Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Indigenous Fishing Trust
The Indigenous Fishing Trust was conceived between IBA and the former Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) as a co-operative approach to jointly fund an Indigenous Fishing Trust. The aim of the Trust is to acquire and hold quota and associated licences for the benefit of present and future generations of Indigenous Australians wishing to enter the fishing industry.
In December 2004, the Trust acquired its first quota and associated licence. The Licence allows for an annual quota of abalone to be fished from the Western Zone of Victoria, which lies between Apollo Bay and the Victorian/South Australian border.
In 2005, the Trust also purchased a mud crab licence which allows the harvesting of mud crabs in the Northern Territory. IBA currently leases this licence to a local Indigenous fisherman.
Blighty Dairy Farm
IBA acquired Blighty Dairy Farm in 2005. The farm is situated in south-western NSW and comprises 460 hectare of high quality irrigatable land, capable of running up to 800 head of dairy cattle. The farm has 3 houses and a milking shed and is leased to an experienced dairy operator for a period of 5 years
Cummeragunga Farm
IBA acquired Cummeragunga Farm in 2005. The property is a 398 Hectare, mixed freehold farm adjacent to the Murray River near the town of Barmah in NSW. The farm consists of good quality land, part of which is suitable for irrigation via a 675 mega litre water allocation from the Murray River. Yorta Yorta CDEP lease 4 hectares of the property for administration purposes and for the management of its timber business.
