About IAL

Irrigation Australia Limited is Australia's leading organisation representing the breadth of the Australian irrigation industry. It has members covering all sectors of the industry, from water users, consultants, designers and installers through to educational institutions, government, manufacturers and retailers.

The composition of the association provides members with access to a unique network of information as well as to people and organisations involved in Australia's water resources sector.
The IAL has concentrated on achieving its aim of being the representative body of a nationally and regionally recognised irrigation industry, providing leadership in the growth and development of all its sectors.

IAL represents most irrigation water providers in Australia, with over $6 billon in assets (at replacement value), in 73 supply systems managed by 31 irrigation water provider businesses servicing over 46,000 irrigators and 270 towns as customers, (ANCID 2004/05 benchmarking report). This report also revealed that the total service area of these businesses is 3.3 million hectares. Nine and half million Megalitres of allocated water can be delivered through some 58,300 supply points. The ABS also revealed last year that in the 40,000 businesses that they surveyed, 13,500 used ground water in some form so a considerable number of our stakeholders are also groundwater users and managers.

IAL is also the Australian representative body of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID). ICID was established in 1950 as a non-profit, non-governmental international organization with headquarters in New Delhi, India. The Commission is dedicated to enhancing the worldwide supply of food and fibre for all people by improving water and land management and the productivity of irrigated and drained lands through appropriate management of water, environment and application of irrigation, drainage and flood management techniques.

IAL has been active in the areas of education and certification, being a major advocate for recognising and building on the skills of those working in the irrigation industry. It also has a major voice at Federal policy level, working closely with the National Water Commission, the Australia Water Association, Water Services Association of Australia and other stakeholder groups.

IAL organises a biennial national expo in conjunction with Exhibitions & Trade Fairs Pty Ltd. This is the major event on the irrigation calendar and is a showcase for irrigation products and technology. The next national expo, Irrigation Australia 2010, will be held in Sydney in 8-10 June 2010 together with the annual conference which, in 2010 will be held jointly with the CRC-IF.

IAL produces a number of publications including its flagship journal, Irrigation Australia, the leading quarterly industry publication covering irrigation issues in Australia and their monthly e-newsletter – Backwash. Through its activities IAL aims to ensure the continued economic viability and environmental sustainability of this important industry.

The IAL Constitution was amended at an EGM on 19 May 2008.  It, and the summary of the IAL Strategic Plan, and can be downloaded at left. 

IAL has commissioned a discussion paper on The National Water Plan - Opportunities and Risks for the Irrigation Industry.  Comments on the paper are welcome. Email info@irrigation.org.au