Irrigation Journal Spring 2020

SPRING 2020 • VOLUME 36 NO 03

Solar system cuts pump costs to zero

ISSN 0818–9447

Calculating RAW

IN THIS ISSUE: SCHEDULING OPTIONS: PROS AND CONS FUTURE-PROOFING WA'S SOUTH-WEST SUCCESSFUL TAKE-OFF FOR AIRPORT IRRIGATION INSTALLATION

Precision agriculture shows promise for vegetable production

Reliable irrigation solutions

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CONTENTS FEATURES SMART IRRIGATION FEATURE Irrigators recognised for sustainable irrigation practices 16 Precision agriculture shows promise for vegetable production 18 Irrigation scheduling options: pros and cons

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FEATURE ARTICLES Report updates water demand in southern MDB

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Pumping system supplies farm’s water needs

12

Rainwater Harvesting Australia looking to consolidate achievements in 2020-21

25

Waterway health and urban design

26

Future-proofing Western Australia’s south-west

32

Calculating Readily Available Water

38

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Murray-Darling Basin water markets in need of major changes 42 How water is used in the Murray-Darling Basin

44

REGULAR ITEMS Chairman's Message

3

From the CEO

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Technology: Urban

6

Technology: Rural

8

Research 10 IAL News

21

Around Industry

28

The Big Issue

30

State Roundup

35

Contractors' Corner

36

Professional Development

40

Business Feature

46

ICID Insights

47

Bookshelf

48

New Products

49

28

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ON THE FRONT COVER: Peter Chadband (right) from The Pump House with Rob and Jen Brooks. The Pump House recently installed a large solar array and new irrigation system for the Brooks. With energy provided by solar panels, pumping costs have been cut to zero.

36 SPRING 2020

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Virtual Webinar Training Courses Due to the current COVID-19 situation and the recent changes to working arrangements and travel restrictions for all Australians, Irrigation Australia has adapted to the challenging circumstances and we will now be offering Nationally Accredited training courses via a Virtual Video Conferencing Platform.

This means you can complete training whilst at work or in the comfort of your own home! We will be delivering the theory components via Virtual Video conferencing; as if we were physically in the classroom. Students will be required to have access to a computer or laptop fitted with a camera and microphone.

You will be able to interact with your trainer and other students on your screen and be guided through the assessments and activities. The trainers will demonstrate practical exercises and then you may be required to replicate the same activity in your home or work environment and record what you do with a video recording device (mobile phone) etc.

For some of our training courses, students will still be required to attend face-to-face training to carry out the relevant assessments to complete the final practical components of some competencies (dates yet to be determined following government advice).

Study for the new “Irrigation Trade” We will be offering some competencies for the new “Certificate III in Irrigation Technology AHC32419” (Trade Level) training course through this new platform.

Online Training Courses 1.

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Certificate III in Irrigation Technology (AHC32419)* Certificate IV in Irrigation Management (AHC41119)* Irrigation Pumps & Systems | $825 Irrigation Efficiency | $930 Meter Validation & Installation* | $1,925 Introduction to Irrigation ‘Urban’ | $525 Introduction to Irrigation ‘Agriculture’ | $825 NEW - Principles of Irrigation (Online Only) | $99

On completion of the course, students will receive a Certificate of Completion Note: Course fees listed reflect Irrigation Australia Member price

*Students will be required to attend face-to-face training to complete the practical components of the course. Practical assessments will be held in each state at a future date.

To register your interest in any of the above courses call Geoff Harvey - National Training, Certification & Marketing Manager on 0418 888 876

UPCOMING TRAINING COURSES DATES www.irrigationaustralia.com.au/training

Irrigation Australia | Peak National Organisation Representing the Entire Irrigation Industry 11/58 Metroplex Avenue, Murarrie Qld 4172 | 1300 949 891 | info@irrigation.org.au | irrigationaustralia.com.au

WELCOME

CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE Our thoughts are with all members of Irrigation Australia as we continue to deal with the varying impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our daily work and personal life.

In such a difficult time, it is gratifying that membership of Irrigation Australia continues to grow and has reached record levels. We now have nearly 1100 primary and branch members, 765 people are active in our various certification programs and more than 165 businesses and individuals are engaged with our Waterwise programs.

Abraham Zaleznik, a Professor Emeritus at the Harvard Business School where he taught for four decades, once described membership in the following way: “Innovation grows out of membership and a sure sense of responsibility people feel for their work and the organizations that employ them”.

The flip side of this is acknowledging the contributions of members.

Irrigation Australia is aware of the responsibility we have as an organisation to recognise those among us that have made an exceptional contribution. One of the most important ways we have of doing this is the biennial MacLeanIedema award. This award is named in recognition of Scott MacLean and Don Iedema who were strong supporters and contributors to the Irrigation Association of Australia during its early years. They were involved in the organisation at a regional and national level, and Scott was a former chairman. Don, Scott and Roger Bell, an employee and talented, wellrespected irrigation designer with a

young family, all tragically lost their lives in a light aircraft accident in 1995.

Presented biennially, the MacLeanIedema Award recognises the outstanding contributions of individuals to the industry and includes a cash prize and commemorative plaque.

Previous winners of the MacLeanIedema Award are: • 2018, Jeremy Cape • 2016, Robin Weaver • 2014, Ted Gardner • 2012, Bill Yiasoumi • 2010, Ken Sampson • 2008, Geoff Connellan • 2006, Ken Crawford • 2004, John Mapson • 2002, John Blackwell • 2000, Ken Wetherby • 1998, David Morwood • 1996, Christine Forster Nominations are now being called for the 2020 MacLean-Iedema Award and the criteria for consideration includes: 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 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.

Your board welcomes nominations from members or regional committees for the 2020 MacLean-Iedema Award.

Details and the nomination form are available on our website or you can contact our office.

Members are also reminded of the recent call for nominations for six positions on the Irrigation Australia Board. I encourage all members to consider standing for a position on the board, to have a role in monitoring current and evolving industry trends, making key decisions on planning and policy and determining the strategic priorities for Irrigation Australia.

Andrew Ogden Chairman

Your comprehensive guide irrigation installers, retailers, contractors, suppliers and certified designers and professionals in your region.

Download the 2020 Irrigation Directory to help you find a professional Irrigation Australia certified member or organisation.

DOWNLOAD 2020 IRRIGATION DIRECTORY

SPRING 2020

3

WELCOME

FROM THE CEO

The impact of coronavirus on Irrigation Australia members across the nation has been anything but consistent; while some members report that strong trading conditions have continued through the pandemic, others in areas of lock-down such as Melbourne, have been significantly impacted. While this virus lives among us, it is clear that we need to be extra vigilant and have wellprepared COVID-19 safety plans in place in case they are needed.

A new buzzword being used by commentators during the pandemic is “pivot�, and for those in the irrigation industry this word now takes on a new connotation. We need to be more adaptable and prepared to change as most organisations in Australia and globally are experiencing unprecedented workforce disruption. Businesses are still determining how they will work in the short and long term, as workforces and communities try to function, while struggling to cope with what is happening in their daily lives.

Social distancing and the use of face masks when social distancing cannot be practised are sensible measures

designed to protect both the health of the public and employees who are required to interface with the public.

Despite the unremittingly difficult pandemic news, there has been some cause for optimism on other fronts.

Recent rain across the country has delivered welcome relief for farmers who, for the first time in months or in some cases years, have seen rivers flowing, dams filling and crops thriving.

The NSW government has released its Floodplain Harvesting Measurement Policy, which, in an Australian first, sets out a regime for measuring and monitoring floodplain harvesting. The measurement policy is a key plank of NSW’s broader Floodplain Harvesting Policy, which, together with a licensing regime for floodplain harvesting, will ensure that this type of water extraction does not exceed its legal limit and that all Basin communities get their fair share.

In a vote of confidence in and recognition of our training credentials, the NSW government is supporting Irrigation Australia to develop a training and certification program for installing and validating storage

Check out Irrigation Australia's social media feeds.

meters. The government is encouraging existing certified meter installers or certified practising hydrographers to contact Irrigation Australia to register their interest in participating in this program. We expect training in this new certification to begin in the next couple of months.

In other training news, Irrigation Australia has received a pleasing response from industry to the new trade in irrigation to be recognised as an Irrigation Technician. This new Certificate III course of 22 competencies can be completed in four blocks of learning; currently, blocks 1 and 2 are being delivered online. Payment for this course can be made on a block-by-block basis and our training team are able to work with employers and students to find a schedule that accommodates this online learning. If you are interested in registering or finding out more, contact our office on 1300 949 891 or email training@irrigation.org.au.

Bryan Ward CEO

www.facebook.com/irrigationaustralia www.instagram.com/irrigationaustralia www. twitter.com/IrrigationAus www.linkedin.com/company/irrigation-australia-limited www.youtube.com/user/IrrigAust

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TECHNOLOGY: URBAN WATER-SAVING SOLUTIONS FOR LANDSCAPE IRRIGATION SNAPSHOT • Retrofitting the right product in the right location can bring about significant water use savings • Product solutions for saving water include: fitting weather-aware controllers, replacing inefficient sprinklers, converting to drip and regulating water pressure

from anywhere in the world at any time via computer or smartphone. Using controllers connected to the internet means that watering schedules based on accurate weather data, including temperature, rainfall probability, wind speed, and humidity can be easily and quickly adjusted.

The next step is to add a flow meter to measure water use and detect broken pipes or sprinklers. Constant monitoring of electrical current flows allows contractors to receive alerts before issues become problems.

Responsible water use is something the irrigation industry promotes as a matter of course for landscape irrigation. The four key ingredients for maximising landscape water use efficiency are: well-designed systems, products that are fit for purpose and properly installed by certified professionals, regionally appropriate plant choices and informed irrigation operators. In this article Gavin Jones looks at some of the savings that can be achieved by using the right product for the right job.

Product solutions for saving water Fortunately, the irrigation industry is well served in having access to effective product solutions and professionals who can advise on and install the right equipment for the job at hand.

Retrofitting inefficient or old, worn-out spray systems with more efficient sprinklers is the easiest way to see an immediate reduction in water use. Every system, no matter where it is located, should have a smart controller that delivers water based on local weather conditions. Other solutions include converting small areas from overhead spray to drip irrigation and adding pressure regulation to any system for optimal product performance.

Teaming up with manufacturers who make water conservation a top priority when developing products and providing training and support is more important than ever.

Here are a few simple changes to dramatically reduce outdoor water use.

Weather-aware irrigation controllers ✔ Water savings of up to 50 per cent By combining Wi-Fi enabled controllers with compatible web-based software, irrigation professionals can achieve up to 50 per cent water savings for their customers.

These controllers allow management of irrigation systems

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Investing in a water meter, which will measure water use and help detect leaks and broken pipes, is a next step after installing a central control system.

REPORT UPDATES WATER DEMAND IN SOUTHERN MDB

Replacing worn out or inefficient sprayers can lead to water savings of up to 30 per cent.

Replace inefficient sprayers ✔ Water savings of up to 30 per cent Old, worn out or inefficient sprayers can be the source of poor water use efficiency. A simple upgrade to more efficient sprayers can result in water savings of up to 30 per cent.

Convert areas to drip irrigation ✔ Water savings of up to 70 per cent For medians, narrow landscaping beds and planters, reducing turf and converting from sprays to in-line drip irrigation or point-source emitters can result in water savings of up to 70 per cent. Drip irrigation provides slow, even watering for coverage right where it’s needed, with no overspray onto the hardscape.

A recently released report by Aither for the Victorian Government updates its 2019 analysis of the impact of increased permanent horticulture plantings on water supply and demand in the southern Murray-Darling Basin.

Its key messages about future water demand were: • In the southern MDB (excludes the Murrumbidgee River and the Lower Darling), during periods of extreme dry water availability, where there is no carryover from the previous year, demand from existing permanent horticulture plantations could be 200 GL less than water available for consumptive use.

• In the lower Murray, during periods of extreme dry water availability demand from existing permanent horticulture plantations could outstrip within-region water supply be two and half times.

• In average to extreme dry water availability scenarios, total permanent horticulture water demand could exceed total volume of water available for consumptive use.

Based on these scenarios, the report makes the very sensible suggestion that “Existing market participants, as well as new entrants, should be mindful of the material water supply risks in the connected Murray, and particularly the lower Murray”.

It also advises that water supply and demand trends should be monitored and analysed to ensure that policy makers, regulators and water users have access to the best possible data.

To download the report go to the Victorian Water Register website.

Slow the flow – regulate the pressure ✔ Water savings of up to 50 per cent Install pressure regulators to achieve the optimal pressure for sprinklers, emitters, and valves. This saves water lost from misting and runoff.

Other ways to save water Check the system. Inspect irrigation systems for leaks, clogs, wear, and other damage that can silently waste litres of water. At a minimum, adjust sprinkler nozzles to eliminate overspray onto hardscapes.

Modify the space. Be selective with turf areas. Keep turf only where it’s practical and use a grass that’s regionally appropriate. Replace thirsty plants with native and drought-tolerant plants. Remember to add mulch to reduce evaporation and moderate soil temperature.

The bottom line By adopting some or all of these solutions, you will see significant savings in water use and play an active role in water conservation for generations to come.

Water supply and demand in the southern Murray-Darling Basin (2020 update)

An assessment of future water availability and permanent horticulture irrigation water demand A final report prepared for the Victorian Government Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Wednesday 17 June 2020

FINAL REPORT | Water supply and demand in the southern Murray-Darling Basin (2020 update)

Gavin Jones, Hunter Industries

SPRING 2020

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TECHNOLOGY: RURAL SOLAR SYSTEM CUTS PUMP COST TO ZERO SNAPSHOT • Cattle growers Rob and Jen Brooks had a vision to drought-proof their property near Gympie in Queensland using an irrigation system that had zero running costs • The irrigation system was designed to be gravity fed • Pumps powered by solar panels transfer underground water to distribution tanks that gravity feed water to a pipe and riser system • The Brooks are now able to irrigate 35 ha of fodder crops without the need for – and cost of - power or council water.

Access to water and energy costs have become significant issues for the irrigation industry in Australia in the last few years.

Some irrigators are deciding to take matters into their own hands by controlling costs and water access as much as possible within the farm boundary.

Rob and Jen Brooks, who raise and fatten cattle on their property at Kilkivan near Gympie in Queensland, recently approached The Pump House and asked them to design an irrigation system with associated water storage pump capacity that would make them as independent as possible.

Previously their enterprise was a dryland one.

The challenge they gave The Pump House was to create an irrigation system that drought-proofed the property, gave the Brooks flexible management control and minimised or eliminated ongoing energy costs for pumping.

Peter Chadband (right) with Rob and Jen Brooks check out the solar panels installed to power transfer pumps.

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According to Peter Chadband, owner of The Pump House, the key components of the system decided on were as follows: • solar pumps • solar panels • tanks to store water • new sprinklers • radio control system.

The first stage of this project has just been completed.

Next is the installation of three more bores and the development of another 40 ha of irrigation.

Installation The source for irrigation water is an underground supply.

Rather than pump straight from this supply, it was decided that storage tanks would be installed, and gravity would do the work to distribute it to the irrigation system.

Four submersible pumps were installed at an average depth of 50 m to draw on the available bore water. They are powered by 206 solar panels, which enable water to be pumped to storage tanks at a higher elevation. The pump system has an inverter and pumps during daylight hours only. There are no batteries, but the system does have the option to be run by a genset during very overcast weather Two large storage tanks - 375,000 L each – were installed at a higher elevation (36 m) above the cultivation and 300 m from the irrigation system. The water is then stored to irrigate the crops.

“All water is gravity fed so no power is required,” said Peter.

The power source for the pumps is a 206-panel solar array.

The bottom line

Water pumped from underground is stored in two large tanks and gravity fed to the irrigation system 300 m below.

The pipe and riser irrigation system has 550 sprinkler heads. With 36 m of pressure available from the tanks and the target of 28 m required at the sprinkler nozzle, friction losses had to be minimal. Using a 200 mm mainline for the 28 L/sec flow of each irrigation block kept mainline friction to less than 2 m. The 100 mm valve and manifold loss was 2 m, and submain, lateral and fittings losses were calculated at 4 m.

Final testing of the system revealed that total friction losses were 4 m, well under the 8 m allowance and only 11.5 per cent of the total system pressure Lastly, a radio control system was installed to operate the system via mobile phone or computer from anywhere (including overseas).

Peter said that the trickiest part of the project was being confident enough to trust the friction loss calculations to achieve the desired operating pressure at the sprinklers.

Rob said that he and Jen had a vision to drought-proof their property and that has been achieved with this project.

Once they realised they could access underground water they approached The Pump House about installing a solar pump system that would pump water during the day to two huge tanks up a hill and gravity feed it back down the hill to irrigate fodder crops. “The other part of the vision was no running costs, and, thanks to The Pump House, that has now become a reality,� said Rob. This project has ensured that Rob and Jen can irrigate 35 ha of fodder crops such as oats, lucerne, barley and corn without the need for – and cost of - power or council water.

The pipe and riser system is gravity fed with irrigation water from storage tanks located on a hill on the property.

Anne Currey, Irrigation Australia and Chris Pitcher, The Pump House

SPRING 2020

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RESEARCH DIGITAL PLATFORM GIVES RIVERLAND VINEYARDS AN IRRIGATION EDGE SNAPSHOT • VitiVisor is a platform using software and sensors in grape vines to provide more accurate information about crop performance and to optimise irrigation water use • The platform is different in that it brings together technology such as soil moisture monitors and evaporation sensors and links them with other measuring technology such as hyper-spectral imaging, canopy temperature sensors and digital weather stations • The platform enables growers to track and predict how key management actions such as application of water, fertiliser and herbicides and various canopy management strategies relate to vineyard outcomes such as fruit yield and quality.

Software and sensors to help grape growers optimise irrigation use will be the first application of a new digital platform being developed in South Australia.

The VitiVisor platform will use lean manufacturing and Industry 4.0 principles* to collect information direct from the vineyard via cameras and sensors and analyse the data to assess vineyard performance. In a first, the software will also offer coordinated advice on management practices such as irrigation, pruning, and fertiliser, fungicide and pesticide applications.

*Industry 4.0 principles refer to principles associated with the fourth industrial revolution, which relies on the merging of real and virtual worlds using cyber-physical production systems.

It follows the third industrial revolution, which is based on digital technology to develop smart systems.

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Riverland Wine has partnered with the University of Adelaide and Wine Australia with support from UniSA and Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA) on the $5 million project.

The digital system aims to help growers understand precisely what is going on in their vineyard so they can more accurately predict yields while maximising efficiency.

VitiVisor brings together researchers in viticulture, engineering, remote sensing, farm economics, water accounting, artificial intelligence, machine learning and robotics, with grapegrowers possessing deep knowledge of vineyard production and processes from the Riverland wine region.

Using artificial intelligence to detect grape bunches and predict yield is being developed as part of the project.

Project brings together grape growers and researchers The project began in 2018 under the leadership of Riverland Wine Executive

Chair Chris Byrne who brought together motivated growers from the region and University of Adelaide researchers to find ways to reduce vineyard production costs. A sixmonth trial followed in 2019 ahead of the project’s expansion.

Devices such as moisture monitors and evaporation sensors have been used in vineyards for some time but adapting others to the industry and integrating them through a single platform has not been done previously.

Chris said other technologies linked to the platform could include hyperspectral imaging, canopy temperature sensors, digital weather stations and devices for predicting the likelihood of a downy or powdery mildew outbreak.

“As Australia’s largest wine-growing region, we have unique needs because of the scale of our operations and market position,” he said of the Riverland.

“The pilot project conducted last season indicates there is great potential to provide growers with simplified advice on management practices to bring significant improvements to the bottom line.

“This project is a key element of Riverland Wine’s strategic plan, to transition our industry to the new wine era through building members’ knowledge, rebuilding the brand and influencing industry decisions. This technology will empower and enable growers to achieve excellence in all aspects of their wine growing and winemaking.”

Cameras and sensors gather and analyse data In the vineyard, cameras and sensors will collect data and analyse its performance through indicators such as canopy growth, fruit production, sap flow and soil moisture. This will allow growers to track and predict

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Sectioning vineyards into measurable slices is among the techniques used to gauge production efficiency.

Platform to be shared and open source University of Adelaide Project Supervisor Professor Andy Lowe said the university had key strategic priorities in agrifood and wine and had deliberately aligned itself with the needs of industry and South Australia.

“By bringing together experts from a range of disciplines across the university with industry expertise and leadership from within the Riverland region, we will help improve resource use and vineyard performance and,

therefore, returns for growers,” he said.

The project is being led by the University of Adelaide in partnership with Riverland growers, but when testing is complete it will be open to all growers. VitiVisor will also be an open source platform, expandable over time, allowing anyone to add new applications.

The Riverland, in the east of South Australia near the banks of the River Murray, is the nation’s largest grape producing region contributing about a quarter of Australia’s annual crush.

Wine Australia Chief Executive Officer Andreas Clark said the project was an exciting collaborative effort that could have lasting benefits for the grape and wine community across Australia.

“Technology in viticulture has been evolving at a rapid pace and it’s exciting to see an integrated approach to developing a single, open-source system that will combine many of these advances to help support decision making for grape growers all around Australia,” he said.

Acknowledgment. This article, written by Andrew Spence, is from The Leads South Australia, website.

Accessed 9 July 2020.

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how key management actions such as application of water, fertiliser and herbicides and various canopy management strategies relate to vineyard outcomes such as fruit yield and quality.

The information will be displayed as a dashboard, giving growers a quick snapshot of what is happening in their vineyards. They will be able to easily share information about their vineyard performance with their advisors.

Importantly, the vineyard level information will be combined with market and farm cost information to provide guidance on making the best decisions to maximise farm returns.

DELIVERING PUMPING SOLUTIONS

ARTICLE PUMPING SYSTEM SUPPLIES FARM’S WATER NEEDS SNAPSHOT • Project specifies four pumps for irrigation, stock and domestic supply • Farm plan requires use of groundwater and exclusion of stock from the river and riparian zone, which is treated as a conservation area • Groundwater is pumped into a holding tanks and then distributed for irrigation and domestic and stock use • After a year the pumps are running as designed and energy bills are lower than expected.

After buying a 16 ha farm near Eildon in Victoria that had a semi-established truffle orchard of 980 English oak and stone pine trees, Jamie Crowe, who also owns Melbourne-based JWC Plumbing, realised that there was some work to be done to ensure that the trees had access to irrigation water.

Early stages of groundworks to facilitate new irrigation lines.

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As well, water was needed to supply stock and domestic needs.

While the simple option would have been to source water from the river that the farm fronted and to which it had riparian rights, Jamie decided that fundamental to his property strategy was that he would not use river water or allow stock into the riparian zone.

Rather, he made a conscious decision not to draw water from the river but to leave it in its natural state, which was as a significant natural habitat for many species of animals and plants.

After investigation, a groundwater source that could supply the 6 ML a year needed was found on the farm. The water was at a depth of 75 m and was of drinking water quality.

The task for dealer Yves Gur from Idrill Ipump and Jamie was to set up a pumping system that efficiently and reliably supplied water for irrigation as well as for stock and domestic use.

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ARTICLE Water is pumped from a bore to the 250,000 L holding tank and then transferred for all irrigation and stock and domestic requirements.

Pumps selected to suit supply needs The project required that several different pumps be installed.

The first pump was to take water from the bore into a 250,000 L holding tank that was to be used as a supply for irrigation and stock and domestic uses. A transfer pump was then needed to take water to the plantation irrigation system 400 m from the tank.

A Lowara bore pump acting on a float control was suggested for the bore, and a vertical, multi-stage booster pump for transferring water from the tank to the irrigation system.

The variable-speed-drive booster pump has more than enough pressure to supply 300+ small sprinkler heads at one time in the truffle plantation, as well as provide water for domestic garden irrigation. It is under constant pressure to the irrigation solenoids that are activated by a controller programmed with pre-set run times.

The controller has Wi-Fi ability so the whole system can be activated from Jamie’s phone, no matter where he is or if a dry period is encountered during the season and extra watering is required.

A Goulds’ pump supplies water from the holding tank to stock troughs that are in five small grazing paddocks. This pump is fitted with additional equipment to limit cycling and enable auto start. The troughs were installed to keep stock away from the river and riparian zone in line with the plan to maintain the river as a conservation area and to avoid riverbank erosion.

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A perfect example how a pump shed of 2020 should look; efficient, clean and simple.

The fourth and final member of the pumping suite is a “smart pump” that currently supplies water to the work shed and is designed to also supply the farmhouse, when it is built. The smart pump allows great flexibility in operation, e.g. the operator can dial in a required pressure. This means that the pressure can be increased when the both the farmhouse and shed are on-line.

Pumps haven’t missed a beat Since they were installed in August last year, the pumps, which Jamie calls the “heart of the water supply system”, have not missed a beat and have supplied water efficiently when needed.

And the proof of its operation? Nearly a year on and the entire system is running as it was designed and with lower electricity bills than expected.

Anne Currey, Irrigation Australia

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SMART IRRIGATION FEATURE Irrigators recognised for sustainable irrigation practices SNAPSHOT • Lindsay announced the four Australian finalists, two from Victoria and two from Tasmania, in its inaugural Zimmatic Trailblazer Sustainable Irrigation Awards • Applicants judged on practising sustainable irrigation management, irrigation-driven improvements, waterway protection and environmental stewardship • Irrigators are looking for technology that helps them get the right amount of water in the right place

In July, Lindsay announced the four Australian finalists in its inaugural Zimmatic Trailblazer Sustainable Irrigation Awards.

James Craft from Lindsay said the awards are designed to recognise irrigators who are implementing best practice and leading the way in responsible irrigation water management.

“It’s is a way of sharing the stories of these farmers who doing the right thing and showing that investing in best practice improves profitability,” he explained.

The Australian finalists in the awards, which are open to irrigation farmers in Australia and New Zealand, are:

Finalists in the Zimmatic Trailblazer Sustainable Irrigation Awards - Nicholas, Stephen and Bryton Eyles from Selbourne in Tasmania. The family irrigates 250 ha of mixed crops.

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• Evan Ryan from Yarrawonga in Victoria, who irrigates 586 ha of broadacre winter and summer grain, hay and fibre crops • Stephen Eyles from Selbourne in Tasmania, who irrigates 250 ha of mixed crops • Rob and Eliza Tole from Cressy in Tasmania who irrigate 350 ha on their mixed cropping and livestock operation • Brendan Watson from Lake Boga in Victoria, who runs a large irrigated cropping enterprise with 3730 ha under irrigation.

APPLICANTS DEMONSTRATE COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY Applicants were shortlisted and assessed by a judging panel of irrigation and industry professionals who undertook an indepth review of the four assessment categories - practising sustainable irrigation management, adopting new technology to improve irrigation efficiency, minimising the impact of irrigation on waterways, and providing leadership to the irrigation community.

Independent judge Dr Pat Hulme said the finalists provided evidence that they were delivering results in all these fields.

“The common feature of irrigation practices adopted by most entrants was that they were applying the right amount of water to the whole of the area they irrigated.

“Those with sprinkler irrigation systems were matching the depth of water applied to the capacity of the soil to store that water. The irrigation pattern was supported by some measurement of variation in soil properties.

“Some of the finalists measured the impact of their irrigation practice on drainage water quality (in hilly country) while others measured the impact on soil salinity in the plains,” he said.

RIGHT AMOUNT OF WATER IN THE RIGHT PLACE Irrigation Australia asked James Craft about trends in the market for centre pivot technology and how that influenced the decision to institute the Sustainable Irrigation Awards.

“Recently we have noticed that irrigators are asking for flexibility as far as the crops they are irrigating. For instance we have farmers who are irrigating several different horticultural or broadacre crops and need a machine that allows them to micromanage water application.

“Ultimately, what they want to know is that they are getting the right amount of water in the right place,” he said.

Labour savings are also at the forefront of decision making. With many irrigators employing fewer or no staff, they need technology that allows them to remotely keep

track of what is happening in the field and that can report any issues in real time.

“Centre pivot irrigation is evolving into areas such as variable-rate irrigation and the technology is becoming more complex,” said James.

He explained that it is important to make management easier for the irrigator by providing platforms that analyse key inputs such as different soil types, climate data and soil moisture parameters and then calculate the most efficient irrigation regime.

“It is all about making the experience a lot easier,” he said.

INFORMATION The Australian finalists are in the running with the New Zealand finalists to be named the overall winner of the award, which will be announced later this year once on-farm judging has occurred.

Partners with Lindsay in supporting the awards are Precision Agriculture Pty Ltd, Ag Logic Pty Ltd and the Society of Precision Agriculture Australia (SPAA).

For information about the awards go to the Irrigation Trailblazer website www.irrigationtrailblazer.com.

VEGETABLES AND ROW CROPS

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SMART IRRIGATION FEATURE Precision agriculture shows promise for vegetable production SNAPSHOT • While precision agriculture has been used for some time in broadacre production, adoption in horticulture is low • A trial is being conducted in Victoria by Fresh Select, supported by Hort Innovation, to identify when, why and how precision technologies could be best used in vegetable production • The trial is at Werribee on a site that is affected by sodic-saline soils, which are partly the result of irrigating with saline recycled water and poor-quality river water • The trial used EM38 technology to identify areas of high sodicity and salinity, as a way of determining amelioration strategies • A key finding is that to benefit from the use of PA, growers must ensure they have or can outsource the skills or resources required to translate existing PA data into meaningful management decisions Precision agriculture (PA) refers to technologies that improve productivity by considering the variability of agricultural land and crop growth at sub-farm, row or plant scale. Also known as ‘site-specific crop management’, PA can ensure the right crop management strategies are implemented in the right place at the right time. Despite the theoretical benefits of PA, the rate of adoption by growers of many crops remains low and, in some industries, is negligible.

In Victorian vegetable production, PA is in its early days.

Compare this with broadacre systems where EM38 mapping (measuring spatial variations in electrical conductivity of the soil) and associated variable rate application of different inputs have been used for several decades. In horticulture, the practical application of EM38 mapping to inform decision making has only begun to be trialled in the past couple of years.

Details of when, why and how precision technologies may be best used in horticulture are still open to interpretation.

When is it financially beneficial to use PA in vegetable production? How do we translate data into management decisions? And what are the barriers to more widespread use of PA in vegetables?

CASE STUDY: SOIL SALTS IN WERRIBEE SOUTH OVERVIEW Headquartered in Melbourne’s Werribee South region, Fresh Select is one of the largest lettuce and brassica growers

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in Australia, and have been one of the first to trial PA technology in vegetables.

The problem. The Werribee South vegetable growing region is challenged by sodic-saline soils arising from historic sodicity and salinity, using saline recycled and river irrigation water, and reliance on irrigation due to low rainfall.

Prolonged drought has further reduced irrigation water quality and quantity, and dealing with soil salts pose a major issue for vegetable growers in the region.

Sodicity is best measured by exchangeable sodium.

Soils with exchangeable sodium greater than 6 per cent are considered sodic, and those greater than 15 per cent, strongly sodic. In Werribee South, ESP can measure up to 12 per cent, adversely affecting the soil structure.

Salinity is a measure of all the soluble salts in the soil.

Impacts on crop productivity can be particularly challenging during dry periods when irrigation water (sources are recycled water from Western Treatment Plant and river water from the Werribee River) also becomes more saline.

The ‘double whammy’ of sodicity and salinity in Werribee South can cause: • surface crusting • reduced seedling emergence • reduced soil aeration • increased run-off • low organic matter • low microbial activity • poor establishment, growth, plant vigour and/or tip burn.

Why and what type of PA? While managing sodic soils has historically involved adding gypsum to improve soil structure, longer-term strategies are needed.

Management of salinity has generally involved careful fertilisation to mitigate the effects of salinity on the plant by balancing the cation exchange ratio to avoid nutrient deficiencies, and careful irrigation to avoid flushing nutrients out of the system and to maintain stable moisture levels.

Because of the potential variability of sodicity within and between fields, Fresh Select’s agronomist, Stuart Grigg, supported by Hort Innovation project Soil Wealth and Integrated Crop Protection, has recently begun to trial PA technologies to improve decision-making regarding soil salts.

They have started with EM38 mapping and matched gridded soil samples, with the aim of treating the problem areas with

variable-rate application of soil ameliorants such as gypsum and compost.

Translating PA results. Interpreting EM data can be complex, as electrical conductivity measures soil water content, clay content and salts.

Figure 1. Section of EM38 map of the trial block showing electrical conductivity at 0-0.75 m depth (legend in mS/m), width of field approx.

230 m.

The gridded soil samples found that the whole field is sodic, and there is some variation in the degree of sodicity.

The EM38 map somewhat aligned with exchangeable sodium (see Figure 2), but the EC variability was not completely explained by sodicity.

Of the soil sample results (e.g. nutrient levels), chloride aligned most closely with the EM map pattern (see Figure 3), likely indicating that salinity (NaCl is one of the most common soluble salts) may be the cause of the higher EC areas on the EM38 map.

Also, the ‘shovel test’ Figure 2. Section of grid sampled exchangeable sodium (0 to 20 cm showed that the bottom depth). left corner of the field

had higher soil moisture, which would also contribute to the EC. Decision-making with PA. Using the data collected, a variable-rate map was generated to apply a higher rate of gypsum in the most sodic areas. Further, compost is being trialled to mitigate some of the effects of salinity.

The EM38 map and gridded soil samples Figure 3. Section of chloride grid will provide a detailed samples (0 to 20 cm depth). foundation of data on which to observe improvements made by future decisionmaking at the site.

What do these early results tell us about PA in vegetable production? Firstly, ground truthing is key. In this case, the gridded soil samples were necessary to identify the likely causes of the EM38 results.

Secondly, PA may not always give you a straightforward answer. To benefit from the use of PA, growers must ensure they have or can outsource the skills or resources required to translate existing PA data into meaningful management decisions.

NEXT STEPS The next steps for the Werribee site are to test the nutrient levels and plan growth measures to determine whether variable rate gypsum and compost addition have improved the parameters associated with salinity and sodicity.

In the future, the main gaps in extending the reach of PA in vegetable production include determining how best and when best to use these technologies, including cost:benefit calculations. Other barriers include limited service providers and machinery ownership capacity and ensuring that the different types of technology are aligned, such as data and mapping programs with tractors and sprayers.

Acknowledgment. This article is from a fact sheet on Hort Innovation website.

INFORMATION This project is funded by Hort Innovation. Delivery partners for the project are RMCG and AHR. Accessed 12 August 2020.

For information about this and other Hort Innovation projects go to the Soil Wealth website

SMART IRRIGATION FEATURE Irrigation scheduling options: pros and cons With the advent of cloud technology, the ability to adopt irrigation sensor hardware has never been greater. Combined with new sensor development, analytics and satellites, this provides irrigators with great opportunities to drive agribusiness production improvements through smart irrigation scheduling.

There are four main methods used to schedule irrigation: climate-based, soil moisture monitoring, remote sensing and plant sensors. In this article, Tim Hyde from SWAN Systems takes us through some of the pros and cons of each type.

PLANT SENSORS The latest trend is plant-based sensors, which have been available for some time but have only recently started to become a more complete system for irrigation scheduling.

Plant-based sensors include sap flow, dendrometers and canopy temperatures. ✔These sensors are good at letting a manager know exactly what is going on with the plant. ✘ They face the same issues as with in-field hardware such as breakage, sample size and interpretation for accurate management insights.

CLIMATE-BASED SCHEDULING Climate-based scheduling determines daily evapotranspiration and multiplies this by the crop coefficient for a crop at a particular growth stage. ✔ Pre-determined crop co-efficients are publicly available and used as the benchmark for many irrigated industries. ✘ Small differences like varieties, rootstocks, crop load, soil type and root depth can have a dramatic effect on the water requirements of a crop.

SOIL MOISTURE MONITORING Soil moisture probes (e.g. tensiometers, gypsum blocks and capacitance probes) have been available for more than 30 years. ✔They are a low-cost and widely used way of getting a better understanding of what the plant is doing via the soil medium. The recent migration of most data to the cloud has allowed for easy and relatively cheap monitoring of the soil moisture balance in irrigated crops. ✘ In-field hardware often gets broken, batteries go flat or they are not calibrated/installed correctly (and thus don’t represent the true soil moisture balance of a particular site). The trends are very consistent with modelling, but the numbers are then of little use, as they don’t represent what is actually going on in the soil.

REMOTE SENSING Satellite/remote sensing irrigation scheduling is relatively new. While there are great opportunities, its best use is as a part of the irrigation management suite. The main reason for this is that, unless crop specific details are known, then aspects like drainage and runoff cannot be modelled or fully appreciated in calculations. ✔This technology offers great opportunities, as it is easy to implement and low cost. ✘ The main issues are infrequent captures and poor image quality as a result of cloud cover.

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Sap flow monitoring is being used with tree crops such as macadamias to schedule irrigation.

Photo courtesy Australian Macadamia Society News Bulletin.

MATCHING TECHNOLOGY TO BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THE KEY The options for irrigation scheduling vary a lot - and these options may or may not suit different crops, regions and management systems.

Importantly, all systems provide valuable insights that can (and should, where practicable) be combined to provide a clearer picture of plant water requirements.

Within the confines of budget and management system, the aim is to combine technology to derive as much meaningful information as possible, e.g. soil moisture monitoring, satellite imagery and plant-based sensor data, so that accurate decisions can be made.

Having a clearer understanding of all this data and combining it with weather forecast information, will give users access to the most reliable and accurate irrigation scheduling tool available.

Tim Hyde, CEO SWAN Systems

IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA NEWS MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS EXPLAINED Some members have been asking about membership renewals, so we thought it a good idea to explain how changes to the Irrigation Australia constitution in 2015 and 2018 affected the renewal process.

Before these changes to the constitution, memberships were renewed at the beginning of each financial year.

After the changes were voted on and passed by members, financial year memberships were replaced with anniversary year memberships. New membership categories were also adopted at the same time.

This means that memberships are now anniversary based, so that a membership is active for 365 days and then expires on the 366th day. There is a short period of grace (30 days) to allow for late payments, after which membership ceases.

Irrigation Australia’s automated system is set up so that members are notified when membership is due for renewal and an invoice is sent, as are reminders if necessary.

This ensures that we have a tidy and accurate membership data base which is important when each member has a voting entitlement.

If you have a question about membership, contact Tracy Martin, email tracy.martin@irrigation.org.au.

REGIONAL ROUNDUP What’s going on in the regions and with membership by Tracy Martin, Irrigation Australia's National Membership and Regions Manager.

to providing knowledge transfer, CPD points and Waterwise re-endorsement activities.

Queensland The South-East Queensland Regional Committee is working on hosting member events in the latter part of 2020 (restrictions permitting). The first member event is scheduled for Queens Wharf, Brisbane.

The Committee is liaising with the Queensland Local Government Association and the Queensland Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia to discuss collaborating on training and certification for the region.

At the last meeting, it was agreed that a Waterwise subcommittee be formed, which is reviewing the Waterwise Program’s manuals to align them with Queensland regulations, standards and terminologies. After the review is finished in the next few months, the sub-committee will develop an implementation strategy for the region.

Western Australia The WA Regional Committee has been holding monthly virtual meetings and hosted a successful member breakfast and networking event at Ozone Reserve in East Perth in August. Featured were: • Blake Humble, City of Perth, who provided an overview of the City of Perth’s irrigation network, and recent projects for water security, water quality and water efficiency • Mark Pipes, Elliotts Irrigation, who discussed the supply and installation of the groundwater filtration system (40 LPS) • Don May, Aquamonix, who presented on the supply of the Rainman irrigation central control system.

Melbourne With Stage 4 restrictions in Melbourne, the Urban Committee is holding virtual meetings. A working group has been formed to look at opportunities for aligning with Waterwise programs.

South Australia

COVID-19 has meant that there have been significant changes to the way regional committees are holding meetings, with the priorities now on adhering to state COVID-19 rules and ensuring member safety. As a result, committees have been hosting meetings using teleconferencing or online services. Recently, with some states permitting larger group gatherings, we have been looking at obtaining approval for delivery of face-to-face member events. These networking opportunities are vital

As a result of member concerns, the committee is working on clarifying rules around non-drinking water and the use of lilac piping .

Irrigation Australia wrote to the Premier, Minister for Water and Minister for Agriculture seeking a change to the Office of the Technical Regulator (OTR) Guidelines for Non-drinking Water. A meeting will hopefully be organised with the SA Government. We will keep members up to date on the outcomes of these discussions.

New South Wales The Sydney regional committee is changing its focus from water restrictions to other areas of services to our members such as events, engagement with councils and training.

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IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA NEWS PETER TALKS METERS State and territory implementation New South Wales. The first roll-out date in New South Wales is drawing near. By 1 December this year, all surface water pump installations 500 mm and larger must comply with both metering and telemetry requirements (see table).

For information, download the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment media release from the Irrigation Australia website.

Non-urban water metering continues to roll out in the eastern states, and interest in other jurisdictions and the number of CMIs continue to increase. The understanding of metering principles, regulatory requirements and practical issues that arise at installation and validation is improving, especially in New South Wales.

TABLE. TIMETABLE FOR COMPLIANCE WITH METERING AND TELEMETRY REQUIREMENTS IN NSW Stage

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Works covered

Roll-out date

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All new and replacement meters need to comply with the new standards

1

Large works all NSW regions: Surface water pumps 500 mm or larger

1 December 2020

2

Inland northern region: All remaining works that require a meter

1 December 2021

3

Inland southern region: All remaining works that require a meter

1 December 2022

4

Coastal region: remaining works that require a meter

1 December 2023

1 April 2019

New South Wales has made several significant changes in recent months: • The Water Renewal Taskforce was disbanded at the end of June, and responsibility for metering divested to the relevant agencies which include Department of Primary Industries and Environment (DPIE), WaterNSW, and the Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR). This marks a change from the establishment of a task team in 2017 to implement non-urban water metering.

• An updated New South Wales Non-Urban Water Metering Policy was released in June by DPIE. It has refined detail in most existing sections and includes new sections on Local Intelligence Devices (LIDs), telemetry and the Data Acquisition Service (DAS).

• A list of approved loggers and telemetry units has been released and can be downloaded from the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment website The department funded a series of related training events for CMIs which were developed and delivered by Irrigation Australia during June, July and August.

• The text version of the Water Meter Validation Certificate has been replaced by the ‘DQP Portal’ which is a secure website that can be used on a computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. It is now the only means for submitting validation certificates, certificates for the design of new open channel metering equipment and generating a report for transitional arrangements for keeping existing metering equipment.

• The Floodplain Harvesting Measurement Policy 2020 was released and can be downloaded from the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment website. Irrigation Australia has been engaged to develop and deliver training and certification for installers and validators. Enrolment in the Certified Storage Meter Installer and Validator program is now open.

Other jurisdictions. There have been no changes for other jurisdictions.

FIND AN IRRIGATION SPECIALIST If you are looking for an irrigation specialist, then the Irrigation Australia website is your one-stop-shop.

Just type in a postcode and irrigation professionals listed in the area will be shown, along with their contact details.

Code of conduct and complaints procedure Response by CMIs to the Code of Conduct and Complaints Procedure is pleasing with over 90 per cent having signed their agreement. Everyone who completes the training is required to sign both documents before they can be certified. For certification to be renewed, it is a requirement for a CMI to have signed up to both documents.

Enquiries Enquiries have continued to increase. Most are seeking clarification of specific legislative and technical requirements and, with the launch of the DQP Portal in NSW, several inquiries have been received about this. I encourage CMIs to contact me if you encounter issues with the portal as this will help with speedy implementation of improvements.

Training course The training course has continued to experience high levels of demand and is being delivered using virtual technology. With the limits on travel and gatherings due to the continued COVID-19 pandemic, some people have experienced difficulties completing their practical assessments. The training team at Irrigation Australia are keen to work individually with those involved to achieve completion.

News Flow disturbances that affect metering can be confusing.

Irrigation Australia has prepared a factsheet, Understanding Flow Disturbances for Non-Urban Water Meters, for CMIs. Download it from the Irrigation Australia website.

The number of pattern-approved meters continues to grow. For the latest, go to the Irrigation Australia website.

MACE meters – after much effort, MACE has decided not to continue pursuing pattern approval of their AgriFlo XCi water meter. You can read their letter on the Irrigation Australia website.

Information For more information about non-urban meters, contact Peter Phone: 0455 973 780 Email metergovernance@irrigation.org.au Peter Smith, Metering Governance Officer, Irrigation Australia

IAL BOARD DIRECTORS Andrew Ogden (Chairman) Western Irrigation, Bibra Lake WA 6163 P: 08 9434 5678 M: 0411 750 770 E: andrew@westernirrigation.net.au Colin Bendall SunWater, Brisbane 4001 P: 07 3120 0105 M: 0417 700 736 E: collector1930@bigpond.com Peter Brueck Waterwise Consulting, Bangor NSW 2234 M: 0411 425 831 E: peter@wwconsulting.com.au Peter Durand Netafim, Laverton Vic 3028 P: 03 8331 6500 M: 0407 975 401 E: peter.durand@netafim.com Les Olivieri M: 0447 300 531 E: olivieri@bigpond.net.au

John Pivac Vinidex, Virginia Queensland 4014 P: 08 8300 9254 M: 0439 887 971 E: jpivac@vinidex.com.au Simon Treptow Irrigear Stores, Mornington Victoria 3931 P: 03 5976 1588 M: 0438 695 170 E: simon@irrigear.com.au Momir Vranes Ashgrove Queensland 4060 M: 0451 955 215 E: mvranes@hotmail.com Carl Walters Goulburn-Broken Catchment Management Authority, Shepparton Victoria 3632 P: 03 5822 7711 M: 0419 118 237 E: carlw@gbcma.vic.gov.au

CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION POSTPONED As result of the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions on travel and large gatherings of people, Irrigation Australia Conference and Exhibition along with the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage 24th Congress and 71st International Executive Council Meeting have been postponed and will now be held 6 to 12 July 2021.

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IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA NEWS UP CLOSE

From our perspective, all these trends are impacting the Australian economy. To respond to these trends, Wilo believes it has a corporate social responsibility to design the most innovative products to be intelligent and energy efficient, but also to conserve resources and reduce negative effects upon our environment.

IA. What do you think will be the biggest challenge for the irrigation industry in the next couple of years?

We get up close to Kieran Killoran from Wilo in Brisbane and talk to him about his work and perspectives on pumping technology and innovation.

Kieran. Global warming is causing longer drought periods in Australia resulting in falling production and higher costs in our agricultural sector. With records continuing to be broken, for example, November 2019 was one of the driest Novembers on record, the industry is facing a serious challenge. This places a huge responsibility on all stakeholders in the irrigation sector to do their part to support the food supply chain. Wilo want to step up and play our part to support the sector where we can as a premium component supplier.

IA. What is your role with Wilo and how long have you worked in the pump industry?

IA. What was the last book your read and where will your next holiday be?

Kieran. I am the Managing Director of Wilo Australia and am responsible for steering the business towards growth in our current markets, as well as for exploring new markets and territories for niche areas where we can apply products and solutions from our extensive range.

I have worked in the pump Industry since 2006 in Europe and Australia across all sectors of the market, from building services, industrial (OEM and mining) and municipal water and wastewater transport and treatment.

Kieran. My last book was Working with Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman.

It was an interesting take on how an emotionally intelligent organisation can provide high levels of motivation and team cohesion, strengths that can be more important than technical or operational competence.

Unfortunately, because of COVID, I will not be visiting friends and family in Ireland this year or next. We have plans to rent a house and spend time with friends in Noosa for a week over Christmas.

IA. Can you tell us about Wilo and its role in the Australian irrigation sector?

Kieran. Wilo is one of the world’s leading premium European manufacturers of pumps and pump systems. It was founded in 1872 as a copper and brassware factory in Dortmund, Germany; we now have 60 subsidiaries in more than 50 countries. In 2019, we recorded our tenth successive year of record sales, achieving $2.4Billion.

We see our role in the Australian irrigation sector as a solutions provider through selling high efficiency, premium products that will be the lowest cost supplier over a whole life-cycle cost analysis. In other words, we focus on providing the best value to the sector in the long term.

IA. What are the key trends as far as pump innovation and technology are concerned?

Kieran. Wilo has identified six global megatrends, which are globalisation, urbanisation, energy shortage, digital transformation, water shortage and climate change.

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HOW DOES IT WORK? Do you need to check out the finer points of how irrigation valves work? Or maybe it’s how to do a catch can test under centre pivots, or how canal automation works? Check out the irrigation videos page on the Irrigation Australia website (click below).

RAINWATER HARVESTING RAINWATER HARVESTING AUSTRALIA LOOKING TO CONSOLIDATE ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2020-21 Rainwater harvesting has become an important part of how Australian businesses, farmers and homeowners manage their water needs. In fact, the ABS tell us more than one in four Australian homes rely on water from rainwater tanks to supply their households and, at an international level, Australia is the global leader in rainwater harvesting.

This growing importance of rainwater harvesting is one reason for the formation of Rainwater Harvesting Australia (RHA), which is a membership category of Irrigation Australia.

The aim of RHA is to act as a knowledge and guidance provider in urban and regional areas surrounding all-things-rainwater-harvesting.

“Rainwater harvesting’s recognition – with its own section in the code – is a significant move to distinguish it as an important domestic resource. In 2020, RHA hopes to be involved in a research grant, to ensure the consolidation of all rainwater harvesting research into one comprehensive technical guide,” he said From a strategic viewpoint, the committee is working to ensure that water and water management receive a higher priority from policymakers, the building industry and agencies.

“Water needs to get on the agenda, and it deserves the same calibre of attention as energy,” said Mike.

To help with this, RHA has decided to apply to join the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC), a strategic move that will engender progress on a national scale.

In this article, Irrigation Australia talked with RHA committee chair Mike Thompson to find out about what the committee has been up to in 2020 and its priorities for the next 12 months.

Busy year for RHA Mike explained that providing technical and knowledge support is a high priority for the committee.

“An important achievement for RHA is that its Residential Design Specification, a joint initiative with Urban Water Cycle Solutions, is now the ‘go-to’ guideline for above-ground rainwater harvesting systems,” he said.

As a way of identifying issues with installing tanks, the committee took the lead and surveyed installers and service agents. Industry feedback like this, as well as the specification, are important as they help the industry shape the technical information resources it needs to develop to ensure the highest standards are maintained.

“With the survey, our aim was to learn more about perceptions of the industry, as well as identify issues installers and agents have encountered with installations,” Mike explained.

He added that there was still much work to be done around operational concerns, despite the National Construction Code 2019 designating above-ground rainwater systems as ‘low hazard’.

Training and information RHA has identified that training is an important way of ensuring that industry members are aware of standards to do with rainwater tanks and their installation. To help with this, last year it developed a training module that deals with pre-tank, the tank and post-tank care and conditions. This was administered online by Irrigation Australia is can be accessed through its website.

Mike said that RHA is also working on a competency-based rainwater harvesting module that will form part of a Cert III competency. The aim is to have it completed by the end of the year.

Important ways for RHA to reach is members and the general community has been through the establishment of its ‘Rainwater Club Australia’ Facebook page as well as its online presence through the Irrigation Australia website.

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ARTICLE WATERWAY HEALTH AND URBAN DESIGN

The aim of the restoration is to return Little Stringybark Creek to something like this – a waterway in good condition with intact riparian vegetation and minimal erosion.

Photo iStock.com/Akatjomar.

SNAPSHOT • A project in Melbourne on Little Stringybark Creek is providing an understanding of how urban infrastructure and design can affect natural waterways • Runoff from impervious areas connected via gutters, pipes and drains directly to a local waterway is highly destructive of its biology and ecology • Disconnecting this runoff with the use of rainwater tanks, raingardens, leaky tanks and infiltration trenches may allow degraded waterways to recover at least some of their biodiversity and ecological function • As a result of the project’s findings, Yarra Ranges Council has changed stormwater management in the existing urban areas of the creek, and is placing controls on the impacts of new development

Little Stringybark Creek, located 37 km from Melbourne, has an urban catchment of approximately 300 ha at its headwaters and a total catchment of about 800 ha. Development in the catchment is a mix of urban and semi-rural.

The creek is the focus of a project that is providing an understanding of how urban infrastructure and design can affect natural waterways.

Researchers from the University of Melbourne (Walsh et al 2012) have identified that if runoff from impervious areas is connected via gutters, pipes and drains directly to a local waterway, it is highly destructive of the biology and ecology of that waterway. Streams are extremely sensitive to even a tiny proportion (0.5 per cent) of directly connected impervious areas in their catchment. Conversely, if impervious areas are not connected, draining to bushland or gardens or the runoff is being used for household or landscape purposes, the impact is far less.

Conventional practice has been to manage the level of contaminants in stormwater. This project shows there is a much stronger link between the area of directly connected impervious surfaces in a catchment and waterway health.

The research has found that if impervious area runoff can be controlled, using rainwater tanks, raingardens, leaky tanks and infiltration trenches, then degraded waterways may be able to recover at least some of their biodiversity and ecological function.

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What is not immediately clear are the implications of these findings for irrigation from rainwater. On one hand, capturing runoff and using it for irrigation has multiple benefits; it increases the amount of groundwater flow to replicate historical baseflow for local waterways, it removes stormwater volume from the system and it creates new green spaces for cooling, amenity and even food.

On the other hand, irrigation is not always a reliable use of collected water, e.g. in winter, and rainwater tanks should be connected to internal uses such as toilet flushing and hot water systems. In summer there may not be enough rainfall for irrigation, requiring relatively drought-tolerant planting.

Symptomatic of a larger issue Little Stringybark Creek also represents a more widespread urban problem. Infrastructure solutions that only consider one aspect of water management, such as draining water as quickly as possible from streets and buildings, can create unintended consequences in other parts of the urban system.

A systems approach is needed for water cycle management that includes stormwater management in urban areas.

Restoration program A restoration program for the upper part of the Little Stringybark Creek was initiated in 2008 based on evidence showing that stormwater runoff causes severe ecological degradation in the following ways: • much more run-off is delivered more often, causing erosion and channel enlargement and destroying physical habitat • unfiltered runoff is typically of poor quality with high levels of nutrients, sediment and toxicants

• hard surfaces prevent infiltration, potentially starving streams of vital dry weather flows (baseflow).

In the process the researchers found that while they were installing 200 rainwater tanks and 100 raingardens, much of the benefit they were achieving was eclipsed by new urban development in the catchment increasing the directly connected impervious areas they were trying to reduce.

As a result, the local council has decided that not only does it need to change stormwater management in the existing urban areas of the creek, it also needs to control

the impact of new development. Yarra Ranges Council has chosen to do this through an Environmental Significance Overlay and deemed-to-comply controls that encourage rainwater harvesting, raingardens and infiltration trenches to address the impact of impervious areas such as carports, new buildings and extensions of over 10 m2.

The program is the first ever attempt to restore creek health by treating stormwater across an entire catchment. Protecting the natural flow regime of the Little Stringybark Creek and ensuring good water quality are critical to maintaining the biodiversity and ecological processes of this creek, as well as downstream waterways including Port Phillip Bay. Further development, especially drainage from impervious surfaces (roofs, roads and paving), is a threat to the health of the creek.

The objective of the program is to return the ecological function and health of the Little Stringybark Creek to a level consistent with that of a natural stream by encouraging stormwater run-off and water quality entering the creek from new development to achieve: • natural frequency of surface run-off • natural volumes of run-off • natural infiltration rates • natural concentrations of pollutants.

Communities value natural amenity There is considerable research showing that local communities value the ecology and amenity of their local waterways and are willing to pay to protect it. If the research is correct and the practice shows significant restoration of local waterways, we need to see more catchment- and citywide application of these principles.

EQUIPMENT DEALER STEPS UP WITH SUPPORT There are many examples of individuals and businesses reaching out to help communities that have been affected by disasters such as the bushfires that recently ravaged so many areas in Australia.

In November last year destructive bushfires in the NSW Mid North coast region challenged local fire brigades, who recognised that they needed more equipment suited to firefighting.

They enlisted the help of Taree LIONS Club, which approached local Davey Dealer and Irrigear member, Manning Valley Pumps and Irrigation, to help find a solution.

What they came up with was firefighting trailers. So far, they have built and fitted out 10 specially designed trailers, each housing a 5155H Davey FireFighter pump, to help protect the local community well into the future.

Congratulations to Manning Valley Pumps and Irrigation and Taree LIONS for working together on a great initiative.

In a great example of community support, firefighting trailers have been built and fitted out for NSW Mid North Coast fire brigades by Manning Valley Pumps and Irrigation working with the local LIONS Club.

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AROUND INDUSTRY NEW PARTNERSHIP COMBINES SENSORS AND ANALYTICS TO MAXIMISE WATER USE EFFICIENCY CSIRO and Australian agtech company Goanna Ag recently announced a partnership that combines sensors and analytics to maximise the water use efficiency of irrigated crops. This technology, called WaterWise, is an Australian first in that it measures crop water stress and predicts future water needs in real time, providing irrigators with a tool that can help them save water or produce more crop per drop.

Goanna Ag, which produces agricultural sensing systems for water-use efficiency, will be delivering WaterWise’s smart analytics as a data stream to their on-farm customers.

CEO Alicia Garden said that for Goanna Ag and its customers, being involved in this innovation means they can access brand-new, Australian-made, science-based technology and incorporate it into their existing GoField system.

Plants do the talking The WaterWise system lets the plants do the talking with in-field sensors that measure the canopy temperature of crops every 15 minutes. It then sends the data to CSIRO’s sensor data infrastructure, adds in the weather forecast and uses machine learning to apply CSIRO’s unique algorithm to predict the crop’s water requirements for the next seven days.

WaterWise team leader Dr Rose Brodrick explained that predicting the future is the real breakthrough science. It means that for the first time, growers can see the water stress of their crops at any point and predict their future water needs.

When things are normal it’s easier to predict when a plant will need water, but a temptation for irrigators if they are not sure is to just add water. The advantage of using high tech is that water users can be more confident in their decision making because of the data they have access to.

Developing and commercialising this new technology involved a range of skill sets from agronomists to plant physiologists, data and machine learning experts, software engineers, social scientists and innovation specialists. And it was done in record time.

The next steps for WaterWise are to take it from in-field based canopy sensors to drones or satellites.

Goanna Ag expects the system incorporating WaterWise will be commercially available in time for the 2020 summer cropping season.

Source. CSIRO website.

TORO FOUNDATION DONATES TO GLOBAL CORONAVIRUS RELIEF

Above: CSIRO's Dr Rose Brodrick with a prototype WaterWise sensor in tomatoes.

Photo: David Ducros Right: Goanna ag canopy sensor in CSIRO tomato trials near Swan Hill in Victoria.

Photo: Goanna Ag

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In April 2020, The Toro Company announced that was donating $US500,000 through the Toro Foundation to help families and communities worldwide that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding will focus on providing food, health and humanitarian assistance.

“Supporting our customers and communities is an important part of our culture and core to who we are as a company,” said Rick Olson, chairman and chief executive officer of The Toro Company. “Now more than ever, it is critical that we come together to respond to the unprecedented challenges posed by COVID-19 and to support those most vulnerable in our communities.”

The contributions include commitments to several global non-profit organisations that are helping in relief efforts, including the American Red Cross and the International Committee of the Red Cross, Feeding America, the World Food Program, the United Way Worldwide, and United Way organisations in communities where Toro employees live and work.

An additional element of the global giving effort includes a special program for its employees who wish to personally

give to designated COVID-19 relief organisations. Under the program, the company will match employee contributions to a non-profit organisation of their choice in support of relief efforts.

Source: Toro website.

NETAFIM INTEGRATES FLUROSAT'S REMOTE SENSING TECHNOLOGY INTO NETBEAT Earlier this year, Netafim and FluroSat, which specialises in remote field sensing and analytics, announced they had joined forces to integrate FluroSat's data into Netafim’s smart irrigation platform, NetBeat.

As a result of this collaboration, Netafim's customers will have access to advanced crop monitoring tools as a standalone monitoring and analysis service or directly integrated into NetBeat. This wil provide site-specific irrigation recommendations with near-real-time adjustment of irrigation and fertigation quantities based on the current crop condition assessed by Flurosat’s FluroSense agronomic analytics engine.

FluroSense provides data about the performance and the status of the crops, reporting biomass levels, canopy cover, growth stage, and crop development trends for every field or block on a farm. It also enables detection of crop stress stemming from nutrient deficiency, pest, disease or irrigation system issues such as leaks and sends out corresponding alerts.

Following the pilot across a range of crops in Netafim key regions (North America, South America, Australia), FluroSense analytics is being rolled out across the Netafim network and is available to all dealers and customers of Netafim.

Source: Netafim website.

Conrad Odgers and Jodie Wainwright, owners of Think Water Smithton in Tasmania, were recently announced as 2019 winners of the Franchise of the Year Award.

In a significant achievement, they have won the award three years in a row.

TASSIE STORE WINS FRANCHISE AWARD FOR THIRD YEAR RUNNING Think Water Smithton was recently awarded the Australian Think Water Franchise of The Year Award for 2019, which it has now won for three years in a row. The remarkable achievement reflects the commitment business owners Conrad Odgers and Jodie Wainwright have for delivering outstanding customer service, ongoing staff development, excellent business processes and successful partnerships with preferred suppliers.

Tony France from Think Water said that with so many successful businesses competing for the award throughout Australia, the Smithton team has displayed smart business practices and a commitment to the Think Water franchise model, resulting in strong growth.

Conrad and Jodie see their staff as dedicated and valued members of their team and believe they are one of the keys to their success.

Staff turnover in the business is minimal and those who have left for personal reasons want to come back and be part of the Think Water Smithton team.

In the last 18 months, Conrad and Jodie have taken on the challenge of opening a new store in Spreyton, around 1.5 hours drive from the Smithton store. While this expansion means running two businesses under the Think Water franchise model, this has not affected their ability to deliver professional services for their customers.

The business has added new markets including centre pivot supply and installation to their growing portfolio of water management projects such as stock watering, solar-powered pump systems and effluent management.

Jodie and Conrad believe the support they receive from the National Support Team in the form of business coaching, systems and marketing has greatly improved their business and has been very useful for solving everyday issues.

Thinking about joining Think Water?

“The marketing program, shared knowledge, business systems and support that are offered

by Think Water, have been crucial in allowing us to grow our business to the level we are now. Think Water’s support services allow us to focus our expertise on looking after or customers.”

Jodie & Conrad Think Water Smithton & Cradle Coast

www.thinkwater.com.au/franchise

THE BIG ISSUE AUDIT RECOMMENDS CHANGES TO BUYBACK PROCESS SNAPSHOT • The Australian National Audit Office released its audit of the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment’s strategic purchases of water for the environment from 2016 to 2019 • The audit found that strategic purchases of water through limited tender did contribute to the government’s target for recovering water for the environment • It also found that there were issues with the department not consistently applying approved procedures when assessing limited tender procurements • The department has accepted all four recommendations made to improve the process for buying water entitlements, to better manage conflicts of interest, and to evaluate the benefits and whether purchases are value for money

Think of the Murray-Darling Basin and straight away, it is possible to associate big issues with it. One of these big issues is the way water is procured by government for environmental purposes. In July this year, the Australian National Audit Office released its performance audit into the procurement of water in the Murray-Darling Basin and made four recommendations.

Why the audit?

To ensure that water is available to support the health of rivers, wetlands and floodplains in the Murray-Darling Basin, the Australian Government buys water entitlements through the Sustainable Rural Water Use Infrastructure Program (SRWUIP). The SRWUIP is managed by the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DWAE).

In 2016, ministerial approval was given for the department to procure water entitlements directly from sellers through limited tender arrangements. The audit examined 27 transactions by the department totalling $190 million to procure water under these limited tender arrangements. The reason for the audit was to assure Parliament and the community that the purchases were planned for, executed properly and achieved value for money.

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What did the audit find?

The audit made a several findings about the procurement of water entitlements by the department.

The good news is that strategic purchases of water through limited tender did contribute to the government’s target for recovering water for the environment.

The bad news is that “the arrangements in place to support these procurements were not fully effective”.

While the way the program was designed was largely appropriate, the auditor-general identified that it was unclear how the department determined the strategic priority in buying individual entitlements and whether it considered how to encourage competition in the limited tender process.

Instances of not adhering to procedures were also identified. In particular, the auditor-general found that the department “did not consistently apply approved policy, planning and guidance to the assessment of all limited tender procurements”. There was an issue with delegations to enter contracts not being clearly outlined.

The department also did not evaluate the water recovery strategy, in part to identify whether the purchases of entitlement were effectively contributing to achieving the aims of the strategy. Related to this was the fact that the department did not have a framework designed to maximise value for money. Rather it “relied on a methodology of valuations where gap-bridging water was required. The price the department paid for water entitlements was equal to or less than the maximum price determined by valuations. The department only negotiated price for one procurement”.

Recommendations Four recommendations were made by the auditor-general, all of which were agreed to by the department.

• The DAWE review and update internal procurement guidance to ensure delegations are accurately identified in approval briefs.

• The DAWE develop assurance mechanisms for procurement processes to ensure all necessary documentation is completed and documented in a timely manner before execution of contracts.

• The SAWE review and update arrangements for managing real or perceived conflicts of interest including assurance mechanisms to ensure these are consistently implemented and communicated.

• The DAWE implement a framework which requires the development of evaluation strategies early in the program design process and regular monitoring and review throughout the lifecycle.

FAST FACTS: THE MURRAY-DARLING BASIN • it is home to about 2.6 million Australians • it supports the production of $22 billion of food and fibre per year • it supports 120 waterbird species, 46 native fish species and 16 internationally recognised and protected wetlands • the Basin Plan 2012 (the Basin Plan) sets limits on the amount of water available for urban, industrial and agricultural use to ensure the ongoing health and resilience of the environment • the target for recovering surface water for environmental purposes is 2075 GL; at the end of last year, 47 GL was left to be recovered.

Provide valuable soil moisture data to better manage irrigations – saving water, power, fertiliser and time, while increasing yields and quality.

The Murray-Darling Basin catchments

Source. Murray-Darling Basin Authority website Accessed 5 August 2020.

Information For information and to download the audit report go to the Australian National Audit Office website.

Become a dealer

sentek.com.au

1800 736 835

ARTICLE FUTURE-PROOFING WESTERN AUSTRALIA’S SOUTH-WEST The Southern Forests region around Manjimup and Pemberton is one of Western Australia’s most significant horticultural regions, however, climate change is expected to limit future water availability under current water management practices. To support the sustainability and expansion of the region, the Southern Forests Irrigation Scheme (SFIS) will provide a new, innovative way to secure reliable, good quality water supply all year round by improving water storage and distribution through a new dam, pipeline and pumping infrastructure. Jeremy Bower, CEO of the SF Irrigation Co-operative (SFIC), describes the project.

The Southern Forests region is one of Western Australia's most significant horticultural production regions.

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Western Australia’s Manjimup-Pemberton area is one of the state’s prime food hubs and is the largest economic contributor from irrigated agriculture. It is predicted, however, that this area will be one of the hardest hit by climate change, with models projecting rainfall could decline by up to 25 per cent in coming decades. In fact, the area is already receiving less rain than in the past.

Currently, farmers capture and store water in dams for irrigation during summer. However, rainfall and inflow to dams are highly variable in some areas, and water quality can be poor at the end of the irrigation season. As well, limited access to good dam sites in some locations has constrained the growth of the irrigation industry in the region. This current system of water capture also means that water cannot be shared with other growers and put it to its most productive use.

To droughtproof the region’s horticultural water supply and to expand its potential as a supplier of quality fruit and vegetables to domestic and international markets, the SFIS is being developed by the SFIC in partnership with the State Government.

The SFIS was originally proposed under the previous State Government’s Water for Food program and offers the opportunity to supply water in a model that fits with the National Water Initiative and to stimulate economic investment. Its oversight moved to the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) under the current Labor Government, and in June 2017 the SFIC was established to lead the project development and will own and operate it once completed.

The scheme received funding from the State Government, from the Federal Government’s National Water Infrastructure Development Fund, and from local growers via the first round of water sales.

Designing the SFIS: taking inspiration from Tasmania While on-stream or gully dams are commonly used to manage water in agricultural regions in Western Australia, the State Government wanted a more sustainable method that would protect the region’s agricultural industry, as well as the environment. In 2015-16, various options were assessed including building bigger dams in some of the subcatchments and approaching farmers to sell their excess water to those dams. However, these options proved to be unviable.

According to Jeremy, this led to the government taking inspiration from a solution in Tasmania.

“Tasmania has now built fifteen irrigation schemes where a major water source, such as a river, has been linked to a pipe network to deliver water to farms in certain districts.

These schemes have been very successful in terms of increasing productivity and being sustainable. Tasmanian Irrigation assisted the Western Australian State Government to assess the potential for a scheme in the Southern Forests region, including completing a business case that clearly demonstrated that the region could support a similar scheme and would bring significant economic benefit to the south-west,” Jeremy said.

“Over the past three years, there have been extensive environmental surveys, catchment modelling and monitoring, and environmental flow studies to ensure first and foremost that the environment is not adversely affected by the scheme now and into the future.”

The SFIS takes account of the unique requirements and environment of the region and includes a reservoir that will be built about 3 km from the river source. Studies were completed for the location of the reservoir and pipe network, and expressions of interest for water purchase were sent to

the local farming community to determine water demand and the likely scale of the scheme.

While demand totalled more than 11 GL of water, this was subsequently reduced to 9.3 GL by the Department of Water to reduce cost. Following this, reliability studies were done to ensure that the scheme would be sustainable over dry periods. The result was a 15 GL dam and approximately 250 km of pipeline to more than 90 farms.

“We have approximately 1.7 GL of water available for future sale, which if sold, would create a scheme that delivers water to over 100 farms in the district,” Jeremy said.

There have been some concerns around water trading but the rules and system being implemented for the SFIS do not permit water investor or speculator involvement. It is necessary to be a member of the SFIC to participate in this scheme, and to become a member people must be a landholder (lessee) or own a farm in the scheme district, with appropriate plans for agricultural use.

“We have approximately 1.7 GL of water available for future sale, which if sold, would create a scheme that delivers water to over 100 farms in the district.”

“It's taken a little bit for people to understand but being able to pipe water between properties is actually one of the most sustainable parts of a water scheme. If farmer A doesn’t require all their water allocation for the business for one year or even over a certain number of years, instead of that water sitting in an on-stream dam, or being lost out of the system, they could reduce costs and sell the water to a neighbour for agricultural use. This method ensures water is always put to its highest productive use and not wasted,” explained Jeremy.

“It's not about making money trading water, it’s recognising that water is becoming an increasingly scarce resource and we need to get smarter about how we manage it. It's about providing the most efficient system to ensure the provision of good quality, reliable water for a really important Western Australian food producing region.”

The pumps bringing water to farms The proposed water supply system for the SFIS, developed after feedback from community and key stakeholders, is designed to minimise direct impact on the river and its riparian vegetation. For example, the headworks have been re-designed to use submersible pumps next to a deep pool created by a natural rock bar instead of building a weir across the river, which would have created a large inundation area flooding vegetation. In addition, the pump

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ARTICLE stations have been separated to reduce the footprint at the river by around 80 per cent.

The harvest pump site at the river will use a set of five to seven submersible pumps housed in a concrete wet-well capable of pumping up to 200 ML per day. These pumps will be connected to a 3 ML balance tank at a boost-pump station located about 100 m from the river in a soundproof shed. The water will then be pumped via a set of seven to nine variablespeed-drive, end-suction pumps through a 3 km pipeline to the 15 GL reservoir in the Record Brook gully.

At the dam, a distribution pump set containing eight horizontal, variable-speed-drive pumps will be installed, which will move water to header tanks located at the highest points through separate northern and southern delivery lines.

The water will then be gravity fed through a 250 km pipeline network to the SFIC farmers.

Jeremy said the proposed system requires significant pumping infrastructure as the scheme will only take water from the river during large flows mainly through the winter months and only when the minimum flow threshold (set by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation) has been exceeded. These extraction rates are important to ensure that water is only taken within permitted river flow criteria so that environmental flow is not impacted.

“Submersible pumps have been used in Tasmanian schemes and have clearly demonstrated their low environmental impact and their water harvest capability when high river flow rates occur during narrow seasonal windows,” Jeremy said.

“This new design, with the submersibles and using a natural rock bar to provide adequate suction depth really reduces our footprint, as well as noise and visual impact.”

The SFIC has worked closely with river ecologists from DWER, as well as independent scientists and expert panels to ensure the minimum flow restrictions before pumping are correct and to ensure the river ecosystem is maintained.

Monitoring stream flow To adhere to the strict pumping controls and to accurately measure and record stream flow for pump station control, the SFIS is investigating options for state-of-the-art monitoring equipment. The investigation is in the early stages, but the chosen equipment will have the level of accuracy required by DWER and is a condition of the water abstraction licence.

Finalising the design and the tender process Working with farmers has been important throughout the design process, with the design and pipe network ultimately controlled by their requirements and their knowledge of the region.

“We are currently working with local landholders along the proposed construction corridor to finalise the alignment for

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the infrastructure. Farmers’ local knowledge has been used to complete the design. Knowing where there's a high point or a low point or a wet spot or something that is better to avoid is invaluable,” Jeremy said.

Before COVID-19 restrictions, the SFIC team was visiting landholders to ground-truth the alignment of the pipeline with farmers; consultations are now online, a process that is working well.

“We've got alignment maps drawn up and we’re sending those by email. Farmers are marking them up and we'll ground-truth them when restrictions are lifted,” Jeremy said.

Along with community consultations, other preliminary work is being done including completing preliminary design of the dam and second stage geotechnical work. Earlier this year, DPIRD tendered and awarded a contract to complete these works.

The SFIC planned to have these field investigations completed before the start of winter, but COVID-19 impacts on intrastate travel has lengthened the schedule.

If these field and design tasks can be completed in the expected timeframe, the SFIC is expecting to release tender documents early in the first quarter of 2021.

Jeremy said two main tenders are expected to be advertised, with the project being run as design and construct contracts.

The project works will be split into two D&C contracts, with the dam works separate to the pumps and pipelines. The SFIC is currently looking at the various tender requirements, including the desired performance and duty cycles, but this process is subject to approvals and environmental reviews confirming sustainability of the scheme.

The SFIC is hoping to engage local suppliers and contractors, or those based in Western Australia. However, the two head contractors will need Federal Safety Accreditation, so key suppliers will need to engage with those tendering for the work and to be part of the bid teams.

The names of companies tendering for the work will be posted on the SFIC website so suppliers and subcontractors know who to approach. Ultimately, the contracts will be awarded to companies that can demonstrate they can complete works that will deliver the water and operate the scheme most efficiently. Once the head contractors are selected, notification will be posted on the website.

Information For more information about the Southern Forests Irrigation Scheme and to keep up to date with the project, visit the

website.

Acknowledgment. Thanks to Pump Industry magazine for allowing Irrigation Australia journal to publish this article.

Lauren Cella, Pump Industry Magazine

STATE ROUNDUP NEW FLOODPLAIN HARVESTING POLICY FOR NSW

In July, the New South Wales Government announced its Floodplain Harvesting Measurement Policy, which sets out a pathway for measuring, monitoring and licensing water captured during flood events in large on-farm storages.

As a result, all floodplain harvested water directly used or collected and impounded in on-farm storages will be measured in New South Wales.

The policy was announced against a background of discontent from floodplain graziers as well as southern Murray-Darling Basin irrigators, who believe that water harvesting in the north of the basin was severely affecting their allocations.

The NSW Government estimates that water privately captured during flood events constitutes as much as 35 per cent of the overall surface take in the Northern Basin and said the policy is an attempt to manage flood water more equitably.

According to the government, unmanaged floodplain harvesting has "had significant cumulative negative impacts on Aboriginal culture and traditional practices, non-irrigated agricultural production, downstream communities and provision of ecological services".

All water storages fed by floodplain harvesting with a capacity of more than 1000 ML must be metered by 1 July next year, and smaller storages by 1 July 2022.

This means that New South Wales is the first Australian state to measure and license privately impounded floodwaters that otherwise would have flowed downstream in the rivers of the Murray Darling system. The policy will initially apply to the five northern NSW Murray–Darling Basin valleys: Border Rivers, Gwydir, Namoi, Barwon–Darling and Macquarie valleys.

Above: New South has announced its policy on floodplain harvesting, which will affect New South Wales owners of 92 per cent of on-farm water storages in the Murray Darling Basin's Northern Basin. Photo.

NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment.

The pressure is now on the other MDB states to follow suit.

Farmers will pay for meters to be installed by a certified installer and telemetry meters will feed near real-time information directly to the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment - Water. Irrigation Australia will be responsible for providing training for and certifying meter installers.

Information For information about the policy go to New South Wales Department of Planning, Industry and Environment website.

For information about certified meter installer training, go to Irrigation Australia website.

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CONTRACTORS’ CORNER SUCCESSFUL TAKE-OFF FOR AIRPORT IRRIGATION INSTALLATION Brisbane irrigation company TIS recently completed the design and installation of a pumping and irrigation system at Brisbane Airport, as part of a new runway development.

By anyone’s estimation, the project was a major one that included installing 3800 above-ground sprinklers, more than 100 km of pipework and a 105 L/sec Grundfos pump station. We spoke to Brett Peel, owner of TIS, to find out about the job.

IA. What was the background to the job and how long did it take to complete?

Brett. Early design of the irrigation works started about twelve months before breaking ground on site. While the lead time was long, it was what would normally be expected for a landmark project of this type. From project award and start of design and offsite fabrication, the project period was just over two years.

IA. What equipment was used, particularly during installation?

Brett. The project used a dedicated 4 ML irrigation dam next to which we installed a Grundfos MPC variable-speed pump station. As the pumping system was a critical component of the project, it was housed in a 12 m shipping container with the pump set, controls, filtration and metering system all fitted off site and delivered ready to plug and play.

The pumping system was fitted off-site in a shipping container and delivered ready to plug and play.

Once the pump was in place, a 400 mm suction line was connected to the pump station power supply and we were able to provide water to the site within two days. Buttwelded HDPE up to 400 mm was used in our mainline layout with Toro P220 solenoid valves and VYRSA impact sprinklers used throughout the site at the pointy end of the system.

IA. What were the key issues that you had to consider when designing the job?

Brett. As most of the areas to be irrigated were either seeded or stolonised, it was extremely important that we were able provide reliable irrigation when and where it was needed.

A successful take off for a new runway development at Brisbane Airport that included a significant irrigation installation.

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Uniformity of coverage was a key consideration, and one of the things we had to consider when designing the project was the airport’s very windy, open site next to Moreton Bay. We were also very mindful of selecting equipment and materials that were high quality and low maintenance that provided excellent manufacturer support. Our key project partners in Grundfos, Toro and Iplex Pipelines were able to provide the major components to fill the requirements of TIS and our client.

IA. This was a complex job. What were the key skills required of your staff and how were they different from traditional skills?

Brett. We have what I think are some very talented people at TIS and we were able to select the team best suited to this type and scope of project.

With system efficiency, the incoming effluent water supply was limited and the pumping system was powered by a large dedicated generator so we were very aware that water and energy efficiency was an important factor to consider in our system design and product selection. As certified irrigation designers, we consider system efficiency in all our designs and in this project we achieved this by the properly sizing the large mainline network around the 4 km long site, uniform sprinkler placement and the use of a correctly sized multi-pump, variable-speed pumping system. We were able to provide accurate daily forecasts of next day water use which were always within the allowance volume window and generator fuel costs were reduced over the length of the project.

Equipment was set up so that there was a mainline buttwelding production line on site.

FROZEN IN TIME The new runway was opened in July this year, and to commemorate the event Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) had a time capsule installed so Queenslanders could look back at the significance of this historic moment.

Sprinkler stations in place and ready for action.

IA. What were the key issues you had to manage when installing the job?

Brett. Ensuring we were able to build the system and provide irrigation as required by the planting program while coordinating with a large project team of other contractors was a big issue and something that required a lot of oversight. There was never a dull moment working between civil, runway pavement, lighting and control system contractors over a very large, busy site that had a project deadline that was not moving!

That said, the project ran incredibly smoothly despite one of the driest, extended weather conditions experienced in South-East Queensland and was completed on time with a very successful outcome and, most importantly, a very happy client.

BAC CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff said that the time capsule was a small but significant way for community members to participate in the celebrations for the opening, while providing future generations with a glimpse of life in the year 2020, when it is opened in 50 years’ time.

One of the sprinklers used in the project was included in the time capsule.

Brett said that it was a fantastic experience to be part of the development and to have successfully planned and built such a large-scale water project.

“To have our contribution recognised by BAC in this small way is sincerely appreciated. I have made my two daughters promise me that in fifty years’ time they will be there when the capsule is opened to get our sprinkler back!” he said.

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ARTICLE CALCULATING READILY AVAILABLE WATER Scheduling irrigation requires an understanding of how much water the soil can hold and how much of that water the crop can use. The amount of readily available water (RAW) will vary with soil type, crop, rooting depth and irrigation system.

This article describes a six-stage process to calculate the volume of RAW in cropping soils.

RAW explained

Step 1. Dig a hole. Dig a hole in the root zone of the crop.

For perennial crops, dig under the canopy in an area watered by the irrigation system. Try to dig to 1 m or at least 30 cm past the main root zone (where the fibrous roots are).

Step 2. Identify the effective root zone. The effective root zone is where the main mass of roots is found. This is typically one- to two-thirds of the depth of the deepest roots.

Water in the soil that is easily extracted by the plant is called readily available water. To schedule irrigation with confidence that the crop is being given enough water it is important to understand how much of the water the soil can hold that is available to the crop.

A plant's roots get the water it needs to grow and produce a crop from the surrounding soil. This water is held by the soil with increasing strength as the soil dries out. This makes it harder for the plant to get the water and therefore affects its growth.

The relationship between crop stress and the amount of water held in the soil is show in Figure 1.

The effective root zone of a citrus tree can be seen in the top 30 cm of the soil.

Figure 1. The relationship between soil water and crop stress.

Some crops, such as irrigated pasture, citrus, bananas, avocados and low-chill stone fruit, develop a mass of shallow roots with only a few roots penetrating deeper into the soil.

Some key terms relating to RAW are field capacity and refill point: • field capacity is the maximum amount of water a soil can hold after drainage • refill point is when the plant has used all readily available water.

Beyond refill point, as the soil dries out, the plant needs to work harder to extract water, stressing the crop. The area between field capacity and refill point is called readily available water — water in the soil that is easily extracted by the plant.

Unless the aim is to stress a crop, e.g. with deficit-irrigated wine grapes, always try to maintain RAW.

Calculating RAW: six steps The amount of RAW varies with soil type, crop, rooting depth and irrigation system.

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Step 3. Identify different soil layers. If there are different soil layers within the effective root zone, measure the depth of each of these in metres.

Figure 2. Fibrous roots, which comprise the effective root zone, may only extend a third as far as the deepest roots

Step 4. Identify gravel/stone in each layer. Stone and gravel reduce the amount of water that can be held by a soil. A very stony soil will hold much less water than the same soil without stones.

Sieving shows the proportions of stone and gravel in soi

Grab three good handfuls of soil and, using a 2 mm sieve, remove all stone and gravel. Place the pile of stones and gravel next to the pile of soil and visually estimate the proportions of each (for example, 60 per cent stone and 40 per cent soil).

4. Select the crop water tension group from the table and identify the RAW value for each soil texture layer (mm/m).

5. Reduce the RAW figure(s) by the percentage of stone/ gravel in the soil.

6. Multiply the thickness of each soil layer by its adjusted RAW value.

7. Add up the RAW for each soil layer to obtain the total root zone RAW.

Example calculation A citrus crop growing in a sandy loam soil containing 20 per cent stone, with an effective root depth of 300 mm and a strategy to irrigate at 40 kPa would be calculated as follows: From the table, the RAW for a sandy loam soil at 40kPa = 60 mm/m.

As the soil contains 20 per cent stone, reduce the RAW by 20 per cent. To do this, multiply by 0.8.

Adjusted RAW = 60 mm/m x 0.8 = 48 mm/m.

Hence, for a rooting depth of 300 mm Total root zone RAW = 48 mm/m x 0.3m = 14.4 mm.

If the irrigation system wets the entire cropped area, use this figure (RAW mm) to schedule irrigations.

If the system is drip or micro-spray, which does not wet the entire cropped area, convert RAW mm to RAW L. See WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

Step 5. Identify soil texture(s). Identify the texture of each soil layer within the effective root zone. The amount of water held by a soil and available to a plant varies with texture (see table). For example, a loamy soil can hold more readily available water than a sand.

Soil texture can be assessed in the field by the feel of a moist soil sample when worked between your thumb and forefinger.

Step 6. Calculate RAW. To calculate RAW, do the following: 1. Identify the depth of the effective root zone.

2. Identify the depth of different soil layers within the effective root zone.

3. Determine the soil texture and percentage stone/gravel of each Forming a ribbon with moist soil layer. helps identify soil texture Water tension (0 kPa at saturation point)

To –20 kPa Water-sensitive crops such as vegetables and some tropical fruits

Soil texture

website.

Acknowledgment This article was originally produced by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia. Available at their website.

To –40 kPa Most fruit crops and table grapes, most tropical fruits

To –60 kPa Lucerne, perennial pastures, crops such as maize and soybeans, wine grapes (except where partial root zone drying is being practised on wine grapes)

To –100 kPa Annual pastures and hardy crops such as cotton, sorghum and winter crops

Readily Available Water (mm/m)

Sand

30

35

35

40

Loamy sand

45

50

55

60

Sandy loam

45

60

65

70

Loam

50

70

85

90

Sandy clay loam

40

60

70

80

Clay loam

30

55

65

80

Light clay

25

45

55

70

SPRING 2020

39

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CERT III HELPS WITH IRRIGATION CAREER Michael Wallace works as a senior irrigation installer with TIS in Brisbane where he is involved in installing large commercial and civil irrigation projects such as sporting fields, golf courses and landscaping jobs. These projects can also include installing tanks and pumps and related construction jobs.

Michael recently completed his Certificate III in Irrigation Technology, and we spoke with him about his experience of the course and why he decided to enrol.

IA. Can you tell us about the course?

Michael. I completed the Cert III in Irrigation earlier this year.

It involved two weeks in class block sessions to go over the various modules. In these sessions we learnt the basics and practical side of what was to be covered in the modules and assessments. Assessments were done both online through the Irrigation Australia portal and in the field.

IA. Have you done any online courses before?

Michael. I have done some before but none this large.

IA. What was it about the course and the online presentation that you found helped you or contributed to it being a positive experience?

Michael. Both the way the modules were set out and great teacher in class made it easy to pick things up and get them to stick. If I didn’t understand at first there was no negative pressure, rather we were able to slowly work through material at our own pace.

IA. What was it about the course and the online presentation that you found hardest to adapt to or manage?

Michael. There wasn’t anything I found that hard to adapt or manage. It all made sense and flowed very well.

IA. How useful will what you learned be in your job?

Michael. After years in the industry, it was good to finally get some formal qualifications in my field, which will help me advance into next stage of my career. Everything I learned

40

in the course was very helpful, especially the plan side of things.

IA. What advice would you give to someone who was tossing up whether to sign up for a course using Irrigation Australia’s virtual classroom?

Michael. My only advice would be do it. You won’t find a better organisation to gain your qualifications through, from the time you enquire about the course right up until you get your certificate and beyond. They are there for support and help in any way and the virtual classroom is so easy to use and manage.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CALENDAR Irrigation Australia’s range of nationally accredited courses and qualifications are designed to provide you with the right skills and knowledge to pursue a career in the irrigation industry. All sessions are delivered over half days and accessible from the convenience of your own office or home no matter where you live.

13 and 14 Irrigation Efficiency https://www.irrigationaustralia.com.au/ training/training-courses/irrigation-efficiency

20 to 23 Urban Irrigation Design https://www.irrigationaustralia. com.au/training/training-courses/urban-irrigation-design

27 to 30 Commercial Irrigation Design https://www.irrigationaustralia. com.au/training/training-courses/commercial-irrigationdesign

November 17 and 18 Certificate III in Irrigation Technology (November intake)

About Certificate III in Irrigation Technology

Online sessions mean you can now access training from the convenience of your own office or home, no matter where you live.

If you are interested in or are already working as an irrigation installer, operator, retailer or technician for residential, commercial or agriculture industries, this course is the one for you. Irrigation Australia’s training team provides an indepth irrigation training program which is assessed against nationally recognised competencies towards Certificate III in Irrigation Technology AHC32419 (Trade Level). The program also engages subject matter experts for specialised topics such as hydraulics, troubleshooting and basic irrigation design, to name a few.

Interested in finding out more about the Certificate III in Irrigation technology? Go to the Irrigation Australia website.

Take a look at the topics being delivered over the coming months.

September 17 and 18 Certificate III in Irrigation Technology (September Intake) https://www.irrigationaustralia.com.au/training/trainingcourses/certificate-iii-in-irrigation-technology

22 to 24 Meter Installation and Validation (includes Certification) https://www.irrigationaustralia.com.au/training/trainingcourses/meter-installation-and-validation

29 and 30 Irrigation Installer (September intake, includes Certification) https://www.irrigationaustralia.com.au/training/trainingcourses/irrigation-installer

October 1 and 2

Certificate IV in Irrigation Management This qualification is designed for people who are looking to acquire the technical and supervisory skills and knowledge required to operate as supervisors and specialists in the irrigation industry. It applies to irrigation installation site managers and managers of irrigation systems in the irrigation servicing, horticulture and agriculture industries.

Interested in finding out more about the Certificate IV in Irrigation Management? Go to the Irrigation Australia

website.

Certificate III in Irrigation Technology (October intake)

SPRING 2020

41

ARTICLE MURRAY-DARLING BASIN WATER MARKETS IN NEED OF MAJOR CHANGES Water markets in the Murray-Darling Basin need major changes to allow for open, fair and efficient water trading that benefits water users, communities and the economy, the ACCC has found.

The ACCC’s interim report for its Murray-Darling Basin Water Markets Inquiry, finds that the $1.5 billion-a-year basin water markets have outgrown the frameworks that govern them, and that change is needed for a market of this scale to operate efficiently and for the benefit of industries that depend on it.

The report sets out the ACCC’s preliminary views on the basin’s water markets, including the issues it has identified and potential options for addressing them.

“Water trading has brought substantial benefits to water users across the Murray-Darling Basin, including by allowing irrigators to manage the amount of water they use , to earn income by selling excess water or their water rights, and to release capital to invest in their businesses,” ACCC Deputy Chair Mick Keogh said.

“However, these markets have significant problems.

In basic terms, there is overly fragmented or complex regulation in some areas, not enough regulation in others, and a concerning lack of regulatory oversight and robust enforcement in important areas.”

“This has led to a lack of trust in the markets among many water users and has undoubtedly reduced the benefits generated by those markets.”

“These problems exacerbate distrust when water is scarce or when demand is increasing. They make a difficult situation worse,” Mr Keogh said.

The ACCC has identified problems in several key areas, particularly with the current governance arrangements for the Basin’s water markets.

A significant issue is that a range of different bodies oversee water markets in the Basin under different legal frameworks. Roles and responsibilities overlap in some areas, while leaving significant gaps in others.

“The Basin’s water markets, and the bodies that oversee and interact with them, operate in a complex, fragmented and inconsistent system,” Mr Keogh said.

“To make real and lasting improvements, we need to rethink how these water markets are governed.”

Integrity of markets must be improved The ACCC says the integrity of water markets also needs improving, with insufficient regulatory oversight of some market participants, including brokers and investors.

Water brokers, exchange platforms and other intermediaries have no industry-specific regulation, meaning brokers’ roles are often unclear and their interests can diverge from those of their clients.

There are very few rules to prevent market manipulation or similar conduct, and no regulator charged with monitoring trading behaviour in water markets.

Potential responses include a licensing scheme operated at the Federal or Basin State level for brokers and other intermediaries, or extending the financial regulation framework to all water products.

Appointing a single regulator to oversee trade in Basin markets, similar to arrangements in place in the financial services or energy markets, could also help address these issues, the ACCC says.

Lack of transparency is compounding problems A lack of transparency in the markets is also an issue for water users.

Different record keeping by different states and

42

trade processes mean participants cannot get a full, timely or accurate picture of water trading, and the same information is not available to all water market participants, the ACCC has observed.

Information crucial to the business decision-making of irrigators and traders, such as allocation policies and river operations policy, is not always well communicated or easy for users to access.

The ACCC says market transparency could be boosted through practical measures such as the use of standardised identifiers across the Basin, like ABNs.

Trade rules may not reflect physical constraints Increased trade and the resulting changing patterns of water delivery and use are creating new challenges for the management of the river system, its infrastructure, and the environment.

The rules and operational frameworks that manage the trade and delivery of water may not always reflect the physical realities of the river system, particularly in the Southern Basin.

The ACCC says delivery risk, conveyance loss and storage limitations need to be properly reflected in trade rules, and where limitations exist, mechanisms are needed to efficiently manage these.

“It is clear that the Basin’s markets need decisive and comprehensive reform,” Mr Keogh said.

“There are many problems, but we do not believe that dismantling existing water markets is the answer. This would mean farmers, communities and the Australian economy would miss out on the substantial benefits these markets provide.”

“The Murray-Darling Basin’s water is a precious and often scarce resource. Water trading has the potential to ensure this resource is used to its greatest benefit, particularly for irrigators, but this can only happen if markets are efficient and fair and are underpinned by an environmentally healthy river system,” Mr Keogh said.

The full interim report, including a list of options for feedback, is available at Murray-Darling Basin water markets inquiry.

Background On 8 August 2019, the Federal Government directed the ACCC to undertake a public inquiry into the MurrayDarling Basin water markets.

The ACCC was asked to recommend options to enhance markets for tradeable water rights, including options to enhance their operations, transparency, regulation, competitiveness and efficiency.

As part of the inquiry, the ACCC released an issues paper in October 2019 and held 10 public forums to hear directly from stakeholders across the Basin.

The final report will be provided to the Government by 30 November 2020.

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)

Members: AU $85.00 (incl GST)

Plus postage

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.

ARTICLE HOW WATER IS USED IN THE MURRAY-DARLING BASIN SNAPSHOT

• leave their water un-used, which means it stays in the dam and returns to the state’s pool for re-allocation.

• Water is allocated to irrigators in the Murray-Darling Basin by state governments, who have their own licences and set of rules

Carrying water over

• Irrigators decide how to use their allocation, i.e. irrigate, store, trade or leave unused.

• Bulk sharing arrangement in the southern basin are set by the authority • Water accounting over the long term is based on sustainable diversion limits

Debate and dispute have surrounded management and use of water in the MurrayDarling Basin for some time, with droughts, changing crop types and climate change serving to increase this pressure on policy makers and water users.

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority has provided a simple explanation of how water is used by and allocated to the many different agricultural industries in the in the basin.

Not all water allocated to an irrigator is used. Some water is saved by individuals for the next water season—this means they have water in reserve.

Carrying water over is based on individual business needs and license types. Not all licences allow for water to be carried over.

This water is considered ‘unused’, but that does not mean it is available for re-allocation. It is still owned by the irrigator.

Water sharing, allocations and accounts – different systems Bulk water sharing arrangements in the southern Basin are set by the Murray-Darling Basin Agreement, which provides the rules for sharing arrangements between NSW, Victoria and South Australia.

Each state has developed its own set of licences and rules around how to allocate the state’s share of water to their entitlement holders. This means allocations, water orders and delivery of water all work in a different way from state to state and will continue to do so.

Water allocation Water is allocated to irrigators based on water availability and rules set out by different Basin governments. Each state has developed its own set of licences and rules around how to allocate water to their entitlement holders. This means allocations, water orders and delivery of water all work in a different way from state to state.

Some entitlements are more reliable than others, meaning some entitlement holders receive an allocation most years, while other allocations are more variable depending on rules and rainfall.

Water can be used, stored, traded or reallocated When water is allocated to irrigators by their state authority, it is up to individuals to determine how they use their water, based on their own business needs. Irrigators can choose to: • use their allocation on their farm • trade all or some of their allocation to another water user • buy an allocation off another water user and use that water for their farm • save water for the next irrigation year – this is called carryover (some licence types limit whether water can be carried over)

44

The sustainable diversion limits (SDL) water accounting system monitors water trends over the long-term, importantly this is not the system used for allocations, water sharing between the states, or daily river operations.

The SDL water accounting system ensures states remain on-track over the long term regarding their water use and assists water managers to consider future trends and demands. The SDL accounting system does not focus on individual water users and water deliveries.

Allocations, use and carryover State governments allocate water to entitlement holders as per their allocation frameworks. Some entitlements are more reliable than others, meaning some entitlement holders receive an allocation most years, while other allocations are more variable

Bulk water supply

States provide water use data to the MDBA annually for assessment.

The MDBA assesses water use over multiple years to determine trends in use and compliance with limits

State

Allocation 20 ML

The MDBA calculates the amount of water available in the River Murray and provides NSW, VIC and SA with an agreed share (based on the MDB Agreement)

It is up to individual irrigators to decide what they do with their allocation

Trade $

Carryover – Some irrigators choose to store water for use the following year, based on their business needs and their license type

Use 20 ML

Allocation 15 ML

Use 5 ML

Carryover 10 ML

Allocation 7 ML

Use 11 ML

Carryover 6 ML

No previous allocation carried over

Carryover 10 ML

Irrigators can use previous carryover as part of their annual allocation Allocation 6 ML

Use 4 ML

Unused 2 ML

*This is an example of how water use can occur in the River Murray system and is not a representation of actual use.

Some water is unused.

Some irrigators may no longer need their full allocation but are limited with what they can do with their water so it returns to the consumptive pool for reallocation

FIGURE. AN EXAMPLE OF HOW WATER USE CAN OCCUR IN THE RIVER MURRAY SYSTEM (DOES NOT REPRESENT ACTUAL USE).

Different types of surface water in the basin Information Source: MDBA website Source: This article is from MDBA website.

#1486-20200514v3

Allocation carried over from previous year

BUSINESS HOW GOOD IS YOUR RECORD KEEPING? Managing a business so that it is profitable and sustainable is a challenge at the best of times, but this year has upped the ante. For many small businesses, this emphasises the importance of good business practice, which includes paying attention to record keeping. Good record keeping helps you keep track of • the money you have made • the money you have spent • your cash flow position.

It also helps provide a snapshot of your current situation to help with your business decisions and planning, which is why it is important to do it properly.

Consider your record keeping practices, do you: • keep records electronically and make a backup so they do not fade or get lost, and keep them for five years • reconcile sales regularly to help you identify problems early, such as administration errors • remember to account for stock taken for personal use • only use your business account to pay for business expenses, so you do not need to sort through and separate your business and personal expenses all the time • keep complete and accurate records as you go along, instead of leaving it until later?

Good record keeping practices will make it easier for you, and your registered agent if you use one, when it is time to lodge.

If you are having difficulty with your cash flow, you can prepare a cash flow projection to help you plan and manage.

You can also talk to a registered tax professional who can work through our cash flow coaching kit with you.

Find out more • Try the ATO's record keeping evaluation tool • Talk to a registered tax professional to find out more about the ATO’s cash flow coaching kit

Source. Australian Taxation Office website

Government announces turnover test for JobKeeper The government announced in August that it will wind back the eligibility criteria for the JobKeeper Payment scheme for the extended period from 28 September 2020 to 28 March 2021.

The latest announcement is a result of the economic impact the Victorian lockdown will have on the national economy and will ensure that more businesses and employees are eligible to receive JobKeeper payments.

Turnover tests • For the first extension period to 3 January 2021, businesses and not-for-profits will be required to demonstrate that their actual GST turnover has significantly fallen (using the relevant existing decline in turnover tests) in the September 2020 quarter only relative to the corresponding quarter in 2019.

• For the second extension period to 28 March 2021, businesses and not-for-profits will be required to demonstrate that their actual GST turnover has significantly fallen (using the relevant existing decline in turnover tests) in the December 2020 quarter only relative to the corresponding quarter in 2019.

Information. For information about JobKeeper, go to The Treasury website

46

ICID INSIGHTS IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA'S COMMITTEE ON IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE (IACID) Momir Vranes, Chair, IACID M: +61 451 955 215, +93 729 28 26 63, E: mvranes@hotmail.com

ICID 24th INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS AND THE IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION SYDNEY 2021 While the ICID 24th International Congress and the Irrigation Australia Conference and Exhibition, to be held in Sydney has been rescheduled for 2021, preparations for this important joint event continue, as does work in other areas of ICID. For information about Irrigation Australia 2021 Conference and Exhibition and the ICID Congress, go to the conference and exhibition website.

Kathleen Murray, Deputy Chair, IACID M: +61 427 138 118, E: kathleen.murray@verterra.com.au Bryan Ward, Member, IACID P: +61 7 3517 4000, E:bryan.ward@irrigation.org.au Geoff Harvey, Member, IACID M: +61 418 888 876, E:geoff.harvey@irrigation.org.au Peter Durand, Member, IACID M: +61 407 975 401, E: Peter.Durand@netafim.com Peter Hayes, Member, IACID M: +61 418 842 700, E: grapwine@senet.com.au Eddie Parr, Member, IACID M: +61 412 359 131, E: ammenviroservices@gmail.com Carl Walters, Member, IACID P: +61 3 5822 7700, E: carlw@gbcma.vic.gov.au Anthony Slatyer, Member, IACID M: +61 4170 40 158, E: tony.slatyer@gmail.com Karlene Maywald, Member IACID E: Karlene.maywald@gmail.com Erik Schmidt, Member, IACID M: +61 423 029 976, E: Erik.schmidt@usq.edu.au

IMPORTANT DATES

Steve Whan, Member, IACID P: +61 2 6273 3637, M: +61 429 780 883, E: ceo@irrigators.org.au

DATE

PLACE

DETAILS

1–7 December 2020

Marrakech, Morocco

5th African Regional Conference on Irrigation and Drainage (ARCID).

Theme is sustainable Management of irrigation for improved resilience of agriculture in Africa.

W: http://5arcid.ma/

Christine Delphin, Secretariat P: +61 7 3517 4000, E: chris.delphin@irrigation.org.au

6 - 12 July 2021

Sydney, Australia

24th ICID International Congress and 71st IEC Meeting. For more info E: info@irrigation.org.au, W: http://www.icid2021.com.au

TBA

Agadir, Morroco

10th International Micro Irrigation Conference (10MIC)

YOUNG PROFESSIONALS TAKE A FRESH LOOK AT MANAGING IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE WATER During 2019, a focus of online discussions held by members of ICID’s Young Professionals (ICIDIYPeF) was how irrigation and drainage water will be sourced and managed in the future.

Their discussions have been summarised and published in the latest edition of ICID’s Irrigation and Drainage Journal in an article titled “Non‐conventional sources of agricultural water management: Insights from young professionals in the irrigation and drainage sector”.

A feature of the paper is that it contains insights from young professionals who have spent most, if not all, of their careers in working in a space where demand has outstripped supply of water for irrigation and drainage (and often personal use).

With this as the basis for their discussions, the focus moved beyond the need to promote resource efficiency to examining innovative approaches to conserve resources in

their use cycle. It is these innovative approaches, called nonconventional, that were the subject of intense discussion.

What emerged was agreement on the need to take much more of a systems approach when planning for availability of water resources for irrigation and drainage. A systems approach is underpinned by the premise that natural resources such as water, soil and vegetation are intricately linked to form a system. The most efficient and effective way of ensuring the future health and sustainability of the system - and those who rely on it - is to manage it in integrated fashion. This requires a different way of thinking as well as flexibility.

Another important and related insight from their discussions was that, in a context of water resource availability being highly variable, it is crucial that managers and policy makers look beyond system efficiency to a mix of interrelated approaches to optimising the use of water resources if the world is to be able to feed its growing population.

For the full paper, whose contributors were Amali A. Amali, Adey N. Mersha, Eman R. Nofal, Kathleen Murray, Sahar Norouzi, Shoaib Saboory, Heidi Salo, Sneha R. Chevuru, Mahdi Sarai Tabrizi, Paavan K. Reddy, Abdulrahman O. Abdullahi, Hassan Farahani, Pravin Kolhe, Reza Dowlati Fard, Abdul W. Salik, Abdullahi H. Hussein, Husain Najafi, Mojtaba Poormoghadam and Monday Adiaha, go to the Wiley website.

Momir Vranes, Irrigation Australia Board member and Chair, IACID

SPRING 2020

47

BOOKSHELF In this issue we take you to a virtual bookshelf of some useful industry tools and calculators. Have them at your fingertips on your smartphone or computer so you can access them in a flash.

can be used to develop irrigation schedules for different management conditions, to calculate scheme water supply for varying crop patterns, to evaluate irrigation practices and to estimate crop performance under both rainfed and irrigated conditions.

Scheduling

Calculators

SILO https://www.longpaddock.qld.gov.au/silo/ Designed for researchers, consultants, academics and agency staff.

This database of Australian climate data from 1889 to the present provides daily meteorological datasets for a range of climate variables in ready-to-use formats suitable for biophysical modelling, research and climate applications

Friction loss. Go to the National Pump and Energy website

BoM http://www.bom.gov.au/watl/eto/ Designed for industry users including irrigators, farmers, consultants, and agency staff.

A range of maps provided by the Bureau of Meteorology showing daily and average evapotranspiration, average evaporation and vegetation index (NDVI). This information is used to help with determining crop water use and scheduling irrigation.

IrriSAT https://irrisat-cloud.appspot.com/ Designed for irrigators and water managers.

IrriSAT is a weather-based irrigation scheduling service that uses satellite images to determine the NDVI for each field, from which a crop coefficient (Kc) is estimated. This is combined with ET0 observations from a nearby weather station, to inform farmers how much water their crop has used and how much how much irrigation they need to apply.

Information is produced daily and can work across large spatial scales.

CropWat Designed for general users.

CropWat 8.0 http://www.fao.org/land-water/databasesand-software/cropwat/en/ for Windows, developed by the FAO, calculates crop water requirements and irrigation requirements based on soil, climate and crop data. It also

48

https://www.nationalpump.com.au/calculators/friction-losscalculator/ and enter flow rate, internal pipe diameter and type of pipe to calculate friction loss.

Designed for technical users.

Metric conversion. One of many websites you can access to convert a range of measurements (e.g. temperature, volume, area, length, pressure and weight) to metric. Go to website https://www.metric-conversions.org/ Designed for general users.

SAWM Home Water Calculator and Blue House The Blue House shows users where they can save water around the house and garden using Smart Approved WaterMark products Designed for homeowners and general users.

The Home Water Calculator allows homeowners to go through each area of their property and calculate water use and compares this with the average use in the user’s area. It will also give the user a goal to meet.

Designed for homeowners and general users in Victoria and Northern Territory.

Tankulator The Tankulator is an online rain harvesting calculator that can help users plan for a new rainwater tank or improve the performance of an existing tank. The Tankulator has been developed by the Alternative Technology Association, an Australia not-for-profit organisation promoting sustainable solutions for the home.

Designed for homeowners and general users.

Knowledge management KMSI, the Knowledge Management System for Irrigation was developed by University of Southern Queensland’s Centre for Agricultural Engineering. It includes a range of free and subscription tools and calculators useful to people working in irrigation, e.g. calculating centre pivot capacity, hydraulic assessor, scheduling for centre pivot and lateral move machines and evaluating costs and benefits associated with a new irrigation system.

Designed for industry users including irrigators, farmers, consultants, and agency staff.

NEW PRODUCTS WHITE INTERNATIONAL EUROPEAN MANUFACTURED REFLEX EXPANSION VESSELS ENTER THE AUSTRALIAN MARKET Reflex Winkelmann GmbH is a European manufacturer of high-quality heating and hot-water supply technology. Under its Reflex brand, we are proud to launch expansion vessels to the Australian market.

Reflex tanks, manufactured in Europe, are ideally suited for a wide range of applications including booster systems, borehole systems, sprinklers, irrigation systems, HVAC, thermal expansion and water hammer arresting.

The tanks are WaterMark approved, are internally coated for drinking water applications and come with a five-year replacement guarantee. Other features include: • 304 stainless steel water connection • Corrosion resistant and built for long life • UV resistant epoxy coating with a minimum thickness of 30 micron in blue RAL5007 • Air valve with sealing cap eliminates leaks • Food grade approved high-grade butyl membranes and bladders WRAS, ACS, AS/NZS4020 • Maximum working temperature 70º C • Maximum working pressures of 145 psi/10 bar or 232 psi/16 bar and tank pre-charge 58 psi/4b ar nitrogen • Protects against water hammer and thermal expansion • Pre charged with nitrogen.

Applications The Reflex pressure tank is an energy saving device that stores energy in the form of pressurised water. The energy is transformed by the pump from electricity to water pressure. With a Reflex pressure tank, there is no loss of energy once it has been stored in the device, and pump start events can be cut by between 40 and 80 per cent while saving power and extending pump life.

The Reflex tank is easy to fit to most pumps and can also be wall mounted. The tank can be installed within minutes and the system can be fitted to any brand or type of pump.

Information. Visit website www.whiteint.com.au/ reflextanks to learn more about the range of Reflex tanks.

XYLEM

XYLEM ADDS TO PUMP PORTFOLIO WITH NEW LOWARA SCUBA Xylem has just launched its new Lowara SCUBA pump, a compact, high performance and corrosion resistant submersible pump, with a flow of up to 12m3h, head up to 100 m and power up to 2.2 kW. The Scuba has been designed to help Xylem’s customers across a wide range of applications, such as in open wells and reservoirs, irrigation in residential gardens and for more demanding tasks including sourcing water from ponds, lakes or ditches and cisterns. It can work at the heart of a rainwater harvesting system thanks to the new DRY version and is also used in car washes, filtration machinery and hoppers.

Xylem’s irrigation borehole product portfolio also includes the Lowara 4” e-GS and 6” Z6 submersible pumps for drilled wells.

More than 300 models designed and manufactured by Lowara using premium engineering and materials, bring maximum reliability and efficiency while covering all the needs for irrigation and agriculture.

An extended range of submersible motors, together with a comprehensive choice of control panels and variable frequency drives, complete one of the largest offerings in the market.

Recently added to Xylem’s portfolio is a new 6” rewindable submersible motor, with a range from 4 to 45 kW, suitable for heavy duty applications thanks to the 316SS or Duplex material options.

Information. For information go to website https://www.xylem.com/

en-AU/brands/lowara/

SPRING 2020

49

NEW PRODUCTS SENTEK

ADVANCED ANALYTICS FOR IRRIGATION AND CROP MONITORING The recently released features in Sentek IrriMAX Live software reveal the depth and activity of plant roots.

This previously hard-to-interpret data is now presented in a graphical form, allowing the grower and agronomist to quickly understand the depths that roots are taking water from. It leads to precise irrigation management scheduling, with the ability to compare the depths of water being applied - to the depths that roots are “drinking” from.

Displaying data from Sentek’s Drill & Drop probes, the charts in IrriMAX Live software show the values at each 10 cm depth. The data can also be summed to show total water content in the soil.

Question of money. Benefits or return on investment Sentek Technologies’ mandate is to help farmers with irrigation management by providing decision aiding tools.

Why are we promoting improving water management on farm? It is all about the opportunity of minimising inputs and maximising outputs.

Approved technology

Too much water or not enough?

Knowing real site- and time-specific root activity, growers can now assess the effectiveness of every single irrigation event. Did the last irrigation apply too much water, too little or was it just right?

If the irrigation depth percolates to the bottom of the roots and not beyond its reach, it is classified as “Perfect” and is indicated by a green coloured bar on top. If the irrigation does not reach the bottom of the roots, however, it is classified as “Under” and highlighted with a red top bar.

Similarly, if over irrigation occurs (not shown here) the events is classified as “Over” with a blue top bar.

IN THE NEXT ISSUE The Summer 2020 issue of Irrigation Australia Journal will feature: EDITORIAL > Policy and climate update > Pumps and pumping

After three years of trials (USA, Netherlands, Turkey, Italy, Hungary, France and Belgium) on crops such as broccoli, cauliflower, tomato, sweet corn, peppers and onions, we demonstrated the benefit of the use of the technologies and the clear return on investment. For example, last year with trials in processing tomatoes in Italy, we compared fields managed with Sentek probes with fields managed as usual by farmers. The result was a visible difference in plant health and maturity concentration. Importantly, we demonstrated a water-saving of 1500 m3/ha, saved 180 €/ha, with a plus in Brix (0.7) and a more attractive red colour.

Information. For more information on Sentek Drill & Drop probe and Irrimax Live, go to Sentek website https://

sentektechnologies.com/

ADVERTISERS INDEX BROWN BROTHERS ENGINEERING

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FRANKLIN ELECTRIC AUNZ WATER SYSTEMS INSIDE FRONT COVER

> Non-urban metering update

HUNTER CREATIVE

ADVERTISING FEATURES > Pumps and pumping

SENTEK 31

CONFIRM YOUR ADVERTISING PRESENCE NOW! Contact Brian Rault on 0411 354 050 or email brian.rault@ bcbmedia.com.au

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THINK WATER

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TORO AUSTRALIA

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WHITE INTERNATIONAL

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XYLEM WATER SOLUTIONS AUSTRALIA LIMITED

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Centre of Irrigation Excellence Irrigation Australia Recognises And Appreciates The Support Of The Following Leading Irrigation Suppliers For Our Centre Of Irrigation Excellence. Without Their Support This New Venture Would Not Have Been Possible.

An online platform that promotes • • • •

Industry Training And Qualification Certification Irrigation Career Pathways Industry Knowledge

www.coie.com.au

Australian owned company and one of the country’s largest national suppliers of industrial pvc hoses, industrial ball valves and fittings.

Providing a full range of pumps and pumping solutions from small domestic pressure systems to large industrial process pumps.

A global company providing quality solutions for landscape irrigation for residential & commercial applications.

Australian owned and operated pipe and fittings manufacturing business with manufacturing and distribution capabilities in all states

Isuzu is the leading manufacturer and innovator of outstanding industrial diesel engines producing more than 1 million engines annually.

The KSB Group is a global company and a leading producer of pumps, valves and related products.

Distributor of premium irrigation equipment for the Australian agricultural, landscape, golf and mining industries.

The world leader in smart drip and micro-irrigation for agriculture and landscape application providing a solutions for a sustainable future.

A global company designing and manufacturing fittings and valves,

A worldwide supplier of irrigation products to the landscape, agricultural, turf care and domestic garden markets.

A worldwide leader in precision irrigation. The Valley brand of Centre pivots provide solutions for meeting the growing demand for food.

The leader in manufacturing and supplying quality PVC, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), ductile (DICL) and industrial pipe systems.

the transfer & application of water.

IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA OFFICE PO Box 13, Cannon Hill, Queensland 4170 T 1300 949 891 or 07 3517 4000 F 07 3517 4010 W www.irrigationaustralia.com.au CEO: Bryan Ward E bryan.ward@irrigation.org.au EDITORIAL Editor | ANNE CURREY E anne@naturallyresourceful.com.au ADVERTISING BCB Media | Managing Director | Brian Rault T 0411 354 050 E brian.rault@bcbmedia.com.au DESIGN & PRODUCTION Uber Creative | Director | Annette Epifanidis T 03 8516 4717 E connect@ubercreative.com.au

TERMS & CONDITIONS Advertising in this journal is managed by BCB Media on behalf of Irrigation Australia Limited.

All contact with businesses and organisations about advertising is made by BCB Media staff, who must identify themselves and the fact that they work for BCB Media on behalf of the IAL. Advertising enquiries should be directed to BCB Media.

No special consideration will be given to any advertisers as far as editorial content or front cover material is concerned. Decisions about editorial content and the front cover are the prerogative of the editor and the National Board of the IAL. Irrigation Australia Limited takes no responsibility for the technical accuracy of article content.