IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA REGIONAL CONFERENCE 2015

The peri-urban environment describes the overlapping zone between the traditional rural, agricultural or horticultural use of land, water and other finite resources and the encroaching urban sprawl which brings competition and alternative demands for those limited resources. As Australia’s urban population grows and new lands are opened up for residential housing around our cities and towns, the impacts on traditional uses of irrigation increases.

The Penrith region, in far-western Sydney, has been at the forefront of the peri-urban experience, having, over the past 20 years or so seen a massive influx of residential housing and industry, changing Penrith from a semi-rural regional satellite to a vibrant part of the greater Sydney region.

Close to the conference venue, there is an urban population of around 2 million people, substantial greenhouse, turf, farming and orchard operations, significant golf course and playing field environments, rivers, dams, and university experimental farms.

The competing needs for irrigation water, and how Governments and stakeholders work together to address expectations and satisfy these competing needs, forms the basis of IAL’s 2015 peri-urban conference.

IAL has created an exciting conference program to address the many questions raised through competition within the peri-urban environment, designed to challenge delegates and to promote debate, influence policy and create knowledge and understanding of the underlying issues and challenges.

The 2015 regional conference provides the opportunity for apprentices, tradespersons, undergrads, semi professionals, professionals and researchers to meet, discuss and showcase issues in the peri-urban space. The conference will offer delegates the opportunity to foster new and old relationships within a platform of like-minded industry people. No matter where delegates travel from, domestically or internationally, they will recognise many elements of their own peri-urban experiences in this western Sydney location.

The 2015 IAL conference is also most importantly a showcase of the Sydney Basin’s diverse landscape and people, an area often neglected when discussing the irrigation needs of the country.

For more information visit: www.ial2015.com.au