Sustainable Irrigation Program

Proudly working alongside farmers for 25 years to achieve a highly productive and sustainable irrigation community.

About the project

Together with Agriculture Victoria, we’re working with the irrigation community to keep water and nutrients on farm and out of the local waterways, including the Gippsland Lakes.

The Sustainable Irrigation Program provides funding and support for irrigators in the Macalister Irrigation District and across the broader Lake Wellington Catchment. 

Activities focus on improving water use efficiencies, adopting best management practices and utilising more phosphorus on farm for the benefit of soil health and pasture productivity. These irrigation improvements also reduce the impact of salinity and water-logging that can reduce farm productivity.  

The program is underpinned by the Lake Wellington Land and Water Management Plan, a long-term strategy that outlines how irrigators, industry and government will work together to achieve a highly productive and sustainable irrigation community that values and protects its natural and cultural assets. 

Projects and opportunities to get involved

• Irrigation Farm Planning (Incentives Program)
• Irrigation Extension Program (delivered through Ag Vic)
• Irrigation Demonstration Trials
• Salinity in the Macalister Irrigation area

• Gippsland Irrigation Development Guidelines 2023 (PDF IMB)
• Gippsland Irrigation Development Guidelines Fact Sheets (PDF 2MB)
• Lake Wellington Land and Water Management Plan

Lake Wellington Catchment

Project Partners

• Agriculture Victoria

An Irrigator Reference Group also advises the CMA and Agriculture Victoria on the program to ensure activities are relevant and appropriate to the needs of the irrigation community.

Funding

The Sustainable Irrigation Program is a part of the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action Sustainable Irrigation Program, implemented in Gippsland by Agriculture Victoria and the WGCMA. 

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