Irrigation Journal Autumn 2024

ISSN 0818–9447

AUTUMN 2024 • VOLUME 40 NO 01

ON THE COVER: Using drones in irrigation

BIG ISSUE: Are we on the cusp of an urban greening revolution?

Large-scale irrigation project for berry farm

IN THIS ISSUE: MEET IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA'S NEW TEAM MEMBERS JOHN INKSTER REFLECTS ON REWARDING CAREER GETTING PUMP SPECIFICATION RIGHT

IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION: The countdown is on

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CONTENTS

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FEATURES URBAN DESIGN FEATURE Thriving street trees: A council's innovative approach to reducing water use, labour and costs

14

Backflow prevention in irrigation – what are the rules? 18 DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY IN IRRIGATION New tool takes the guesswork out of irrigation for cotton growers

22

Seeing both the forest and the trees: how drones can help with irrigation in orchards

24

14

New app promises customised forecasts for irrigators 26 FEATURE ARTICLES Irrigation Australia Conference and Exhibition – the countdown is on

28

Streamlined strawberry irrigation on a large scale: Queensland Berries case study

39

Rebates to improve digital connectivity for farmers

45

REGULAR ITEMS Chair's Message

2

From the CEO

3

Technology: Rural

4

Technology: Urban

8

Research

12

The Big Issue

19

IAL News

30

Professional Development

32

Contractors' Corner

36

ICID Insights

42

Business Feature

44

The Water Conservancy

46

State Roundup

47

Around Industry

48

Bookshelf

50

22

ISSN 0818–9447

AUTUMN 2024 • VOLUME 40 NO 01

ON THE COVER: Using drones in irrigation

BIG ISSUE: Are we on the cusp of an urban greening revolution?

Large-scale irrigation project for berry farm

IN THIS ISSUE: MEET IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA'S NEW TEAM MEMBERS JOHN INKSTER REFLECTS ON REWARDING CAREER GETTING PUMP SPECIFICATION RIGHT

IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION: The countdown is on

ON THE FRONT COVER: Researchers at Central Queensland University and ag tech company Aerobotics are using drones to help with irrigation decisions in avocado orchards, page 24.

40 AUTUMN 2024

1

WELCOME

CHAIR’S MESSAGE Welcome to the first issue of your association’s journal for 2024. I hope the summer break offered you a chance to relax and reflect on the year just gone and the one ahead. I know Irrigation Australia has an exciting schedule for the coming year.

Conference and exhibition The September conference, our biggest event of the year, is shaping up nicely with strong exhibition sales and sponsorships. We are thrilled to welcome Franklin Electric as our Principal Event Sponsor. The support of sponsors and exhibitors is essential to the conference budget, and support from manufacturers, service providers and other corporations is what makes an event like this possible. If you make a living from irrigation and water management, or if your livelihood depends on it, please come to Sydney, visit the exhibition, and show your support.

Review of constitution You may remember Dave previously reporting on a review of our association’s constitution. We have recently commissioned Governology, a legal firm specialising in associations, to rewrite it. The aim is to modernise the document and make it easier to interpret without changing its fundamental intent. We expect to distribute a mapping document to members in the next couple of months to explain the logic behind the proposed changes.

Annual strategy day We had a couple of big days in February with our board’s annual strategy day and board meeting. Over two days, the board of directors along with senior management got together and discussed a diverse range of issues, opportunities and actions. We came up with a manageable list of initiatives that we feel will greatly enhance the way the association functions.

It was great to have a fresh perspective from our new directors, Clinton, Gennaro and Paul, who helped us to home in on the issues we think are the most important for our members.

The Purpose that we developed looks something like: Supporting the adoption of efficient and productive irrigation practices across Australia’s food and fibre

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markets, leisure activity spaces and commercial activities to ensure the best use of our most precious resource.

The top three priority actions include: • A focus on re-establishing state and regional committees where they are no longer active, with appropriate support, and building better support for existing committees.

• Developing a clear national advocacy plan to include state-specific issues, a link to those committees, and partnerships with other associations and relevant bodies with shared interests.

• Developing a member recognition plan/accreditation process.

The mood in the room during the meetings was positive and determined. It’s clear everyone shares a deep commitment to seeing Irrigation Australia be the best it can be.

Australian ICID committee The busy month of February included an all-day conference planning session for our Australian ICID committee. We had excellent contributions and leads from all, and everyone involved deserves recognition. In particular, we would like to thank Momir Vranes, Peter Hayes, Claire Miller, Carl Walters and Michael Scobie for donating their time on the day to start the abstract review process. By the time you are reading this, registrations should be open, hopefully including a preliminary program.

Simon Treptow Chair

FROM THE CEO Gidday, and welcome to the first edition for 2024.

It’s been a hectic start to the year with new team members to welcome and, as Simon mentioned in his column, lots of major planning meetings in early February.

We’ve got plenty of jobs to do as a result of those meetings, but the main one right now is sorting out the preliminary conference program. The exhibition and sponsorship sales are going well, but we still have a few 3 x 3 booths to fill. This is going to be the last opportunity to participate in an irrigation industry event of this scale in Australia for a while, so don’t miss out!

I’d like to give a warm welcome to Amy Haldane who has joined our team as our Registered Training Organisation’s (RTO) compliance and funding coordinator. On her first day, she had to contend with sourcing materials for a major audit of one of our state funding programs, and it’s been non-stop ever since. Amy has a wealth of RTO experience and has already introduced a number of system improvements as we prepare for renewal of our registration and ASQA audit this year.

I’d also like to introduce Sam O’Brien, a self-described irrigation industry ‘lifer’. Sam has operated his own successful small business and most recently worked for Valmont and Rain Bird. He is managing our RTO and taking on an expanded business development role.

In Irrigation Futures news, we’d like to welcome Rodney Industries as our newest sponsor.

We’ve also hosted the first meeting of the Irrigation Industry Profile and Industry Policy Committee and distributed a survey to help us identify the issues that are most important to members. We hope to receive a strong response, and the information gathered will help kick-start a couple of priority actions developed by the board during strategy sessions. These actions, which Simon has mentioned in his column, include re-establishing state and regional committees and the national advocacy plan.

As a business, Irrigation Australia is focussed on improving its financial results to build a foundation for an ambitious and growing list of activities later this year. At this point we seem to be on track, thanks to high training demand and an enormous effort put into improvements with the RTO. As an association, we are well on the path towards a renewed member focus and improved member value.

As always, I’m open to all suggestions. Please reach out to me with your ideas at dave.cameron@irrigation.org.au.

Dave Cameron CEO

AUTUMN 2024

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TECHNOLOGY: RURAL ENSURING PEAK PERFORMANCE: THE CRUCIAL ROLE OF FLUSHING IN DRIP IRRIGATION MAINTENANCE In drip irrigation systems, flushing is key to ensuring the system runs smoothly over multiple seasons. In this article, with Australian irrigation conditions in mind, Matt Clift explains the essential aspects of flushing regimes, the process, and highlights when and why this practice is indispensable.

Flushing is one of the most important preventative maintenance activities in drip irrigation systems. If tiny debris, such as silt, clay, and particularly organic matter, passes through the filtration and coagulates within the irrigation system, it can cause problems. Flushing expels this foreign matter before it becomes a problem.

What is flushing?

Contaminants like minerals or organic materials can be present in any water source. When the water travels quickly, this isn’t an issue as it stays suspended in the water, but when it slows down, it can begin to settle out and build up over time in the pipes. This buildup, if left unaddressed, can lead to clogging, compromising crop yield and necessitating costly replacements.

Flushing is the process of sending a higher velocity of water through the irrigation system to expel contaminants that may have accumulated over time. A key point is that a higher velocity, and therefore a higher volume of water, is required to flush.

Poor, infrequent or no flushing will cause clogging, and result in the loss of crop yield and ultimately the cost replacement of the system over time. Due to the increased water requirement to flush a system, this additional water needs to be considered in the hydraulics when first designing the system.

Sediment build-up in the laterals

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Flushing of drip laterals

Water velocity and flushing Higher flushing velocities are desired in poor water quality conditions, but practical constraints, such as available flow rate and pressure, must be considered during system design.

The success of flushing hinges on achieving sufficient water velocity (the speed the water travels through the pipe).

In Australia, we have found that due to poor-quality water, we often recommend slightly higher flushing velocities.

Submains should maintain a flushing velocity of at least 0.6 m/s, while drip laterals require a minimum of 0.4 m/s (at the end of the laterals). Striking the right balance is crucial, as insufficient velocity compromises the effectiveness of the flush. Higher flushing velocities are optimal, but practical constraints, such as available flow rate and pressure, must be considered during system design.

In a perfect world, flushing water velocity should be 0.6 m/s for drip laterals, but this can be difficult due to the different hydraulic requirements between irrigation and flushing. Therefore, 0.4 m/s is acceptable. Below 0.4 m/s is insufficient to flush a system.

When and what to flush Maintaining the integrity and efficiency of irrigation systems is contingent upon a well-structured flushing regimen, for both mainline and submains as well as the drip laterals.

Mainlines, submains, and drip laterals should all be flushed at the beginning of every season and after any damage or repair upstream. In addition, drip laterals should also be flushed during the season.

Depending on the conditions, drip lateral flushing could be weekly in extreme conditions, to monthly with better conditions. Although these are time-based recommendations above, there is no ‘one size fits all’.

TECHNOLOGY: RURAL When it comes to drip lateral flushing, there are three things to consider: 1. Water quality. the greatest determiner of flushing frequency is the quality of the water. Bore water requires less frequent flushing due to its cleanliness and only contains mineral contaminants. Systems drawing water from rivers or dams, with high organic material (that encourages algae growth in irrigation system pipes), necessitate more frequent flushing.

2. Drip lateral longevity needs. consider the anticipated lifespan of your drip laterals. Systems with longer drip lateral life requirements (for example orchards, vineyards, and permanent subsurface drip irrigation) demand more thorough flushing to ensure system longevity.

A vegetable crop using a drip line for only one season may require irrigation for a few months of the year. Flushing is therefore not as critical.

An orchard, vineyard, or permanent subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) system is a different story. In these cases, the drip lines are expected to last many years, and flushing becomes very important to ensure the longevity of the system.

Multi-season and permanent drip installations will require a more thorough flushing regime than a single-season drip installation.

3. Water flow through the system. consider the plant's water requirements (the irrigation application rate), as this will vary the amount of flushing required. The more water flowing through the system, the more frequent the need for flushing.

How to flush The following tables outline which valves should be closed, and which should be open after the system has been pressurised.

Multi-season and permanent drip installations (above) will need a more thorough flushing regimen that a singleseason drip installation (left).

The flushing process

For example, a vineyard may require 6,000 m³/ha per season, while an almond crop may need 12,000 m³/ha. With higher water flow in the almond system, it is more likely for contaminants to build up and this necessitates more frequent flushing than the vineyard.

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For drip laterals, when you flush, there will be four stages you need to keep an eye out for. Make sure that you wait for the second phase of clean water before closing the lines.

Self-flushing line ends are small valves that are ‘normally open’’ (NO), but they close when the system reaches a certain pressure. This creates a short flush at the beginning and end of each irrigation system. The self-flushing line ends help clean the system, particularly the line ends, which do not provide a high-velocity flush. Normal flushing is still required.

Add flexibility to your water demands.

Flushing manifolds

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In a manual (non-flushing) manifold system, the flushing is done manually through the opening of each drip lateral.

In a flushing manifold system, all drip laterals are connected in sets to an end flushing manifold, which has a valve that vents to the atmosphere. Flushing is as simple as opening the flushing manifold valve to expel debris from the drip system. Even this valve can be automated.

In times of labour challenges, it makes sense to also automate the maintenance of drip line cleaning (flushing) as much as possible.

To achieve the high velocity required for flushing, not all laterals of a block are opened at once. They are opened as sets to allow the higher velocity as illustrated below.

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Conclusion Flushing is an important component of drip irrigation maintenance, and this article should be considered as a highlevel guide. However, always remember that regular flushing helps ensure the longevity of the system by reducing clogging, ultimately protecting crop yield, and minimising the need for replacements.

Contact us today to see how Lowara’s pump range and our custom engineering capabilities can assist with your water requirements.

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TECHNOLOGY: URBAN BETTER TURF IRRIGATION FOR COUNCILS, SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS SNAPSHOT • Efficient and reliable turf irrigation requires more than a well-designed system with good quality components.

• Here, Andres Jaramillo outlines his ‘three pillars of efficient irrigation’ – understanding the fundamentals, a well-designed system, and correct operation of the system.

• Getting all three right is vital but is often harder than it sounds, especially for schools, sports clubs and councils that might have many system operators.

Clients and irrigation professionals alike can easily become preoccupied with the system design and components when designing and installing a new irrigation system or upgrading an existing one. If we install the latest, flashiest pump or controller and get the design right, it would be nice to think that the job is done: The client will have efficient irrigation that will maintain turf quality while saving water and energy.

However, it is not as simple as that. Efficient, reliable irrigation requires more than a well-designed system with quality components.

Getting every aspect of turf irrigation right can be challenging for schools, sports clubs and community groups. Photo: Tverdohlib / Deposit photos.

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Schools, sports clubs, and councils often overwater or underwater their turf, despite having good systems in place.

What is the reason for this and how can we change it?

The three pillars of efficient irrigation Efficient irrigation is supported by three pillars, and each must be in place to achieve efficient irrigation. These are: 1. Get the fundamentals right. To understand the fundamentals, it is important to consider the soil, vegetation, irrigation water, climate and the intended use of the turf.

2. A well-designed system. This is what we tend to focus on (but it will fall short if we don’t have the other two pillars in place).

3. The correct operation of the system. This includes maintenance and day-to-day operation, which is crucial. While this applies to any irrigation system, it can be particularly challenging for turf managed by organisations such as councils, sports clubs, and schools. In these settings, there is often no single person responsible for irrigation, resources may be limited, and staff turnover can be high. In addition, the concept of productivity and its relationship with irrigation in turf is harder to quantify compared with agricultural irrigation.

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TECHNOLOGY: URBAN Here, I discuss the three pillars and how irrigation professionals can help ensure they are all in place.

1. Understanding the fundamentals Understanding and appreciating the relationships between water, turf, and soil is key. The irrigation needs will vary based on several factors, including: • Is the soil light or heavy? Sandy or clay? Free draining or waterlogged? Compacted? What’s underneath the turf – debris? rock? bitumen?

• What is the water source – is it recycled, municipal, from a creek or bore water?

• Which turf species are present? ryegrass, fescue, zoysia, kikuyo?

These factors must be understood and accounted for during the design phase, and possibly even more significantly, for the management and operation of the system.

Unfortunately, soil surveys are not always available or undertaken as part of the ‘design recipe,’ and irrigation water quality is not always thoroughly analysed to determine its potential effects on both the irrigation system and on soils and grasses it's applied to.

Each irrigation system should be designed and operated to suit the site conditions. In theory, it is the designer’s responsibility to liaise with the irrigation manager to identify conditions that might affect the system and to offer design solutions. Often however, in councils, schools and community groups, irrigation designs are focused on the hydraulics of the system and neglect the soil–plant relationships and the conditions under which the system will be operated – for example, by well-intentioned but inexperienced staff or volunteers.

2. A well-designed system The purpose of the field will dictate the design and management of the system. The cost of installing and maintaining different turf areas varies greatly depending on the intended use.

A good irrigation system for turf should: • incorporate appropriate drainage for the site • be designed with consideration of the fundamentals: water, plants and soil • be hydraulically sound • be designed with ongoing operation and maintenance costs in mind Like any irrigation system, it must be designed to apply water efficiently and must be properly maintained.

3. Correct operation

Getting the fundamentals right is vital.

This includes understanding the soil and turf that you are working with.

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Irrigation systems belonging to councils, schools, and community groups are often managed and operated by multiple staff, volunteers, or under-resourced teams. This can mean that there is no single skilled person who is familiar with the irrigation system and responsible for it.

Technologies are available to help, but for these to be useful, they must be used correctly.

Although smart controllers can adjust irrigation schedules to weather and soil conditions, they may not be programmed correctly or modified when needed. It’s not unusual to see systems operating in the rain, even when they are equipped with a controller, because they lack a rain sensor.

Furthermore, smart controllers cannot detect or correct certain issues, such as incorrect zoning, soil compaction, and waterlogging.

In summary, controllers are valuable, but human input is still essential. Systematic monitoring and maintenance are crucial for the effective operation of these systems. This ensures that water is distributed evenly, minimises wastage, and prevents over-irrigation.

Fundamentals that are often missing include: • regular maintenance and testing, which requires a reasonable level of skill and expertise • a maintenance plan to ensure that the system remains operational and efficient • annual irrigation system performance testing. A system audit can identify areas that require adjustments, such as reducing irrigation times.

Designers, installers, and operators all have key roles in ensuring proper irrigation. Designers and installers can advocate for water-efficient technologies and practices and educate users on the significance of maintenance.

If a system isn’t properly operated, regardless of how well it was designed and installed, the results will leave much to be desired and precious water might not be conserved where it could be.

Nine tips to help the client operate and manage the system 4 Ensure that ongoing operating and maintenance costs are considered in the design phase and that the client is aware of these from the start.

4 Provide an operating manual that is easy to follow and understand for both summer and winter.

4 Ensure that important information regarding scheduling, maintenance, and system updates is effectively communicated both verbally and in writing.

4 Make user-friendliness a priority. This is particularly important when there will be multiple users who are not all well trained.

4 Maintain comprehensive documentation, including system manuals, maintenance schedules, and emergency contact lists.

4 Emphasise that replacements should be like-for-like to maintain the integrity of the design.

4 Establish a routine schedule for inspecting system components to proactively identify and address potential problems.

4 Designers and installers should ensure that volunteers are familiar with basic equipment maintenance tasks and promptly address any issues to extend the life of the irrigation system.

4 Recommend that the client conduct an annual basic assessment of the system.

Make user-friendliness a priority, especially when multiple users will be operating the system.

Andres Jaramillo

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RESEARCH USING RECYCLED WASTEWATER AT SCALE FOR MORE LIVEABLE CITIES SNAPSHOT • The Western Sydney Parklands Arboretum Project is investigating how recycled water can be used for irrigation at scale.

• With western Sydney’s rising temperatures and growing population, recycling wastewater for irrigation could solve the dual problems of urban greening and wastewater management.

• However, using too much recycled water for irrigation can cause salinity problems. Additionally, recycled water has a different chemistry to potable water, and affects soil and plants differently.

• The project aims to provide a ‘recipe for recycling’ by answering questions about what quantity of recycled water can be used without having negative impacts on soil and plants, and how different plant species respond to recycled water.

A new research project is investigating how recycled water can be used to irrigate gardens and parklands at scale in western Sydney, addressing urban heat and sustainability challenges.

On the surface, using recycled water in parks and gardens makes sense, solving several problems at once – reducing the strain on fresh water supplies, promoting urban greening, and decreasing the amount of water pumped from treatment plants to the coast and then out to sea.

However, in reality, it is not as simple as diverting treated wastewater straight onto gardens.

First, as urban populations grow, more wastewater will be produced, but over-irrigation as a means of managing it can raise the level of underlying groundwater, bringing saltinfused water too close to the surface and hampering plant growth.

Second, recycled water has different chemistry than potable water, which can affect the chemical properties of the soil and plant growth.

Distinguished Professor Michelle Leishman, who is leading the new Western City Parklands Arboretum project, funded

by Sydney Water in collaboration with Macquarie University’s Smart Green Cities Research Centre, says that before water recycling is introduced on a broad scale it is important to get the formula right so that soils remain healthy.

Sydney's west under the microscope The Western City Parklands Arboretum project is investigating how best to way to use recycled water for irrigation in Sydney’s western suburbs.

Using recycled water in green infrastructure would save significant amounts of drinking water every year and would also turn the hot western suburbs of Sydney into more liveable, green and sustainable regions, Professor Leishman says.

Western Sydney routinely has the Sydney Basin’s hottest summer temperatures, and the Bureau of Meteorology predicts the proportion of over 35 °C days will keep rising.

The population of 2.6 million is expected to grow by 800,000 by 2041, increasing demand for drinking water and straining wastewater infrastructure.

“The new developments needed to house western Sydney’s growing population will produce a large amount of wastewater and sewage that Sydney Water must manage,” Professor Leishman says.

“Treating it and returning it to the landscape for green space maintenance is the proposed solution, but we have to be sure the recycled water won’t cause problems with salinity or plant performance.”

Getting the recipe right

Distinguished Professor Michelle Leishman says the project aims to provide solid data on the most suitable plants for the region, as well as the best ways to use the recycled water to reduce the urban heat island effect.

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According to Professor Leishman the project will help develop a ‘recipe for recycling’ for water authorities, planners and landscape architects.

“We need to add enough water to the landscape for trees to perform well, but not add so much we cause the water table to rise and therefore dissolve salts from the layers of soil it passes through, bringing the salt to the surface,” she says.

Six-hundred young trees on a one-hectare site will be monitored by smart systems and hyper-local weather stations to measure soil moisture, salinity, temperature and humidity.

“We’ll also be looking at the how efficient different tree species are in their water use, and because recycled water has different chemistry to potable water, we will test interactions with the soil chemistry typical of the region.”

Testing recycled water on different tree species The project will test the impact of recycled water on different tree species, with a focus on western Sydney’s unique soil and landscape challenges.

The project site at the Australian Botanic Garden at Mount Annan will also feed data into the Which Plant Where online tool, a free resource to future-proof landscaping.

Fifteen different tree species, which are commonly used as street trees and in parks in the region, are being watered in the Garden with either recycled or drinking-quality water and tested using different soil amendments.

Over the next few years, 600 young trees on a onehectare site will be monitored by smart systems and hyperlocal weather stations to measure soil moisture, salinity, temperature, and humidity.

Reducing urban heat islands Professor Leishman says that the project aims to provide solid data on the most suitable plants and shade trees for the region, as well as the best ways to use the recycled water produced by Sydney Water to reduce the urban heat island effect.

“There are two ways that trees cool urban areas; first through their shade which reduces the amount of sunlight hitting buildings and roads, keeping the shaded zone cooler,” she says.

“And second, through transpiration which is nature’s airconditioner - where trees release water vapour into the air through their leaves, and as the vapour evaporates, it absorbs heat from the surrounding air, cooling it down.”

Trees are more effective at transpiration when well-watered and grown in healthy soils which hold moisture, she says.

“In drought or long dry spells, trees don’t provide as much cooling, unless they have been regularly watered, and that’s where recycled water can help.”

Source. Macquarie University website.

AUTUMN 2024

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URBAN DESIGN FEATURE Thriving street trees: A council's innovative approach to reducing water use, labour and costs SNAPSHOT • After trialing various designs of tree-planting pits, Dubbo Regional Council (DRC) has settled on their preferred method, which uses a rock matrix filled with a mixture of compost, soil and biochar.

• This approach is cost-effective, makes it easy to manage underground utilities, allows passive irrigation and reduces water use.

• This article describes the process and the advantages of DRC’s ‘Modified Stockholm Methodology’.

Dubbo Regional Council in central NSW, in association with ENSPEC, has implemented an innovative structural rock pit method for planting street trees. The method allows passive irrigation, reduces water use and enables trees to thrive while coexisting with underground utilities, stormwater drains and other infrastructure.

As Australia’s climate warms our cities and towns, councils face an increasing array of challenges in mitigating urban heat. Local governments are under pressure to increase tree canopy cover to help improve resilience against projected increases in temperature.

However, high-density housing, narrow road reserves and underground utilities in urban centres present challenges for councils trying to increase canopy cover. Where majestic trees once lined and shaded streets, councils are now forced to plant smaller and narrower species, which do not provide substantial shade or provide the additional benefits that trees bring to our streetscapes.

To meet these challenges Dubbo Regional Council has trialled a variety of tree planting pits, including ‘root vaults’ – underground matrices designed to allow root growth under roads and footpaths – to enable large trees to thrive.

The council has now settled on a preferred root vault design using a modified version of the Stockholm planting methodology.

BENEFITS OF THE MODIFIED STOCKHOLM METHODOLOGY The original Stockholm method involves excavating a root vault and filling it with a structural rock matrix before

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washing biochar in the voids between the rocks. The council’s modified version also relies on a rock matrix but uses a mix of soil and compost as well as biochar.

The rock used in the pits is either a waste product from council subdivisions, or purchased direct from the quarry, and the compost comes from the council’s own composting system. Replacing some of the biochar with soil and compost delivers significant savings. Compared with the original Stockholm approach, less time and labour are required for installation as the matrix is mixed off-site before being transported and installed in one operation.

Ian McAlister, Manager Recreation and Open Space at the Council explains, “This approach met both our structural and root zone requirements while being cost effective due to the use of waste materials and reduced labour costs during planting.”

Another advantage of a rock matrix is that it is easy to manage underground utilities, as conduits can be retrofitted by excavating a section of the root vault, installing the conduits and then backfilling with the same structural mix.

With other planting methods, forward planning is required to install conduits to minimise damage to the structural vault.

Dubbo Regional Council (DRC) has been trailing different designs of tree-planting pits and has settled on an effective and economical method. Left: Eucalyptus sideroxylon planted as 75 L trees in 2021

by DRC in conjunction with the Australian Government’s Drought Resilient Landscapes program. Windsor Parade. Right: Zelkova serrata “wireless” planted 2017 (DRC and NSW Office Environment and Heritage – Building Resilience to Climate Change).

THE MODIFIED STOCKHOLM METHOD THE VAULTS

• The volume of the root vault is determined by the formula V= (πr 2 x 0.6), where r is the radius of the mature canopy cover of the tree species chosen.

• An open-ended concrete ‘box’ is installed, which protects the road pavement and encourages the roots into the surrounding rock matrix. The bottom of this box is installed within the rock matrix, with the matrix extending out beyond the box.

• To reduce the chance of root intrusion into the sub-base of the road, a geofabric is installed at the interface between the rock matrix and the road.

• Grates are made to fit the top of the tree ‘box’ for passive water capture and supplementary watering using a water truck as required.

THE MATRIX • The pits are filled with a blend of 50 per cent rock matrix, 35 per cent compost and 15 per cent biochar.

• The rocks vary in diameter from around 150 mm – 250 mm.

• This blend is applied in 30 cm layers with a vibrating roller used to ensure the rock matrix interlocks.

• To assist air and water movement, slotted PVC pipes are inserted into the matrix at varying depths to encourage deep root growth.

• As the tree develops its root structure, additional biomass and nutrients within the matrix are developed, turned over and renewed.

• The small fibrous tree root hairs reproduce every day, with about 50 per cent naturally dying daily. This enables a massive self-feeding biomass that is quickly established for trees to live and feed on. The result is a self-sustaining system.

• Stormwater contributes to the nutrient load required to grow high quality street trees.

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URBAN DESIGN FEATURE The biochar has excellent water holding capacity resulting in a watering rate less than one-third compared to previous tree planting methods, as well as adding cation exchange capacity.

The compost gives trees a head-start by making nutrients immediately available to promote root growth. This bio-boost provides the newly planted tree with initial nutrients until it establishes its own self-sustaining system.

COST COMPARISON FOR TREE PLANTING

Grates are made to fit the top of the tree ‘box’ for passive water capture and supplementary watering using a water truck as required.

The council also found that with biochar’s moistureholding capacity, the tree watering rate was less than one-third of what it had been traditionally, when establishing advanced tree plantings.

EACH COMPONENT HAS A ROLE TO PLAY The rock matrix provides the structural support needed in trafficked areas and to meet engineering approval. This needs to be determined on a site-specific basis due to differing soil conditions and rock used for load-bearing capacity under typical urban traffic conditions.

For Dubbo Regional Council, the reuse of waste rock from council sub-divisions, and compost from its green waste site coupled with a significantly lower labour requirement, make the structural rock pit method around 40 per cent more cost effective than other tree vault systems. Most of the trees are being planted retrospectively and are not connected to a stormwater system. However, wherever possible it is recommended that the tree pits be connected to a stormwater line to prevent waterlogging or damage to road pavement in the event of heavy rain or flooding.

The cost per tree ranges from $12,500 to $20,500 using the structural rock pit method. The cost varies depending on the species and size of the tree, as these characteristics influence the size and location of the pit within the road environment.

This cost includes excavation, rock and compost (basically at cost), biochar, geo fabric, vents/pipes, root barriers, tree, road safety measures, labour and plant. Wherever possible, council attempts to undertake the installation after normal work hours to reduce WHS issues regarding staff working in road environments.

Acknowledgments. Thanks to Ian McAlister from Dubbo Regional Council for providing information and photos for this article.

URBAN DESIGN FEATURE Backflow prevention in irrigation – what are the rules?

This article outlines the backflow prevention rules and legislative requirements that you should know when installing an irrigation system, whether it is domestic, commercial, landscape or agricultural.

Once drinking water enters the irrigation pipework, it is no longer considered drinking water, since it is impossible to know if or when it becomes contaminated. Without preventative measures, however, this water can sometimes flow back into the drinking water pipes.

Backflow prevention systems are designed to protect drinking water from substances that might be present in the irrigation system, such as garden waste, compost, fertilisers and animal excrement.

THE CAUSES OF BACKFLOW Backflow is the reverse flow of water back through the cross-connection – where the drinking water connects to the irrigation pipework. Backflow can happen when the incoming water pressure either drops away or the pressure increases in the piping system, overpowering the mains pressure. Contaminants within an irrigation system can then be sucked into the pipe and drawn into the drinking water system.

The most common cause of backflow is back-siphonage, when the water is sucked in the wrong direction, back through the pipe. Typically this is caused by water-main breaks, which are common events in cities, with an estimated 15,000 occurrences across Australia each year. The second major cause of backflow is the reduction in mains water pressure when fire trucks draw water from hydrants.

Most irrigation installations will require the installation of a backflow prevention valve to ensure that contaminants from irrigation water do not end up in the drinking water system.

PREVENTING BACKFLOW So let’s examine what protections are in place to prevent a backflow event: • The National Construction Code (NCC) Volume Three, also known as the Plumbing Code of Australia (PCA), specifies the mandatory cross-connection prevention requirements when connecting drinking water to an irrigation system.

These requirements are referenced within state and territory plumbing and drainage requirements and are elevated into state and territory legislation. It is important to research the irrigation requirements in your area to see if any variances to the code exist.

• The AS/NZS 3500.1 – Water Services is the Australian and New Zealand Standard that outlines the installation requirements around irrigation systems. These are mandatory requirements and are referenced in the NCC. • Different types of backflow valves exist to meet the hazard identified at the cross-connection. Section 4 of AS/NZS 3500.1 outlines the types of valves required to meet the degree of hazard.

• If the degree of hazard is rated as medium or high, the Australian Standard identifies mandatory testing procedures and testing intervals for the required type of backflow protection device.

• Only licensed plumbers are permitted by state and territory law to install backflow prevention valves for cross-connection control. Once installed, the backflow preventer must be commissioned and tested by a plumber trained in cross-connection control before the water service can be extended into the irrigation service.

UNDERSTAND THE RISKS AND YOUR OBLIGATIONS Most irrigation installations will require the installation of a backflow prevention valve, and it is important to understand the risks and the obligations around this type of work. In our modern world where water is scarce and plumbing systems are increasingly complex, the chance of a backflow event is high.

Information. For more information, contact the Backflow Prevention Association of Australia Inc. via our website at www.bpaa.org.au.

Peter McLennan

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THE BIG ISSUE WE ARE ON THE CUSP OF AN URBAN IRRIGATION REVOLUTION – AI AND A GREENER FUTURE SNAPSHOT • In this article, urban futurist Stephen Yarwood explores a positive vision of greener cities, which could be enabled by technology.

• The changing climate is putting increased pressure on urban water management systems, but smart, adaptive irrigation systems offer hope with the potential to operate at a range of scales and to dynamically adjust to changing weather patterns and soil moisture levels.

• Singapore is a great example of a city that has prioritised urban greening. Parks, rooftop gardens and green buildings all contribute to vibrant green infrastructure that is interwoven with residential and commercial spaces.

• AI could soon transform the way we use water and could help support thriving urban green spaces in ways that we cannot yet imagine.

• To harness the full potential of technology, and achieve a greener urban future, we must work to merge technology, policy and community.

Strategic planning is vital for thriving cities that support the critical interplay between people, the environment and built form. To achieve this, we must understand the future and our role in shaping it, and think about the future in more critical and sophisticated ways. The realm of possibility is boundless, while the probable we usually trade in is anchored by calculated forecasts shaped by our past experiences and current realities. As a futurist, my role extends beyond outlining what's possible; it involves exploring our potential and creating conversations about preferable futures.

Water has played a pivotal role in shaping our urban evolution and, now more than ever, its value is in sharp focus. Recognising the true worth of water is crucial as we navigate the intersection of urban growth (with more than 50 per cent of the world's population now residing in cities), climate resilience, and the need for green spaces that enable us and our urban ecology to thrive.

In my view, we are on the cusp of a revolution in urban greening. We need to collaborate creatively and positively to merge technology, policy, and community to craft the finest urban landscapes. These discussions are not just about making our cities more liveable, but also about boosting their productivity and sustainability in ways that we do yet fully comprehend.

The climate imperative and urban resilience The significance of irrigation within the broader context of climate change and urban resilience cannot be overstated.

The relationship between urban water resources and climate resilience highlights the need for innovation in urban planning, infrastructure development and action. This is the responsibility of all levels of government, industry and urban citizens.

In a changing climate, more frequent and intense droughts, floods, and other extreme weather events put immense pressure on traditional urban water management systems.

The resilience of urban water systems is no longer a luxury, but a necessity, ensuring that cities can become truly sophisticated and highly adaptable.

The limitations of current systems will become glaringly apparent as we contend with the dual challenges of water scarcity and the need to maintain and enhance urban green spaces. Smart, adaptive irrigation systems offer great hope with the potential to dynamically adjust to changing weather patterns and soil moisture levels. These systems can be adopted at all scales, from the vast open space network across urban landscapes, to the smallest of apartment balconies towering above the city.

AI could transform the way we use water and could help support thriving urban green spaces in ways that we cannot yet imagine. AIgenerated image provided by the author.

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THE BIG ISSUE such as walking and cycling, contributing to longer, healthier lives. Moreover, the careful cultivation of green spaces elevates property values, underscoring the economic viability of such investments.

Singapore demonstrates that the harmonious coexistence of a vibrant metropolis and a thriving natural landscape is not only possible, but essential for the future. This paradigm shift towards greener urban environments advocates for a comprehensive approach that embraces the integration of nature at every level, from macro to micro, promising healthier, more resilient spaces for our increasingly urban future.

AI will increasingly transform basic pipe systems into a highly intelligent neural network that will revolutionise how cities operate.

AI-generated image provided by the author.

By incorporating predictive analytics and real-time data from a vast array of sensors, AI will increasingly transform basic pipe systems into a highly intelligent neural network that will revolutionise how cities operate.

Smart irrigation is not just about adapting to climate change. It is about reimagining how we live with a new urban operating system that embraces the opportunity, and obligation, to live in harmony with our environment in the face of pressing global environmental challenges.

Greening the urban jungle Singapore serves as a beacon of inspiration for urbanists worldwide. The traditional ‘park within a city’ evokes the idea of an urban area with interspersed green spaces; Singapore has boldly flipped this concept. It is a city purposefully built within a park. Singapore has made a conscious decision, backed up by investment and action, to fundamentally incorporate and integrate a dense urban landscape into nature.

The city-state's ambitious projects prove that greening is not an afterthought in urban development. Parks, rooftop gardens and green buildings all work towards creating vibrant green infrastructure that is interwoven with residential and commercial spaces.

The science behind Singapore's greening efforts is compelling, drawing links between enhanced urban greenery, human health and environmental benefits. Green spaces improve air quality, reduce urban heat island effects, and positively impact residents' psychology. The presence of lush, accessible natural areas encourages physical activities

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“Smart irrigation is not just about adapting to climate change. It is about reimagining how we live with a new urban operating system that embraces the opportunity, and obligation, to live in harmony with our environment in the face of pressing global environmental challenges.”

Every drop counts – The water-intelligent future Urban centres face the daunting challenge of providing sustainable water solutions amid growing populations and shrinking natural resources. The importance of long-term planning to address water scarcity and quality is often underestimated. This must change urgently.

While ‘innovative strategies’, such as rainwater and stormwater harvesting, greywater recycling and desalination, alleviate pressure on municipal water supplies, we need to go beyond these. By adapting our own personal living spaces, we can reduce the need for large-scale infrastructure. The emergence of the LED light is a great example, where reduced electricity use throughout a city alleviated or at least delayed, the need to build a whole new power plant.

There are many great examples of why this is just so important – water capture and conservation could be enhanced exponentially, but food productivity within the fine-grained spaces of our city could become a global gamer changer.

The AI advantage: coding urban irrigation There's no question that AI is entering the mainstream.

Like it or not, artificial general intelligence (when AI reaches human levels of intelligence) is likely only years away – perhaps just months away, according to some experts.

This technology will change how we live in ways that are yet to be imagined. Yes, we can build it into the irrigation of our large-scale parks and streets, but it will also find uses throughout our homes in ubiquitous, affordable and easy ways that will make adoption quicker than we can imagine.

We are familiar with the concept of using sensors and data analytics to optimise urban water use and enhance public space irrigation. But soon individuals will have a far more connected and intrinsic relationship with how water is used and managed than we can currently comprehend.

AI will harness vast datasets, including weather patterns, soil moisture levels, and plant health, to accurately predict watering needs to generate truly intelligent predictive irrigation management. This precision will optimise water use, reducing waste and ensuring urban green spaces and domestic gardens are irrigated perfectly.

Future cities will see the widespread adoption of autonomous, AI-driven irrigation systems that operate independently, adjusting in real time to the specific needs of each green space. Such systems will empower citizens by maintaining their home gardens with minimal input, promoting lush, healthy plant life without the need for manual intervention.

Leveraging AI, personalised gardening apps will provide citizens with real-time advice on watering schedules, plant health diagnostics, and optimal planting strategies. These apps will democratise gardening knowledge, allowing even novice gardeners to contribute to their city's greenery, fostering a deeper connection between individuals and their urban environment.

Furthermore, AI-driven irrigation systems will seamlessly integrate with smart home and city infrastructures, allowing for coordinated water management across multiple scales.

This will mean citizens can effortlessly contribute to their city's sustainability goals through automated home gardening systems and gamification reward programs that sync with broader urban water conservation efforts local, nationally and internationally.

“AI will also revolutionise water conservation efforts by identifying leaks and inefficiencies within all irrigation infrastructure in real time, be it city wide or in the smallest of tiny homes.”

Drafting the greenprint of tomorrow’s cities A dynamic blend of aspirational vision, robust strategy and bold policies is essential for fostering transformative change.

In an era where technology is advancing at a breathtaking pace, surpassing the regulatory frameworks in its wake, the imperative to not just catch up with innovations like AI, but also to address urgent climate challenges, has never been more pressing. Hand in hand is the need to embrace innovative funding models, regulatory support and community involvement to ensure that technology is an enabler for a greener future.

The challenge lies not in the lack of vision, but in transcending the limitations of past paradigms to embrace a future where technology, policy, and community efforts converge to create better urban ecosystems.

Stephen Yarwood is an urban futurist and former Lord Mayor of Adelaide. He

Food productivity within the fine-grained spaces of our city could become a global gamer changer. AI-generated image provided by the author.

is an experienced city planner and Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia who consults internationally on the future citizen, urban infrastructure and change, strategic planning, smart and healthy cities and innovation in governance and leadership. He is considered an international expert on ‘the future citizen’ and is passionate about the relationships between technology,

AI will also revolutionise water conservation efforts by identifying leaks and inefficiencies within all irrigation infrastructure in real time, be it city wide or in the smallest of tiny homes.

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infrastructure, resources, society and urbanism.

Stephen Yarwood

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DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY IN IRRIGATION New tool takes the guesswork out of irrigation for cotton growers SNAPSHOT • A new tool is available for cotton growers to take the guesswork out of the timing of irrigations.

• The method builds on earlier algorithms that use canopy temperature to determine irrigation timing.

• The new approach uses multipixel sensors, which capture higher resolution thermal images than previously used single-point sensors.

• Researchers at the University of Southern Queensland’s Centre for Agricultural Engineering have developed new thermal image analysis algorithms to extract plant temperature from these thermal images.

• This tool has been tested under a range of conditions and has been licensed to Goanna Ag for use in the GoField system.

For cotton growers, the timing of irrigations can be a gamble – irrigating too early or too late can affect yield and can waste water. A new tool, developed at the University of Southern Queensland and commercialised by Goanna Ag, is now available to take the guesswork out of this decision.

A new tool will help make irrigation management easier for cotton growers.

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Irrigation timing is critical for cotton growers. Irrigating too early can waste precious water and can lead to waterlogging, potentially killing off the roots. Leaving it too late can result in restricted root and canopy development and fruit growth.

Traditionally, growers have used methods such as visual inspections and soil probes to help them with this decision, but these approaches can be unreliable. However, a new tool is now available to help growers take the guesswork out of the timing.

The tool was developed by Dr Alison McCarthy, a mechatronic engineer at the University of Southern Queensland’s Centre for Agricultural Engineering. The tool builds on a method previously developed by CSIRO that relies on canopy temperature measurements.

WHY USE CANOPY TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENTS? “Like humans, plants get a temperature when they are unwell. By measuring canopy temperature, we can sense this stress,” McCarthy says.

According to McCarthy, while soil moisture probes and weather stations provide invaluable data for growers, canopy temperature measurements allow the crop to communicate its needs more directly to the grower. Measuring the temperature of a crop's canopy can provide insight into how much stress the crop is under, allowing growers to irrigate before the stress has a negative impact on yield.

Irrigation is triggered when the canopy temperature has been above the crop's optimal physiological temperature threshold for a certain amount of time.

SUCCESSES AND LIMITATIONS OF EARLIER WORK In 2019, Goanna Ag commercialised algorithms that use temperature measurements to manage irrigation. These had been developed by CSIRO with support from the Cotton Research and Development Corporation.

This approach saved one irrigation every three years, generating an additional $152 per hectare each season through irrigation and yield savings, according to an AgEcon economic analysis.

For this original approach, point sensors were used in the field. These sensors take only one temperature reading for the entire field of view. This presents a problem earlier in the season when there is only a small crop. The sensor reading is a mixture of the temperature of the plant and soil in the background, rather than only the plant.

“Like humans, plants get a temperature when they are unwell. By measuring canopy temperature, we can sense this stress.”

“This meant the sensors could only be used after the canopy had closed, and they also needed to be lifted as the crop grew and be kept close above the canopy, so no soil was inadvertently measured,” says Alison.

NEW TECH ENABLES A NEW APPROACH Recently, new low-cost thermal sensors, also known as multipixel sensors, have made it possible to capture wider thermal images, instead of just a single reading taken by single-point sensors. However, new image analysis algorithms were needed to differentiate between the temperature readings of the plants and the soil in these broader thermal images.

According to McCarthy, one way to achieve this is by positioning colour cameras next to thermal cameras. This will help identify the plant and soil in the image and extract only the plant temperature. This solution is effective, but it increases the cost and complexity of the system.

Instead, McCarthy and the team at UniSQ came up with novel thermal image analysis algorithms to extract plant temperature using only the multipixel sensor images, a solution that eliminates the need for a colour camera.

Another advantage of this solution is that the multipixel sensors provide wider thermal images, which allow the sensors to be installed at one height throughout the season.

This eliminates the need to continuously lift the sensor to just above the canopy as the crop grows.

COMMERCIALISED AND IN USE THIS SEASON Earlier this year, the algorithm was licensed to Goanna Ag for use in their upgraded GoField solution. The algorithm has been tested under a range of conditions and growers have used it for the first time over the summer current cropping season.

“This new development means that Goanna Ag’s GoField product is potentially a world first in delivering a truly integrated full season irrigation product to Australian cotton growers,” McCarthy says.

“The algorithm will even further broaden the applications for canopy sensing technology, as well as save labour and improve precision in sensing for irrigation management.”

POTENTIAL FOR USE IN OTHER CROPS Work by CSIRO has shown that canopy temperature can be useful to schedule irrigation in many different crops. Although this tool has not yet been tested on other crops, it seems likely that this technique can be extended to others.

This research was part of a collaboration between UniSQ, Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO as part of the Smarter Irrigation for Profit program and

Dr Alison McCarthy describes the new approach, commercialised by Goanna Ag, as a world first in delivering a truly integrated full season irrigation product to Australian cotton growers.

led by Cotton Research Development Corporation.

Eve White, Irrigation Australia

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DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY IN IRRIGATION Seeing both the forest and the trees: how drones can help with irrigation in orchards SNAPSHOT • Early detection of crop issues, like water stress, is vital for orchardists, but traditional methods of inspection are time-consuming.

Dr Karli Groves says the trials highlight the importance of a technology evaluation process that involves an independent third party.

• Recent trials led by Central Queensland University in collaboration with ag tech company Aerobotics, explored how drones can efficiently collect data on individual tree water status.

• Drones can provide higher resolution imagery than satellites, which can be more useful for making realtime decisions for speciality crops.

• Thermal imagery from drones is used to calculate plant transpiration, indicating water stress.

• Growers can access the data through an online platform, enabling them to identify problems and to view the orchard at a range of scales.

• Collaboration between technology providers, researchers, and growers is key to successful adoption.

For orchardists, early detection of issues such as crop water stress is crucial. Traditionally, growers have inspected trees individually. They achieve this either by doing the rounds on a buggy – which is time-consuming – or opportunistically while slashing, spraying or picking – an approach that may fail to pick up problems promptly.

Recent trials have explored how drones can help growers with this task by collecting data about the plant-water status of individual trees.

The trial was led by Central Queensland University (CQU) and was conducted in Queensland’s Wide Bay Burnett region with a focus on avocado crops. Its goal was to support growers to test new irrigation technology on their farms.

Dr Karli Groves, who was part of the CQU team, told Irrigation Australia, “Growers are facing increasing pressure to minimise their inputs both to reduce costs and be more sustainable, particularly when it comes to water.

“Having a technology that can pinpoint areas of variation in transpiration, and being able to readily identify the areas of overwatering or underwatering that may cause that variation, is valuable to growers to optimise water inputs and minimise crop loss.”

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USING THERMAL IMAGERY TO DETECT WATER STRESS The technology was provided by South African ag tech company Aerobotics. The solution is based on a combination of computer vision technology and high-resolution visual, multi-spectral and thermal aerial imagery from drones.

Machine-learning algorithms count and isolate the individual tree canopies and calculate a series of plant performance metrics for each individual plant.

Thermal imagery is used to calculate a transpiration metric per plant, effectively measuring how well a plant is moving water through its system. This metric is used as an indicator of tree stress.

WHY DRONES INSTEAD OF SATELLITE IMAGERY? Most of us in the irrigation industry would be familiar with the concept of using satellite imagery to help with irrigation decisions, but using drones for this purpose is still novel.

Thermal imagery captured by drones is higher resolution than satellite imagery, and using drone flights allows more flexibility around timing of monitoring.

The collaboration in a nutshell •

This was one of a series of projects in the Hinkler Ag Tech Initiative, led by CQU, which supported growers in the Wide Bay Burnett region to trial ag tech on their farms.

•

The ag tech in this project was provided by South African company, Aerobotics. Aerobotics processes the aerial imagery and provides access to the processed data for growers in their online platform.

•

The aerial imagery is collected by Oztech Drones, which conducts the aerial surveys, providing the pilot with compliance and local drone flight regulations.

•

Multiple avocado and macadamia growers trialled Aerobotics through the project to look at how it could be used to better manage their irrigation.

In the online platform, growers have access to the different map layers, including tree counts, health, vigour, canopy area, transpiration and elevation. They can choose to focus on what’s going on across the whole farm, or they can dive deeper into each block. Each block can be viewed as aggregated zones or per-tree metrics.

Because each tree is individually measured, growers can see distribution graphs for health, vigour, canopy area and transpiration. This allows growers to identify underperforming trees or zones of high and low transpiration.

Growers are also given a transpiration variation metric per block, which is an indicator of how different the highest and lowest transpiration values are from one another. This helps the grower identify and quantify non-uniform orchards.

For orchardists, early detection of issues such as crop water stress is crucial. The new technology developed by Aerobotics helps growers pick up problems faster.

According to Dr Yoav Yichie from Aerobotics, while satellite imagery can be ideal for large-scale, consistent monitoring over time, when it comes to precision farming for speciality crops, drones can be a better option.

“Thermal satellite imagery is very low resolution, so for perennial crops, it is difficult to remove the noise created from the space between individual plants,” Yichie says.

“Drone flights also give more flexibility around the timing of data collection, to take into account irrigation schedules and weather conditions such as cloud cover and rain.”

TRANSPIRATION DATA TO INFORM IRRIGATION DECISIONS Aerobotics contracts local drone operators to collect the data. The imagery is processed, and growers can access the resulting data through an online platform, Aeroview. The growers themselves need only provide the trees, and they can access all their data with a phone or a computer and an internet connection.

Dr Groves explains, “The ability to compare the different map layers allows growers to identify underlying causes of transpiration differences – for example, areas of low elevation and high transpiration could indicate readily available soil moisture, while high elevation and low transpiration could mean that the irrigation system is not delivering sufficient water to meet crop demands as well as run-off or infiltration losses due to site topography. Data can also be compared over time, which means growers can track the effectiveness of their in-season interventions and track whether the uniformity of their block is improving.”

It is then up to the grower to make the best use of the data and turn the insights into actionable practices based on their own knowledge and experience. Aerobotics also offers support through their in-house agronomists.

OUTCOMES

Growers can view different map layers in the online platform and can choose to focus on the whole farm or individual blocks.

One farm that has that benefited from the trials is Donovan Family Farms, which grows avocado and macadamia crops.

Clay Donovan said they had initially become interested in the trial because they were looking for uniformity throughout their blocks.

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DIGITAL TECH. “Before this kind of easy and detailed technology, we would have to come out to the block in the buggy and have a look at each tree individually, whereas we now have this information on uniformity in a timely manner and by getting the results so quickly we can see where we need to go in the future,” Donovan says.

While Donovan Family Farms has found the technology valuable, Dr Groves emphasises that each farming system is unique and complex.

“Some growers found good value in the technology and are interested in continuing to implement it, while others did not find it as useful and have looked to other technologies to address their challenges.

“The technical capacity of new technology is only one component of the product, with other factors such as cost, back-up support and ease of use being important to growers and influencing individual decisions of whether to adopt technology.”

THE VALUE OF COLLABORATION Dr Groves says that the trials highlight the benefits of a technology evaluation process, with an independent third party providing financial support, advice and data verification to assist growers to assess new technology.

“The approach of acting as an intermediary between the tech companies and the growers not only provided us with some great insights into the challenges faced by both parties but also allowed us to bridge the communication gap between them and enable both to get the best out the trials,” Groves notes.

Groves says the growers appreciated having the CQU team on hand to assist with implementing the technology into their systems.

“Our support role involved ground truthing and on-ground technical support and advice. We assisted multiple avocado and macadamia growers to look at how the technology could be used to better manage their irrigation with ground truthing the drone maps that showed areas of low and high transpiration in their orchards, looking at soil moisture levels and fruit size.”

Support from the Australian Government enabled the Initiative to cover the cost of trialling the products, but once the growers had the technology up and running, the team took a hands-off approach allowing them to use it as if they had purchased it themselves.

WHAT’S NEXT The Initiative has now finished, but CQU continues to work with both growers and ag tech providers to support the adoption of ag tech. According to Dr Groves, growers valued CQU’s support and many of them continue to support the technologies they trialled during the Initiative.

Eve White, Irrigation Australia

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NEW APP PROMISES CUSTOMISED FORECASTS FOR IRRIGATORS Most farmers lack access to accurate, localised weather forecasts to make decisions about irrigation and other aspects of farm management. Data is not sufficiently localised, and forecasts don't provide enough detail to enable precision agriculture. A new app, Jane’s Weather Pro, is aiming to fill this gap.

The weather app, Jane’s Weather Pro is being developed by meteorologist Jane Bunn – a familiar face to many, having presented on The Weather Channel, WIN News, ABC News, and 7NEWS Melbourne.

“When making a commercial decision based on the weather, people will look at so many apps and websites all with different scenarios and information. They’ll then ask themselves, which one is right?” says Jane.

“I’m solving this problem by providing all the available guidance under the one umbrella, so that you don’t need to jump from website to website or app to app.”

Combining global models with on-farm data Jane’s Weather Pro will be different to other available apps in that it will combine top performing global weather models and train them to provide guidance for individual farms using on-site observations.

Many farms are located far from the nearest bureau station, so forecasts may not be accurate for their location. The app will use data direct from a user’s farm to supplement holes in the current weather modelling and create a more accurate picture for the unique terrain of their location.

The result will be customised weather forecasts and insights, adapted to local conditions and enhanced by AI to help farmers make decisions about irrigation scheduling, frost mitigation and spraying windows.

Start-up grant and trial phase

A $50,000 grant from LaunchVic and Agriculture Victoria helped the Melbourne-based startup get off the ground. The funding enabled the team to hire an AI and machine learning expert to work on the beta version of Jane’s Weather Pro, their first professional forecasting service. It also helped get Jane’s Weather Pro into trial phase and more than 150 users have been involved with co-designing the platform.

Opportunities for investors and ag tech developers Jane’s Weather is seeking investment of up to $1.5 million from angel, corporate and institutional investors through AgriFutures growAG, an agrifood innovation platform that connects users to investment opportunities, research and expertise from Australia and around the world.

Funding will be used to secure two higher resolution weather models, bringing the forecast grid to 1 x 1 km; scale up machine learning from local observation networks to tailor the forecast to individual properties; and enhance the forecast with artificial intelligence.

Agrifutures growAG says opportunities also exist for ag tech platforms interested in API integration with complimentary services.

Information. To find out more visit LaunchVic and Agrifutures grow AG.

Jane Bunn says the new app will provide all available information under one umbrella so growers to not have to jump from app to app.

INTERACTIVE ZONE

NETWORKING LOUNGE

The exhibition hall will feature an ‘Interactive Zone’ with a stage and seating area, providing an opportunity for exhibitors and sponsors to present ideas, new technologies, and have a bit of fun.

Take advantage of our central networking lounge, which will be located in the heart of the exhibition hall, with informal seating to allow delegates to meet and connect in an informal setting.

POSTER PRESENTATIONS

EXHIBITION HALL

Come meet the authors at our designated poster area!

The exhibition hall will be the centerpiece of the 2024 Conference & Exhibition. This expansive space is where innovation meets opportunity, allowing exhibitors from around the globe to showcase the latest technologies, services, and ideas shaping our industry.

The exhibition space will feature a walk-through poster area along with seating to accommodate for short poster presentations.

URBAN WATER WORKSHOP -

TECHNICAL TOURS IN SYDNEY

Participate in an Urban Water Workshop and training sessions to help drive smarter installation and system management, ensuring better bang for the public dollar.

Explore technical tours highlighting the latest innovation in Sydney, in partnership with Sydney Water and other hosts.

COUNCIL AND IRRIGATION INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS

WOMEN IN WATER PANEL SESSION

MULTIPLE PLENARY SESSIONS

Share valuable insights and nurture partnerships!

Join leading experts, industry pioneers, and visionary thinkers as they share insights on the latest advancements, trends, and challenges in the irrigation and drainage industry.

Join us for the Women in Water Breakfast and panel session on Tuesday the 2nd of September to connect, empower, and celebrate with fellow females working in the irrigation and drainage industry.

Each plenary session is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the critical issues facing our water management systems today.

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Irrigation Australia Ltd

The Event Gap

(07) 3517 4000 irrigation2024@theeventgap.com.au

(02) 8607 1413 irrigation2024@theeventgap.com.au

CONFERENCE

IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION – THE COUNTDOWN IS ON Irrigation Australia is thrilled to invite you to the Southern Hemisphere’s premier water event, the Irrigation Australia Conference and Exhibition in conjunction with the 9th Asian Regional Conference of Irrigation & Drainage and the 75th International Executive Council (IEC) Meeting.

With less than six months to go, the countdown is on to the Southern Hemisphere’s biggest irrigation event. The event organisers are currently finalising the program, the workshops, the keynote speakers, the exhibition space and the ever-popular social events.

You still have time to be part of this event as a sponsor, an exhibitor, or a delegate. Here’s a sneak preview of what you can look forward to.

The event will be held at the spectacular Sydney International Convention Centre.

Photo by TKKurikawa/Deposit Photos.

The conference promises a rich program, with presenters from around the world.

INTERACTIVE PANEL SESSIONS An important feature of the conference is the panel sessions, which offer an opportunity for lively discussion and interaction with expert speakers. In these sessions, you’ll get to discuss the big questions, such as What has irrigated agriculture ever done for us, and what is its role into the future?

Australians live in a dry environment, and climate change will continue to place pressure on water availability. In Australia and many other developed countries, the reputation of irrigation practices has taken many hits, despite its essential role in food and fibre production. So, what can be done to promote a balanced and rational policy approach into the future and how is the irrigation industry participating?

Major conference, exhibition, and international event, all under one roof

This facilitated panel session will include an engaging discussion with representatives across a range of water users and an opportunity for audience participation, as we attempt to elevate the debate towards sustainable management of our most valuable resource.

At least 1000 delegates and around 100 exhibitors are expected to attend the event from 1 to 7 September. The venue is at the spectacular Sydney International Convention Centre in the heart of Darling Harbour.

A unique aspect of this combined event is its size and scope. It brings together world-renowned researchers and policy makers, leading manufacturers, retailers, suppliers, water managers, installers, designers and others from Australia and further afield all under the one roof.

The reputation of irrigation practices has taken many hits, despite its essential role in food and fibre production.

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Learn about cutting-edge practices, science, policy and technology The conference promises a rich program, with presenters from around the globe, based around the theme: ‘Irrigation’s role in delivering economically viable food security and sustainable urban spaces in an increasingly unpredictable climate’.

Our conference themes and sub-themes promote inclusion but also celebrate the significant skills and expertise our own irrigation industry offers, along with the benefits of international collaboration.

This year’s exhibition will be different This year, we’ve taken a fresh approach to the exhibition.

We’ve made some big changes to ensure it is as interactive, fun and productive as possible for both delegates and exhibitors.

You can look forward to: • more space, with all meals incorporated into the exhibition hall • two-hour lunch breaks with plenty of activities, including promotions and competitions. Be sure to check out the ‘Gary’ building time challenge – past Irrigation Australia trainees may know what we’re talking about!

• poster presentations, including a seating area • an “interactive zone” with a stage and seating area where exhibitors can demonstrate their products • a networking lounge in the centre of the exhibition hall • exhibitor competitions, including best stand, best ‘gimmick’, and sustainability prizes.

Inspiring keynote speakers Get set for a great lineup of entertaining, inspiring and educational keynote speeches.

If you are in the business of selling, be sure to attend the keynote by Brian Walker of the Retail Doctor Group, who will deliver a keynote on ‘Industry trends, and the steps to maximising business value in retail’.

Brian Walker is ‘The Retail Doctor’. As Founder and CEO of Retail Doctor Group, which he established in 2005, Brian has steered his business to become a leading retail consulting firm specialising in taking insights driven strategy into awardwinning implementation, working across omni channel retail, franchise and service sectors in every retail category.

Brian is a regular media commentator on retail issues, appearing on many major TV channels and publishing articles in high-profile national publications.

Find out more about The Retail Doctor here.

SHOWCASE YOUR BUSINESS AT THE EXHIBITION You still have time to secure your exhibition space to showcase your product or service to a large audience of industry professionals. n to both conference delegates and the public. It is an unparalleled opportunity for organisations to come face-to-face with customers, to increase your visibility, and to showcase and demonstrate your products and services.

This will be the last opportunity to participate in an irrigation industry event of this scale in Australia for some time, so don’t miss out!

Information. Contact Robert Gunn 0497 800 962 or Abdul Khan 0433 159 345, irrigationpartnerships@theeventgap.com.au or visit the event website.

It is not too late to get involved as a sponsor and there are a range of packages available.

Find out more here or contact Robert Gunn on 0497 800 962 or irrigationpartnerships@theeventgap.com.au to discuss your options.

A rare chance for the industry to come together As always, you can look forward to informative, fun and action-packed side-events: workshops, technical tours, social and networking events. Among these is the ‘Women Working in Water’ Breakfast, which was one of the highlights of the 2022 event.

You’ll also have plenty of time to catch up with old friends and colleagues and forge new connections at the welcome ceremony and the conference dinner, which will feature entertainment by Oz rock band, Classic Oz. Don’t miss this invaluable opportunity for practitioners, academics, manufacturers, and service providers to come together, exchange knowledge and celebrate the achievements of our industry.

Sponsorship opportunities We’re excited to welcome Franklin Electric as our principal partner and our major sponsors Brown Brothers Engineers Australia, Davey Water Australia and Rain Bird Australia.

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IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA NEWS BEHIND THE SCENES: AMY HALDANE JOINS THE TRAINING TEAM

Behind the scenes at Irrigation Australia our dedicated team works to ensure that our training courses deliver high quality content and meet national standards and frameworks. Amy Haldane recently joined us as our registered training organisation (RTO) compliance officer.

IA. What do you both enjoy most about your work?

Amy. I’m excited to learn about the irrigation industry and be a part of contributing quality training for the organisation. I enjoy working in quality and compliance as it keeps my brain busy with constant changes, and I get to be challenged where I can problem-solve.

IA. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Amy. After work to relax you’d find me with a cup of tea and book in hand. On the weekends I love a little exploring – heading out to local nurseries bringing home more plants (that I definitely need!), exploring national parks or camping in the middle of nowhere.

TRAINING AND COLLABORATION IN TOWNSVILLE Irrigation Australia commenced the first face-to-face training block for the Certificate III in Irrigation Technology for 2024 in Townsville on 11 March. Tropical Cyclone Kirrily ultimately deferred our plans to run an industry event in the region in the same week, but we are back on track to organise something to coincide with the next block in a few months time.

Amy will be working alongside Sam O’Brien (we introduce Sam on page 33). We caught up with Amy to find out a bit about her role and her life outside of work.

Our colleagues at Rain Bird kindly put us onto Bruce Fouracre at Country Bank Stadium, who was only too pleased to show us around the facility and line us up with the functions group for the future event, a tour and talks, as well as an opportunity for our students to get hands-on with some practical training. Watch this space (and go Cowboys!).

IA. Can you tell us a bit about your role?

Amy. I started in February as the registered training organisation (RTO) compliance officer. I’ll be working closely with Sam and the training team, and I’ll be responsible for ensuring the training side of the business remains compliant with the current standards and frameworks.

This will include assisting the team in all things related to compliance and quality assurance, scope management, reporting, maintenance of the state funding contracts and coordinating audits. This year will be audit central with the RTO re-registration and the anticipated improvement of processes.

IA. Can you tell us about your professional background?

Amy. I have come from a quality and compliance team at a private RTO, where the focus was on both internal and external audits, reporting, minimising errors to reduce loss, and recently re-registration. I joined that RTO in 2016 as an administration officer, moved into a student support and tutor role, then a training coordinator role before finding my place in compliance two years ago. My exposure to different roles over the last eight years there has given me a broad knowledge of the RTO world.

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Irrigation Australia’s Sam O’Brien (in blue) with Bruce Fouracre and at Country Bank Stadium.

IRRIGATION INDUSTRY AWARDS TO BE PRESENTED IN SEPTEMBER One of the many highlights of the biennial Irrigation Australia Conference is the presentation of awards to celebrate innovation, excellence and commitment to the irrigation industry. Here are two awards that we’re looking forward to presenting in September. Nominations are open now – head to our website to find out more.

Life Members Life Membership is a fantastic opportunity to recognise those who’ve made a significant contribution to the Association and industry. A maximum of 20 Life Memberships are available at any one time. It’s been some time since a life membership has been granted and we’re planning to change that this year.

Life member nominations can be made at any time.

MacLean-Iedema Award The MacLean-Iedema Award recognises an outstanding individual who has made a significant contribution to the advancement of the irrigation industry, or a sector of the industry.

Recognising outstanding contributions. In assessing the performance and contribution for which the Award is made, we consider the following criteria: 1. Commitment - An outstanding record of commitment to the development of their industry.

2. Contribution - The recipient will be judged to have made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of the industry (this contribution may be evaluated in quantitative and/or qualitative terms).

3. Performance - The performance of the individual should be deemed exceptional.

4. Persistence - The performance will have been sustained over an extended period of time 5. The Extra Mile - The performance of the individual will extend well beyond the normal demands of the person's occupation, profession or position within the industry.

Background. Scott MacLean and Don Iedema were strong supporters and contributors to the Irrigation Association of Australia (IAA) during its early years. Both men were involved in the organisation at a regional and national level and Scott was a former chair.

As partners and principals of the then large retail irrigation supply chain, Aquafield McCracken, they expressed their commitment to the irrigation industry through the support of their business and the contribution of their time to the Association and its ideals. Scott, Don and Roger Bell, an employee and talented, well respected irrigation designer with a young family tragically all lost their lives in a light aircraft accident in 1995.

In recognition of their contribution to the irrigation industry and the association, the Irrigation Australian Association (now Irrigation Australia) created an award to perpetuate and honour their memory.

Submissions for the MacLean-Iedema Award are open until June.

WATERWISE IRRIGATION PROGRAMS ON FACEBOOK Have you checked out Irrigation Australia’s Waterwise irrigation programs on Facebook?

There are two categories:

• Waterwise Garden Irrigator - for professional installation and maintenance services • Waterwise Irrigation Design Shop - for expert advice and quality parts The Facebook page aims to provide the wider community with #waterwise tips and advice and promote members.

Use the QR code and jump on Facebook to find out more and keep up to date.

IAL BOARD DIRECTORS Simon Treptow (Chair) Irrigear Stores, Mornington Victoria 3931 Valentina Tripp (Deputy Chair) Individual member, Vic Peter Brueck Waterwise Consulting, Bangor, NSW Greig Graham Rivulis, Brendale, Qld Rob Nadebaum Rain Bird, Deer Park, Vic Matthew Binder Individual member, SA Carl Walters Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, Shepparton, Vic Clinton Hort Rodney Industries, Chermside, Qld Gennaro Vellotti Netafim Australia/New Zealand, Adelaide, SA Paul Smith Pumps ‘N’ Pipes Supplies, Mandurah, WA

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA TRAINING A training update by Sam O’Brien, Training and Compliance Manager Entering the role of training and compliance manager at Irrigation Australia has marked the commencement of an exciting new professional journey. My initial days have been dedicated to delving into every aspect of the business, immersing myself in its intricacies and workings.

Although my three decades of experience in the irrigation industry has provided me with valuable insights into training content and market demand, as I delved deeper into my role, it became evident that there was a critical gap in my understanding – specifically, the inner workings of a registered training organisation (RTO).

Navigating the complexities of operating within an RTO requires a specialised understanding of compliance standards, accreditation processes, funding opportunities and quality assurance protocols. To bridge this gap in my knowledge, I recently completed a ten-day training course ‘Certificate IV in Training and Assessment’. This is the same qualification all our trainers must hold to deliver training for Irrigation Australia.

I’ve enjoyed getting to know my new colleagues. Our dynamic and dedicated team, spanning Brisbane and Perth, is passionate about planning and scheduling our training and courses. Their role is to ensure smooth and efficient operation in every aspect, from coordinating trainer and student availability to managing catering, training resources, compliance, and equipment freight. This is a substantial and intricate undertaking that demands extensive collaboration and teamwork. Fortunately, we have a team ready to invest the effort, and importantly, to share a good laugh as we navigate the journey together.

As I settle into week eight of the role, I have identified three key priorities that we’ll be focusing on to advance our training offerings: 1. Securing more trainers nationwide. We need to expand our pool of trainers across the country to support our highly dispersed student base. By tapping into a broader network of industry professionals, we can offer more training opportunities to more students across the country.

2. Investigating demand for shorter courses. In response to evolving industry needs, there’s a growing demand for shorter, more targeted training programs. However, it’s crucial that we explore the possibility of these shorter courses serving as pathways into higher qualifications rather than replacements. This approach ensures flexibility for students while maintaining the integrity of our educational offerings.

3. Understanding demand for face-to-face versus virtual delivery. The advent of virtual learning platforms has revolutionised the education landscape. However, it’s

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essential to gauge the demand for face-to-face delivery in comparison to virtual options. By understanding student preferences and technological capabilities, we can tailor our delivery methods to meet their needs.

I look forward to focusing on these priorities and ensuring that each interaction between students and Irrigation Australia is increasingly positive and beneficial.

Students completing the practical part of the Certified Meter Installation course in Deniliquin, NSW in February.

TRAINING DIARY DATE

COURSE

LOCATION

18 and 19 April (2 full days)

Electrofusion and Butt Welding - 2 Day Course

Paterson, NSW

30 Apr to 03 May (4 half days)

Commercial Irrigation Design

Virtual classroom

6 to 7 May (2 full days)

Certificate III in Irrigation Technology AHC32422 - NSW

Paterson, NSW

13 May (1 full day)

Certificate III in Irrigation Technology AHC32422 SA

Adelaide, SA

23 and 24 May (2 full days)

Electrofusion & Butt Welding - Qld

Brisbane, Qld

4 to 6 June (3 full days)

Meter Installation and Validation – face to face, Qld

Brisbane, Qld

11 to 13 June (3 half days)

Irrigation Pumps & Systems

Virtual classroom

18 to 20 June (3 full days)

Meter Installation & Validation Face-to-Face - NSW

Paterson, NSW

MEET SAM – IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA’S TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE MANAGER I entered the industry 30 years ago, straight out of school. my first role was in a warehouse at an irrigation wholesale company.

From there I went to internal sales, to business development, and then the company moved me to Queensland.

I eventually opened my own pump/irrigation retail business, which I operated for 15 years. Once the business was sold, I moved into sales roles in the corporate landscape, working with Rain Bird for three years and Valley Irrigation for four, finally landing at Irrigation Australia.

FROM NEWBIE TO CERT III AND BEYOND: IRRIGATION A NATURAL CHOICE FOR LEON WICKEY Leon Wickey is an irrigation technician with Water Tek in Griffith, New South Wales. He is currently completing his final assessment for his Certificate III in Irrigation Technology, which he started in 2020. Leon spoke to Irrigation Australia about his career in the industry, his thoughts on his training, and his ambitions for the future.

I love the diversity of the industry and the opportunities it offers – the range of skillsets and knowledge that can be gained.

In my spare time, I spend a lot of time boating and camping with my family. I have four kids ranging in age from 10 to 26 who all enjoy the same things. We spend many weekends camping on Moreton Island. We also spend a lot of time at our property on the Sunshine Coast, riding motorbikes and doing anything outdoors.

IRRIGATION TRAINING INFORMATION AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Check out Irrigation Australia’s training course booklet.

This comprehensive publication provides essential details on training courses offered by Irrigation Australia.

•

Certificate III in Irrigation Technology

•

Certificate IV in Irrigation Management

•

Centre Pivot and Lateral Move

•

Meter Installation and Validation

•

Introduction to Irrigation | Agriculture

•

Introduction to Irrigation | Urban

•

Irrigation Pumps and Systems

•

Irrigation Efficiency

•

Urban Irrigation Design

•

Commercial Irrigation Design

•

IRRICAD Design

•

Irrigation Installer

•

Storage Meter Installation and Validation

Wickey, a Wiradjuri man, lives in the Riverina region, in the heart of grape, cotton and orange country, and through his work has acquired a broad range of skills in agricultural irrigation.

Wickey says, “I do mainline installs and repairs, build and rebuild pumps, service farm irrigation and control systems, find and repair leaks and build pump stations and sheds from scratch. My job ranges from surveying where valves need to go in the field and jumping on an excavator to dig trenches for mainlines, through to programming control systems.”

Irrigation industry a natural choice Wickey’s perspective on the irrigation industry and water management in partly shaped by his cultural heritage.

“As an Aboriginal man, I love the environment that I live in, the land, and the water that we need to survive. My

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT perspective is that water needs to be allocated where it is needed, not simply where it is wanted. Irrigation professionals play an important role here.”

Before working in irrigation, Leon worked in the commercial building sector. He moved to the irrigation industry five years ago when he started working for Water Tek. Irrigation was a natural choice for Leon, given both his connection with the environment and the high demand for irrigation professionals in the region. His irrigation career started with on-the-job training.

“I knew nothing about irrigation initially,” Wickey says. “The fellows I worked with trained me up. I was an offsider for the first few years, then I started going out and doing jobs myself. Now I’m up to my traineeship and out doing projects independently with another workmate.”

“I’ve been completing my Cert III, which includes training in pressurised irrigation systems, soil and contamination management, programming and implementing controls, and wiring of systems. I’m on my last stage now, which is a design project.”

Benefits of hands-on training According to Wickey, the course has been fantastic.

“The most memorable part of the course was doing my first complete wiring and full test of a system. This is something I could only have done with face-to-face learning, and the trainer, Stuart Alexander, was extremely knowledgeable.”

“Being around other students was helpful too because we each had different knowledge we could share and so we helped each other out. We all benefitted.”

Wickey says the only negative aspect of the course was the lack of face-to-face training in the early stages owing to COVID restrictions.

“Having to do everything online threw a bit of a spanner in the works. I really enjoyed my in-person classes once we could do them – they were the best, because you get to sit and talk to real people.”

Overall, Wickey says he couldn’t fault the training.

“The training was excellent, the food was good. I can’t think of anything to complain about!”

Ambition to start own business Wickey says he loves working in irrigation and plans to remain in the industry.

“One day I plan to start my own irrigation business. The market is screaming out for more irrigation professionals.

There are not enough skilled people to meet that demand.”

Wickey says he would advise anyone considering training in irrigation to embrace any opportunity.

“Go ahead, don’t think twice. It will benefit you, the environment and even the broader community. Water is necessary for life.”

Eve White, Irrigation Australia

IRRIGATION AUDITING CATCH CANS AVAILABLE FROM IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA Measure the application rate and uniformity of all types of pressurised irrigation – from handheld hoses to a centre pivot.

Order your set now from Irrigation Australia.

Catch cans with plastic spikes

Catch cans with metal spikes

Set of 12

Set of 10

AU $55.00 (incl GST)

AU $95.00 (incl GST)

Members: AU $47.00 (incl GST) Plus postage

Members: AU $85.00 (incl GST) Plus postage

Order online at www.irrigationaustralia.com.au (go to the Store tab and then select “Merchandise”) or contact Irrigation Australia, phone 07 3517 4000.

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TRAINING WITH IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA

BLENDED LEARNING

INDUSTRY EXPERT TRAINERS

16+

PRACTICAL APPROACH

Become a Certified Irrigation Professional and choose from our

1 0 Specialist Certifications!

TRAINING PROGRAMS ON OFFER

Non-Accredited Short Courses

2

Nation-wide Training

Qualifications

2

3 12+ Career Pathways

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Design Courses

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7

Accredited Short Courses

training@irrigation.org.au

CONTRACTORS’ CORNER HOW TO SPECIFY THE RIGHT PUMP FOR YOUR IRRIGATION PROJECT SNAPSHOT • In any irrigation project, it is vital to get pump specification correct to ensure the system performs optimally, efficiently, and for a long time.

• The goal is typically to match the best efficiency point with the specific duty point of the pump, and make sure that doesn’t exceed the rate of motor horsepower.

• Critical factors that must be considered during pump specification include: start-up method, water source, flow range, inlet and outlet pressure, location and elevation, and power source.

• This article, based on a webinar by Rain Bird Corporation, explains why each of these variables is important, and highlights a number of common misconceptions and key considerations that get overlooked or neglected.

An irrigation pump that is specified correctly can mean the difference between a system that is efficient and cost-effective and one that performs poorly and incurs unnecessary expenses. This article, based on a webinar by irrigation technology company Rain Bird Corporation, outlines what you need to consider when ordering a pump and some of the common pitfalls to avoid.

Pump specification is the process of defining the requirements and characteristics of a pump system that is customised to the needs of a specific irrigation setup.

Getting the pump specification correct will ensure the irrigation system performs optimally, efficiently, and for a long time.

Getting pump specification right will ensure the irrigation system performs optimally, efficiently, and for a long time. Photo: ekays/ Deposit Photos.

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In pump specification for irrigation, the goal is typically to match the best efficiency point with the specific duty point of the pump, and make sure that doesn’t exceed the rate of motor horsepower. We also need to make sure we don’t run the pump at too low a flow, which is the minimum continuous stable flow rate.

Understanding the basics: How a pump works In a rotodynamic pump, which is the kind of pump used in most irrigation systems, the engine or motor spins the impeller. Water enters through the impeller's eye, makes a 90-degree turn through its vanes, and exits through the discharge.

The impeller's spin induces a centrifugal force, and the water leaves the tip of the impeller at a high speed. This is where the pressure is formed. As the impeller spins faster, the tip speed increases and so does the pressure. If the impeller spins slower, the pressure decreases. A variable frequency drive (VFD) regulates the pressure by changing the impeller's speed.

The workings of a rotodynamic pump from two different angles. The engine or motor spins the impeller. This creates centrifigal force, and the water leaves the tip of the impeller at high speed and exits the discharge at high speed. This is how pressure is formed.

Information needed to generate a pump specification To generate a pump specification, you’ll need information about the: • start-up method • water source • flow range • inlet and outlet pressure • location and elevation • power source.

Methods of pump start up. An initial question to consider when generating pump specifications is: what method will be used to start the pump: clock start, flow start or pressure start?

The clock start method is the most economical option, which involves connecting the controller directly to the pump

station through a pump start relay. In this method, a wire is run between the controller and the pump station, so it is ideal when they are located close together.

The flow start method is a good option when it is not feasible to run a wire between the controller and pump station. It relies on a flow switch to turn on the pump when it detects water flowing in the piping.

The flow switch can be calibrated to ensure the pump doesn’t turn on when using drip irrigation. This is important because when drip zones with lower pressure requirements are in use, they may not provide a consistent flow. As a result, the pump might turn on when the drip system starts, quickly reach the desired discharge pressure, turn off, and then repeat this cycle rapidly. This can lead to overheating of the pump motor.

The pressure start method is the most expensive method for small stations. In this method, a pump station is equipped with a check valve, a pressure transmitter, and a bladder tank.

The pressure transmitter continuously monitors the pressure in the system. When the pressure drops, indicating a need for water, the pump station kicks in to restore the pressure to the desired level. The bladder tank helps maintain pressure and reduces the occurrence of nuisance starts. It's crucial to

have a master valve close by that only opens during irrigation to avoid frequent on-and-off cycling caused by pressure changes due to potential leaks in the system.

Water source. It is important to consider both the water quality and source – i.e., whether it is coming from a pressurised feed or other source. Different applications, including boost (e.g., mains water), flooded suction (lower pressure, often from a tank), or suction lift/vertical turbine (e.g., bores), each present unique challenges and considerations.

When you are working with boost application, such as mains water or reclaimed water from a pressurised feed it is important to consider pressure stability and the ability to bypass drip irrigation. Fluctuations in mains pressure can affect the pump station's ability to reach the desired pressure. For this reason, it is important to thoroughly evaluate potential developments in the area, such as housing estates or industry, that may affect the pressure.

Flooded suction systems, which draw water from tanks, operate at lower pressures than pressurised feeds but face other challenges, as the pump station bears the primary workload. Understanding elevation dynamics is crucial; each 0.7 m of elevation provides 1 PSI, which influences the pressure going into the pump station.

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CONTRACTORS’ CORNER The pressure when the water is flowing will be lower than the pressure you read on the gauge located on the pipe. The question is: How much will the pressure drop by – a minor 2 PSI, or a more significant 28 PSI? This will vary depending on the system’s feed.

What you need to know is the dynamic pressure – the pressure when the water is flowing (see an example of how to do this in the ‘Four tips’ text box).

Power source. Before ordering a pump, you need to know whether the site has three-phase or single-phase power, as well as the voltage. Within a pump, the electrical panels vary for different voltages.

Understanding what start-up method will be used is an important first step in pump specification.

For suction lift or vertical turbine applications such as bores, certain other factors need to be considered. These include the need for a foot valve – a check valve located at the bottom end of the pump column or at the inlet of the vertical turbine pump assembly. Its purpose is to prevent the water in the discharge column from flowing back into the water source when the pump is not in operation. Water quality also needs to be considered, and a self-cleaning intake screen may be needed. Pump specifications will also depend on the wet well's size and depth.

Flow range. When specifying pumps, you need to know the minimum and maximum flow rates. Ideally, the minimum and maximum should be similar, meaning the pump can run at a near-constant speed.

The maximum flowrate is the combined total flow when the maximum number of valves are operating continuously.

The pump station must be sized to match this flowrate.

The minimum flow is important too – as a rule of thumb, it should not be lower than 35 per cent of the pump’s best efficiency flow rate.

If the difference between the minimum and maximum flowrates is too large, you might need two pump stations, and the project budget can quickly blow out. There are a few ways you might be able to get around this problem and ensure the system will work with a single pump station: • if possible, combine enough flows to get to 35 per cent of the best efficiency flow rate • bypass drip irrigation if possible • if using suction lift or vertical turbine applications, where you can’t bypass drip, try combining as many drip zones as you can to increase flow rate as much as possible.

Pressure. In boost systems, such as when dealing with mains water or some reclaimed water supplies, it's crucial to understand both the incoming pressure to the pump and what the pump will boost in terms of pressure as the water flows through it.

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FOUR TIPS FOR SPOT-ON SPECIFICATION 1. Think carefully about what optional extras are needed, especially in small pump stations. For example, flow meters and pressure relief valves take up significant space. Are these essential? You might end up needing a bigger pump station to accommodate them.

2. Never select pumps by horsepower. This mistake is commonly made by contractors, distributors and endusers. Flow rate and pressure are not only influenced by horsepower but also by the type of pump and the impeller design. The pump itself needs to be specified, and this is based on duty point.

3. Consider dynamic pressure. Overlooking dynamic pressure is a common mistake that can impact system performance.

Here is an example of how to determine dynamic pressure in a system: If you need around 150 L per minute (LPM) and the water is supplied through a 50 mm line from the mainline, you could install a 50 mm ball valve on the pipe equipped with a pressure gauge. Open the ball valve to allow water flow, measuring the flow rate – let's say approximately 37.5 L in a 15-second interval. Meanwhile, observe the pressure gauge to determine the actual pressure during the flow. This method provides an accurate assessment of the dynamic pressure within the system.

4. Factor in filtration. Filtration of some sort is almost always needed. You might need filtration at the intake, for example to prevent large debris from entering the system when drawing water from a river. If you select a self-cleaning unit, you must account for the flow of the self-cleaning system in the pump specification. Similarly, if a fine filtration system will be installed at the discharge end, the filter takes pressure to operate and must be accounted for in the pump curve.

The bottom line Pump efficiency translates directly to dollars. A solid understanding of the basics can potentially reduce unnecessary capital costs and ongoing energy costs, while ensuring an optimised irrigation system that will do the job well into the future, and ensure satisfied clients.

Source. This article is based on a webinar presented by irrigation experts employed by Rain Bird. You can find this and other useful technical webinars on the Rain Bird website.

ARTICLE STREAMLINED STRAWBERRY IRRIGATION ON A LARGE SCALE: QUEENSLAND BERRIES CASE STUDY SNAPSHOT • Queensland Berries partnered with The Pump House to complete a large-scale irrigation project for table-top strawberries.

• Led by Nick Fitzgerald, The Pump House team installed an advanced irrigation and fertigation system for more than 1.2 million strawberry plants.

• Challenges included meeting the project's scale and tight completion timeframe before the 2023–2024 strawberry season.

• The system features powerful Grundfos pumps, advanced filtration, and fertigation components.

• The Goldtec Dream 2 control system enables remote monitoring of pH levels, water flow and more, while solar-powered RTU towers simplify system management, minimising on-field power infrastructure.

• The system is efficient, saves labour and requires little maintenance.

When Queensland Berries decided to establish a large area of table-top strawberries, the farm managers engaged the team from The Pump House to design and install a streamlined irrigation and fertigation system to sustain the 1,277,312 new plants.

Queensland Berries, a farm covering 20 ha near Caboolture, is Queensland’s largest commercial supplier of strawberries, raspberries and blackberries to the Australian market.

The farm recently engaged the team from The Pump House, led by Nick Fitzgerald, to design and install the pump, pump shed, pipework, filtration, fertigation and control system for an automated drip irrigation system for table-top strawberries.

This method of growing strawberries on elevated structures is becoming increasingly popular because of the ease of picking the fruit and maintaining the plants, reduced pressure from disease and weeds and the ability to better control nutrients to the plants.

Queensland Berries needed a system that incorporated fertigation and could monitor and control a range of variables including drainage, EC and pH and hydrogen peroxide dosing.

A big project in a short timeframe Fitzgerald told Irrigation Australia that the main design challenges of this project were its size and the tight timeframe for completion.

“Owing to the sheer area that this system needed to cover, we had to make sure the pumps were capable of watering six to eight blocks at once.

Queensland Berries’ ambitious table-top strawberry irrigation project covered a large area and The Pump House team had a short window for completion.

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ARTICLE This method of growing strawberries on elevated structures is becoming increasingly popular because of the ease of picking the fruit and maintaining the plants, reduced pressure from disease and weeds and the ability to better control nutrients.

“Also, the new install required power to be run to the shed.

Our electrical department upgraded the power supply and ran a 200 m long new feed into the shed allowing for the irrigation and a new workshop for the customer,” Fitzgerald said.

The team was also under pressure to complete the installation in a short timeframe between acceptance of the quote and the upcoming 2023–2024 strawberry season.

Pipework, tanks and pumps The team first installed a 375,000 L Bushman Aqualine holding tank, with the option to add another in the future.

The farm pumps from a dam through an existing media filtration system into the holding tank ready for the irrigation. The new tank is fitted with an automatic top-up valve, enabling the tank to stay at capacity with no human intervention. It also has a tank level indication, so the farm managers can see the level via an app.

The dual pump set with a dual variable speed drive.

The pumps were set up as a duty/standby system.

The internal install of the shed, including power, was completed within four weeks, after which the infield team took over, installing 1.5 km of 150 mm PVC mainline and the radio towers for the control system.

To achieve the desired flow rate, a dual CR95-3 Grundfos pump set with a dual variable speed drive was installed.

The pumps were set up as a duty/standby system; one pump maintains the required pressure with the second pump available to jump in to assist automatically if needed.

Filtration and fertigation Other important components included a low-maintenance filtration system and an automated fertigation system.

“We installed a Rivulis 8” self-cleaning screen filter so the customer doesn’t need to worry about labour and downtime to clean the filter. This works on pressure differential and will backwash accordingly, Fitzgerald said.

The team also installed a Rivulis-supplied fertigation bench to apply fertilisers directly into the irrigation system at the required level. This is all monitored through the control system. The fertiliser is mixed in the 1000 L mixing tank and distributed to one of four holding tanks that have Pump House–built agitators on top to keep the liquid stirred.

From these holding tanks, four separate lines run through small screen filters, which pick up small debris, and into the front of the fertigation system. From there, the machine controls the dose and injects directly into the mainline.

The brains of the operation: Control system The Goldtec Dream 2 system is the brain of the entire operation. It controls everything from the 40 individual infield valves to the fertigation bench and even the agitators on the top of the fertiliser holding tanks.

The main water meter is wired into the main controller.

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“We installed a Rivulis 8” self-cleaning screen filter so the customer doesn’t need to worry about labour and downtime to clean the filter. This works on pressure differential and will backwash accordingly.”

Human input is still needed to set program times and running durations, but the system also has a feature that enables it to react to data provided by the weather station.

All programming can be done remotely if necessary.

Solar-powered RTU towers Remote terminal unit (RTU) towers serve as remote control units for managing infield valves, playing a crucial role in controlling the flow of water to specific zones. This system has five towers controlling a total of 40 valves.

To minimise in-field power infrastructure and simplify the management of the system, each RTU tower comes with a solar panel and battery. Additionally, each tower can operate up to 16 valves via hydraulic tube that runs from the tower to the valve, meaning there is no need for inground control cables.

The Pump House team: Plumbing O/S Grey Cooey, Plumbing Manager Troy Atkinson, Electrical Supervisor Dan Williams, Sales Rep/ Lead Designer Nick Fitzgerald and Lead Electrician James Crombie.

The outcome Top: The completed irrigation shed, The Pump House turnkey solution for the customer. Above: The Rivulis 8” automatic backwash screen filter.

The farm managers can check variables such as the flow rate, total water usage and flow to each infield valve through an app and can even identify each valve on a map. This visual representation enables them to quickly identify the exact valve corresponding to a sudden change in flow or pressure, helping them to monitor and troubleshoot specific areas in real time.

When there is no soil to act as a buffer (in this case, the plants are grown in coir), it is particularly important to monitor and maintain the pH. The control system is set to maintain the pH of the water and send notifications to the farm manager. This is done through the connection to the fertigation bench.

Farm agronomist, Jamie Pollen, of Queensland Berries, says the new system does a great job of managing water and fertigation on farm.

“It saves time and labour by eliminating the need to manually track and operate multiple programs and as yet, we haven’t experienced any problems with it,” she said.

The system has been designed to be low maintenance.

The fertigation system requires re-calibrating annually to ensure the accuracy of the readings and dosing, and the screen of the self-cleaning filter should also be removed and checked annually. This maintenance will be performed by staff from The Pump House.

Jamie says the farm is planning future collaboration with The Pump House, including expansion plans, which will include the build of two new pump sheds to cater for a new table-top strawberry farm and substrate blueberry farm.

Eve White, Irrigation Australia Limited

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ICID INSIGHTS WATSAVE AWARDS: A LOOK BACK AT SOME LOCAL SUCCESS STORIES The international WatSave Awards acknowledge individuals and organisations that have used novel approaches to make real, demonstrable water savings. Awards will be presented at the combined 75th IEC Meeting, which will be held jointly with the Irrigation Australia Conference and Exhibition in Sydney this September. Here we revisit three Australian success stories from past WatSave Awards.

The ICID WatSave Annual Awards acknowledge the vital role that everyone involved in agriculture plays in managing our most precious resource: farmers, corporations, government, and non-government organisations.

The awards are given to individuals or teams who have found novel ways to make actual demonstrated water savings, not just promising research results or good ideas.

The four award categories are: technology, innovative water management, young professionals and farmers.

Australian success stories Software for broadacre crop irrigation. Dr. Alison McCarthy received the Young Professional Award in 2021 for her software designed to help broadacre crop growers irrigate where it is needed, at the right time, specific to the crop's water requirements.

Dr Alison McCarthy received the Young Professionals award in 2021.

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The software, VARIwise, integrates sensing, modelling, optimisation, and actuation to determine site-specific irrigation needs for broad-acre crops. Unlike most strategies, which rely on time-based or variability maps, VARIwise focuses on irrigation timing and variable depths across fields based on forecasted yield models. By considering actual water requirements and adapting to various conditions, VARIwise targets optimal yield, which is particularly beneficial for crops like cotton.

This innovation considers the impact of water on potential yield at all growth stages. This has led to strategies that reduce irrigation depth and apply stress to cotton crops earlier in the season to encourage root development and flower production. Later in the season, full irrigation occurs to maximise yield. Implementation of this system has led to yield improvements of 4 to 11 per cent and water savings of 12 to 22 per cent for cotton.

Huge water savings by member-owned irrigation scheme.

In 2019, James and Tony Quigley received the Innovative Water Management Award for their transformation of the TrangieNevertire Co-operative Ltd (TNCL) irrigation scheme in New South Wales. The member-owned scheme had reached its use-by date in the middle of the Millenium Drought and the members sought government funding for modernisation. Their strategic plan involved reducing the channel system, replacing part of it with a pipeline, lining channels with Firestone EPDM rubber membrane, installing a complete Rubicon water gate system, and upgrading on-farm infrastructure.

The project yielded enormous water savings through reduced seepage losses, improved water delivery, and upgraded irrigation methods. The combination of the technologies reduced the channel conveyance losses from a historical average of 25 per cent (ranging between 20 to 50 per cent) to 7 per cent. This innovative approach has the potential for broader adoption nationally and internationally to address seepage loss challenges in open channel irrigation systems.

World’s biggest canal automation project. An ambitious canal automation project, the biggest of its kind in the world, took out the Technology Award in 2022. Sumith Choy, Varun Ravi, N Srinivas Reddy, and Satya N Jaddu received the prize for their work in Karnataka, India. Karnataka, heavily reliant on agriculture, faces significant water stress due to population growth and increased demands. To address this, Karnataka’s Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigam Ltd. used Rubicon Water's gravityfed irrigation technology to modernise and rehabilitate their canal network. This project involved installing over 4,000 automated gates, along with weather stations and soil moisture probes, to manage water delivery efficiently.

These changes are expected to improve water efficiency by 20 per cent, enhance crop yield and deliver a more equitable service to farmers. Farmers have already experienced better water access and increased crop yields, with further improvements expected. Upon completion, the technology will serve over 90 per cent of the command area.

Information. To find out more about the WatSave Awards, visit the ICID website.

IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA'S COMMITTEE ON IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE (IACID) Momir Vranes (Chair)

Eddie Parr

Dave Cameron P: +61 7 3517 4001, E: dave.cameron@ irrigation.org.au

Carl Walters

Naomi Carragher P: +61 7 3517 4002, E: naomi.carragher@ irrigation.org.au

Michael Scobie

Peter Hayes

Andrew Ogden

Richard McLoughlin Karlene Maywald Claire Miller Amin Machiani

EVENT SCHEDULE EVENT

LOCATION

27 to 29 April

4th International Baghdad Water Conference

Baghdad, Iraq

Baghdad IWC (baghdad-iwc. com)

18 to 25 May

10th World Water Forum

Bali, Indonesia

10th World Water Forum 2024

30 May to 1 June 2024

14th International Drainage Workshop

Dushanbe, Republic of Tajikistan

https://tajncid.tj/ workshops/14thinternationaldrainageworkshop/

1 to 7 September 2024

75th International Executive Council Meeting and 9th Asian Regional Conference

Sydney, Australia

http://www. irrigationaustralia. com.au/

FIRST CHOICE FOR QUALITY HOSE, VALVES, AND FITTINGS FOR THE IRRIGATION INDUSTRY You can count on our expert and committed team specialising in irrigation. We have the ability to source unique and specific industry products.

advancedindustrial.com.au

CONTACT/ INFORMATION

DATE

BUSINESS NINE STEPS TO PREPARING FOR THE END OF FINANCIAL YEAR SNAPSHOT • As you prepare for the end of financial year, it’s handy to have a checklist to prepare and get your finances organised.

• This article by the Australian Government summarises nine key tasks that business owners should be thinking about now.

• Staying on top of these tasks will not only assist with your EOFY paperwork now but will help you identify where you can make improvements, and set your business up for a successful year ahead.

The end of the financial year (EOFY) is an important time for your business. You'll need to complete bookkeeping, tax returns and plan for the new financial year. Use this checklist to prepare, get your business organised and work smarter in the year ahead.

1. Check which tasks you need to complete Some of the yearly tasks you need to do as a small business owner may include: • a summary of your income and expenses in a profit and loss statement • conducting a stocktake • summaries of your record of debtors and creditors • collating records of asset purchases or expenditure on improvements (to calculate depreciation expense claims and for capital gains tax)

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• completing and lodging your income tax returns • lodging yearly reports or returns for different tax types such as:

- pay as you go (PAYG) withholding, including finalising income statements for Single Touch Payroll - fringe benefits tax (FBT) - goods and services tax (GST) • meeting superannuation requirements • making digital copies of any paper records and backing them up.

2. Find out which tax deductions and concessions you can claim You can claim deductions for most business expenses, as long as they directly relate to earning your income.

For example, you may be able to claim deductions if your business: • has set up a website • has motor vehicle expenses • uses diesel fuel • operates at home • has travel expenses • uses machinery, tools or computers.

You must have records to prove the expenses that you claim as business deductions.

If you’re a sole trader, you can use the ATO app’s myDeductions tool to record your business income and expenses during the year.

Consider planning for the end of year by writing off any debtors or assets before the financial year ends to claim a tax deduction.

3. Make sure your tax agent is registered Check your tax agent is registered with the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB).

There are two main ways you can check registration: • Search the TPB register.

• Look for the registered tax practitioner symbol on their website, stationery, brochures or business cards. The registered tax practitioner symbol includes the type of registration and their individual registration number.

4. Keep up to date with tax changes There may be tax changes each year that you need to be aware of. These might include changes in tax law and deductions or concessions for small business.

Your tax professional can help you understand any changes, or you can stay up to date by subscribing to the ATO’s small business newsroom.

REBATES TO IMPROVE DIGITAL CONNECTIVITY FOR FARMERS

5. Review your finances Spend some time reviewing your finances by yourself, or with your accountant or bookkeeper.

Look at whether you met your targets and what you can do differently next financial year.

6. Be wary of tax refund scams Several scams target small business around tax time.

Common scams include: • tax refund scams – the scammer claims you’ve overpaid your taxes and are eligible for a refund. To get this refund, they claim that you need to pay a fee for administration or transfer costs.

• tax owed scams – the scammer claims you've underpaid your tax and need to repay it immediately. In order to make this payment, they ask for your credit or debit card details, or ask you to send money through a money transfer, or they may ask you to purchase iTunes cards and send them the details of the cards.

7. Review your business and marketing plans Take time to set yourself up for the year ahead. Regularly reviewing and updating your plans will help you to: • remember your goals and priorities • assess whether your strategies are working • adapt to any changes in your environment • make the most of new opportunities as they come your way • prioritise and maximise your effort (work smarter, not harder).

Both eligible primary producers and ag tech companies can benefit from the federal government’s On-Farm Connectivity Program. The program is offering rebates of up to $30,000 to cover up to 50 per cent of the cost of digital farming technology to primary producers.

The On Farm Connectivity Program will run over two years from 2023–24 to 2024–25. This program forms part of the Better Connectivity for Rural and Regional Australia Plan and assists primary producers to take advantage of digital agribusiness solutions to boost productivity and improve safety.

The objectives of the program are: • extend digital connectivity and take advantage of advanced farming technology • enhance a primary producers’ capacity to implement digital agribusiness solutions through improved connectivity • capitalise on the agricultural sector’s potential for increased productivity and growth • support access to new communications equipment by offsetting some of the cost.

The intended outcomes of the program are: • increased investment in equipment to support operations of the agricultural sector • increased efficiency, competitiveness, productivity and profitability of the agricultural sector • improved safety on farm • increased use of advanced farming technology • improved knowledge of advanced farming technology and digital literacy.

Closing date: Friday 31 May 2024 5:00pm AEST

8. Review your business structure As your business grows and expands, you may decide to change your business structure, or to restructure your business. The compliance and taxation regulations differ depending on your business structure.

Find out how to change your business structure here.

Information. To find out more and check whether you can apply, visit the business.gov.au website.

9. Check your insurances If your circumstances change, you may need to update your level of cover.

Read the product disclosure statements (PDS) for your insurance policies carefully. Don't assume you're covered.

A broker will work with your business to make sure you get the best deal from an insurance company.

Source. This article is reprinted from the business. gov.au website and is licensed under CC BY 3.0 AU © Commonwealth of Australia 2020.

Photo: Scharfsinn / Deposit Photos

SUMMER 2023

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THE WATER CONSERVANCY A NEW LOOK FOR SMART APPROVED WATERMARK Smart Approved Watermark (SAWM) has been the trusted water efficiency label for home and garden products and services for 20 years. The label makes it easy for consumers to choose products and services that are water efficient and therefore cost efficient in the long term. About 30 per cent of SAWM certifications are for the irrigation sector.

SAWM will be rebranded this year, coupled with a digital campaign, and there will be plenty of opportunities for your business.

With the rising cost of living, the SAWM label can provide a market advantage for businesses in the water sector. It also streamlines rebate programs for the water industry and helps consumers easily choose water-efficient and cost-effective products. However, 20 years on, it is time to update the label to make it simpler, more identifiable and eye-catching.

Find an Irrigation Specialist If you are looking for an irrigation specialist, then the Irrigation Australia website is your one-stop shop.

Just click on ‘Member directory’

New name, new look The Water Conservancy is launching a new campaign in 2024 to promote an updated label and name for the certification program. The new name, logo and look and feel will be used to market the program to consumers and businesses in the new financial year. The rebranding campaign will boost brand awareness for the program and licensees. It will also make consumers more likely to consider all products and services associated with this label. The rebrand will be done in consultation with key stakeholders, including existing SAWM licensees, to ensure a relevant, useful new mark is developed.

Digital campaign and giveaways In August we will run a national digital campaign, using paid social media ads and email marketing to reach our network of more than 20,000 people. We will also refresh our website and make organic posts. The creative will feature our brand ambassador, Costa Georgiadis. The paid ads will launch the rebranded mark and promote SAWM licensees, with a giveaway incentive. Giveaways offer a substantial return on investment and will be targeted towards two markets: • Australians 25–65 years of age with interests in home and garden categories Example of a giveaway • The Australian business target on paid social media platforms from our Water market of our licensees who sell Night 2023 campaign.

B2B

The value of getting involved

Then you can search for a professional in your area by state, category, postcode, name or company name.

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Scan me

Click to visit our website

We are a not-for-profit organisation and we rely on the industry to support common, aligning initiatives. In return, we provide added marketing materials and value.

Businesses that certify their product or service also receive reinvestment throughout the year across marketing channels.

Information. If you would like to be part of this campaign or giveaway and get your brand in front of industry and consumers across Australia, contact us at info@ thewaterconservancy.org.

If you have a product or service that meets the criteria, or you would like to find out more go to the Smart Approved WaterMark website or view the Frequently Asked Questions.

If you’d like to see the portfolio of products click here.

Meet The Water Conservancy or visit the website.

STATE ROUNDUP KIMBERLEY LAND TRANSFER TO SUPPORT PIVOT IRRIGATION PROJECT FOR ABORIGINAL BUSINESS The Government of Western Australian has given the green light for transferring a 420 ha piece of land to Nyamba Buru Yawuru Limited (NBY), a not-for-profit company that develops long-term income for the Yawuru people. This transfer aims to support a new pivot irrigation project to produce fodder for the Roebuck Export Depot and the Kimberley fodder market.

The transfer, which is contingent upon successful negotiations for an Indigenous Land Use Agreement, will provide long-term ownership and security to the Yawuru people, alongside their Native Title rights. It is expected to encourage more investment in NBY's business ventures and enhance the economic prospects of livestock production activities.

Source. Government of Western Australia website, accessed 20 March 2024.

MAREEBA DIMBULAH IRRIGATION EFFICIENCY DELIVERING MORE WATER THAN EXPECTED Thirty-eight per cent more water than expected will be available for growers in the Mareeba area of Far North Queensland as part of the $32.54 million Mareeba Dimbulah water efficiency project.

The water-saving project, delivered by Sunwater, replaced 14 km of pipeline, installed 125 automated irrigation channel control gates and upgraded 157 water offtakes. The project was jointly funded by the Queensland ($20.94 million) and Australian Governments ($11.6 million).

Rigorous water validation assessments have confirmed at least 11,500 ML will be saved annually, far exceeding the project target of 8,306 ML. Source. Sunwater website, accessed 20 March 2024.

ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR NEW SOUTH WALES BASIN PROJECTS The New South Wales Government is supporting five projects across the Murray and Murrumbidgee with an additional $115 million and more time to deliver critical water to support the rivers, wetlands and wildlife. These projects will contribute to the Basin Plan’s 605 GL environmental water target and reduce the need for voluntary water purchase from Basin farmers in the Southern Murray-Darling Basin.

The newly boosted projects are: • Koondrook-Perricoota - mitigating third-party impacts of water releases on landholders adjacent to the forest and creating breeding opportunities for thousands of native waterbirds and fish in the wetlands.

• Mid-Murray Anabranches Project - improving connectivity between the Murray and Edward Rivers, and other surrounding creeks.

• Lower Murray: Locks 8 and 9 project - restoring and enhancing the river habitat across the interconnected Frenchmans Creek and Carrs, Capitts and Bunberoo Creek systems.

• Murrumbidgee and Murray National Parks Project improving the delivery of environmental water in the Yanga and Murray Valley (Millewa) National Parks.

• Yanco Creek Modernisation Project - modernising infrastructure to enable smarter use of water in the Yanco Creek system.

The federal government also recently signed off on two more NSW Water Resource Plans, including one for the Murrumbidgee. More than half of its 20 plans are now in place.

Source. New South Wales Government website, accessed 20 March 2024.

The New South Wales Government is supporting five projects across the Murray and Murrumbidgee with an additional $115 million.

AUTUMN 2024

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AROUND INDUSTRY JOHN INKSTER REFLECTS ON A REWARDING CAREER IN THE PUMPING INDUSTRY John Inkster, a stalwart figure in the Australian pumping and irrigation industries, is bidding farewell to his role as managing director of AxFlow Oceania/Brown Brothers Engineers Australia. After 38 years with the company, Inkster leaves behind a legacy marked by innovation, growth, and unwavering commitment to excellence.

This work was memorable for Inkster because of the impact it had on people’s lives; the new water supply schemes saved women from walking many kilometres each day to the local springs.

During his time at the engineering consultancy, he sourced pumps from Brown Brothers, and when a role came up with the company in 1986, he applied and was successful. Over the years, his role evolved, culminating in his appointment as managing director in October 2018.

Pathway into the pumping industry

Witnessing transformative changes

In an interview with Irrigation Australia Journal, Inkster shared insights into his career path.

His foray into the pumping industry began in his home country of New Zealand, working with an engineering consultancy. Inkster was involved with water supply projects for municipalities and rural areas, and later, irrigation feasibility studies. During the early days of his career, he spent time in Western Samoa, developing water supply schemes for villages as part of a New Zealand-funded project.

Reflecting on the evolution of the industry over his tenure, Inkster highlighted technological advancements as the most significant change.

“The biggest change I’ve seen during my time in the industry is technology. Technology has changed both the way we conduct business and the pumps themselves.”

“We now have far more efficient pumps and motors. I saw the development of variable speed drives in the mid-90s.

Now we’re seeing a proliferation of smart pumps that can do far more than just pump water – they talk to other pumps, know when to switch on and off et cetera. We are now seeing banks of multiple pumps in a row, all communicating with each other.”

Proud achievements and milestones One of Inkster’s proudest achievements is the expansion of Brown Brothers Engineers into the Australian market, defying conventional trends of Australian companies venturing into New Zealand.

“Being a Kiwi, I am proud of my role in taking a mediumsized enterprise from New Zealand to Australia in 1994.

The first Australian office was in Sydney, and just two years later we had our first office in Victoria. This was a huge achievement,” he notes.

Through strategic acquisitions and organic growth, Brown Brothers Engineers solidified its position as a leading player in the industry, with distribution spanning the eastern seaboard.

Brown Brothers Engineers became a member of the AxFlow group in October 2018.

Opportunities and challenges ahead

“Being a Kiwi, I am proud of my role in taking a medium-sized enterprise from New Zealand to Australia in 1994.”

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Looking to the future, Inkster emphasised the emergence of AI and its potential to revolutionise pump technology.

He underscored the importance of efficiency and says he foresees pumps equipped with AI capabilities to adapt and optimise performance autonomously.

TORO AUSTRALIA ANNOUNCED AS LEEMCO PIPING SOLUTIONS STOCKING DISTRIBUTOR

The Brown Brothers Team and Irrigation & Pumping Services Team in NZ at the first Lowara installation site (2000). John Inkster stands second from the left in the back row.

However, he also acknowledged the pressing challenges facing the pumping industry, particularly in attracting and retaining skilled talent.

“It is not a glamorous industry, and it’s difficult to attract and retain skilled people. Many people in the pumping industry are reaching the age of retirement and it’s difficult to replace them.

“Companies generally have to provide a lot of their own training, and the industry is diverse, from domestic pumps, through to mining and irrigation. Pulling these different areas together is quite a task.”

Looking back, and to the future Looking back over this career, he highlights one individual who has played a key role both in his working life and in Brown Brothers’ history.

“When I first started working for Brown Brothers, the company was owned by Mace Engineering, a privately owned company based in Christchurch; Ted Mace, the MD, was my boss for the next 33 years. We formed a close relationship, and he provided me with a great opportunity to come into the business and grow it.

Ted is a very special person in my career, and he really set the foundation for Brown Brothers. Without his backing and money, we couldn’t have done the things we did – like come to Australia.”

AxFlow Oceania/Brown Brothers Australia has appointed Michael Briggs as new managing director. He comes to AxFlow from ABB where he’s been the Australian head of the motion business unit and a member of the leadership team of ABB Australia.

Irrigation Australia extends its warmest wishes to John Inkster as he embarks on a well-deserved retirement.

Toro Australia has become the official stocking distributor for Leemco Piping Solutions in Australia.

Leemco, headquartered in California, USA, is a manufacturer that specialises in products for golf, commercial and municipal piping systems. The company produces high-strength, corrosion-resistant, ductile iron fittings, joint restraints, saddles, valves, HDPE plastic products and stainless-steel products.

Laurence Bingham, Senior Director of Toro Australia, said the company was excited about the partnership and looks forward to growing the Leemco brand in Australia.

Information. For more information on Leemco, visit toro.com.au and https://www.leemco.com/. For sales information, contact Sheldon Simmonds, National Irrigation Specifications Manager, Toro Australia 0418 830 602.

CROPX ACQUIRES GREEN BRAIN TO EXPAND IN AUSTRALIA Global ag tech company CropX Technologies recently announced its acquisition of Green Brain, a prominent digital irrigation management solutions provider based in Adelaide.

Green Brain, established 40 years ago, specialises in irrigation optimisation powered by data from soil sensors, weather stations, and IoT devices. Green Brain’s customer base will now have access to the CropX agronomic farm management system, which, in addition to irrigation optimisation, also provides advice on fungal diseases, soil and crop health, nitrogen leaching, salinity, and more.

“We enthusiastically welcome Green Brain into the CropX family,” said Tomer Tzach, CEO of CropX. “Green Brain’s expertise in irrigation optimisation is a perfect fit with our company’s DNA. Its prominence in the Australian market will allow CropX to reach a broader customer base and allow us to help Australian farms succeed.”

CropX is pursuing a buy-and-build strategy focused on precision and sustainable agricultural technology, combining a vigorous research and development program with the acquisition of companies with complementary technologies, expertise, and geographies. This is CropX’s first acquisition in Australia as it continues to consolidate a fragmented digital agronomy sector.

Information. For more information, visit www.cropx. com and www.greenbrain.ag

AUTUMN 2024

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BOOKSHELF NEW REPORT POINTS TO OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES IN AGTECH

A new report by audit, tax and consulting firm RSM Australia predicts that the Australian ag tech sector will continue to grow rapidly. The report highlights key trends, challenges and opportunities for the industry.

Breaking new ground: a report on the state and future of ag tech in Australia draws together insights from an RSM survey of more than 40 Australian technology companies, case studies and the expertise of RSM industry specialists.

Short-term concerns but rapid growth expected In the short term, ag tech companies see cash flow as the biggest business risk, followed by the concerns about staffing costs and retention. There are also worries about access to funds along with interest rate rises and looming cyber threats as key concerns.

However, the report expects the sector to continue to grow rapidly driven by the demand for food and agricultural products, the need to improve productivity and sustainability, and the development of new technologies.

Business confidence is still strong, with 70 per cent of respondents to the RSM survey forecasting revenue to be higher this financial year than the previous one.

KEY TRENDS, OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES RECOMMENDATIONS IDENTIFIED BY THE REPORT Key trends • Robotics and automation • Precision agriculture • Big data and artificial intelligence • Sustainable farming technologies Opportunities • Climate change mitigation • Sustainable farming practices • Data-driven, predictive modelling • Precision agriculture Challenges • Showing clear benefits of agtech solutions • Regulatory considerations • Potential risks associated with agtech solutions • Resistance to changing traditional farming practices • Customisation and integration with existing processes • Limited access to reliable internet and technical infrastructure in rural areas • Data privacy, cybersecurity threats and safeguards Recommendations • Increase awareness and education about ag tech solutions. The Australian government and industry associations should work to increase awareness and education about agtech solutions among farmers, utilising workshops, webinars and other outreach activities.

• Address the potential risks of ag tech. The Australian Government should work with ag tech companies to address the potential risks of ag tech, such as data security and privacy. This can be done through the development of industry standards and best practices

Scope for other innovative ag tech solutions

As challenges are addressed, new opportunities will appear

The report pinpoints areas in the Australian agricultural sector that are still under-served by ag tech solutions. These include water management, Indigenous land management, regenerative farming practices and biotechnology. These areas offer potential for ag tech companies to develop new products and services to meet the challenges farmers are facing today and into the future.

With the National Farmers Federation charting a plan for the industry to be worth $100 billion by 2030, the ag tech sector is poised for ongoing growth in Australia, according to the report.

As the challenges to adoption are addressed, we will see new opportunities for ag tech companies to grow and succeed.

Information. You can download the report from the RSM website.

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