Annual Partner Event 2025

Welcome to Goondiwindi

The One Basin CRC Annual Partner Event connects researchers, industry leaders, government representatives, and regional community members to hear about the latest industry-led, research-based initiatives in development for the Murray-Darling Basin.

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Agenda

For the full conference agenda, including detailed project sessions and speaker information, download the PDF. For a quick “day-at-a-glance” overview, simply scroll down this page.

Pre-Conference Tour – 19 August

9:30am	Bus departs Moree Airport
12:30pm	Tour of Cubbie Station, Australia’s largest irrigated cotton farm.
5:30pm	Drop off in Goondiwindi

Conference Day 1 – 20 August

8:00am	Arrival and registration
8:30am	Welcome to Country
8:50am	Event Opening & Introduction Professor Mike Stewardson, CEO of One Basin CRC Dr Wendy Craik, Chair of the Board at One Basin CRC Event MC, Marti Beeston, Goondiwindi Hub Manager, One Basin CRC Event Facilitator, Russell Fisher, Atkinsons
9:25am	Keynote: ‘The Grandeur of the Northern Basin and its Partner the Southern Basin’ Event MC, Marti Beeston John Ruffini, Director Water Planning Sciences (Dept. Environment, Tourism, Sciences and Innovation)
10:00am	Morning Tea
10:40am	Panel Discussion: An opportunity for local perspectives and discussion about how the Northern Basin operates in practice. Future climate for the Northern Basin differs from the Southern Basin. Michael Scobie, University of Southern Queensland John Ruffini, Director of Water Planning Sciences (Dept. Environment, Tourism, Sciences & Innovation) Zara Lowein, National Irrigators Council Michelle Ramsay, RAC Member
11:25am	Poster Presentations with research leads and teams
12:30pm	Lunch
1:40pm	Project Session 1 For full presentation and speaker details please see agenda PDF
3:10pm	Afternoon Tea
3:40pm	Project Session 2 For full presentation and speaker details please see agenda PDF
5:10pm	End Day 1
6:30pm	Conference Dinner

Conference Day 2 – 21 August

8:30am	Introduction Event MC, Marti Beeston, Goondiwindi Hub Manager, One Basin CRC Event Facilitator, Russell Fisher, Atkinsons
8:40am	In Conversation: An Industry Perspective Julia Spicer OAM, Australia’s Economic Accelerator
9:10am	Site visits to Alcheringa Cotton Farm and Woods Grain Algae Pharm or Communications Training for Researchers – final session
12:00pm	Lunch
1:00pm	Project Session 3 For full presentation and speaker details please see agenda PDF
2:30pm	Afternoon break
2:45pm	Integration and Impact Professor Seth Westra, Director, Research & Technology and Opportunity Program Lead, One Basin CRC
4:15pm	Wrap up and looking ahead Professor Mike Stewardson, CEO of One Basin CRC
4:30pm	End Day 2

Post-Conference Tour – 22 August

8:00am	Day tour to Queen Mary Falls in the beautiful Main Range National Park, and see the headwaters of the Condamine River.
7:00pm	Drop off at Brisbane Airport

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Speakers

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Evolving Together

Building on the success of the 2024 event, One Basin CRC has developed an engaging and interactive agenda to showcase the impactful project work underway, strengthen our partnerships, and reflect on ways we can continue to evolve together.

The 2025 Annual Partner Event provides a timely opportunity to reflect on how our industry-led research projects are maturing and collaborating for impact, while also responding to the ever-evolving social, technological, environmental, economic and political factors that effect the Basin.

Featuring keynote speaker John Ruffini, Director of Water Planning Sciences at the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation, expert panel discussions, and presentations from across One Basin’s research portfolio, this year’s event is not to be missed.

Date: Wednesday 20 August & Thursday 21 August 2025
Time: 9:00am – 5:00pm
Location: Goondiwindi Waggamba Community Cultural Centre, 26 Russell Street, Goondiwindi, Queensland

Registration has now closed. We look forward to seeing you in Goondiwindi.

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Accommodation in Goondiwindi

To ensure a comfortable and convenient stay, we’ve partnered with several local accommodations who have rooms on hold for our delegates:

• Border Motel (126 Marshall Street, Goondiwindi QLD 4390) – 18 rooms on hold, 10% discount
• Best Western Ascot Lodge (2 Phar Lap Court, Goondiwindi QLD 4390) – 25 rooms on hold, 10% discount
• Country Roads Motor Inn (11-13 Cunningham Highway, Goondiwindi QLD 4390) – 12 rooms on hold, standard room rates apply.
• The Townhouse (110 Marshall Street, Goondiwindi, QLD 4390) – 20 rooms on hold, 10% discount

Please note, the deadline for booking at these special rates is 30 May 2025. We encourage you to make your reservations as soon as possible to secure your spot. To book your accommodation, please call the motel/hotel directly and mention the One Basin event.

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Extend Your Stay and Take a Tour

Extend your stay in beautiful Goondiwindi by tacking on a site tour! One Basin CRC has arranged the following options for attendees:

Cubbie Station Tour | Tuesday 19 August, time TBC 

Based near Dirranbandi, visit Australia’s largest irrigated cotton farm and the largest irrigation property in the Southern hemisphere. The Cubbie Station Tour will depart via Moree Airport on Tuesday morning. 

Queen Mary Falls, Headwater of Condamine | Friday 22 August, 8.00am-7.00pm 

Join us for a day trip to witness rugged mountains and plunging falls at the Main Range National Park and headwaters of the Condamine River. This tour departs by bus at 8:00am from Goondiwindi to travel via Inglewood to Queen Mary Falls and the headwaters of the Condamine River. We hope to be joined by First Nation Elders of the Githabul Nation. At the end of the trip, the bus will continue on to Brisbane Airport for attendees to fly out from. We will arrive at Brisbane Airport for a 7.00pm drop off – please ensure you book your flights accordingly to leave enough time for check in.

Please double check your flight arrival and departure information prior to booking an optional tour.

Tour spaces are limited. Tour registration costs $150 AUD (plus GST and the Eventbrite fee) per person per event. Tours can be purchased when securing your One Basin CRC Annual Event ticket.

Registration for tours has now closed.