.30 am farm enterprises and regional connectivity and engagement across one of the most

CONFERENCE PRICING AGM $0 $0 – 3:45 pm connected regions in the nation, with lunch at the fabled Jondaryan Woolshed – this tour has it all.

* Pending confirmation. This program may be subject to minor changes for scheduling, but we will endeavour to keep as close as possible to what appears here. The Murray Darling Association would like to thank our valued sponsors and exhibitors.

Sponsors: CUBBIE STATION TOUR 25-26 October 2019

Cubbie wish to extend a warm invitation to all delegates attending the Murray Darling Association 75th National Conference to travel out and kick a few clods at Cubbie Station. – Paul Brimblecombe, Chief Executive Offi cer.

Friday 25 October 2019 7:00 am Depart Neil Street Interchange, Toowoomba Travel on luxury air conditioned coach. Brief stop for morning tea. 12:30 pm Lunch at Dirran Pub, Dirranbandi 1:45 pm Arrive Cubbie Station Delegates will tour the nationally signifi cant Cubbie Station with detailed and up to the minute information provided by Cubbie Station: Paul Brimblecombe as your tour guide. • 80,000 ha 6:00 pm Depart Cubbie Station. 19,000 ha 7:00 pm BBQ dinner and overnight stay at Dirranbandi. irrigation area Accommodation included. • LTA water use 7.5 ML/ha Saturday 26 October 2019 8:00 am Depart Dirranbandi Exhibitors & contributors: Return journey to Toowoomba. Morning tea provided and stop for lunch at Goondiwindi. 3:00 pm Arrive Neil Street Interchange, Toowoomba

Proudly sponsored by: This tour is only available to MDA COST Conference delegates. OF TOUR Register for the tour at www.mda.asn.au or contact the Murray Darling Association $245pp offi ce on 03 5480 3805.

Cubbie Ag management believes that the production of irrigated agriculture and a viable environment can co-exist. Come and see for yourself. CONFERENCE SPEAKERS PAUL BRIMBLECOMBE Detailed speaker biographies are available at www.mda.asn.au Cubbie Station

PAUL ANTONIO Mayor, Toowoomba Regional Council Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor Paul Antonio has been Mayor of the region since 2012. Bringing more than 30 years of local government experience to the role, Paul was previously the Deputy Mayor of the Toowoomba Regional Council in its first amalgamated DRUE EDWARDS term, and Mayor of Millmerran Shire Council for eight years, having served continuously on Text to be supplied Council from 1982-2008. text to be supplied.

GRANT BARNES NRAR Chief Regulatory Officer Grant was appointed to the role in March 2018 has over ten years’ experience in senior leadership roles in freshwater science, strategic planning and science leadership in both established organisations and start-ups. As NRAR’s Chief Regulatory Officer, Grant is BEN GAWNE responsible for the day-to-day operations of the regulator which is charged with adding Text to be supplied transparency and building community confidence in water compliance and enforcement in NSW. text to be supplied.

COLIN BENDALL Executive General Manager Operations, Sunwater Colin Bendall has more than 35 years with Sunwater and its predecessors in technical, PHILLIP GLYDE operational and senior management roles, and oversees Sunwater’s on-ground services Chief Executive Murray-Darling Basin Authority and is responsible for driving operations that support regional Queensland’s water needs. Phillip Glyde has been the Chief Executive of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority since Colin previously owned and directed a successful irrigation design company and was January 2016. Immediately prior to this Phillip worked for the Department of Agriculture involved in the design of large-scale water harvesting schemes, on-farm dams, drainage for nine years. Phillip joined the Australian Public Service in 1980 and has worked and irrigation. on natural resource management, industry and environment policies in a number of Australian government departments and overseas. JIM BENTLEY CEO – Water (Deputy Secretary), Department of Planning, Industry and Environment Jim is a senior executive with extensive experience, particularly in the water sector, working ANDREW KASSEBAUM across both the private and public sector. His deep knowledge of water utilities will be Independent Assessment of Social and Economic Conditions Panel Member useful in his role where he will oversee billion-dollar water infrastructure programs and the Andrew is a horticulturist based in the Riverland and Barossa Valley, specialising in prioritisation of water projects, and work closely with utility companies. Jim has a history of the production of irrigated wine grapes. He is an elected member of the Berri Barmera evidence-based decision making, with a background in infrastructure services consulting. council, a board member of Regional Development Australia Murraylands Riverland and As the department continues to roll out Regional Water Strategies, his expertise and skills the Berri Hotel Group, and a committee member of the River Murray Advisory Committee will be invaluable in securing both metropolitan and regional water supplies. and the Murray-Darling Association Region 5.

ASHLEY BLAND MICK KEELTY AO APM Northern Basin Commissioner Senior Manager Environment, Skillset Mr Keelty was an officer with the Australian Federal Police for 35 years, with 8 and half Born into a farming family, Ashley trained as an engineer and worked in the mining years as Commissioner of Police. He was awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia in and agricultural industries during his early career. Now working as Senior Manager 2001. Mr Keelty is an Adjunct Professor at both the Australian National University and Environment for Skillset, Ashley assists individuals and organisations with energy, waste Charles Sturt University. His academic qualifications include a Masters of Public Policy and and landscape management. Administration and a Graduate Certificate in Criminal Justice Education. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management.

EMMA BRADBURY MR BRENT KINNANE MDA Chief Executive Officer Brent Kinnane has 15 years of experience in strategic and operational management, Emma Bradbury is a social scientist with extensive experience in business management business development and finance across a range of industries and sectors. Brent is the across the agricultural, mining and education sectors. Emma has also owned a mixed chair of the TAFE at School Steering Committee, tasked with reinforcing TAFE Queensland farming enterprise and served as a councillor with the Shire of Campaspe. Emma is a as the provider of choice for schools in Queensland. He holds a Bachelor of Business graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Management and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. BRUCE MCCONNEL WARWICK RAGG General Manager, Food Leaders Australia General Manager, Natural Resource Management – National Farmers’ Federation Bruce McConnel brings with him a wealth of experience in agribusiness management. Warwick was raised on a farm in the NSW Southern Highlands and has almost 30 years Bruce holds a Bachelor of Agribusiness and Diploma of Export Management, and has experience in rural and regional advocacy. Prior to joining NFF Warwick had been working spent the last 17 years in a range of roles across the Australian finance industry. Bruce in the Commonwealth Government in stakeholder engagement roles and had previously has expertise in beef, horticulture, grains and cotton industries and their respective spent a decade with NSW Farmers’ Association and a further decade as chief executive supply chains and export markets. of Australian Forest Growers.

ANDREW REYNOLDS IAN MCCONNEL Executive Director, River Management – MDBA Global Commodity Leader – Beef, World Wildlife Fund Andrew Reynolds joined the Murray-Darling Basin Authority in 2013 as General Manager Ian is WWF’s Global Expert on Livestock and a globally recognised expert on Animal Assets, and has recently been appointed Executive Director, River Management. Andrew Production Systems. In this role, Ian is an executive committee member of the Global has over twenty years’ experience in the water industry, he has extensive experience in the Roundtable for Sustainable Beef and actively involved in efforts to improve the economic, operation, maintenance and upgrade of large water supply dams and delivery of major water social and environmental impacts of livestock production in 15 countries. infrastructure projects. Andrew is also a Director on the Executive Committee of the Australian National Committee on Large Dams Incorporated. CR DENNIS PATTERSON Chair of Region 2, City of Greater Shepparton ROBBIE SEFTON I am now in my seventh year as a councillor for the City of Greater Shepparton. I am still Founder and Managing Director, Seftons passionate about the place we all call home. I am particularly interested in the Murray Robbie Sefton specialises in facilitating groups through contentious and challenging Darling Basin Plan that is causing so much grief to our irrigation sector and damaging issues and has more than 25 years’ experience in strategic communication. A producer of our heritage-listed Goulburn River. I represent Council on the Murray Darling Association wool, meat and grains, Robbie is a graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Program, and chair Region Two of that Association which takes in most of Northern Victoria and the 2002 RIRDC NSW Rural Woman of the Year and a member of numerous boards and Southern NSW. I will continue to work for our ratepayers to the best of my ability. advisory groups for governments, businesses and not-for-profits. KRISTY MCDERMOTT JODY SWIREPIK Dreamtime Landscapes and Horticultural Services Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder Kristy McDermott was looking for a career that would allow her to spend quality time with Prior to taking up the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder position in February 2018, her family, and support her passion for land management and sustainability. Completing Jody spent 3 years with the Clean Energy Regulator learning about the parallel universe of the dual qualification has also given Kristy the opportunity to work alongside her partner’s carbon accountancy and renewables working with big industry. Jody has over 25 years of lawn care business. Through her new venture, Dreamtime Landscapes and Horticultural experience in the water sector, driving a range of initiatives including state water reforms, The Services, Kristy designs and plans projects for clients, while her partner maintains the Living Murray and parts of the Basin Plan. finished product. REBECCA PICKERING JO TAIT Director - Engagement, Environment and Property Business Development Manager - and Northern NSW, ARTC Inland Rail/ARTC Jo Tait engages with communities to facilitate increased freight on rail on the Inland Rail Rebecca is responsible for leading Inland Rail’s community and stakeholder engagement, network. Her focus is on growing new business in regional areas to increase market and property access and acquisition functions, and directing the Program’s environmental share across ARTC’s Interstate freight network. This involves building and maintaining and social management area. Her remit covers Inland Rail’s entire 1,700km alignment relationships with potential customers, rail freight owners, terminal owners and industry comprising 13 individual projects across 37 local government areas in Victoria, New South stakeholders. Jo’s background is in linear infrastructure and regional development. Wales and Queensland.

CR DAVID THURLEY DR CARMEL POLLINO National President, Murray Darling Association Murray-Darling Basin Coordinator Cr David Thurley has been National President of the MDA since 2014 and is a councillor with Albury City Council. David is also an accomplished scientist, astronomer, and futurist. His expertise in the treatment of waste water has taken him to Malaysia, Brazil, England, France, Sweden and Greece.

TRUDI WOODWARD Deputy Project Director of the Goulburn-Murray Water (GMW) Connections Project DAVID POST The Goulburn-Murray Water (GMW) Connections Project is oversighting a $2 billion CSIRO Victorian and Australian Government infrastructure investment to upgrade an ageing inefficient irrigation system into a world-class modernised delivery network. Trudi is responsible for the delivery and oversight of the projects high risks areas. Her portfolio includes the management of internal project delivery, health and safety, construction, stakeholder engagement and legal services across the Project. Please visit mda.asn.au for registration and accommodation options

Additional copies of this document can be downloaded from www.mda.asn.au

Murray Darling Association Level 1, 250 Anstruther St, Echuca Vic 3564 | Ph 03 5480 3805 | Email [email protected]