Water, Land and People - Goulburn Broken Catchment ...

CHAIR’S MESSAGE
Peter Gibson
Chair
Shepparton
Irrigation
Region
Implementation
Committee
It is with great sadness that I begin my message by
acknowledging the sudden passing of our Executive
Officer Ken Sampson. Ken has been the driving force
and inspiration to the Committee for over 15 years.
His immense technical knowledge and enthusiasm for
community involvement created a unique collaboration
that resulted in many natural resource management
success stories over the years.
This report details the program of works that the
Shepparton Irrigation Region Implementation Committee
has achieved over the past year.
The Shepparton Irrigation Region Catchment
Implementation Strategy program successfully attracted
$16 million in funding through Victorian and Australian
Government initiatives including Our Water Our Future,
Water in a Climatically Challenged Environment, and
National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality. The
program also included over $0.5 million of regional funds.
The Implementation Committee was also supported in
the delivery of the planned programs as a direct result
of the ongoing commitment of the representatives from
our Partnership Agencies: the Department of Primary
Industries, Goulburn-Murray Water and the Department
of Sustainability and Environment and the high level of
professional support from the Executive Team.
The Implementation Committee continues to attract
community leaders and benefits from a well credentialed
and diverse membership with a wide knowledge and
experience base.
Allen Canobie, Nick Ryan and I were reappointed to the
Implementation Committee for four years. John Wenske
became a new member following the completion of half
the committee’s four year term.
Peter McCamish did not seek reappointment due to
commitments on the boards of the Northern Victoria
Irrigation Renewal Project and Water for Victoria. On
behalf of the Implementation Committee I would like to
thank Peter for his dedication and the knowledge and
energy he brought to the Implementation Committee
during his four year term.
I would personally like to commend the continued
work of my fellow Committee members: Allen Canobie,
Steve Farrell, John Gray, Helen Reynolds, Nick Ryan,
Roger Wrigley and John Wenske together with our
Assistant Executive Officer, Peter Howard, and Agency
representatives Terry Batey, James Burkitt and Rob
Steel. I thank them for their hard work and personal
contribution.
On behalf of the Committee, I would like to pay tribute
to Ken who has been taken all too soon. May we, as a
Committee, continue to strive for the better outcomes
in the Shepparton Irrigation Region community that Ken
had dedicated his working life to.
Peter Gibson
Peter Gibson and Ken Sampson (dec’d) chairing a Shepparton Irrigation
Region Implementation Committee meeting
CHAIR’S MESSAGE
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