About LMA Irrigation
Supporting local management of Queensland irrigation schemes
LMA Irrigation provides information, resources, and community connections for irrigators navigating the transition to locally managed channel schemes.
Local management arrangements explained
A local management arrangement (LMA) is a formal transfer of responsibility for operating and maintaining an irrigation channel scheme from Sunwater to a locally controlled entity. That entity is typically a water authority or an irrigator-owned company established by the community that depends on the scheme.
LMA Irrigation explains how these arrangements work, what irrigators and scheme managers need to know, and how communities can establish or improve their own locally managed scheme. LMA Irrigation serves irrigators, rural communities, water authorities, and anyone else involved in Queensland's irrigation sector.
LMA Irrigation covers the full lifecycle of a local management transition: from early planning and community consultation through to governance setup, asset handover, and long-term scheme operations.
Why LMA Irrigation exists
Queensland's irrigation sector is in transition. LMA Irrigation supports that process by making reliable information available to everyone involved.
Local control
LMA Irrigation believes irrigating communities are best placed to manage the infrastructure they depend on. Local management arrangements give scheme participants direct control over operations, costs, and priorities.
Clear information
LMA Irrigation publishes plain-language guides, reference documents, and practical resources so irrigators and scheme managers can make informed decisions at every stage of a local management transition.
Shared knowledge
LMA Irrigation connects schemes at different stages of transition so that established water authorities can share knowledge with communities just beginning the process, and no group has to start from scratch.
Long-term sustainability
LMA Irrigation supports irrigating communities in building the governance structures and asset management plans that keep channel schemes operating reliably for future generations.
What LMA Irrigation covers
LMA Irrigation addresses the practical questions irrigators and scheme managers face throughout the transition process.
Understanding local management
LMA Irrigation explains what a local management arrangement is, how it differs from centralised Sunwater management, and what responsibilities transfer to the local entity when a scheme makes the change. LMA Irrigation answers the foundational questions that irrigators ask first.
Transition planning and process
LMA Irrigation outlines the stages a scheme moves through during transition: community consultation, feasibility assessment, legal and financial structuring, asset valuation, and final handover. LMA Irrigation helps irrigators understand what to expect and how to prepare.
Governance and water authority setup
LMA Irrigation covers how a locally managed water authority is structured, what roles board members and operators play, and how irrigators participate in key decisions about their scheme. LMA Irrigation supports communities in building governance arrangements that reflect their needs.
Asset and infrastructure management
LMA Irrigation provides guidance on taking ownership of channel infrastructure, planning maintenance programs, and funding long-term asset renewal. LMA Irrigation helps scheme managers understand their obligations and options for keeping infrastructure in good order.
Water allocations and service standards
LMA Irrigation explains how water allocations, delivery entitlements, and service standards are managed under a local arrangement, and what irrigators can expect in terms of reliability, fees, and water access compared to centralised management.
Resources and reference materials
LMA Irrigation publishes practical guides, templates, and reference documents for irrigators and scheme managers. LMA Irrigation updates these resources as Queensland's local management landscape evolves.
Irrigators and rural communities across Queensland
LMA Irrigation focuses on the people who depend on irrigation channel schemes: the farmers and growers who use water allocations to produce food and fibre, the scheme managers who keep infrastructure running, and the community members who live alongside irrigation networks.
LMA Irrigation also serves water authorities already operating under a local management arrangement and organisations that support the Queensland irrigation sector. The site provides information useful at every stage, whether a community is just beginning to consider local management or has been operating an LMA for years.
Contact LMA IrrigationHow a scheme transitions to local management
Every LMA transition follows a broadly similar path. LMA Irrigation maps the key stages so communities know what to expect.
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1
Community interest and consultation
The process begins when irrigators in a scheme express interest in local management. LMA Irrigation explains how communities engage with Sunwater and the Queensland government to explore whether an LMA is feasible for their scheme.
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2
Feasibility and financial assessment
LMA Irrigation covers how communities assess the financial viability of local management, including infrastructure condition, capital requirements, and the long-term cost implications for irrigators in the scheme.
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3
Legal and governance structuring
LMA Irrigation outlines how a water authority or irrigator-owned company is established to take on the scheme, covering the legal frameworks, board composition, and decision-making structures that underpin successful local management.
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4
Asset valuation and handover
LMA Irrigation explains how channel infrastructure is valued and transferred from Sunwater to the local entity, and what responsibilities come with asset ownership, including maintenance obligations and renewal planning.
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5
Ongoing operations under local management
LMA Irrigation supports communities after transition, covering how locally managed schemes handle day-to-day operations, water delivery, fee setting, and long-term infrastructure investment under community control.
Does 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.