Channel scheme operations
LMA Irrigation covers how channel schemes deliver water to irrigators and what local management means for day-to-day operations and maintenance responsibilities.
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Queensland Irrigation
Local management
arrangements for
irrigation channel schemes
LMA Irrigation connects irrigators and rural communities with the resources, guidance, and news they need to transition to locally managed schemes.
What is an LMA?
Putting irrigators in control of their own schemes
A local management arrangement (LMA) transfers responsibility for operating and maintaining an irrigation channel scheme from Sunwater to a local entity, typically a water authority or irrigator-owned company. LMA Irrigation exists to support everyone involved in that transition.
LMA Irrigation provides information about how local management works, what irrigators need to know, and what steps communities can take to establish or improve their locally managed scheme.
About local management
Local governance
Local management arrangements give irrigators direct control over how their scheme is operated, funded, and maintained.
Resources and guidance
LMA Irrigation publishes practical guides, templates, and reference documents to help scheme managers and irrigators navigate transition processes.
Community connection
LMA Irrigation connects irrigating communities across Queensland so that lessons learned in one scheme can benefit the next.
Across Queensland
Irrigation schemes in transition
LMA Irrigation covers a range of schemes at different stages of local management. Each scheme has its own governance structure, water sources, and community needs.
Transition planning
Moving from Sunwater management to a local authority involves legal, financial, and operational steps. LMA Irrigation outlines the process and what irrigators can expect.
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Asset management
Locally managed schemes take ownership of channel assets. LMA Irrigation provides guidance on planning and funding long-term asset maintenance programs.
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Irrigator engagement
Successful local management depends on irrigators being informed and involved. LMA Irrigation supports engagement with irrigating communities throughout Queensland.
Get in touchDoes your scheme need support?
LMA Irrigation works with irrigators, water authorities, and rural communities across Queensland. Reach out to find out how local management can work for your scheme.
Latest news
Updates from LMA Irrigation
LMA Irrigation publishes news and updates relevant to locally managed irrigation schemes across Queensland.
Transition
Understanding the LMA transition process in Queensland
LMA Irrigation outlines the key stages irrigators move through when a channel scheme transitions from Sunwater to a local water authority, including community consultation, asset valuation, and governance setup.
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Governance
Roles and responsibilities in a locally managed scheme
LMA Irrigation explains what a locally managed water authority does, who sits on its board, and how irrigators participate in key decisions about their scheme.
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Resources
New guides for irrigators entering transition
LMA Irrigation has published updated reference materials for irrigators at the start of a local management transition, covering water allocations, fees, and service standards.
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Community
Connecting irrigating communities across Queensland
LMA Irrigation facilitates connections between schemes at different stages of transition so that established authorities can share knowledge with communities just beginning the process.
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About LMA Irrigation
Supporting irrigators and rural communities across Queensland
LMA Irrigation focuses on the transition from centralised management to locally controlled irrigation schemes. The site serves irrigators, scheme managers, and community members who need clear, reliable information about how local management arrangements work and what they mean in practice.
LMA Irrigation provides resources, news, and connections to help communities manage their irrigation infrastructure with confidence.
About LMA Irrigation