Chair Update - 5 December 2023

I am pleased to provide you with my first update as Chair of Murray Irrigation's new Board.

It is an honour to have been elected as Chair of the Murray Irrigation Board. I acknowledge and thank departing Chair, Noel Baxter for his dedication and hard work over the past five and half years as both a Director and Chair. Equally, I take this opportunity to acknowledge the contribution of our other departing Director Ryan Gleeson, in particular for the financial expertise he has provided as Chair of Murray Irrigation's Audit and Risk Management Committee.

I extend a warm welcome to our new Directors, Brendan Barry and Troy Mauger. I look forward to working with Brendan and Troy, together with the rest of my Board colleagues, Murray Irrigation's staff, management, and our shareholders, on strategies and initiatives in the year ahead.

It would be safe to say that the passage of the Restoring Our Rivers Bill 2023 through the parliament last week has been nothing short of a blow to farming communities across the Basin. From a company perspective, Murray Irrigation is still grappling with effects from previous buybacks and past water policy decisions. The company is now delivering half the annual volume of water to what it was delivering in similar allocation years after privatisation. The Board is committed to working with our shareholders, industry stakeholders, fellow Irrigation Infrastructure Operators and the broader community on minimising the impact of a fresh round of buybacks on our region.

A strong, united approach is paramount, as we move into this next phase.

That is why it was so pleasing to see unity emerge as a major theme from the discussion at last week's Annual General Meeting. I thank all of you who attended, asked questions and participated in the conversation. The need to work together for the future of our region has never been more important.

On the related topic of our AGM, the Board has agreed that it will not be proposing to sell any conveyance or supplementary licenses without a shareholder vote in the next 12 months. The new Board made this decision at our first Board meeting last Thursday in response to a question raised from the floor at the AGM. Furthermore, the Board has asked for advice as to whether this can be inserted into the company's constitution, together with any unintended risks that may be associated with doing so.

The Board recognises the interdependent, symbiotic relationship MIL has with its farmers and what this means for our local community. This relationship is understood, acknowledged and always front of mind for Directors.

I look forward to providing you with regular updates from the Board. As always, Murray Irrigation welcomes your views and feedback.

May the rest of your harvest, summer crops and Christmas be good to you.

Regards,

Phil Snowden

Murray Irrigation Chair

0427 839 217

Delivering for our farmers, community and environment

< Older Post

Newer Post >