Cubbie Station
Encyclopedia
Cubbie Station, located near Dirranbandi, Australia
, is the largest privately owned (Cubbie Group) irrigation
property in the southern hemisphere.
The station was created by amalgamating 12 floodplain properties to give Cubbie a total of 51 water licences. Its huge water storage dams stretch for more than 28 km along the Culgoa River
, part of the Murray-Darling system. In an average year the Station uses 200,000 megaliters of water, in a good year as much as 500,000 megalitres. The managing director is John Grabbe.
The water is used to supply 130 km² of irrigated cotton
and other crops including wheat
, which brings in about $50 million a year.
The station is licenced to take 460,000 megalitres. It is the equivalent of all irrigation entitlements downstream in north-western NSW. The properrty has the capacity to grow 200 km² of cotton. In 2006, the dams on the property were filled to 1% capacity allowing for only 2 km² of cotton planting. The station is often derided for its large water usage requirements in a time of extreme drought in Australia
and damage to the Murray Darling river system
The previous Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull
did not rule out its acquisition by the government.
On 29 October 2009, Cubbie Station announced it would enter administration on 30 October 2009, at 5.00pm. This was due to Cubbie Station gaining debt of over $300 million, due to poor rainfall in the region over the past 5 years.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, is the largest privately owned (Cubbie Group) irrigation
Irrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
property in the southern hemisphere.
The station was created by amalgamating 12 floodplain properties to give Cubbie a total of 51 water licences. Its huge water storage dams stretch for more than 28 km along the Culgoa River
Culgoa River
The Culgoa River is a continuation of one branch of the Balonne River in southern Queensland and flows south-west to join the Darling River near Bourke, New South Wales. It is named for the Aboriginal word meaning "Running Through". Tributaries of the Culgoa include Nebine, Mungallala and Wallam...
, part of the Murray-Darling system. In an average year the Station uses 200,000 megaliters of water, in a good year as much as 500,000 megalitres. The managing director is John Grabbe.
The water is used to supply 130 km² of irrigated cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
and other crops including wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
, which brings in about $50 million a year.
The station is licenced to take 460,000 megalitres. It is the equivalent of all irrigation entitlements downstream in north-western NSW. The properrty has the capacity to grow 200 km² of cotton. In 2006, the dams on the property were filled to 1% capacity allowing for only 2 km² of cotton planting. The station is often derided for its large water usage requirements in a time of extreme drought in Australia
Drought in Australia
Drought in Australia is defined as rainfall over a three month period being in the lowest decile of what has been recorded for that region in the past. This definition takes into account that drought is a relative term and rainfall deficiencies need to be compared to typical rainfall patterns...
and damage to the Murray Darling river system
The previous Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull
Malcolm Turnbull
Malcolm Bligh Turnbull is an Australian politician. He has been a member of the Australian House of Representatives since 2004, and was Leader of the Opposition and parliamentary leader of the Liberal Party from 16 September 2008 to 1 December 2009.Turnbull has represented the Division...
did not rule out its acquisition by the government.
On 29 October 2009, Cubbie Station announced it would enter administration on 30 October 2009, at 5.00pm. This was due to Cubbie Station gaining debt of over $300 million, due to poor rainfall in the region over the past 5 years.