In July 2008, the State and Australian government’s announced a multi-million dollar pipelines project to provide water infrastructure for the townships, communities and irrigators who draw water from the Lower Lakes.
This project was part of the State Government’s Murray Futures program which was funded through the Australian Government’s Water for the Future program.
The Murray Futures program positions South Australia to respond to the threats and challenges facing the River Murray in a future of increased climate variability. It is an integrated package with a range of immediate and longer-term measures to secure the future for communities.
The irrigation pipeline is possible due to the successful raising of capital through the Creeks Pipeline Company’s prospectus.
As a result of ongoing drought and reduced river flows, traditional water sources including the Lower Lakes, are under threat and it is difficult to guarantee the quality and quantity of water available in the future.
This project provides irrigators in the Langhorne Creek and Currency Creek regions an alternate water delivery option to draw their water under their River Murray Water entitlements.
The Lower Lakes Pipelines will provide flexibility in how the Lower Lakes are managed in the future.
The Company worked closely with the South Australian Government to ensure the best possible outcome for the community.
Work began on the 110km pipeline and three pump stations on 5 May 2009. It was handed over to “The Creeks Pipeline Company Limited” six months later on the 30 October 2009 and has helped secure the region’s economic future of around 7,000 hectares of vineyards and irrigated crops.
The completion of the pipeline was officially acknowledged on 3 November, 2009 by Senator Penny Wong, Federal Minister for Climate Change and Water.
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
JOHN KERR - CHAIR
John is a Director of Capital Strategies Pty Ltd, an Adelaide based corporate advisory practice.
He specialises in the provision of corporate advice to property/infrastructure projects and private venture/development capital matters. Via Capital Family Office, the firm also provides asset and investment management services and advice to private investors.
John previously qualified as a chartered accountant with Touche Ross (now KPMG) and worked in their management consulting division. John is also a Director of Barossa Infrastructure Ltd.
DIANNE DAVIDSON - AM
Di is a professional agricultural scientist with wide and valuable experience with the irrigated agriculture and horticulture industries throughout Australia and internationally. She is currently the Chair of the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board.
Di has also served as Member of the Murray Darling Basin Authority (2009-2018) and a Director of the Plant Biosecurity CRC (2014-2018). Di was a member of the Council of The University of Adelaide for 12 years, including 4 years as Deputy Chancellor (2013-2016).
She was a member of the first Premier’s Climate Change Council in South Australia, served as a Director of the Royal Automobile Association of South Australia for 7 years, and as Chair of Seymour College for 6 years.
Throughout her professional life Di has sat on numerous government committees and advisory bodies and worked with government agencies regional and rural communities.
DAVID ECKERT
David is a 5th generation farmer with a broad acre background located North West of the Langhorne Creek township.
In 1992 David participated in the “International Agricultural Exchange Association” (IAEA), which involved working on a large cereal grain farm in Alberta, Canada. This experience also included farm study tours throughout Canada and the USA.
Today, David oversees and manages the 80 hectares of the Eckert family owned vineyards. David has always recognised the importance of access to good quality River Murray water as their property is located above a marginal area of the underground aquifer and situated outside of the local Bremer River floodplain.
His diverse farming and irrigator background has allowed an understanding for the need of the best quality water available for various agricultural pursuits. This has included accommodating and assisting vegetable growers on the Eckert property to grow quality wine grapes together with lucerne under centre pivot irrigation.
DAVID WATKINS
David has more than twenty-five years of experience in planting and managing vineyards in Adelaide’s cool climate regions in addition to managing one of Australia’s largest cool climate premium bulk wine companies.
David is a shareholder and director of Watkins Family Wines which operates 160 hectares of cool climate grapevines mainly in Langhorne Creek, as well as a 5,000 tonne winery and cellar door for the Watkins brand at Clarendon in the Adelaide Hills Wine Region.
For 11 years, David was engaged as a Contract Lecturer by the International Graduate School of Management, University of South Australia to develop and teach the “Entrepreneurship and New Business Ventures” unit for the International Master of Business Administration Degree which he taught in Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
Other previous roles saw David working as an agribusiness consultant in Australia and negotiating and managing joint venture projects in many different countries, mainly in the Middle East and South Asia.
SARAH KEOUGH
Since 2016, Sarah Keough has held the position of Viticulturist and Grower Liaison at Bleasdale Vineyards where she manages 50ha of company-owned vineyards and the procurement of fruit from growers in Langhorne Creek, Adelaide Hills, and McLaren Vale.
Sarah began working in the wine industry after graduating from Roseworthy Agricultural College in 1991. Sarah then studied externally at Adelaide University from 2003 and completed a Graduate Certificate in Viticulture in 2005.
After working as a Vineyard Hand and Technical Officer with Penfolds in Coonawarra, Sarah moved into vineyard development and in 1996, Sarah developed and managed the 78ha Belgravia Vineyard in Orange, NSW, and in 1998 developed and managed a 280ha development in Langhorne Creek for Kirribilly Vineyards.
More recently, Sarah held broadacre and viticultural agronomy roles with Landmark and FpAg covering Strathalbyn, McLaren Vale and Langhorne Creek.
Sarah was named the ‘Wine Australia’ Nuffield Scholar for 2020 and received the 2022 Langhorne Creek Viticulturist of the Year award.
Sarah is actively involved on the Langhorne Creek Grape Growing Committee, Current Chair of the Vine Improvement Association and on the Board of the Langhorne Creek Water Company.
Our region
Langhorne Creek and Currency Creek are located south-east of Adelaide in South Australia, with a growing season climate predominantly shaped by the onshore southerly winds blowing directly from the Southern Ocean across Lake Alexandrina.
Irrigation helping to secure the sustainable future of
the Langhorne Creek and Currency Creek regions