RWUE3

RWUE is a partnership between government and industry, where government supports industry to provide services to growers to improve water management practices and efficient use of water.

RWUE3 involves the following industry groups:

• Queensland Canegrowers Organisation
• Queensland Dairyfarmers Organisation
• Cotton Australia
• Growcom
• Queensland Turf Producers Association
• Flower Association of Queensland
• Nursery and Garden Industry Queensland

For the latter three industries the focus of RWUE3 is on their production sectors.

What is the main aim?

The aim of RWUE3 is to continue to help irrigators in each industry improve their on-farm management of natural resources, and reduce their off-farm impacts, particularly through efficient irrigation and management of nutrients. This will improve their productivity and help them meet the challenges of water reform.

To date, funding of $6.5m over four years has been set aside to deliver the program.  The program includes adoption/extension activities, on-farm trials, demonstrations and system assessments, and financial incentives to upgrade irrigation and effluent management systems.

How will the program be delivered?

Each industry group will run the initiative via their respective industry-based programs.

• The sugar industry will mainly use an incentive program to concentrate on improving irrigation and water use efficiency, and achieving better environmental outcomes;
• The cotton industry will focus on education and training and further promotion of the Farm Management Systems program encompassing catchment and environmental management;
• The dairy industry will aim to better manage and use natural resources by focusing on water, nutrient and effluent efficiency, promoting Farm Management Systems, and offering incentives to bring about change;
• The horticulture industry will focus on controlling and minimising nutrient losses and run-off from farms. It will address water use in packing sheds and soil management, and will promote Farm Management Systems and assessment of farm water balances;
• The nursery industry intends to provide a package of incentives and extension activities. The turf and flower industries will promote improved management of natural resources and the adoption of best practice water-use measures for their production-based components.

For further information contact:
Rural Water Use Efficiency Initiative 

Dave Schmiede
RWUE Program Manager
Tel: 07 3227 6680
Fax: 07 3224 2270