Irrigation Journal Summer 2023

ISSN 0818–9447

SUMMER 2023 • VOLUME 39 NO 04

ON THE COVER: Irrigation upgrade for South Australia's premier racecourse

Water and energy efficiency of centre pivots: Are we improving?

Five unexpected ways AI could help your business

IN THIS ISSUE: MEET THE NEW BOARD DIRECTORS IRRIGATED PARKS INCREASE LOCAL PROPERTY PRICES COMMUNITY BENEFITS FROM IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE IN THE DESERT

PUMPS AND PUMPING FEATURE: Top tips for improving energy efficiency in pumps

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CONTENTS

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FEATURES PUMPS AND PUMPING FEATURE Irrigation overhaul: how pumps helped a dairy farm’s renewable energy transition

16

Top tips for increasing energy efficiency in irrigation pumps

20

CASE STUDIES FEATURE New irrigation system for South Australia’s Morphettville Racecourse 25

14

World-class sporting complex receives fully automated irrigation system 28 FEATURE ARTICLES Hot, dry summer expected

27

New tool takes the guesswork out of irrigation for cotton growers 44 Growing watermelons in the desert: irrigation challenges and community benefits 46 New demand management system provides more control for irrigation authority and its customers 48 Huge potential for farm dams to be used as renewable energy storage systems 53

REGULAR ITEMS Chair's Message

2

From the CEO

3

Technology: Rural

4

Technology: Urban

10

Research

14

The Big Issue

22

IAL News

30

Professional Development

36

Contractors' Corner

39

ICID Insights

40

My View

43

The Water Conservancy

50

Bookshelf

51

Business Feature

52

State Roundup

54

Around Industry

55

32

ISSN 0818–9447

SUMMER 2023 • VOLUME 39 NO 04

ON THE COVER: Irrigation upgrade for South Australia's premier racecourse

Icy mornings and security passes - running a business in the ACT

Five unexpected ways AI could help your business

IN THIS ISSUE: MEET THE NEW BOARD DIRECTORS IRRIGATED PARKS INCREASE LOCAL PROPERTY PRICES COMMUNITY BENEFITS FROM IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE IN THE DESERT

PUMPS AND PUMPING FEATURE: Top tips for improving energy efficiency in pumps

ON THE FRONT COVER: The Think Water Adelaide team recently designed and installed a new irrigation system for Morphettville Racecourse. Read about it on page 25.

42 SUMMER 2023

1

WELCOME

CHAIR’S MESSAGE I am pleased to be writing another Chair’s Message, having been re-elected to the board and the position of chair. It remains a great privilege to be in this role – particularly for the coming year, which promises to be an exciting one for Irrigation Australia.

Following the recent board elections, Val Tripp commences her second year as a director and retains her role as deputy chair. Peter Brueck was also re-elected, and three new faces have taken up positions – welcome to Clinton Hort, Gennaro Vellotti and Paul Smith. I’m eager to see what their fresh perspectives bring to the organisation. We’ll get our first chance to see this at the December board meeting that leads into our strategy day, scheduled for February.

Speaking of ‘strategy’, we’ve recently been updating our strategy document. It’s important that any organisation reviews strategy regularly to assess which plans are working and which need tweaking. Keep an eye out for links to the live document in various communications. We will also be reviewing the Constitution between now and the next AGM for similar reasons: to update the document in line with organisational changes, address inconsistencies and ensure our governance structures incorporate any recent legislative and regulatory changes. The aim in both cases is less about a bulk re-write of the documents and more about subtle changes to make them more useful.

On a related note, I have been reflecting on the importance of industry development and Irrigation Australia’s central role in this area. A priority for the board is to look at what the association can do to attract more people, particularly the younger generation, to a career in irrigation. We know that many see irrigation as being a less secure option than some of the more established trades; we aim to shift this perception.

I’d like to acknowledge the special contributions made by some very dedicated people. Geoff Harvey is leaving Irrigation Australia in March 2024. Geoff has been a driving force during his eight years with us. He has filled many positions and roles in that time, including interim CEO, and has overseen the impressive growth in training activity and associated revenue. I’m sure you all join me in wishing him well in his next challenge.

Momir Vranes has also left the Irrigation Australia board after many years of dedication. Momir made significant

2

contributions by representing Irrigation Australia at the international level, using his global networks to elevate our reputation and involvement in many international events and projects. Momir will continue in his invaluable role on the IACID Committee.

Finally, Andrew Ogden stepped down from the board at the AGM, having seen out his maximum allowable term of 10 years. For eight of those years, Andrew was chair – a huge commitment. I have had the pleasure of working with Andrew on the board since 2017, and I have valued his discussion, advice, and commitment to his role and the industry. I have found his professionalism and integrity second to none, including his ability to apply his high standards to everything he puts his hand to, striving always to do better. He was rightly recognised with the inaugural Distinguished Service Badge of Irrigation Australia at the recent Water Wise Expo in Perth in August. Andrew remains involved with Irrigation Australia at the national and state (WA) level.

At the close of 2023, we look towards the festive season again and the prospect of time spent with family, loved ones, or even just the chance for a well-earned break – hopefully all three. I wish you and yours, happiness, health and prosperity for the coming year and beyond.

Simon Treptow Chair

FROM THE CEO Impending season’s greetings to all!

I write this fresh from an extended trip to India for the 25th ICID Congress and 74th International Executive Council meeting. I found this experience similar to the Adelaide conference, but I now have the advantage of sort of knowing what I’m doing. Forgive the show and tell, but I think it’s worth explaining how it all works.

The International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) runs several events each year, and whenever it refers to a ‘congress’, it’s a big one involving all member countries.

The International Executive Council (IEC) meeting is an annual event where representatives of all ICID’s national committees meet to discuss the association’s work. We hosted the 73rd IEC meeting in Adelaide and will host the 75th meeting in Sydney. In contrast to the Adelaide event, the ‘conference’ component of the Sydney event is for the Asian region rather than everyone. From my perspective, this is good, as it gives us more flexibility around organisation.

The recent event in India was held in Visakhapatnam, a picturesque seaside tourist destination with a population of around 2.3 million. It takes a while to get there and back via Singapore, as flights don’t run daily, and recovery is slow when you’re not particularly built for flying.

Thanks to something I ate, I didn’t get to venture out of the hotel much, but when I did, it was interesting. I shot plenty of video of the traffic – after a while the stress abates, and you get to appreciate the organic simplicity of it all. Every intersection is an adventure, though, and you’d not catch me on one of those bikes.

There was no shortage of ceremony – both cultural, including traditional music, dance and mime, and political, with attending ministers and the accompanying security.

Various receptions were held, primarily aimed at endorsing events or candidates vying for elected positions.

The congress is structured around a series of questions and side-events, with a focus on irrigated agriculture. The questions are typically addressed hierarchically with an opening speaker followed by other sessions and workshops and a final synthesis.

The IEC is something else. It encompasses long-term working groups, committees and more – marked by a highly structured approach with extensive reporting. I sit on a couple of committees and now a taskforce looking at the financial sustainability of ICID. The event culminates with the IEC meeting itself, a meeting of all countries, which resolves the business.

This included resolutions to rationalise the number of working groups down to around 11 and the addition of a new ‘Taskforce on Women Empowerment in Water Management’.

So, what did we get out of it? Aside from representing the Australian National Committee, providing country updates and participating in working groups, the primary purpose of this trip was to promote our Sydney event and to resolve some financial matters to ensure a fair outcome for Irrigation Australia. I am pleased to have achieved all of these.

The organisers, largely volunteers, did an incredible job overall. Certain aspects of the event didn’t work so well, and we will learn from these in our approach to the Sydney event.

We’ve come away with ideas on program design as well as ways to break it up better – simple stuff like a long lunch to get best value for our exhibitors.

We expanded our networks, identified volunteer support and built leads to improve the program. I am grateful to IACID Chair, Momir Vranes, for his counsel and companionship, and to other Aussies, including Karlene Maywald, Tapas Biswas, Mani Manivasakan, John O’Connor, and honorary Aussies like Ian Makin, for various important roles, including navigating the complex bureaucracy.

While it was great experience, I’m glad it’s over and to be back focussing on our membership review and a large list of other jobs in the lead up to Christmas. Thanks to our exceptional team for keeping things on track in my absence.

Dave Cameron CEO

SUMMER 2023

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TECHNOLOGY: RURAL WATER AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF CENTRE PIVOTS – ARE WE IMPROVING? SNAPSHOT • Peter Smith from Sapphire Consulting together with Nick O’Halloran and Joe Brady from Agriculture Victoria, compared data collected during past evaluations of centre pivots with data from recent evaluations.

• Their goal was to determine whether water and energy efficiency of these systems has improved over time.

• Pump efficiency and uniformity have improved but there is still room for further improvement in both areas.

• Growers are investing in longer centre pivots, and system capacity has increased. This comes with some drawbacks, including higher capital costs per hectare, higher energy use and the potential for more water to be wasted due to runoff.

• Good system design from the outset is critical.

Irrigation technology has advanced in recent years, but it is not always easy to know if these developments translate to efficiency improvements in the field. We can get valuable insights by comparing data collected during past evaluations with data from recent evaluations of systems. Peter Smith and colleagues used this approach to look at whether the water and energy efficiency of centre pivot systems has improved over the last 17 years and where there is room for improvement.

This study was based on 123 evaluations of centre pivot systems conducted across Australia between 2005 and 2022. Some systems had been around for just a few years, others were more than 20 years old.

Peter Smith from Sapphire Irrigation Consulting, in collaboration with Nick O’Halloran and Joe Braden from Agriculture Victoria, collated the data from these evaluations.

From the data they calculated the application uniformity, application depth, application rate, system capacity, residual pressure, pump efficiency and potential for energy savings.

They looked at how these metrics have changed over time and how they measure up compared with system specifications and recognised benchmarks (Table 1 shows a summary of the data). This article outlines the findings, which Peter presented at the Irrigation Australia Conference in 2022.

THE DETAILS • Systems evaluated: 23 in 2005, 19 in 2013, 81 in 2022.

• Fifty-three per cent had end-guns and all had pressure regulators fitted to all sprinklers.

• Field tests included: catch-cans, pressures measured at pump, centre and end, wetted width at outer end, pump flow rate, suction lift, power consumption and system length.

Uniformity Peter Smith, Nick O’Halloran and Joe Braden compared evaluations of centre pivot systems over time to determine whether their water and energy efficiency is improving.

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Overall, they found uniformity has improved. For most pivots, both the coefficient of uniformity and distribution uniformity were close to the benchmarks (90 per cent). These improvements probably reflect improved system design, monitoring and maintenance.

TECHNOLOGY: RURAL Centre pressure (kPa)

Pivot friction loss (m)

Flow rate variation (%)

245

-

101

AAR (mm/hr)

Residual pressure (kPa)

End pressure (kPa)

83

Energy consumption (kWh/ML/m)

App depth variation (%)

12.2

TDH (m)

Actual app depth (mm)

14.6

Energy consumption kWh/ML

Target app depth (mm)

10.7

DU (%)

System capacity (mm/day)

282

CU (%)

Pivot length (m)

TABLE 1. A SUMMARY OF THE DATA: AVERAGE FIGURES FOR EACH COHORT.

Year of assessment 2005

82

74

-

-

-

-

53

2012

236

10.2

12.8

10.9

96

76

68

268.8

55.5

4.8

278

185

45

339

8.3

97

2022

315

12.2

17

15.3

91

85

80

282.8

46.1

6.7

166

75

81

256

9.6

85

Overall

296

11.7

16

14.1

90

83

77

281.6

48

6.4

185

93

64

266

9.5

91

Although there is a trend towards improved uniformity, there is still room for improvement. All systems were pressure regulated, which in principle should ensure good uniformity, but many systems were still below the benchmark.

Issues contributing to poor uniformity can include incorrect nozzles or nozzles installed in wrong positions, insufficient flow or pressure, blockages, damage or wear to emitters and regulators or poor hydraulic design.

Application depth For each system, the team compared the average application depth (AAD) with the depth specified on the control unit.

On many systems, the measured AAD per pass varied widely from the specified values, ranging from 55 per cent lower to 45 per cent higher than the specified value (most were lower). This inconsistency could be due either to insufficient flow rate or improperly calibrated control units.

Unfortunately, due diligence by irrigation managers could be subverted by underperforming pumps or poorly calibrated control panels.

Certain aspects of efficiency have improved in centre pivots over the years, but opportunities for improvement remain. Photo: ikonya@ optusnet.com.au/Deposit Photos.

6

-

System capacity and length Both system capacity and average system length have increased over the years. The higher capacity systems are most often the shorter machines (< 200 m in length).

Prior to 2012, only one evaluated system exceeded a system capacity of 16 mm/day. In comparison, 20 per cent of systems assessed in 2022 exceeded 16 mm/day. Higher system capacity means the irrigation system can meet crop water demand in extended dry periods, but it comes with both higher operating costs and higher average application rates (AAR), which can be problematic.

Application rate With centre pivot systems, the average application rate (AAR) often exceeds the infiltration rate of the soil. When this happens, the water may pond or flow to other areas, creating uneven watering. As shown by the data below, the AAR of the evaluated centre pivots has increased since 2005.

This increase is due to higher system capacities and longer pivot lengths in more recent cohorts.

Year

Average application rate (mm/hour)

2005

53

2012

45

2022

80 (range 18 to 144)

While increasing the wetted width – or how far the sprinklers throw the water – reduces AAR, the wetted width of the evaluated pivots has not increased enough to counter the increase in system capacity or length.

In twenty-one of the systems assessed after 2012 the AAR was higher than 70 mm/hour. Growers should monitor water movement at the outer end of these pivots to determine the extent of runoff.

Many of these systems may benefit from modifications – for example, spreader bars or dual emitters could be installed, or growers could try soil management practices such as building soil structure, gentle surface tillage or mulching.

End pressure Monitoring pressure at the outer end of the pivot is the simplest way to ensure your pivot is running efficiently and watering evenly. End pressure should be approximately 35 kPa higher than the pressure regulator rating. If end pressure is too high, operating costs will be higher than necessary. If end pressure is too low, application depth will be lower towards the outside of the centre pivot, impacting uniformity. The outer spans of centre pivots irrigate the largest percentage of the area, so you want sufficient pressure right to the end of the pivot.

The residual pressure, which is equivalent to the end pressure minus the regulator rating, should be higher than 35 kPa, and this was the case for most systems less than 300 m long. However, among the systems that were longer than 300 m, 55 per cent recorded low residual pressure.

This low residual pressure will be impacting application uniformity on these systems. End-guns often result in reduced residual pressure, but surprisingly in this analysis they did not consistently influence residual pressure.

In contrast, one third of pivots assessed after 2005 had excessive residual pressure (> 135 kPa), meaning that growers are incurring higher pumping costs than necessary.

Head loss The head loss along each pivot was calculated by subtracting the centre pressure from the end pressure. For most pivots, head loss was above the theoretical optimum (see Figure 1).

Head loss is of greater concern in larger pivots, which cover larger areas, use more water and have higher operating costs than smaller pivots.

Total dynamic head and pump efficiency In theory, total dynamic head (TDH) should increase with system length and capacity. Surprisingly, though, on average it reduced from 56 m in 2012 to 46 m in 2022. This decrease might be due to better design (larger pipes), fewer bore systems being assessed, or a reduction in average residual pressure.

Pump efficiency was higher in the 2022 cohort than in 2012 (62 per cent compared with 51 per cent), but efficiency was variable, ranging between 37 and to 91 per cent.

The minimum efficiency for modern pumps is 75 per cent.

Many growers could make considerable cost savings by repairing or upgrading pumps. Where cost-benefit has been investigated, the cost of repair or replacement is typically recovered in one or two seasons.

The fact that systems with higher energy consumption also tended to have higher TDH (Figure 2) suggests that poor system design, rather than pump efficiency, is contributing to the higher energy consumption. Even with a highly efficient pump, if the system is poorly designed, resulting in high TDH, the pumping costs will be high.

This highlights the importance of getting system design right in the first place. A critical part of this is to get pipe sizing right.

FIGURE 1: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PIVOT LENGTH AND HEAD LOSS.

SUMMER 2023

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TECHNOLOGY: RURAL FIGURE 2. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TOTAL DYNAMIC HEAD AND ENERGY CONSUMPTION.

Conclusions Growers are investing in longer centre pivots, and system capacities have increased. Greater system capacity comes with higher capital cost per hectare. Increased system capacity and longer pivots also mean higher energy costs, and Peter and Nick caution growers against overcapitalising.

With greater system capacity comes the ability to apply more water more quickly, which often leads to poor infiltration and runoff.

Average application depths varied substantially from specifications, making it difficult for growers to know how much water is being applied.

One aspect that has improved over the years is uniformity – but there is still room for improvement. Pump efficiency has also improved, although many growers still have the potential to save 20 per cent on operating costs through repairs, upgrades, or ensuring the right pump is being used for the job.

Many systems had high residual pressure, but for others, particularly those longer than 300 m, residual pressure was low. This highlights the importance of good system design right from the start. Many aspects of system efficiency can be improved by ensuring appropriate pipe sizing.

In addition to getting the system design right in the first place, comprehensive performance tests at commissioning

8

and at regular intervals is critical to maximising the efficiency of centre pivot systems.

Acknowledgments. Thanks to Peter Smith, Nick O’Halloran and Joe Braden for providing information for this article.

Organisations and projects that contributed data for the study included: • ‘Hunter Smarter Farming: Irrigating for Profit’ Project funded by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment as a part of its Future Drought Fund, and Hunter Local Land Services • Ross Warren, Senior Dairy Extension Officer, and John Miller, Senior Dairy Extension Officer (retired), Dept of Agriculture & Fisheries, Qld • ‘Smarter Irrigation for Profit 2: What’s my yield gap?

Maximising water productivity project’, funded by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment as part of its Rural R&D for Profit program and Dairy Australia • Irrigation System Assessments undertaken by the Agriculture Victoria Irrigation team were supported with funding from the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, and Agriculture Victoria’s Energy Smart Farming Project.

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TECHNOLOGY: URBAN GOOD SPORTS FIELD CONSTRUCTION CAN CUT WATER USE IN HALF AND ENSURE TURF SURVIVES DROUGHT SNAPSHOT • Sand can be a good material for sports field construction if certain criteria are met.

• However, unless an underlying gravel layer (known as a perched water table) and quality soil amenders are used, sand can result in various issues, including higher irrigation requirements and low resilience to drought.

• The perched water table approach is also expensive and complex to implement.

• Often a better approach is to amend the existing soil at a site, which can result in lower irrigation requirements and greater carrying capacity.

Many in the industry believe sand is the ideal material for a sports field due to its excellent drainage properties. However, sand is not good at retaining water or nutrients, and can be an unstable surface if particles are uniform in size and/or rounded in shape.

Here, Dr Mick Battam and Dr Paul Lamble discuss the requirements when constructing sports fields with sand, and the mistakes that are often made along the way. They outline other viable approaches such as the amendment of existing topsoil, which is often a cheaper strategy that allows turf to thrive with less water.

Overcoming the limitations of sand Internationally adopted guidelines, such as the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard Guide for Construction of High Performance Sand-Based Rootzones for Athletic Fields (F2396-11) and The United State Golf Association’s (USGA) 2018 recommendations for putting greens, establish specific criteria for the performance of sand profiles.

The guidelines stipulate that sands must meet precise requirements regarding particle shape and size distribution, in addition to possessing a minimum water holding capacity of 15 to 25 per cent. To meet these requirements, two conditions must be met: 1. The sand must be laid over a gravel layer – an approach known as a perched water table design. This enables the sand to hold more water than if it were laid directly over soil, which would suck the moisture out of the overlying sand (the field capacity principle).

2. Amenders must be applied to the sand. The USGA lists suitable amenders as peat, mature composts and zeolite.

The ACT guidelines (published by the ACT Government) also approve the use of coir.

On some high-profile racecourses, the growing media consists of a mixture of 70 per cent sand and 30 per cent soil, which is laid over gravel. This enables adequate moisture storage while allowing excess water to drain away rapidly through the growing media.

Many believe that sand is the best material for a sports field, but often amending the existing topsoil is a better approach, which can allow turf to thrive with less water.

10

Cross section of gravel layer scenario (courtesy USGA).

A gravel layer is essential for sands Unfortunately, many in the industry appear to cherry pick the most convenient elements of the USGA recommendations while seemingly ignoring the underlying soil science.

The most common mistake is to lay sand or 80:20 (a mix of 80 percent sand and 20 per cent soil) directly on top of site soil, omitting the vital underlying gravel layer. To make matters worse, short-lived amenders, such as chicken manure, are often added to these very sandy profiles, or in some cases, no amenders are used.

Fields constructed with sand over soil, and no gravel layer, are typically characterised by:

• low fertility. Many of the 80:20 profiles also have poor soil structure and are prone to setting hard • much higher irrigation requirements – more than double the water required in fields with a gravel layer • a substantial reduction (more than 50 per cent) in the carrying capacity (the number of players the field can handle) • higher maintenance requirements, such as aeration (in the case of 80:20), top dressing, addressing water repellence and weed control. Turf patching will be needed if the field receives high levels of wear • low resilience to reduced water availability, such as during water restrictions in times of drought. Complete turf loss can occur with even modest reductions in water availability • additional costs for drainage infrastructure because the underlying subsoil cannot adequately remove the excess water percolating through the sandy material above.

One way to avoid these issues is to take an entirely different approach, which we discuss below.

TECHNOLOGY: URBAN Soil amendment is often the most effective strategy The perched water table approach is extremely expensive and requires specialised machinery, highly skilled staff, sizable maintenance budgets and ample secure water supplies to maintain these fields in acceptable condition. A different strategy is needed when budgets and resources are constrained.

In addition, while a perched water table provides significant improvements compared with sand over soil at higher irrigation volumes (4.5 to 6 ML/ha), it provides minimal benefit at lower irrigation volumes.

Rather than using sand coupled with a gravel layer, a viable solution, assuming the site soil is suitable, is to amend the topsoil to improve its structure and fertility. If done properly, soil amendment can be vastly superior to a perched water table.

Soil amendment can often be achieved by incorporating gypsum and organic matter, such as compost (adhering to AS 4454), into the soil profile, which must be at least 200 mm deep. As noted above, mature compost is listed as a suitable amender in USGA profiles (USGA 2018, page 10).

Figure 1 illustrates the water requirements and carrying capacity for different types of field construction in Wagga Wagga, NSW. This graph shows that best practice sporting fields (amended site soil) can tolerate much lower levels of irrigation, while maintaining a high carrying capacity. By contrast, laying 80:20 over site soil (no gravel layer) requires three to four times more water and has very poor outcomes for both drought resilience and carrying capacity.

Figure 2. These irrigated fields have the same turf cultivar and neither has a gravel layer. In the top field, the existing topsoil was amended with compost, and in the bottom field, an imported 70:30 mix was laid over the site topsoil. These two fields performed very differently during level 1 water restrictions. The bottom field with the imported sand requires more water and might even struggle to survive during level 2 or 3 water restrictions.

Unamended sandy loam 80:20 laid over site soil (no gravel layer)

Figure 1. Comparison of carrying capacity versus irrigation requirements for three different types of field construction in Wagga Wagga, NSW. Note: the exact number of players for carrying capacity is site specific and depends on the mix of junior and senior players at that facility.

Figures 2 and 3 provide a pictorial comparison of fields in the Lower Hunter during the 2019-20 drought and water restrictions. All these fields are within 10 km of each other.

In the 70 days prior to these photos being taken in early January 2020, just 5 mm of rain fell, with irrigation being limited to 10 mm per week.

12

Figure 3. During the drought in the lower Hunter, this unirrigated field became dry but retained turf cover in the areas with unamended site soil (sandy loam). Almost all turf cover was lost in the areas where 80:20 was spread over soil (no gravel layer).

Dr Mick Battam (certified professional soil scientist and certified irrigation agronomist) and Dr Paul Lamble (certified irrigation designer)

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RESEARCH WORLD-FIRST ASSESSMENT OF CARBON FOOTPRINT OF FARM DAMS SNAPSHOT • Farm dams are assumed to be widespread emitters of carbon dioxide and methane.

• However, recent research conducted in the Murrumbidgee Valley shows that existing models fail to account for their capacity to act as nitrous oxide sinks, and dramatically overestimate their methane emissions.

• The work shows that the carbon footprint of irrigation dams is smaller than previously thought.

• Potential exists to cut the emissions of dams further and make them carbon sinks.

Farm dams are assumed to make up a significant proportion of Australian agriculture’s greenhouse gas emissions, but in good news for irrigators, new research has found that the contribution of irrigation farm dams is dramatically overestimated.

New research suggests that there is potential to make irrigation dams carbon sinks. Photo: Rachel Lenehan.

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The first detailed assessment of the carbon footprint of irrigation dams has revealed existing models are failing to account for their capacity to act as atmospheric sinks for nitrous oxide (N2O) and are dramatically overestimating their methane (CH4) emissions.

Global studies suggest that dams are widespread emitters of carbon dioxide (CO2) and CH4. Farm dams are recognised by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) as an anthropogenic system that must be accounted for in national emission inventories. However, data is extremely limited for irrigated landscapes.

A recent study led by aquatic biogeochemist Dr Jackie Webb, from Deakin University’s Centre for Regional and Rural Futures, investigated whether farm dams in the Murrumbidgee Valley have comparable emissions to what was ascribed to dams by the IPCC and reported in Australia’s national emission inventory.

“The IPCC does great work, but it’s all based on data availability and there is no data from semi-arid irrigation waterbodies fed into those models,” Dr Webb said.

“The available data used in Australia’s national emissions inventory is based on livestock dams in Victoria and New South Wales and artificial ponds in Queensland, so irrigation

Dr Jackie Webb says the good news for irrigators is that farm dams aren’t emitting anywhere near the emissions of what is assumed based on the current research. Photo: Rachel Lenehan.

farm dams from semi-arid regions are assumed to be similar in their emissions.”

The project methodology The research project, funded by AgriFutures Australia, is the first examination of irrigation dams and their emissions and storage of CH4, CO2 and N2O. The study involved surveying 38 on-farm irrigation dams across horticulture and broadacre cropping in the Murrumbidgee Valley to baseline their carbon footprint and provide an initial insight into areas that could be targeted for emission management.

Drone and on-ground biomass surveys and continuous CO2 monitoring with underwater sensors were also carried out in a subset of the dams.

The findings A quarter of the dams (25 per cent) were found to be net GHG sinks of CO2 equivalent emissions. Just over half (52 per cent) were acting as sinks of CO2 and 70 per cent were sinks of N2O. Most irrigation farm dams were sources of diffusive CH4, which was the highest contributor to overall emissions.

However, compared with global averages, the irrigation dams tested had considerably lower CH₄ emissions (34 kg per ha per year) than the IPCC emission factor (183 kg/ha/year) for constructed ponds and a lower indirect nitrous oxide emission factor (0.06 per cent) compared with the IPCC default emission factor for agricultural surface waters (0.26 per cent).

“It’s a huge difference – four times less emissions of nitrous oxide and five times for methane,” Dr Webb said.

“The reason why the IPCC models are so out is because 70 per cent of the dams we sampled were atmospheric sinks

of nitrous oxide, but the IPCC emission factor models do not account for agricultural water bodies being N2O sinks at all.

Widespread N2O sinks have been observed once before in Northern Hemisphere farm dams. To reproduce this finding in Australia is really exciting as it challenges our fundamental understanding of indirect aquatic N2O emissions from agriculture.”

Implications for irrigators Dr Webb said given the study demonstrates the carbon footprint of these irrigation dams is smaller than expected, more research is needed, and revisions of national emissions accounting ought to be considered.

“When we’re talking about climate change and net zero emissions, it’s very important we get it right,” she said.

“It’s good news for irrigation farmers that farm dams aren’t emitting anywhere near the emissions of what is assumed based on the current research. Irrigation dams may also be worthy of their own emissions factor in IPCC guidelines, but we need to test more regions.

“There’s huge potential to harness these irrigation dams to cut their emissions even more and make them carbon sinks.”

Dr Webb said emissions could be reduced by making dams deeper and limiting the amount of nitrogen entering the water bodies.

“Excessive nutrients can lead to low oxygen conditions which activates the anaerobic microbes that produce methane,” she said.

“So, if you can reduce nitrogen runoff going into a dam that would most certainly help.”

Source. AgriFutures Australia website.

Information. The full report can be found here.

SUMMER 2023

15

PUMPS AND PUMPING FEATURE Irrigation overhaul: how pumps helped a dairy farm’s renewable energy transition SNAPSHOT • Wilandra Farms, a dairy farm in the Gippsland region of Victoria, used about 500,000 kWh of energy per year, 70 per cent of which related to irrigation.

Wilco Droppert and Sandra Jefford own and operate Wilandra Farm, an organic dairy farm in the Gippsland region of Victoria.

• An energy audit showed that many improvements could be made.

• Replacing the existing bore pump, which was too big, and a 500 m pipeline, which was the wrong diameter, reduced energy use by 37 per cent.

• The owners also installed two 37 kW electric pumps, which save labour because they can be operated remotely and are also more energy efficient.

• They also installed 200 kW of solar energy and 56 kWH of batteries.

• By making these changes, the price of power used for irrigation has dropped from 27 cents per kWh to six cents per kWh.

Sandra Jefford and Wilco Droppert own and operate Wilandra Farms, an organic dairy farm in the Gippsland region of Victoria. Despite the farm’s success, energy costs were high and irrigating the farm was a costly and timeconsuming process, with irrigation and dairy operations using about 500,000 kWh of energy per year. In an effort to reduce both the cost of irrigation and their carbon footprint, the couple embarked on a mission to generate their own power and upgrade their pumping system.

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Sandra and Wilco moved to the Gippsland area in 2011 and began farming organically in 2016. Located at Clydebank, Wilandra Farms is a certified producer of milk, silage and hay and the property houses 380 certified organic dairy milk cows year-round. With the success of the farm have come bumps in the road.

The couple realised that the farm’s energy costs were too high, particularly in relation to irrigation – which was accounting for 70 per cent of the power used on the farm.

They had been using a diesel pump to pump water from the dam to pivots, which was not only expensive, but bad for emissions and a huge drain on manual labour.

The farm’s soaring energy bills led the couple to pursue an energy audit. While the purpose of the audit was initially to lower costs, Sandra and Wilco realised that there were other benefits to upgrading and updating their irrigation equipment. The energy audit opened their eyes to the potential benefits of renewable energy – which could also save the couple hours of work every day.

“Our energy project started because of the big energy bills, particularly for irrigation. And it was after we’d had the energy audit done, we then started to look at emissions related to energy and then that set us on the track of looking at emissions further. It was really the energy bills that started the whole project,” Sandra said.

IMPROVING PUMP EFFICIENCY The energy audit revealed multiple deficiencies in the farm’s current equipment and areas for potential improvement.

Sandra and Wilco pumped all their irrigation water from bores and the Avon River, travelling through lengthy pipelines. The audit uncovered two key pieces of equipment that would have far greater capacity if replaced – the existing bore pump’s motor was too big, and a 500 m pipeline was the wrong diameter. These two improvements alone are estimated to have reduced power use by about 37 per cent at the pumping site.

Sandra and Wilco were also using a diesel-powered pump to pump water from the dam to pivots. Because the pumps and pivots were not automated, the couple were frequently having to drive between them, costing them valuable hours every week. The manual diesel pump was constantly working, not able to adapt to changing conditions, which meant that emissions were also much greater than necessary.

Sandra and Wilco opted to install two 37 kW Caprari electric pumps to replace the diesel pump that was used to pump water from the dam to the pivots. This had many benefits for the farm – the pumps can be operated remotely via phone or computer, saving the pair many hours each week that they spent driving between pumps and pivots.

The variable speed pumps also improve energy efficiency by ensuring that the irrigation system does not run when it doesn’t need to. For example, in 2022–23, the area was very dry from mid-December to late March, so the irrigation system needed a lot of grid power. The system was able to adapt easily to the change in conditions, resulting in very little peak price power.

“There’s lots of benefits. We are saving at least 15 hours a week, maybe 20 hours a week in busy irrigation times, because of the automation, because we don’t have to drive to the pumps and the pivots anymore. We can stop and start things from a laptop.

“And we’re seeing big energy savings. January and February were extremely dry, so we pumped a lot of water.

Even so, our cost of energy for irrigation was only six cents per kilowatt hour. And so another advantage is with all the talk of the price of electricity increasing, we’re quite nicely protected against that now because we don’t need that much grid power,” Sandra said.

Comparison of power usage and power cost before and in the years following installation of electric pumps and solar infrastructure.

Graphic credit: Steve Soutar, AEI.

SUMMER 2023

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PUMPS AND PUMPING FEATURE So far, renewable infrastructure updates include the installation of 200 kW of solar energy and 56 kWh of batteries, which has meant huge savings on the cost of electricity.

The couple also replaced two old, oil ring vacuum pumps with a lobe vacuum pump, resulting in less power demand and a far cleaner vacuum pump with no need for oil changes.

INVESTING IN RENEWABLES To lower energy costs while also investing in more sustainable solutions, the couple worked with Alternate Energy Innovations (AEI) in Morwell to develop a Renewable Energy Action Plan. They received funding through the Victorian Government’s Agriculture Energy Investment Plan to help with costs. So far, renewable infrastructure updates include the installation of 200 kW of solar energy and 56 kWH of batteries, with four 5 kW wind turbines also in transit to the farm for installation – which has meant huge savings on the cost of electricity.

“We have dropped the price of power that we’re using for irrigation from 27 cents per kilowatt hour down to six cents per kilowatt hour this year. We’ve still got our equipment finance loan to pay off, but we’ve already been paying that off now for about two years, so we’ve only got five years.

Then it’s paid off, and we’ve got free energy generation. In terms of the total energy costs for irrigation, depending on the year and how much water we’re pumping, we were spending between $80,000 and $100,000 on energy costs for irrigation,” Sandra said.

The investment in renewable energy enabled another big change – connecting the bore pump to solar energy.

The farm house’s solar panels face north, east and west to maximise the amount of energy they can produce. Solar powers the pumps, and with the installation of variable speed pumps, energy efficiency has further improved by ensuring that the irrigation system doesn’t run when it doesn’t need to.

“With the bore, it’s connected to solar power. Once we’ve got a low level of solar power early in the morning, that bore

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starts slowly dumping water in the dam. We are able to use a low level of farm generated power. The solar power is so successful, in future we will look at putting in more solar power because with it being so dry this past summer, we were using a lot of off-peak grid power, and in the future we’ll try and replace a lot of that with farm-generated power,” Sandra said.

“We have dropped the price of power that we’re using for irrigation from 27 cents per kilowatt hour down to six cents per kilowatt hour this year.”

FUTURE BRIGHT FOR SOLAR-POWERED IRRIGATION With many positive changes implemented, Sandra and Wilco are keen to continue with their renewable upgrades.

One challenge the couple faced was with the installation of additional wind turbines. The couple expect to add two 15 kW turbines to their existing stock of four – but due to a technical problem with the manufacturer in the UK, they are still waiting.

“We’ve got four 5 kW turbines here as a temporary measure, and eventually we expect we’ll have two 15 kW turbines, because there was a technical problem with the manufacturer in the UK. Then there’s also been a problem getting inverters to be compatible with the turbines.

“I think this is just because turbines at this sort of scale are still very unusual and the inverter manufacturers are not putting the effort into making the inverters to match the wind turbines,” Sandra said.

The electricity grid posed another challenge for Wilandra. There is no smart grid at the farm, so electricity generated at the farm goes into the grid, which they sell to for six cents, but they then have to buy it back from the grid for 36 cents.

The couple said the grid needs a system that allows them to allocate the excess power elsewhere, rather than across a range of separate meters. The couple also had the intention of installing a microgrid.

Microgrids provide energy generation and storage at a local level, which would have enabled the couple to generate, store and sell even more renewable energy.

However, strict regulations around microgrid installation meant that the couple had to alter their generation and storage plans.

“We had hoped to run a controlled microgrid on the farm, but the regulations are such that that’s just not possible at the moment. If farms were able to use controlled microgrids, they could make much better use of the renewable energy that they’re generating. It becomes more cost effective. And we could hopefully see more farmers installing renewable energy on their farms, but we need a change in regulation,” Sandra said.

Despite these challenges, Sandra and Wilco are optimistic about further renewable upgrades to the farm – particularly the installation of more solar panels. “Like a lot of other farmers, we’ve got land that isn’t the right sort of size and shape to put a pivot on. We’ve got a project just getting started to put in fixed sprinkler irrigation using surplus solar power at a particular bore site where we’ve got 50 kW of power.

“That’s underway, and in future we’ll have another look at how much solar power we need, and we’ll probably look at

putting another pump at the dam, so that each centre pivot has its own pump that’s pumping out of the dam to a pivot because that’ll make the automation easier. At the moment, we’ve got three pivots and they share two pumps.

“So there’s plenty to do – we just need a good strong milk price to enable us to keep going with all these improvements,” Sandra said.

The couple recommend solar energy installation for all irrigators, saying that the cost savings, coupled with the huge environmental impacts, are hard to ignore.

“I think particularly for any irrigators, if you are using grid power, it’s really worth having a look at installing solar energy. Particularly if you’ve got a dam, if you’ve got the ability to pump into a dam and then pump out, you can get some massive benefits with solar power,” Sandra said.

To encourage other irrigators to move toward renewable solutions, the couple hosted a knowledge-sharing event in February 2023, titled “Smart Farm Power – Opportunities in an uncertain carbon future”. Participants attended presentations and then visited the farm to view the automated irrigation and renewable energy system, and other features of the Wilandra Farm’s regenerative farming system.

Sandra said she felt it was important for the dairy industry to unite on a progressive path. “I think farms can play a huge role in reducing emissions, and a collaborative approach using microgrids could even reduce the need for transition lines – that’s our hope for the future and we’re excited to share the results of our project to inspire others,” Sandra said.

Acknowledgment. Thanks to Pump Industry Magazine for permission to reprint this article.

PUMPS AND PUMPING FEATURE Top tips for increasing energy efficiency in irrigation pumps Bore irrigation accounts for up to 75 per cent of all energy usage on farms. With increasing energy costs, irrigators are looking for ways to reduce the energy usage of pumps to improve productivity and profitability. This article by Sterling Pumps outlines the top five tips to optimise the energy efficiency of irrigation pumping systems.

1. REPLACE OLD PUMPS Like all machinery, pumps lose energy efficiency as they age, with average losses of five to fifteen per cent reported after 10 years of operation. While pumps have an average lifespan of 18 years before needing refurbishment or replacement, investing in new pumps will help irrigators pump the same amount of water using less energy.

Even if an old pump is in perfect working condition it will not be as energy efficient as a recent model. If you want to save on energy, it’s worth investing in new pumps.

There are several signs that will indicate if a pump is not as energy efficient as it could be. A key sign to look out for is a drop in flow. If the irrigator runs a diesel pump, they will also notice the pump needing to run at higher speeds to produce the same amount of water.

With irrigation accounting for a large percentage of energy usage on farms, irrigators can save considerable amounts of money by optimising the energy efficiency of their pumping systems.

Photo: Sterling Pumps.

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2. USE THE CORRECT PUMP FOR THE SYSTEM Selecting the correct sized pump is important to ensure systems are operating with the minimum energy wastage.

Selecting the right sized pump for the job will not only ensure optimal energy efficiency but it will increase its lifespan and reliability.

A common mistake made during pump selection is the overestimation of pump duties during the design stage of an irrigation scheme, which can lead to oversized pumps.

Not only are larger pumps more expensive to install, if they are too big for the individual application, they will consume more energy than is necessary and will need frequent maintenance.

There are five signs to look for if you think you may be dealing with an oversized pump. These are: • increased flow noise • highly throttled flow control valves • excessive use of bypass lines • frequent replacement of bearings and seals • intermittent pump operation.

Undersized pumps can be just as problematic as they reduce a system’s water efficiency.

3. REGULAR MAINTENANCE The moving parts of pumps deteriorate over time due to increased friction from dirt and particle build-up, cavitation from high water pressure, and other wear and tear. Pump components can also become misaligned with use.

Regular maintenance will ensure optimal energy efficiency, increase longevity, and is important for operating efficiency and the early detection of problems. It ensures issues are repaired before efficiency and capacity are lost, and pump failure occurs.

4. ENSURE FITTINGS ARE PROPERLY SIZED AND DESIGNED Improperly sized or designed fittings can also impact the overall energy efficiency of a pump.

For example, impellers are usually available from manufacturers in a variety of sizes, but if an improperly sized impeller is installed, the efficiency is compromised.

Oversized impellers cause excessive energy consumption due to excessive head. Undersized impellers are also problematic as pump efficiency decreases due to reticulation within the pump.

When choosing or trimming an impeller it is important that it matches the requirements of the application to help the pump reach its best efficiency point (BEP). A correctly sized impeller can improve energy efficiency on average by 10 per cent.

5. ENERGY SOURCE Traditionally, pumps are powered by diesel or electrical energy supplied from the grid.

Diesel is the ideal energy source for irrigators in remote locations who are unable to connect to the electrical grid; however, it is less energy efficient than electric pumps and requires more maintenance.

Solar pumps can provide a lower cost alternative in the long term and are an ideal option for irrigators who are wanting a more efficient way to run their systems.

In the past, solar pumps were expensive but a major increase in buyers has seen the cost become more affordable.

Solar can be integrated with diesel or electricity to maintain a constant supply of power when there is limited sun exposure. While solar is unable to work at night and at times when there is less sun, it still saves irrigators money.

For irrigators operating diesel pumps, it can also reduce the amount of maintenance required when operating diesel all the time.

HOT, DRY SUMMER EXPECTED The Bureau of Meteorology predicts that much of Australia has a 60 to 80 per cent chance of receiving below-average rainfall this summer.

Below-median rainfall is expected from December to February for much of WA, excluding its interior; large parts of the NT; northern and eastern parts of Queensland; northern coasts of NSW; southern parts of SA; and Tasmania.

In contrast to much of the country, large areas of the interior have a near equal chance of above or below average rainfall for this period. However, if above-average rainfall occurs, it is unlikely to be widespread.

Both maximum and minimum temperatures across the country are highly likely to be above average, with at least 2.5 times greater likelihood of being unusually high.

Climate drivers such as the ongoing El Niño in the tropical Pacific, the positive Indian Ocean Dipole, and the weakly negative Southern Annular Mode (SAM) index contribute to the forecast.

Australia's climate has undergone significant warming, with an increase of approximately 1.48 °C since 1910, leading to more frequent extreme heat events. The Bureau's climate model, incorporating the influence of climate change and natural climate drivers, forms the basis for these long-range forecasts.

Source. Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology

website.

Acknowledgment. Thanks to Sterling Pumps for contributing this article.

SUMMER 2023

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THE BIG ISSUE THE ECONOMICS OF IRRIGATED URBAN PARKS • Research from the University of Western Australia has found that having an irrigated park nearby has a measurable impact on property prices for low and medium density housing.

Councils across Australia face the challenge of providing quality open spaces for a growing population while contending with increasing water scarcity. But research by PhD candidate Claire Doll points to a new approach to park design that could help councils reduce costs and water use while providing residents with the kind of parks they want.

• For high-density housing, being close to non-irrigated parks also resulted in higher property values.

First study to integrate irrigation data

SNAPSHOT

• Average property prices increase by up to $3800 for each one per cent increase in park area.

• The study also found that people prefer park designs with more native vegetation and less irrigated grass than traditional park designs.

• Councils and the community could benefit by rethinking park design.

New research from the University of Western Australia has found that having an irrigated park nearby can have a measurable impact on property prices. The work also shows that people prefer park designs with more native vegetation and less irrigated grass. By rethinking park design norms, councils, the environment, and the community could benefit.

A new approach to urban park design could benefit the environment, the community and council budgets.

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One question that Claire’s work addressed was how nearby parks, which differ in their watering requirements, influence property values.

“Other studies have looked at the general influence of nearby parks on property prices,” says Claire.

“But this was the first study to integrate information about how much water goes into maintaining different parks.”

The research focussed on how distance to irrigated and non-irrigated parks influences property prices of low, medium and high-density properties.

“We wanted to get a dollar-value estimate of irrigated versus non-irrigated parks,” Claire says.

“We looked at property sales prices over the last five years and tried to explain them using information about the structural components of properties – things like size, number of bedrooms, whether they had a pool.

“We also included neighbourhood components, such as nearby schools and suburbs. Finally, we separated out environmental values, one of these being the distance to nearby parks.”

Claire worked with eight local governments, which provided data on the irrigated area of parks and how much water is used to irrigate each. The study included 1700 parks occurring within a 250 m radius of 50,000 residential properties.

Irrigated parks boost property prices

“Other studies have investigated the general influence of nearby parks on property prices, but this is the first study to integrate how much water goes into maintaining parks.”

TABLE 1. INCREASE IN PROPERTY PRICES WITH EVERY ONE PER CENT INCREASE IN PARK AREA

Claire Doll, PhD candidate, the University of Western Australia.

The study found having a park nearby can influence the price of a property – but this depends on both the type of residence and on the characteristics of the park.

“We found that for low-density housing, only small, irrigated parks positively contribute to sales prices. For medium-density properties, large, irrigated parks positively influence property prices. However, non-irrigated parks have no effect on property prices for either of these property types,” says Claire.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the study found that for highdensity housing (apartments and condos) with limited or no outdoor space, property prices are higher if the residence is close to any park, regardless of its size or whether it is irrigated.

With a one per cent increase in park area, average property prices increased by between 0.001 per cent and 0.009 per cent (see Table 1). To put this in perspective, the average property price increased by $1000 or more for each one per cent increase in park area.

This effect was particularly pronounced for high-density housing where property value increased by up to $3800 for each one per cent increase in nearby park area.

Low density Medium density High density

Small irrigated

Small nonirrigated

Large irrigated

Large nonirrigated

0.0013%

-

-

-

-

-

0.0025%

-

0.004%

0.0088%

0.0072%

0.0035%

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THE BIG ISSUE

An ‘ideal’ park design incorporates 44 per cent irrigated grass and 56 per cent native vegetation.

People want more trees and less irrigated grass Claire also conducted a large survey of Perth residents to determine their preferred mix of different groundcovers in urban parks. Participants were asked to choose between park designs that varied in terms of ratio of watered grass to other groundcovers.

“We found that the ideal amount of watered grass in local and neighbourhood parks may be lower than current practices,” says Claire.

People expressed a range of preferences but overall, the most-preferred park groundcover mix is 44 per cent irrigated grass and 56 per cent native vegetation. This is a far smaller irrigated area than a typical park design of 80 per cent watered grass and 20 per cent mulch and tree cover.

People were also willing to pay $214 per year per household for changes from the baseline to optimal park design.

Rethinking park design for long-term economic benefits Claire used benefit-cost analysis to determine how much councils are likely to benefit (or lose) economically over a thirty-year timeframe, depending on which park design they invested in.

To assess the economics of different designs, Claire calculated net-present values (NPV), a method that accounts for the fact that a dollar you get in the future is not worth as much as a dollar you have today because you could do something with it, like invest it. So, NPV helps you decide if a project is a good idea by showing whether it will make you more money in today's terms than it costs.

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The study showed that over a thirty-year period, the highest positive NPV for councils was provided by a park design incorporating 60 per cent native vegetation and 40 per cent irrigated grass, which gave a NPV of more than one million dollars. The analysis factored in the cost of establishing and maintaining grass and native vegetation as well as non-market benefits.

The 60:40 native vegetation to grass ratio might be the sweet spot, as it was also the design preferred by survey respondents in the earlier study.

Park design and water use for the future “With water scarcity, urbanisation, and a shift towards highdensity living, councils are beginning to rethink urban park design, exploring approaches that require less water,” Claire says.

“This research shows that a new approach to the way we design and irrigate public open spaces could benefit councils, the economy, the environment and communities.”

Acknowledgment. This article was based on Claire Doll’s New WAter Ways seminar ‘The economics of public open spaces under water scarcity’. You can view the presentation here.

Information. For more information about Claire’s work, visit her website, EconClaire.

Eve White, Irrigation Australia Limited

CASE STUDIES FEATURE New irrigation system for South Australia’s Morphettville Racecourse SNAPSHOT • Think Water Adelaide recently completed stage 1 works of a new irrigation system for Morphettville Racecourse.

• The racecourse crew wanted a maintenance-free system with good uniformity, the capacity to irrigate the chutes and remote control.

• The system was designed to be able to deliver adequate water to maintain turf quality even in the driest summers. It can be completely depressurised during race days to ensure sprinklers aren’t set off unexpectedly.

• The system comprises four pumps, 191 sprinklers on the course proper, and additional sprinklers to cover the chutes, HDPE poly pipe and a two-wire control system for ease of maintenance and installation.

• The new irrigation system has reduced watering windows and considerably reduced labour time that was required to maintain the previous system.

The team at Think Water Adelaide recently designed and completed stage 1 of the installation of a new maintenance-free irrigation system for South Australia’s premier racetrack, Morphettville Racecourse. They achieved this within just three months between racing seasons and with the logistical challenge of having to work around training times. Irrigation Australia Journal spoke to the team to find out what was involved.

Morphettville Racecourse is home to South Australia’s largest racing club, the South Australian Jockey Club. The racecourse has two racetracks – a 2307 m course proper and a 2100 inner track, known as the Parks Track – as well as extensive training facilities.

New system needed The 20-year-old irrigation system was becoming a maintenance nightmare. The track crew were spending considerable time on troubleshooting and maintenance – hours that could have been dedicated to other projects on the course.

Racing Operations Manager Justin Groves says, “We were pretty much running on one and a half pumps for the last few seasons. All pumps needed replacement, the filtration system was not working to capacity and had many leaks. We had the challenge of having to run new cable often, due to faulty wiring that had perished. The whole system was not running to the standard we needed, and this compromised our surface”.

Groves says the main features they needed in a new system were: • a system that works hydraulically, ensuring improved uniformity and reduced run time • increased sprinkler capacity dedicated to irrigating the chutes instead of using temporary sprinklers with hoses • remote control capability for system management • individual heads controlled by the push of a button on the phone.

Within just three months between racing seasons, the team at Think Water Adelaide designed and completed stage 1 works of a new maintenance-free irrigation system for Morphettville Racecourse.

SUMMER 2023

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CASE STUDIES FEATURE The track team engaged Think Water Adelaide to design and construct a new maintenance-free system, including a new pump station, central control system, mainlines and sprinklers.

Stage 1 of this significant project was recently completed.

This included work on the course proper, the Parks Track, the sands and practice areas.

PLANNING UNDER A TIGHT TIMEFRAME The first challenge faced by the Think Water staff was a tight timeframe for completion.

“The project came to us at the end of March, and the timeframe for installation was ideally over winter – three short months later,” irrigation designer Averlie Cameron says.

“Ensuring we had all of the necessary information to make the system as efficient as possible was of the highest priority, and this was one of the challenges we encountered with the tight timeframe”.

The Think Water Adelaide team had many planning and design meetings with the Morphettville track staff to get a clear understanding of their needs and constraints. They discussed the key considerations, including the windy conditions, track width and size, trainer use, watering windows and working times available in relation to daily, weekly and seasonal changes.

WATER SOURCE A substantial wetland area lies in the centre of the course.

During winter months, excess stormwater filters through to a limestone aquifer storage and recovery system that lies beneath the course. This provides more than enough water to irrigate all year round.

DESIGN WITH THE BIGGER PICTURE IN MIND For Cameron, the bigger picture was front of mind when designing the irrigation system.

“The feel of the course is vitally important on race day and can have a flow-on effect for horses, jockeys and everyone involved on race day,” she said.

“We had to ensure that even during the worst-case climate scenario – a dry, hot Adelaide summer – the system would be able to apply adequate water to the course to maintain the optimum racing grade.”

As always, hydraulic calculations were critical in designing an efficient system. The team calculated and trialled a range of piping size and crossing scenarios to achieve the optimum design layout for the course, ensuring water would get to where it was needed, at the optimum pressure, without overcompensating or overcapitalising on pipe size.

Another issue to factor in was how to avoid unplanned sprinkler surprises.

“As you can imagine, sprinklers popping up during a horse race could have serious consequences. This has happened before – the vibrations caused by the horses galloping past

26

sprinklers have been enough to set them off,” Cameron says.

To combat this, the team included checks and balances within the system to ensure the entire system can be completely depressurised during race days. This means that, provided the proper procedure is followed, there is no way any sprinkler can pop up on race day.

“This is probably the most unique design issue I’ve had to deal with,” Cameron said.

STAGE 1 COMPLETED ON SCHEDULE Over three months, the team completed stage 1, which included all works associated with course proper, the pump shed, temporary cabling system for the Parks Track on the existing system and new cabling to the existing sands and practice areas.

Pumps and filtration system. Four Grundfos Hydro MPC-E 4 CRNE 45-3 pumps were selected for their output and uniformity, and a Netafim Alphadisc Duo XL 6 filtration system was installed.

Pipework. A combination of excavators and A combination trenchers was used of excavators to complete the and trenchers was used to trenching. complete the For the mainline, trenching. the team installed electrofusion-welded HDPE poly pipe, which will last longer than the PVC mainline used in the previous system. The piping included: • 315 mm pipe for the branch extending from the pump station to the track rings • 160 mm pipe for the two course proper ring mains (approximately 5500 m in total) • 110 mm for the two ring mains on the Parks Track (approximately 5300 m in total), which will be installed in stage 2.

All sprinkler assembly pipework from the main to the sprinkler is also HDPE poly pipe.

Sprinkler system. On the course proper, a total of 191 Toro 690 Series VIH sprinklers, which have a 32-metre throw, were installed to suit the track width. Eight Perrot VP3 VIH sprinklers were installed to cover the chutes, and Toro Infinity 55 VIH heads will be used on the Parks Track.

Control system. The racecourse managers opted for the Toro Lynx Smart Module control system. This was a natural progression from their previous system, a Toro Site Pro, according to Luke Behn, director of Think Water Adelaide.

The Toro Lynx Smart Module gives the end user great control, allowing them to view everything at a glance with easy operation, either on site or remotely.

The Lynx Smart Hub is a two-wire system, which makes installation and maintenance easier. The Smart Hub can run a quick path check to confirm the whole system is operational and can report on any issues. It can also store and run the fully flow-managed irrigation schedule, even if the central computer is offline.

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One of the biggest challenges was having to work around training times.

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In addition to having a short timeframe for completion, Behn says that the biggest challenge along the way was having to work around times when the course was in use.

“Morphettville Racecourse is the main horse racing facility in the Adelaide CBD, so all the large trainers have many horses training at the track daily. These delays throughout the project made it tricky to keep the momentum for the works at times, but the track staff were extremely helpful whenever possible, assisting us in moving pipe or rails so we could concentrate on getting the new system in the ground,” Behn says.

• Maintain constant pressure • Optimized pump efficiencies • Longer lifetime and reduced lifecyle costs

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Racing and irrigation season is now underway, so the system has been handed over to the track team until stage 2 commences in 2024. Stage 2 works are expected to take eight weeks and will incorporate the Parks Track Irrigation installation and final commissioning.

Groves says the new system has proven to be a great success, allowing track managers to shorten the watering window and irrigate more areas through the night. Having a functioning system also gives staff peace of mind, knowing that they can let the system run through the night without issues and will shut down at the allotted time.

The team has also reduced labour hours on troubleshooting by a whopping 70 per cent, which in turn has freed up time for staff to focus on other vital tasks.

Lowara’s extensive pump range together with our large selection of custom control options, offer a complete line of booster systems ideally suited for the diverse requirements of irrigation.

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

Eve White, Irrigation Australia Limited

08/22

Ph: 1300 4 BBENG www.brownbros.com.au DELIVERING PUMPING SOLUTIONS

CASE STUDIES FEATURE World-class sporting complex receives fully automated irrigation system SNAPSHOT • A private school in Queensland has invested in a multi-million-dollar outdoor sports facility to maximise athletic opportunities for its students.

Richard, from Brown Brothers Engineers Australia, demonstrating the functions of the new control panel.

• The facility was looking for an irrigation solution to ensure its sports fields are kept in optimal condition.

• Total Water Services, together with Brown Brothers Engineers, provided an automatic irrigation system consisting of a Lowara e-SV pump set with an INCA control panel.

• The new automated system efficiently manages water use, adjusts watering schedules based on weather conditions, and minimises water wastage, all without any human interaction.

The state-of-the-art sporting precinct belonging to a private school in Queensland, is set to redefine the standards of educational sporting facilities in Queensland. This multimillion-dollar development promises to deliver worldclass sporting and recreational facilities that will benefit generations of students.

Peter Morath, Project Manager at Total Water Services, was contracted to oversee the supply and installation of the irrigation system. He contacted Brown Brothers Engineers Australia in search of a pump solution fit for this first-class facility.

A WORLD-CLASS FACILITY The school recently developed a new outdoors sports facility to maximise athletic opportunities for its students.

The resulting development, spanning 15.4 ha, features four main fields, two practice fields, six multipurpose courts, four tennis courts, car parking, and supporting infrastructure, catering to a range of sports.

When completed, this project will set a benchmark for school sports facilities and highlight the advantages offered through harnessing cutting-edge irrigation and pumping technologies.

WHEN TECHNOLOGY MEETS TURF Total Water Services was tasked with supplying and installing the irrigation system and water supply infrastructure for the project. According to Peter, this involved a lot of groundwork including stormwater management as well as vital water supply, fire protection, and sewer connections, requiring almost 1.5 km of polyethylene pipeline.

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However, the jewel in the crown was the fully automated irrigation system, complete with essential facilities including maintenance and pump sheds, along with a substantial 360,000 L water storage tank and a weather station.

“With the irrigation system featuring 130 pop-up sprinklers, installed across 45 stations, we needed a cost-effective and reliable pump capable of operating as many stations concurrently as possible,” Peter said.

Lowara e-SV vertical multistage pumps were employed to provide maximum efficiency and lower lifecycle costs.

These pumps deliver the necessary water while minimising energy consumption and water wastage. They also offer the flexibility of operating up to four stations at once.

The INCA control panel incorporates a range of safety features, including low and high-pressure monitoring, precise level sensing, and temperature-sensing capabilities.

water use, adjusting watering schedules based on weather conditions, conserving water during rain, and delivering precise amounts at optimal times. This not only conserves water but also reduces energy consumption, enhances efficiency, and contributes to sustainable and eco-friendly practices.

Peter said, "The automated irrigation system will minimise operational costs and maintain the sports fields in optimal playing condition with minimal human interaction."

This new precinct not only sets new standards for educational sporting facilities but will also highlight the benefits of investing in reliable pumps and modern irrigation technology.

The Lowara e-SV vertical multistage pump set in the new pump shed.

These features ensure the system operates autonomously, conserving water resources and guarding against damage and potential failure. The water tank is equipped with a level sensor that triggers the mainline when water levels drop below a certain point.

Perhaps the most unique feature of this system is its connection to a nearby weather station, fitted with built-in sensors to continuously monitor meteorological conditions, including rainfall and wind. This real-time data is seamlessly relayed to the control panel to ensure optimum irrigation timing and minimal water wastage.

Two of the 130 pop-up sprinklers installed at the sports facility.

A FULLY AUTOMATIC IRRIGATION SYSTEM The Lowara e-SV pumps and INCA control panel, as the core of the system, are instrumental in efficiently managing

Article provided by Brown Brothers Engineers and Total Water Services.

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

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Members: AU $85.00 (incl GST) Plus postage

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

SUMMER 2023

29

IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA NEWS SNAPSHOT • We introduce the new board directors.

• Florence Edwards joins the team as office junior administrator.

• Rainwater Harvesting Australia holds successful event in Canberra.

• Tracy Martin provides an update on what’s going on in the regions.

IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA WELCOMES THREE NEW BOARD MEMBERS

Irrigation Australia is pleased to announce new directors who have filled the vacant board positions following the election in October. Board members serve a two-year term, and this time around, five vacancies were available.

Both Simon Treptow and Peter Brueck were re-elected, and we welcome three new directors: Clinton Hort, Genarro Vellotti and Paul Smith. Simon Treptow was re-elected chair and Val Tripp was re-elected as deputy chair.

Introducing the new directors Clinton Hort, general manager at Rodney Industries, and based in Queensland, has had a passion for the irrigation industry for many years.

“The industry has allowed me to see the country, has educated me and given me opportunities I never thought possible. I feel great pride to be involved in an industry that feeds and clothes the world, as well as providing great living and playing spaces, allowing communities to thrive on a very dry continent,” Clinton says.

“I have been involved in local committees around the country where I have worked over the years and believe that if you want to make a difference, then you need to get involved.

“I hope to be able to assist the board to develop deeper ties with professionals at grassroots level. I also hope to see the strength of regional committees return to effectively guide the board in the direction our members would like to see the industry develop, and to highlight key issues that need addressing.”

Gennaro Vellotti, irrigation engineer lead at Netafim Australia/New Zealand, says he was motivated to join the board by a desire to raise the profile of the industry and improve training and certification.

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Gennaro has been involved in the design and specification of agricultural, greenhouse and landscape irrigation systems for the past 25 years, including designing some of the largest agricultural irrigation systems in Australia encompassing a range of crops and types of system.

“I want to give back and help guide the association in the right direction. My priorities are to help grow the membership base and to act as a representative for members, ensuring that they are heard, he said.

“I think it’s important to raise the profile of the industry at a government level, and to continue to improve the training and certification programs. We’ve got apprenticeships in various trades, but irrigation is not quite at the level of some other sectors yet – we need to continue to raise the standards for our industry.”

Gennaro says he looks forward to contributing his industry experience, technical knowledge and project management skills to the board.

Paul Smith is the general manager and one of the directors of Pumps N Pipes Supplies in Mandurah, WA. Paul, who has recently returned to the industry after a 25-year hiatus, is responsible for the rebranding and future business development opportunities and direction of the company.

“While looking at ways to add value to our base clientele, I have found renewed my passion for the industry,” Paul says.

“I saw some significant changes had occurred.

Developments in technology and the concern for environmental issues have resulted in positive steps forward, and I'm eager to play a part in the ongoing development.”

“The training and development framework is a key issue.

Educating the next generation of water users on how best to use and conserve water is vital. Through training we can also add value to our members with the development of their staff.”

Paul says he’s excited to be working with the board and is looking forward to the challenges ahead.

Farewell to Andrew and Momir We again acknowledge the invaluable contributions of retiring Director Andrew Ogden over many years, and of Momir Vranes over the last eight years. You can read Andrew’s reflections about his time on the board on page 43. Momir will continue to support the Australian National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage.

Irrigation Australia would like to thank all who nominated for the board.

FLORENCE EDWARDS JOINS THE TEAM

Florence Edwards is a new member of the Irrigation Australia team.

Here, Florence tells us about her work and her active life beyond the office.

“My role at Irrigation Australia is as an office junior administrator. I’m responsible for ensuring admin processes related to membership are running smoothly. I also process and pack the online store orders, answer phone enquiries, and assist other staff on the membership and training teams with tasks around the office.

I am really enjoying the different working environment and the challenges it brings. Having only graduated high school last year, this is my first ‘office job’ so I am learning a lot about how an office runs and how people collaborate on tasks. I’m really looking forward to the opportunities for growth this role will offer. With the conference and exhibition next year, there is lots of exciting jobs in planning and development that I am keen to get involved in.

Outside of work, I play touch football and have coached a junior team. I also play social hockey and netball during the week. I often spend weekends at the Sunshine Coast or catching up with friends. I am also currently training to complete my first open water swim next year, which has been a goal for ages. Additionally, a fun hobby of mine is crochet – anything from bags and blankets to tops, jumpers and scarves.

Some things I want to tick of my bucket list include travelling to Croatia and Poland, working a ski season in Japan as I studied Japanese throughout high school, and owning a brown border collie!”

TAKING RAINWATER HARVESTING TO CANBERRA

2. More rain falls on our cities than we use from our dams.

3. Rainwater works.

As the lead indicators build for drought, either now or in a few years' time, we know our communities will be asking hard questions about how we have used natural systems and the lessons of the millennium drought to prepare for a future of increasingly unprecedented challenges.

Hon Professor PJ Coombes, a world-leading rainwater harvesting expert and systems thinker, reminded us that rainwater management continues to be a key element of resilient cities. Rainwater harvesting and water efficiency improve the welfare of Australians and reduce impacts on our biosphere.

The integration of rainwater harvesting and water conservation in urban areas rescued us in drought and improved the performance of centralised infrastructure, the health of our waterways and the resilience of our cities.

Research Fellow Kate Harriden is a Wirradjuri woman and painted an Australia we live in but we cannot see without help. A world where Country is central to everything.

Everything is alive including the rocks and the rivers, and the water in our water tank could be like a member of our family. Kate contrasted and resolved western and Indigenous scientific paradigms to help articulate design principles and how rainwater harvesting might work with these principles.

Michael Smit tackled a summary of rainwater-related policy in Australia. Michael noted a trend away from demand management in building and plumbing codes towards stormwater management planning policies.

However, a reductionist view concentrating on single benefits of rainwater harvesting such as demand management, volume reduction or waterway ecologies doesn’t capture the full benefits of rainwater harvesting, hence the need for a systems view.

Coming out of the event, Rainwater Harvesting Australia will document a vision for Rainwater Harvesting in Australia and the key steps to achieve that vision. If you would like to be involved, contact Rainwater Harvesting Australia through the Irrigation Australia office on 07 3517 4000 or e-mail info@irrigation.org.au.

Rainwater Harvesting Australia, a division of Irrigation Australia, recently hosted a rainwater resilience event at Parliament House, Canberra.

The purpose of the event was to discuss the benefits of rainwater harvesting at the national policy level and the contribution rainwater harvesting makes to the resilience of our cities. The chair of Rainwater Harvesting Australia opened the industry event and three speakers spoke about resilience, indigenous perspectives and the Australian policy framework.

The resilience event considered three key messages from Rainwater Harvesting Australia: 1. We are not ready for drought.

SUMMER 2023

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

Victoria The Victoria regional committee has been busy planning the annual Irrigation Professionals Christmas Breakfast event, which was held in November at Setto Bello Restaurant in Glen Waverley.

This popular event, which has a capacity for 80 attendees, was booked out quickly. It was a great opportunity to enjoy a sumptuous cooked breakfast while networking with industry colleagues.

This year’s guest speaker was Glenn Manton, former Australian rules footballer who spearheads the Whitelion Foundation.

Thanks to the sponsors who supported the Christmas Breakfast: • ABB Ltd • Advanced Irrigation & Sprinklers • Brown Brothers Engineers Australia Pty Ltd • CADSULTIDS • DAB Water Technology • Franklin Electric • Grundfos Pumps Pty Ltd • HR Products • Hunter Industries • Irrigear • MAIT Industries • Nelson Australia

• Netafim Australia Pty Ltd • Pentair Ltd • Philmac Pty Ltd • Rain Bird Australia • Reece Irrigation & Pools • Rivulis Irrigation Pty Ltd • Smart Water Corporation • Sportsgrass Pty Ltd • Triangle Waterquip Pty Ltd • Think Water • Vinidex Pty Ltd

Western Australia Waterwise Expo. The Waterwise Irrigation Expo is a biennial event showcasing the WA irrigation industry. This year’s expo, held on 16 August, was a huge success.

We received 216 registrations, and attendees travelled from across the state to see the latest innovations in water efficiency and participate in a range of walk and talk seminars.

The event’s major sponsor was the Department of Water & Environmental Regulation.

Some 32 companies registered to exhibit, including: • Acu-Tech Piping Systems • Amiad Australia Pty Ltd • Antelco Pty Ltd • APT Water • Aquamonix Pty Ltd • Caprari Pumps Australia Pty Ltd • Davey Water Products • David Moss Corporation • Franklin Electric • Grundfos Pumps Pty Ltd • Hoffgreen Pty Ltd • Holman Industries • HR Products • Hunter Industries • Kisters Australia

• Krohne Australia Pty Ltd • Land & Water Technology • Milkwaukee Tools • Nelson Australia • Pentair Ltd • Pinion Advisory • Plasson Australia • Rain Bird Australia • Rain S.P.A. • Rivulis Irrigation Pty Ltd • Rubble Landscapes • Signal Data Systems Pty Ltd • Sunshower • Think Water • Toro Australia • Water Corporation

Attendees enjoyed a coffee before the plenary session, where they heard from WA Government representatives on the importance of water, and the implementation of waterwise actions to address climate change that make up the Kep Katitjin / Gabi Kaadadjan Waterwise Perth Action Plan 2.

Events like this don’t happen every day, so a special presentation was arranged to honour Andrew Ogden’s service, both to Irrigation Australia and the wider irrigation industry.

Andrew has held a position on the WA Regional Committee for Irrigation Australia since 1995, served as the national board chair for eight years and has been Irrigation Australia company director for the past 10 years. It was a proud moment for Andrew to receive a ‘distinguished service’ badge from the current National Board Chair, Simon Treptow.

Andrew Ogden was presented with a ‘distinguished service’ badge to honour his contributions to the industry.

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During the keynote presentation, we learnt about the reality of a project lifecycle – what goes into a site investigation, followed by an overview of the Optus Stadium field of play.

Next, attendees rotated between field seminars, which covered the artesian bore, pump system, iron filtration system, irrigation control system, and a classroom seminar on ‘what makes a good design’. School grounds staff had the opportunity to learn about water efficiency practices in a dedicated session that covered gathering water-use data, testing sprinkler systems for correct operation, collecting data to determine irrigation uniformity, basic irrigation scheduling and troubleshooting.

2023 Waterwise Irrigation Expo Click to view the video >

Waterwise initiatives. In September, Water Corporation kicked off the spring season with the launch of two Waterwise initiatives.

The Waterwise Sprinkler Checks, previously known as the Spring Sprinkler Check, and now in its third year, aims to help households reduce water use. It offers residential customers in Perth and Peel a complimentary irrigation check by an endorsed Waterwise Garden Irrigator. This assessment ensures that customer’s irrigation systems are prepared for summer and helps them reduce water use.

The second initiative is the Weather-Based Irrigation Controller Rebate Program, which offers 1500 rebates, with a maximum of $300 credited back to successful applicants' future water bills. With up to 40 per cent of all household water being used in the garden, installing a weather-based irrigation controller is an easy way to save water.

The eligible controllers are: • Hunter Hydrawise • Hunter X2 Controller and WAND Wi-Fi module • Hunter Solar Sync • B-Hyve Smart Wi-Fi Irrigation Controller • B-Hyve Pro Smart Wi-Fi Irrigation • Rain Bird LNK Wi-FI Module and a compatible Rainbird controller (ESP-RZXe, ESP-Me, ESP-TM2) • Rain Bird LNK Wi-Fi Module for connection to an existing compatible Rain Bird controller (ESP-RZXe, ESP-Me3, ESP-TM2)

ACT The Rainwater Harvesting Association, a division of Irrigation Australia, recently held an event at Parliament House, Canberra, which attracted 45 registrants from a broad spectrum of businesses. This event was entitled ‘Rainwater Resilience: Integrating Rainwater to Strengthen Urban Systems and Mitigate Natural Disasters’.

You can read more about this event in an article on page 31 of this issue.

“It was one of the busiest shows I’ve been to in my 25 years of irrigations sales. The group format made it easy to spend quality time with people throughout the entire day, rather than trying to cram everyone into a small window. Three-hundred-odd people is a great number for a local show and they were all the people we need to engage with.”

Jeff Sullivan – Nelson Australia

“It was a great event and went very well.”

Steve Boyer – City of Perth

“This year was the first time I attended the WA expo and it was excellent. Both the content and value for delegates was exceptional. Would definitely attend again. The presentations and rotations were excellent and provided good entertainment (including getting out and around the expo in one of the sessions).

I think all regional expos should be more like this and there should be more of them. Thank you and well done.”

Gennaro Vellotti – Netafim Australia

The Rainwater Harvesting Association’s event in Canberra attracted 45 registrants.

SUMMER 2023

33

IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA NEWS Queensland

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

There are two categories:

• Waterwise Garden Irrigator - for professional installation and maintenance services

Field day. A half-day field day was held in October with Unitywater to showcase the Wamuran Irrigation Scheme (WIS). WIS is a recycled water pipeline that will provide yearround water security for several farmers in the Wamuran region, while sustainably managing wastewater from the Caboolture South Sewage Treatment Plant (STP). The scheme will divert Class A recycled water from the STP to farms, giving producers greater certainty for crop planting and enabling them to expand their operations.

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

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

IAL BOARD DIRECTORS Simon Treptow (Chair) Irrigear Stores, Mornington Victoria 3931 Valentina Tripp (Deputy Chair) Davey Water Products, Scoresby Vic 3179 Peter Brueck Waterwise Consulting, Bangor, NSW

Thirty-two members met at Caboolture and had the opportunity to network on the short bus ride to the STP. After an extensive tour of this facility, we headed to the Moodlu Quarry distribution pump station. Then it was back on the bus to meet with two local growers and discuss how the scheme outlet functions at their farm outlet and the how their businesses have benefited from this supply.

Queensland chair. Ben Chapman of Project Pumps and Irrigation recently stood down from the position of chair.

Ben has served as chair of the Queensland region since 2019. He has provided valuable support to members with knowledge transfer and networking opportunities through member events. He has also been a passionate advocate of certification and the incorporation of qualification requirements for irrigation technicians into commercial project tenders. We thank Ben for his positive and enthusiastic contributions over the years.

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Greig Graham Rivulis, Brendale, Qld Rob Nadebaum Rain Bird, Deer Park, Vic Matthew Binder MJ Binder Consulting, Adelaide, SA Carl Walters Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, Shepparton, Vic Clinton Hort Rodney Industries, Chermside, Qld Gennaro Vellotti Netafim Australia/New Zealand, Adelaide, SA Paul Smith Pumps ‘N’ Pipes Supplies, Mandurah, WA

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA TRAINING A training update by Geoff Harvey, Irrigation Australia's National Training, Certification and Marketing Manager.

I am writing this as I sit at my desk for the last time at Irrigation Australia, reflecting on eight years of memories and accomplishments. Today marks the end of a significant chapter in my professional life. The journey has been transformative both for me and for Irrigation Australia.

When I first started here eight years ago, I had no idea of the impact we would make on the landscape of irrigation training and certification. The path we've taken has been one of challenges, growth, and triumphs that have shaped not only my career but also the essence of this association.

I recall the initial days when I took on the responsibility of managing our training and certification programs. The landscape was vast, and there was untapped potential waiting to be harnessed. The vision was clear – to elevate Irrigation Australia into a hub of excellence for training in the field of irrigation.

The journey wasn't without hurdles. Navigating through industry changes, adapting to evolving technologies, and meeting the diverse needs of our members demanded resilience and innovative thinking. As a team, we crafted and implemented strategies that addressed these challenges and propelled us forward.

Over the years, we worked tirelessly to enhance the quality and relevance of our training programs. We developed cutting-edge courses, collaborated with industry experts, and forged partnerships that broadened the scope of our reach. The result was a surge in participation, and the certification numbers spoke volumes about the impact we were making in the irrigation community.

I take pride in the fact that during my tenure, Irrigation Australia has become synonymous with excellence in training and certification. Our student graduates are not just professionals; they are ambassadors of knowledge, spreading their expertise across the industry and beyond. It

is gratifying to witness the legacy unfold in the success stories of those who have passed through our training programs.

As I bid farewell to Irrigation Australia, I carry with me gratitude for the incredible team, the members who trusted our vision, and the countless individuals who have contributed to our success. The journey has been challenging, rewarding, and above all, a testament to the power of collective dedication and hard work.

I’m proud of the contribution I have made to Irrigation Australia and the legacy that I leave behind in the form of increased training and certification activity. As I close this chapter, I eagerly await the new stories that will unfold in the capable hands of those who will continue the journey, building upon the foundation we've laid together.

I wish Irrigation Australia and its members every success in the future.

TRAINING DIARY DATE

COURSE

LOCATION

29 to 31 Jan 2024 (3 half-day sessions)

Irrigation Pumps & Systems

Virtual classroom

30 Jan 2024 (2-hour session)

Certificate III in Irrigation Technology AHC32422 NSW – session 1

Virtual classroom

13 to 15 February 2024 (3 full days)

Meter Installation & Validation

Perth, WA

21 Feb 2024 (2-hour session)

Certificate III in Irrigation Technology AHC32422 WA

Virtual classroom

26 Feb to 1 Mar 2024 (5 full days)

Irrigation Systems Auditor

Melbourne, Vic

5 Mar 2024 (2-hour session)

Certificate III in Irrigation Technology AHC32422 - QLD

Virtual classroom

19 Mar 2024 (1 half-day course)

Basics in Drip Irrigation - Virtual

Virtual classroom

26 to 28 Mar 2024 (3 full days)

Meter Installation & Validation

Brisbane, Qld

4 to 5 Apr (2 half days)

Basics in Wiring & Electrical Troubleshooting - Virtual

Virtual classroom

9 to 12 Apr 2024 (4 half days)

Meter Installation & Validation

Virtual classroom

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

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

Irrigation Australia has become synonymous with excellence in training and certification.

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•

Certificate III in Irrigation Technology

•

Certificate IV in Irrigation Management

•

Centre Pivot and Lateral Move

•

Meter Installation and Validation

•

Introduction to Irrigation | Agriculture

•

Introduction to Irrigation | Urban

•

Irrigation Pumps and Systems

•

Irrigation Efficiency

•

Urban Irrigation Design

•

Commercial Irrigation Design

•

IRRICAD Design

•

Irrigation Installer

•

Storage Meter Installation and Validation

PASSION FOR THE INDUSTRY AND DETERMINATION TO LEARN: JASPER HODGSON COMPLETES CERTIFICATE III IN IRRIGATION TECHNOLOGY

My biggest motivation for completing the Cert III was gaining new skills that we didn’t necessarily use at Council, being primarily a maintenance team, and also to get exposure to some different products (including different brands than what we usually use as well as products that we don’t typically use).

IA. What qualifications/experience did you have beforehand?

Jasper. Before starting the Cert III in Irrigation Technology, I had 18 months experience working on commercial irrigation systems as part of my traineeship. The only other relevant qualification I had before staring was an excavator ticket.

When COVID made its way to Australia, Jasper Hodgson was just starting his Certificate III in Irrigation Technology.

Three attempts to attend the in-person modules were foiled by lockdowns. However, on his fourth attempt, luck was on his side.

Jasper, who works as an irrigation technician at City of Darwin, spoke to us about his passion for providing green space for the community and his thoughts on the Certificate III in Irrigation Technology.

IA. Can you tell me about your role?

Jasper. I work as an irrigation technician at City of Darwin. My day to day includes maintenance of over 360 sites that range from one-station driplines to 70-station parks with a mix of turf, garden beds and tree drippers.

Our irrigation team consists of one supervisor, one leading hand, six full time technicians and an apprentice.

We rely heavily on our gardening staff and members of the public to provide feedback on our sites and their condition, as only approximately 100 of our sites are set up with telemetric controllers that can alert us to issues.

IA. What motivated you to complete the Certificate III in Irrigation Technology?

Jasper. I started at City of Darwin as a horticultural trainee.

Through the traineeship I was supposed to do a three-month stint in the irrigation crew, which ended up being 18 months, as I had found a job that I was very passionate about. Once I’d finished my horticulture certificate and traineeship, I secured a fulltime position with the irrigation team. I was on a bit of a roll with training and put my hand up at Council to continue training and, with Council’s support, I was able to start and complete the Cert III.

IA. Which aspects of the course stood out to you?

Jasper. The importance of testing systems performance at installation so there is data to benchmark against. If there is no data, it’s time to start collecting. If you can get in and record data (pressure and flow at the pump/water source, distribution uniformity from the emitters, pump power draw etc), you can see real-time degradation of your system, which shows where your maintenance efforts need to be applied, as well as backing up what you can see visually.

IA. Can you share your thoughts on how the course was presented?

Jasper. I started the course during COVID. I was able to complete the online components relatively easily from Darwin. Irrigation Australia posted out two workbooks (one per learning block) and an irrigation controller to complete some troubleshooting on.

The in-person modules were a bit harder for accessibility reasons. Being COVID times, I was unable to travel as were the instructors. I tried to fly down to Adelaide, then Darwin went into lockdown when I was scheduled to go. I tried to get to Melbourne and then Melbourne went back into lockdown, I tried to go to Brisbane and then Darwin went back into lockdown. I moved to Adelaide last year (and then Melbourne at the start of this year before moving back to Darwin in August) and was finally able to make the in-person modules happen.

When I was able to complete them, I had a great time, and I learnt a lot that I feel I would have missed if it had been delivered online. I was also able to meet some great trainers and peers that I’m still in contact with today.

IA. What are your career aspirations or plans for future training?

Jasper. I would like to stay in local government. I like being able to provide a green space for the community to enjoy; however, I’d like to move into the planning side of things in the future. Any future training would revolve around moving into the planning side of things, whether that’s via a Cert IV, CID or something else – however, I’m not yet sure.

SUMMER 2023

37

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING INSIGHTS: AN INTERVIEW WITH STUART ALEXANDER When Stuart Alexander left the corporate world more than 20 years ago to pursue a career in landscaping and irrigation, he was unsure how he would cope with the physical work out in the elements.

Clearly the industry was a good fit for Stuart, since he remained, working on jobs ranging from urban and commercial installations to school playing fields, large drip projects and nurseries. Now, he spends his time sharing his considerable knowledge with other industry professionals.

As senior trainer and assessor at Irrigation Australia, Stuart works closely with the training team to develop course content and schedule and deliver training.

“I mainly deliver training to learners undertaking Cert III in Irrigation Technology,” Stuart says.

“Participants come from various sectors of the irrigation and landscape industry, including urban, golf course operations, commercial, and agriculture sectors. Many are contractors and small business owners. Others are installers, maintenance technicians, workshop technicians, retail workers and the greenkeepers.

Stuart says training has always been important to him, and he has spent considerable time on both sides of the fence, as both learner and trainer. Throughout his career, Stuart himself has completed training in a range of areas, including irrigation, horticulture, business, sales, merchandising and training.

“It’s difficult to put a value on the importance of training in any workplace, let alone the irrigation industry,” he says.

“In many ways, undertaking training adds quality to an individual’s working life, and training has always played an important part in my career.

“Training provides pathways, including promotion to leadership roles and increased income, but more importantly you will stand out from the crowd. Training in our sector can lead to certification in specialty areas such as design, auditing, and metering, for example. Without some of these certifications you will miss out on opportunities, as certification is increasingly scoped into work contracts.”

Stuart advises anyone considering training to just get in and do it as soon as they can.

“One of the great aspects of Irrigation Australia’s training programs is the opportunity to build up to a full qualification through less time-intensive skill sets.”

“Often there seems to be no good time to commence a course. We are all so busy and just can’t find the right time to commit to a full course and all that goes with it.”

One of the great aspects of Irrigation Australia’s training programs, Stuart points out, is the opportunity to build up to a full qualification through less time-intensive skill sets. These provide the learner the chance to take on smaller chunks at a time, while working to a full qualification along the way.

Aside from training, another issue that Stuart is passionate about the in workplace is normalising the conversation around workplace health and safety and mental health in the workplace.

“As an industry association, we need to set the tone in many ways. One such way is to acknowledge the importance of honest, timely conversation about those things that we all seem to bury,” Stuart says.

Stuart advises anyone who is considering training to just get in and do it as soon as they can.

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CONTRACTORS’ CORNER THE CHALLENGES AND REWARDS OF RUNNING AN IRRIGATION BUSINESS IN THE ACT

Scott and Brett Amey run Waterland in Canberra.

From finger-numbing minus seven-degree mornings to high-security defence sites, running an irrigation business in Canberra comes with some unique challenges and interesting jobs.

Brett Amey operates Waterland in the ACT with his brother Scott. Between them and their 20 fulltime staff they perform a huge range of jobs, from small maintenance callouts through to large commercial installs and everything in between.

Here, Brett talks about his business, some interesting jobs he’s got on the go and what it’s like to live and work in the ACT. IA. Can you tell me a bit about your business, Waterland?

Brett. We employ 20 fulltime staff, including plumbers and apprentices, irrigation and pump technicians, trades assistants, estimators/designers and retail and admin staff.

We do installation and construction for commercial and domestic sectors, and we have a maintenance division.

We are engaged by state and federal government, major developers and civil companies, sporting clubs and private individuals.

Among other things, we work on golf courses and turf tracks, sports ovals and other sporting facilities that require irrigation, commercial developments and subdivisions, unit developments, civil water supply infrastructure and mining projects.

Our services include pump sales, installation and servicing; irrigation design and consultation; certified non-urban water meter installation and validation; and certified poly-butt-weld electrofusion and extrusion welding.

We own and operate our own plant and machinery, and we operate an irrigation and pump retail store as well offer products from all the major suppliers.

We need to make allowances for these conditions during installation and design to avoid damage and maintenance issues to allow long term usability of our systems. Not to mention these are not enjoyable conditions to work in!

To carry out irrigation works within the ACT it is a requirement to obtain and hold a current Plumbing Licence. This can be a disadvantage, increasing our labour rates, which can make it harder to compete within the mark outside the ACT. Also, due to the high cost of living in the ACT it is becoming harder to entice skilled workers to move here.

The ACT has many sites that are highly sensitive, such as heritage-listed sites, parliamentary and defence sites. This means we need to obtain clearances or permits before works can proceed.

IA. How do you deal with these challenges?

Brett. We use installation practices and products that are fit for purpose, and install protective measures to prevent damage by extreme weather and temperature.

We employ several apprentice plumbers and young tradespeople and provide training along with a good team culture, and encourage growth within the business and the irrigation industry.

IA. What interesting projects have you got on at the moment?

Brett. We’re currently working on several large subdivision projects, one of which contains a multi--sports facility.

We’re also working on the Australian War Memorial irrigation upgrade, which is pretty cool due to the national significance of the location.

We’re also about to start Yowani Country Club in Canberra 18-hole golf course irrigation and pump upgrade; we’re in the final stages of Tura Beach Country Club; and we’re about to start some interesting civil PRV and metering cabinets along with one of our civil clients for the local water authorities.

Into the future, our plan is to continue to provide quality service and products to our clients and quality training for our staff to future proof the industry. We’re also focused on building the design side of the business.

IA. Tell us a bit about what it’s like running a business in the ACT? Brett. One of the biggest challenges is Canberra’s temperature differences throughout the seasons. Some winter days, it’s minus seven in the mornings, with a top of nine degrees. Then in summer we get 35-plus degree days.

SUMMER 2023

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ICID INSIGHTS

YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN AUSTRALIA’S PREMIER IRRIGATION EVENT IN 2024 Planning is underway for the highly anticipated Irrigation Australia Conference and Exhibition and the 9th ICID Asian Regional Irrigation and Drainage Conference. The event will be held at Sydney’s International Convention Centre (ICC) in September 2024.

This important event will bring together some of the world's leading experts, researchers, and practitioners to discuss and explore the latest advancements in irrigation and drainage systems. Australia is universally recognised for its leadership in irrigation practices, products and solutions, which creates an ideal opportunity for knowledge exchange.

The 2024 conference is looking set to be the biggest one yet, with more than 1000 delegates expected from around Australia and further afield.

The event will be held at Sydney’s International Convention Centre in the heart of Darling Harbour.

Photo by TKKurikawa/Deposit Photos.

Now is a good time to think about how you might get involved, whether through sponsorship, presenting or signing up to exhibit your products or services.

Conference theme The conference theme is ‘Irrigation’s role in delivering economically viable food security and sustainable urban spaces in an increasingly unpredictable climate’.

The subthemes are: 1. Governance – identifying and addressing structural and policy impediments to the adoption of better irrigation practices.

2. Investment – fit-for-purpose and cost-effective technologies which support end users to implement sustainable irrigation practices (Environmental, Social, Governance and Triple Bottom Line).

4 To be held at Sydney’s International Convention Centre (ICC) in the heart of Darling Harbour 4 More than 1000 delegates expected 4 Being held in conjunction with ICID’s 9th Asian Regional Conference and 75th IEC Meeting 4 Australian and international exhibitors 4 Retailers, distributors, resellers, contractors, government, installers, designers, irrigation managers and the latest irrigation technology and innovations all gathered in the one impressive venue 4 A three-day conference program with the theme: Irrigation’s role in delivering economically viable food security and sustainable urban spaces in an increasingly unpredictable climate 4 A full social program with plenty of opportunities to meet up with colleagues and friends 4 Technical tours 4 Workshops

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3. Capacity development – ensuring that end users can access and adapt knowledge and systems to support sustainable irrigation practices.

Sponsorship opportunities We are excited to announce that Davey Water Products and Brown Brothers Engineers have signed up as major sponsors of the 2024 event.

More sponsorship opportunities are available. Find out more below Why partner with Irrigation Australia as an event sponsor?

Some of the benefits include: • Strengthening your brand in the market: Aligning your company with this esteemed event demonstrates your commitment to professional development within the sector and further strengthen your brand within the market.

• Heightened visibility: You will have significant exposure prior to the event through the website and marketing materials. There is no better way to position your organisation to a large target audience.

• Stand out in the crowd: Create your competitor difference by producing a unique and dynamic exhibition presence.

• Networking in an educational and social environment: Networking develops quality business relationships through direct one-to-one engagement in a relaxed environment. Meet at one of our many social events or in the exhibition.

• Exclusive company room: Take advantage of our exclusive company rooms within the venue for certain times or for the whole event. Use this space as you choose – some companies are considering using it as a private training space or a reception lounge. Rooms start from $387 for a session. Email info@irrigation.org.au for more information.

The full range of sponsor benefits are outlined in our prospectus, which you can download here. The sponsorship packages in the prospectus are suggestions only – if none are quite the right fit for your marketing objectives and budget, contact us and we’ll come up with something that works for you.

To find out more about sponsoring the event, contact Robert Gunn on 0497 800 962 or Abdul Khan on 0433 159 345 or email irrigationpartnerships@theeventgap.com.au.

Call for abstracts!

Do you have knowledge to share with the industry? We are seeking presentations on a range of topics that fit within the conference theme.

This is a unique opportunity to showcase your expertise, share your insights, and engage with a diverse audience of irrigation and drainage professionals. We invite you to contribute to the event’s success by submitting an abstract for consideration.

You can elect to present a full session, join panel discussions or present a poster.

The conference represents a unique opportunity to share your expertise and engage with a diverse audience of irrigation and drainage professionals.

Why participate? Presenting at the event can be a great way to: • increase visibility and recognition in your field • network with peers and industry professionals • contribute to the advancement of knowledge in irrigation and drainage.

Submission process. You can submit your abstract through our online submission portal. You will be required to provide your contact information, a brief biography, and a 300-word abstract. Learn how to upload an abstract here.

The exhibition provides an unparalleled opportunity for organisations to showcase their products and services.

Key dates. The abstract submission deadline is 26 January 2024 and successful delegates will be notified on 1 March 2024.

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ICID INSIGHTS Secure your exhibition space Exhibition space is selling fast. The highly popular exhibition is an integral part of the event. It offers an unparalleled opportunity for organisations to come face-to-face with attendees, providing a marketplace to increase your organisation’s visibility, and to showcase and demonstrate your products and services.

Meal breaks for conference delegates will be held within the exhibition space, ensuring you have significant exposure to a large audience over multiple breaks throughout the event.

To speak with our team regarding exhibition opportunities, call Robert Gunn on 0497 800 962 or Abdul Khan on 0433 159 345 or email irrigationpartnerships@theeventgap.com.au.

Social events An important part of every conference is the social schedule, and the organisers are making sure you’ll have no shortage of opportunities to catch up with new and old friends and colleagues. Delegates can look forward to a welcome reception, happy hour drinks and the ever-popular conference dinner, which is always a sell-out.

Stay tuned to find out more We’ll be providing updates on the conference website, via our e-news emails and in the journal as planning progresses.

Stay tuned for details about the conference program, scheduled workshops, tours, exhibitors and more.

Information. Visit the conference website to find out more.

Supported by:

IN THE NEXT ISSUE The Autumn 2024 issue of Irrigation Australia Journal will feature: EDITORIAL > Urban design > Digital technology in irrigation ADVERTISING FEATURE > Smart irrigation and irrigation products CONFIRM YOUR ADVERTISING PRESENCE NOW! Contact Brian Rault on 0411 354 050 or email brian.rault@bcbmedia.com.au

EVENT SCHEDULE CONTACT/ INFORMATION

DATE

EVENT

LOCATION

26 to 28 February 2024

1st Middle East Regional Conference

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

a.almajed@ sio.gov.sa, ma.alomair@sio. gov.sa

30 May to 1 June 2024

14th International Drainage Workshop

Dushanbe, Re-public of Tajiki-stan

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

1 to 7 September 2024

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

Sydney, Australia

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

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

Eddie Parr

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

Carl Walters

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

Michael Scobie

Peter Hayes

Andrew Ogden

Richard McLoughlin Karlene Maywald Claire Miller Amin Machiani

MY VIEW ANDREW OGDEN: REFLECTIONS ON TEN YEARS ON THE IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA BOARD As Andrew Ogden departs the Irrigation Australia board, he reflects on his time on the board and the association’s accomplishments and challenges that time.

Prior to joining the board, I had been involved with Irrigation Australia through the WA region for many years, as I believe in giving back to the industry from which I make my living. If we have a positive, visible and recognised industry representation, then all in the industry benefit.

I nominated for the board when we were facing significant challenges in 2011–2012, including the loss of Horticulture Australia (HAL) funding, which had supported many Irrigation Australia activities. There was a risk of Irrigation Australia being splintered, with frustrations in different regions coming to the fore. I could see more benefit in our industry being represented by one national body than by independent state bodies, so I thought it best to do what I could to help keep our national organisation alive.

It was a huge surprise both to be elected when I nominated and to be selected as vice chair at my first board meeting.

Successes In my view, Irrigation Australia’s significant accomplishments during the past 10 years have been: • surviving after the loss of HAL funding.

• achieving a significant increase in industry recognition by applying consistent branding across all communications • achieving trade-level recognition for Certificate III in Irrigation Technology – the level of unity from a broad range of industry participants working to achieve this goal was amazing • survival through the COVID-19 pandemic, and the rapid transition to online training • the successful National IAL Conference and Exhibition and ICID conference, held in Adelaide in October 2022. After a long (COVID-driven) period of limited industry contact, the feel of joy in our members at coming together in Adelaide was palpable.

Challenges After the loss of HAL funding, finances were severely constrained. We needed weekly monitoring of cashflow and detailed financial management to enable the organisation to survive. Bryan Ward was engaged as CEO in 2016 and did what was necessary with gusto, addressing the members’ needs while closely watching the finances.

Another challenge was the massive impact of COVID-19.

We achieved a rapid transition to online training through an enormous amount of work by Irrigation Australia’s dedicated staff, and the support of members who embraced the online courses.

One piece of advice I would give to new and future board members is: Don’t be hesitant – speak up, contribute your opinions and experience to the discussions for the good of the industry.

Industry changes over the last decade Technology. The need to maximise the benefit from every drop of water has driven a focus on control of water delivery processes, which in turn has delivered the industry more sophisticated methods of irrigation control. Similarly, the methods of applying water at the plant have become more varied and more specific to different crops.

Scale. To enable Australian producers to be competitive in a world market, many commercial food growers have increased the scale of their operations, and the associated irrigation systems have grown and become more complex.

Climate. As a result of changing climate patterns, regulators have focussed on improving water management. Irrigation professionals have had a growing responsibility to deliver innovative yet robust water-use efficient solutions.

Knowledge and experience are precious resources One thing I’ve noticed over the years is that many of us tend to undervalue our own knowledge. Every board member brings with them their own unique background and experience. One piece of advice I would give to new and future board members is: Don’t be hesitant – speak up, contribute your opinions and experience to the discussions for the good of the industry. Your unique knowledge is more valuable than you know.

Andrew Ogden

SUMMER 2023

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ARTICLE GROWING WATERMELONS IN THE DESERT: IRRIGATION CHALLENGES AND COMMUNITY BENEFITS Under the vast blue sky, watermelons, irrigated by water drawn from deep below the ground, dot the red sand plains. Desert Springs Farm in Central Australia produces 8000 tonnes of melons per year and provides income, training and employment to the Traditional Owners of the land.

The 1200-hectare farm is located on Aboriginal land near the Ali Curung community, 390 kilometres north of Alice Springs.

This area is dry most of the year with little or no surface water. Summers are long and hot while winter days are sunny with cool mornings. The farm receives around 387 mm annual rainfall, and on average, only ten per cent of this falls during cropping season. This means the farm relies heavily on groundwater for irrigation.

The cost of pumping groundwater affects crop profitability.

On Desert Springs Farm, the most profitable approach is to focus on higher value horticulture crops supported by lower value broadacre rotation crops.

Desert Springs Farm grows high-value irrigated crops, providing income, training and employment to the Traditional Owners of the land. Pictured: students Lena Walker and Aliana Ryder Photo: NT Dept. Ed.

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Vincent Lange, CEO of Centrefarm, spoke to Irrigation Australia about Desert Springs Farm and the challenges of irrigating in the desert.

Background Centrefarm, a not-for-profit company owned by the Aboriginal people of the NT, manages the lease area of Desert Springs Farm. Centrefarm exists to explore commercial and sustainable development of Aboriginal land in the Northern Territory.

Groundwater allocation • An NT Government investigation of soil and land suitability in 2016 identified more than 43,840 ha of land suitable for a range of irrigated agricultural crops.

• The groundwater allocation for agriculture in this region is 86,970 ML per year. Around 25 per cent of this has been set aside under a Strategic Aboriginal Water Reserve (SAWR) for use by Traditional Owners.

• Desert Springs Farm holds a groundwater extraction licence (GWEL) of 6000 ML. Plans are in place for this to be used across a range of crops in the short to medium term. The NT Government does not charge for water extracted under the GWEL.

Centrefarm, via Alekarenge Horticulture Pty Ltd, rents the lease area to AFM Central Australia Pty Ltd, a non-Indigenous family business responsible for the everyday operations of the farm.

The farm has eight production and three monitoring bores.

Photos provided by Centrefarm.

Irrigating melons The farm produces two crops of watermelon per year, which require about 7 ML of water annually, delivered by drip irrigation.

The autumn crop is planted in February and harvested May and June while the spring crop is planted in August and harvested from October to December. The irrigation rate varies little throughout the growing season.

Cereals and grain legumes, grown as rotation crops, also require about 7 ML of water annually, which is delivered by centre pivots.

The water table in this area is low – below 100 m in some areas. Once bores are drilled, it rises to between 8 and 20 m below the surface. The farm has eight production and three monitoring bores, and submersible pumps extract water from depths of 35 to 40 metres at a rate of 20 to 40 L per second.

Fertiliser is introduced through the fully automated MAIT irrigation control system. The water is delivered via drippers beneath a plastic layer, which reduces the leaching of nutrients in the sandy soil.

The challenges of sand The main challenge when it comes to irrigation is the region’s Red Kandosol soil.

Vincent says, “The soil profile is more than ten metres of thick, deep, red sand that drains readily. This affects how much water is required. We try to maximise organic matter by doing very little burning of stubble, and turning most of it back in.”

Sand can also present issues for the pumps.

“If we pump the bores too hard, we don’t seem to have issues with the standing water level dropping greatly,” Vincent notes. “But we do have issues with sand coming in and chewing out the pumps.”

This can be an expensive problem, and Vincent emphasises the importance of learning and adapting.

“A good practice is not to pump the bores too hard. We’ve found it’s best to have more bores and to pump at lower pressures. Bore construction is also important – one thing we’ve found is that it’s worth packing gravel around the screens where the water comes in to reduce the amount of sand that enters.”

Food security, training and employment Desert Springs Farm gives the local community fresh produce, employment opportunities and the opportunity to participate in the regional economy.

Since 2020, the lease income has part-funded a successful horticultural training program to help people develop skills and improve employment pathways. Both school students and adults can learn horticultural skills, including irrigation, fencing, plant propagation and marketing.

Plans and concerns for the future Vincent believes the main threat to the future of sustainable agriculture in the area is the level of water extraction planned for the region.

“We are very concerned about large-scale developments.

At the moment, our water quality is acceptable, but we don’t know how the high levels of extraction might affect water quality, particularly in terms of salinity. This is our big concern.

Additionally, large production into niche market windows could lead to oversupply, lower prices and profitability.”

Desert Springs Farm has plans to expand beyond melons, and experiment with other crops including mangoes and asparagus.

Reference. McArthur, L., Barnett, R., Quershi, M.E. and Stacey, B. (2022) Case studies report baseline study – agricultural capacity of the Indigenous estate, Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia (CRCNA). The report can be downloaded from the CRCNA website.

Eve White, Irrigation Australia Limited

SUMMER 2023

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ARTICLE NEW DEMAND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM PROVIDES MORE CONTROL FOR IRRIGATION AUTHORITY AND ITS CUSTOMERS SNAPSHOT • Irrigation authority Pioneer Valley Water (PVWater) recently transitioned to a new non-proprietary demand management system.

• The new system is easier to maintain, less labourintensive, and provides more flexibility and control for both operators and customers compared with the previous vendor-locked system.

• PVWater says that the system is still evolving, but with the improved efficiency they are already seeing, it is worth the investment.

When the team at Pioneer Valley Water Co-operative Limited (PVWater) in Central Queensland made the decision to transition to a new demand management system (DMS), they had two key criteria in mind. First, they wanted a system that was easy to maintain, and second, it must provide fast, smooth customer interactions.

The answer was a non-propriety system developed by local company Tyeware.

Pioneer Valley Water PVWater is a small not-for-profit irrigation authority that distributes water to around 250 allocation holders – mainly sugarcane growers – in the Pioneer River Water Supply Scheme. PVWater distributes up to 47,390 ML of water annually to irrigators and maintains the infrastructure through which the water is distributed.

Problems with the existing system PVWater’s existing DMS was aging, and maintenance was becoming a challenge. One issue was that it was a vendorlocked propriety system, meaning that only the provider, which was not a local company, could conduct maintenance and upgrades.

As well as this, customers had to place orders over the phone, which PVWater staff had to schedule manually.

PVWater has a small team of four, only one of whom was involved in coordinating the water orders. This meant that he would have to log in from home at all hours of the day to make sure water orders were delivered on time.

The system had room for improvement at the customer end too. It did not enable customers to order online at times that suited them, nor could they track their orders or view their data in real time.

“Ordering water over the phone was a tedious task,” PVWater’s Steven Ford says. “We found that customer engagement was lacking.”

Implementing a flexible solution

Operators can easily create and edit consumer information, including allocation transfers and water transfers. It also makes it easier for staff to monitor infrastructure and water levels, and spot issues remotely.

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PVW engaged Queensland company Tyeware to implement a new DMS. Tyeware’s Director Steven Tye saw considerable potential to improve on the existing system. Tye had developed an agile system, Telemex, built on open standards and protocols to overcome many of the problems associated with vendorlocked systems.

“A non-proprietary system can be managed and maintained by any local person with the right skills – the customer is not locked into a rigid contract with the provider.

A non-proprietary system also has the advantage of being able to integrate different software components, such as finance management systems,” Tye says.

Tye’s approach is to work closely with the customer to tailor the DMS to their needs.

“Some operations, particularly smaller ones, may just want the customer records but not the demand management modules. Others might want the data displayed in a specific way, such as megalitres per day or litres per second,” Tye says.

Network overview that shows currently required flows based on orders.

Telemex integrates with the SCADA control infrastructure, which is a combination of hardware and software that connects sensors that monitor equipment, such as pumps and valves, to a server. Through this control infrastructure, customers can drive the delivery of their own water with minimal oversight and intervention from the time-strapped staff.

The new system More control and reduced costs for PVWater. The new system allows PVWater’s operators to easily create and edit consumer information, including allocation transfers and water transfers. It also makes it easier for staff to monitor infrastructure and water levels, and spot issues remotely.

Ford says, “The new system allows for fluid remote control of our infrastructure, while also allowing us to troubleshoot potential issues from offsite before starting a physical investigation. It also lets us closely monitor key information such as flow rates, total water delivered, pump information and river and well levels.

Some of PVWater’s customers face delivery times of more than 80 hours for their water. Using the new ordering system, the operators can see an easy-to-understand breakdown of when to release water, combined with how much water needs to flow to reach the customer, including multipliers and other factors.

Ford explains, “When we release water, particularly for the first time in the season, the dry channel or creek may absorb a lot of the water before it is wet enough to flow. This has a multiplying effect on the amount and flow required to get water to the customer within the expected lag time”.

In addition to providing streamlined operations and reducing labour, having access to accurate data could help PVWater save money on power bills.

“It is especially important that customers place orders rather than just taking water from the scheme when they want it.

“If we have an accurate order system, then we need only pump the amount required and everyone who does order gets the amount they need. It also means that on some schemes we can stage our pumping times to match shoulder and off-peak electricity charges,” Ford says.

More control and convenience for irrigators. The system also gives the irrigator more control over their orders.

“Customers can place orders at their leisure, while managing their water allocations. They can view real-time information regarding their allocations, such as delivery times and remaining allocation for the water year. This helps them make informed decisions regarding their water use,” says Ford.

Irrigators can also use the data to improve their own operations by contrasting orders with actual metered usage to identify potential issues with pump infrastructure, which may indicate inefficient irrigation practices.

Greater engagement and efficiency Ford says that this is a live and evolving process; PVWater is still developing the system and the irrigators’ confidence is growing.

A feature of Telemex that PVWater is yet to use is the ability to automatically feed demand information to the SCADA system, completely automating the pumping schedules. However, even in its relatively early stages, the system is proving worthwhile.

Ford says “We have learnt that while upgrading our infrastructure came at a cost, it has been worth it in the long run. Greater engagement from irrigators paired with finer control for our operators has resulted in better efficiency for water delivery”.

SUMMER 2023

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THE WATER CONSERVANCY SMART APPROVED WATERMARK – THE TRUSTED WATER EFFICIENCY LABEL With Australia back in El Niño and the warmest start to spring on record bringing drought and potential water restrictions, concerns about how to maintain a beautiful garden will be front of mind for many people. Smart Approved WaterMark (SAWM) is known as a trustworthy label when it comes to water-saving products for the home and garden, helping consumers maintain their gardens even during dry, hot weather.

Smart Approved WaterMark makes it easy for businesses to stand out. This one little label enables consumers to easily choose products, such as irrigation equipment, mulches, soil amendments and other waterwise products approved by SAWM with the assurance that they will see long-term cost and water savings.

Rain-Clik, with its quick response feature, commands an irrigation controller to shut off immediately after rain, thereby preventing overwatering, while Flow-Clik helps identify a break in an irrigation system before damage can occur. The amount of water loss in the event of high external leakage is substantially reduced.

Applicants must prove the main purpose of the product is directly related to reducing actual water use or using water more efficiently. To gain approval applicants must be able to demonstrate that the product saves water or improves efficiency and calculate the amount it saves.

Unsubstantiated marketing claims are not regarded as evidence of water saving.

2. Fit for purpose. That the appropriate use of the product or service is consistent with supplied instructions and other documentation.

To prove this, applicants must provide examples of the information provided to customers to ensure correct use and application of the product.

Hunter Hydrawise, a Wi-Fi enabled irrigation controller equipped with Hydrawise predictive watering, uses local weather data from the internet to fine-tune irrigation systems to water only when necessary, saving up to 50 per cent on watering bills.

Independent, rigorous assessment SAWM is rigorous in its independent assessment of claims.

To be eligible for the Mark, products and services must adhere to all the following criteria and must be proven as stated.

1. Water saving. That the primary purpose of the product or service is directly related to reducing actual water use and/or using water more efficiently, where there is a direct correlation between the use of the product and water savings.

The Independent Expert Panel needs all claims in the application – water saving claims especially – to be independently verified, such as by independent testing, case studies or comparative reports.

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Toro Drip Eze and Enviro-Drip: Extruded in-line drip tube are precise, low flow irrigation products that apply water to the plants at a slow consistent rate, reducing the risk of run-off and water wastage.

BOOKSHELF 3. Meets regulations and standards. That the product or service is of high quality and meets industry standards, and customer and community expectations, in relation to water use.

Proving the product meets the regulations and standards criteria often requires a third party. Applicants must provide evidence that the product complies with all the appropriate national and state regulatory, health, plumbing (Watermark), electrical and standards requirements. Certificates and/ or evidence for the product should be collected before application.

Greywater products sold in WA must be approved by the Department of Health.

All pool and spa covers must have the SAWM Fit for Purpose Certificate to be eligible.

NEW GUIDE SHOWCASES THE ROLE OF WATER IN COOLING OUTDOOR SPACES A new practice guide, Using water to cool residential outdoor spaces, demonstrates how to use water wisely to create cool, comfortable outdoor areas around the home. While other guides discuss energy-efficient home cooling, this guide is different, as it focuses on outdoor areas.

Creating a cool garden involves combining water, plants and architecture to create natural shade, cool the air and cool the ground. Smart technologies can also help maximise the cooling effect.

Designing a cool garden can influence the initial planning of a new house and land package. For instance, designing cool garden zones and internal living zones at the same time creates opportunities to rethink house design, using cool gardens to extend available living areas on hot days.

The role of irrigation

Netafim Techline Purple Dripper Lines: This range is made for distributing greywater around the garden. Bioline’s large holes make it a suitable greywater diversion device for use on the soil surface.

UniBioline distributes greywater beneath the soil surface or under mulch

4. Environmentally sustainable. That the product or service, while satisfying the above three criteria, is environmentally sustainable, and despite claimed water savings will not adversely affect the environment in other areas. Note that services provided by a manufacturer to assist in sales will not be considered.

To demonstrate a product is environmentally sustainable an applicant must prove that it will not adversely affect the environment in other areas. If the product does have any possible negative health and environmental risks, it is necessary to provide details and copies of any consumer safety information provided with the product, such as safety data sheets.

Do you have a product or service that meets the criteria?

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

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

Meet The Water Conservancy or visit the website.

The guide outlines how irrigation can be used for sustainable cooling.

While conventional irrigation simply aims to replace soil moisture lost to evaporation, irrigation for cooling uses more water to sustain higher levels of soil moisture for plant growth as well as increasing evaporation. Irrigation for cooling can reduce instantaneous daytime air temperatures by 2ºC. Adding a misting system can further increasing the cooling effect. Misting uses very little water and can instantaneously reduce air temperature by up to 3.2ºC while the system is in use.

The idea of intentionally using more water might seem counterintuitive to many in the irrigation industry. However, research at Aquarevo House and University of Melbourne trial sites shows that the ideas of water efficiency and water for cooling can coexist. For example, the research found irrigating 1 mm four times over an afternoon cools the air temperature more than irrigating 4 mm all at once. We can also use these systems together with smart controls that turn on only when needed.

Backed by research The guide draws on research by the University of Melbourne, South East Water and the CRC for Water Sensitive Cities.

It focuses on low-density residential development across Melbourne. However, the concepts can also be used for existing suburban homes, or in cities with similar climates.

Information. You can download the guide from the Water Sensitive Cites website.

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BUSINESS FIVE UNEXPECTED WAYS AI COULD HELP YOUR BUSINESS Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the world.

If you’re ready to embrace AI but you’re not sure how to get started, read on. This article by Western Australia’s Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) outlines five ways you might use AI in your business.

Until recently, using AI may have involved simply asking your phone for directions, setting a reminder or changing a song on your playlist. But recently, you may have seen a lot of media buzz around how AI is being used to create content, including writing essays, letters, social media posts and creating customised images, videos and artwork. Now, the latest advances in AI tech have seen the rise of tools such as ChatGPT, Jasper, Canva Magic and others.

It seems that AI is not a passing fad; it could even change the way your business works. We asked one of our SBDC small business advisers, Mark Kostner, to share his expertise on AI for small businesses.

What is AI? “First, it’s important to set some context on what AI actually is in very simple terms,” says Mark.

“Basically, it's like creating a robot that can think, learn and make decisions on its own, without someone telling it what to do every step of the way. It can be similar to having an extra person (or more than one extra) in your business.”

According to Mark, there are a few key areas that AI can help in small business. You might use AI to: • get things done in less time • increase the quality of your output • provide expertise that may not currently exist in the business, which could help your business to do things it couldn’t previously do.

“For example, say a sole trader needs some graphics created. Instead of doing it themselves, AI can do it in a matter minutes. Or let’s say a business owner has never developed a marketing plan, there are AI agents which can, through asking a series of questions, develop a high-quality marketing plan.”

“Ultimately, AI helps to level the playing field between large corporations and small businesses, giving them access to resources that they may not have had access to before, allowing them to do more in less time, often at a higher quality.”

If you’re ready to explore the potential of AI, here are five ideas to put AI to work for you.

#1 Use AI to summarise complex ideas As a business adviser and owner, Mark knows that saving time is a top priority for business owners. Mark uses AI to learn about an area he wants to explore.

“Instead of spending hours reading up on a topic, I often ask an AI such as ChatGPT if it knows the topic and what it knows about it,” said Mark. “I’ll also ask it to summarise the main points and to provide me with action steps I could implement.”

This technique could apply to learning more about any area of business, new developments in your industry, global trends in a field or the technical side of how something works.

#2 Use AI to create formulas and code

Image: AgsAndrew/Deposit photos

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Most business owners use spreadsheets, formulas or coding in some way. Mark recommends using AI to get the most from your calculations.

“I needed perform some complex calculations the other day,” explains Mark.

“I started by using an AI to explain the formula, then I asked it to create me an Excel formula for it.”

You can also use AI to find errors in your formulas, write code for your website and much more.

#3 Use AI to improve and analyse your customer data Through Mark’s own business, he and his team ran a customer survey. They used AI to make the most of the survey insights.

“Normally, we would only include multiple choice options.

It usually takes way too many resources to process openended questions.”

“This time, we opted for open-ended questions and dropped the 450 different responses we received into an AI. We asked it to analyse the data, group the data in themes and list them in order from most to least common. It did all of that in under one minute - something which would normally have taken many hours of work!”

#4 Use AI to streamline your processes When Mark found that a particular process in his business was taking between 20 and 40 hours to complete, he put AI to work.

“I tasked an AI to evaluate the process and develop a new process that can deliver an outcome in under 10 hours.”

“The AI asked a series of questions and provided me with a written document outlining the steps we should take, tools we should use and then step-by-step instructions for each point in the process. This was all done in under 20 minutes.

Just the day before I developed a process for a different workflow which took me over seven hours to develop.”

#5 Use AI to communicate with your customers While there’s no replacement for human connection and interaction, you can use AI to communicate with your customers in a way which suits your business.

“AI can be used to develop proposals and respond to communications such as email,” said Mark. “It can also be trained and used as intelligent chatbots on websites, providing context-based, intelligent responses to your website visitors.”

Acknowledgement. This article is reprinted with the permission of the Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC). The SBDC is a supporter of the small business sector in Western Australia (WA) and has been providing small business owners in WA – including those working within the irrigation sector such as retailers, landscapers and contractors, with free advice and guidance for more than 30 years.

The SBDC advocates on behalf of the small business sector to local, state and federal governments to improve the operating environment including legislation for small business owners. SBDC staff work directly with individual small business owners and operators, as well as collectively through business and industry associations, to exchange information and provide support and assistance to their members.

HUGE POTENTIAL FOR FARM DAMS TO BE USED AS RENEWABLE ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS New research led by UNSW Sydney suggests that Australia's farm dams could serve as innovative energy storage solutions for variable renewables.

The study, published in Applied Energy, explores the potential for connecting farm dams to form micropumped hydro energy storage systems. These systems, akin to household-sized versions of the Snowy Hydro project, could offer tens of thousands of small-scale hydro energy storage sites.

With the increasing use of variable energy sources like wind and solar, storing surplus energy becomes crucial for maintaining a stable and reliable power supply. The micro-pumped hydro system stores excess solar energy during high-production periods by pumping water to a high-lying reservoir and releasing it back to a low-lying reservoir when more power is needed, generating electricity through a turbine-connected generator.

While constructing new reservoirs for this purpose can be expensive, making use of existing farm dams could be a cost-effective solution. The study, using satellite imagery and graph theory algorithms, identified over 30,000 promising sites in Australia from approximately 1.7 million farm dams. The average site could provide up to 2 kW of power and 30 kWh of usable energy. This is enough to back up a household for 40 hours.

Although the study highlights promising prospects, further analysis is needed to address limitations such as water availability fluctuations and pump scheduling. The researchers say a next step could be to set up a pilot site to validate the technology in a real-world scenario.

Micro-pumped hydro energy storage systems store excess solar energy from high-production periods by pumping water to a highlying reservoir, which is released back to a low-lying reservoir when more power is needed. Image provided by author.

Source. UNSW Sydney website.

Information. You can read the full study here.

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STATE ROUNDUP PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION’S PLAN OF ATTACK TO GET THE MURRAY–DARLING BASIN PLAN BACK ON TRACK The Productivity Commission undertakes five-yearly assessments of the effectiveness of the implementation of the Basin Plan and water resource plans. The Commission has recently completed its second such assessment.

The report looks at whether the Basin Plan is on track to be implemented on time, and where it is not on track, what needs to change. This includes advising and recommending future actions and opportunities to simplify the framework of the Basin Plan to ensure effective achievement of its outcomes.

The recent interim report reveals a lack of progress in the past five years and stresses the need for better accountability. While the government's plan extension is seen as necessary, it falls short.

The report urges transparency from Basin governments and suggests cutting funding for unproductive projects. Its key proposals include: • Constraints easing measures are critical to achieving environmental outcomes from recovered water; they are complex projects and should be progressed separately to the 2750 GL per year target.

• The Minister for Water should report to the Australian Parliament by June 2024, and annually after that, on the cost effectiveness and feasibility of existing and new Commonwealth funded supply projects.

• The Australian Government should develop a renewed approach to water recovery, including staged voluntary purchases. Waiting until reconciliation (now proposed for the end of 2026) to address the shortfall will perpetuate uncertainty for Basin communities and risks further increasing the cost of water recovery.

• Future water recovery should occur alongside a commitment from Basin governments to assist communities, where warranted, to transition to a future with less available water. Adjustment assistance should build on the evidence about what programs work and the regional economic context.

• A new government-owned corporate entity that operates at arm's length from governments is an option for undertaking water recovery and implementing some supply projects.

Information. You can download the full report from the Australian Government Productivity website.

NEW WEBSITE FOR WATER CAREERS The Australian Water Association (AWA) and the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) have launched a new Careers in Water website to increase awareness and attraction of talent to work in water and be part of delivering a sustainable water future.

The site is a hub for water career information, including a water-sector-wide Employee Value Proposition (EVP), along with branding and collateral available for anyone to use when recruiting or looking to attract people to water opportunities.

The site also includes a link to the H2Oz jobs platform.

Over time, this initiative will develop beyond the website to include partnerships between schools, universities and our sector, innovative skills and employment pathway resources and inspiring case studies and stories to enable our sector to encourage and acquire the skills to fulfill critical roles now and in the future.

Information. You can visit the new Water Careers website

here.

AUSTRALIA’S LARGEST WEIR SINCE WORLD WAR 2 NOW COMPLETE The construction of the $568.9 million Rookwood Weir in Central Queensland was completed in November. The weir, which is the largest weir built in Australia since World War 2, will provide up to 86,000 ML of water annually for agriculture, urban and industrial use.

More than 36,000 ML of water has already been allocated to agricultural use, with a mix of small businesses and larger enterprises from the region now able to expand or diversify their operations.

A water allocation from the weir has been provided to the Traditional Custodians of the land, the Darumbal People, in perpetuity, which will support ongoing cultural and economic development opportunities.

The first water from the weir is expected to be available for use in 2024.

Source. Queensland Government website.

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AROUND INDUSTRY IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA MEMBERS TAKE HOME IRRIGEAR AWARDS Two Irrigation Australia members were recipients of the 2023 Irrigear awards at the recent Irrigear National Conference in Brisbane.

Each year, Irrigear presents two awards – Member of the Year and Supplier of the Year – to celebrate excellence within the network.

Country Water Solutions, which provides pumping, irrigation, filtration and water management services in the Bunbury region of Western Australia, received the Member of the Year award.

Dave Furlong from Country Water Solutions said, “We are proud to be awarded the 2023 Irrigear Member of the Year Award from so many other successful and hardworking Irrigear stores. This award represents the culmination of the hard work and dedication of our employees since we opened the store at the beginning of 2020.”

comprehensive range of high-quality pumps across a wide range of applications and industries. The team also designs, engineers, assembles and tests custom-built pump systems.

This award recognises excellence among some of the best suppliers in the industry. Brown Brothers Engineers earned this distinction through an annual appraisal process that evaluates suppliers across a range of criteria such as product quality, innovation, service and support.

Vickie Thomsen and Peter Gaul of Brown Brothers Engineers.

Michele Schoder and Dave Furlong from Country Water Solutions with their award.

Irrigear General Manager, Simon Treptow, said of the win: “Dave, Michele and the rest of the team at Country Water Solutions, have come a long way in a short time, since becoming Irrigear members only a few years ago. Being recognised as an industry leader, by the industry’s leading suppliers is a tremendous achievement and shows the skill and ability of the whole team”.

Irrigear’s Supplier of the Year award went to Brown Brothers Engineers Australia, which distributes a

Brown Brothers Engineers Managing Director, John Inkster said, "Being named the 2023 Irrigear Supplier of the Year is a testament to our unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation. This has been a highly sought-after award for our team for some time now, so we are honoured to receive this recognition".

Presenting the award Irrigear General Manager Simon Treptow said: “I was delighted to see the 2023 Irrigear Supplier of the Year Award go to Brown Brothers Engineers.

It has been a stated goal of theirs for some time and they have worked really hard on the partnership to earn such glowing references from the stores. Congratulations and well done to the entire Brown Brothers Engineers team!"

Do you have news to share with the industry – perhaps an award, a merger or expansion, change of management or a company achievement? Contact the editor evewhiteediting@gmail.com.

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MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS 5. Conference & Tradeshow Discounts Member discounts on attending and exhibiting at the Irrigation Australia Biennial International Conference & Exhibition.

1.

Irrigation Journal Copies Distributed quarterly in digital format, Irrigation Australia’s signature publication, the Journal, contains valuable industry information about new projects, technologies and techniques for Agriculture, Landscape & Domestic Irrigation.

6. Members Only Portal Gain access to the members only portal on the Irrigation Australia website. Through the portal you can manage your Irrigation Australia membership, register your staff/employees for training, access members only documents, presentation and other materials.

7.

2. Access to the National Irrigation Directory The only national and comprehensive digital directory where you can find details about irrigation retail businesses, manufacturers, installers, contractors, certified professionals.

3. Training Discounts Receive significant member discounts on nationally accredited irrigation training and qualifications delivered by Irrigation Australia in city and regional areas and on line virtually.

4. Certification Discounts Receive significant member discounts on the joining fee and renewal fee to the Certification Program administered by Irrigation Australia.

Certification is a national program of industry recognition. Certification adds instant credibility with customers, increases job opportunities and demonstrates your commitment to efficient water management. Visit our website to learn more www.irrigationaustralia.com.au

To Become a Member of Irrigation Australia

11. International Representation Be part of the global irrigation community and gain access to international contacts via the Irrigation membership of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID).

12. Discounts on Waterwise endorsement Receive significant member discounts on the Waterwise endorsement programs, relevant for domestic irrigation contractors, installers, landscapers and retailers.

Benefit from Waterwise marketing and merchandise to promote yourself as a Waterwise irrigation professional to the community.

See www.waterwiseprograms.com.au for more information.

Access to eKnowledge Irrigation Australia eKnowledge repository has significant resources of technical papers, conference papers, Irrigation Journals and FAQ’s available only for Members.

8. Discounts on Publications and Merchandise Irrigation Australia offers a wide range of books, eBooks and other merchandise through its online store. Members receive significant discounts on materials.

9. Invitations to Regional Meetings & Events Irrigation Australia hosts a number of regional meetings, events and site visits across Australia. This is a great opportunity for members and industry colleagues to come together to discuss new challenges, technologies and network.

Additional Membership Benefits (EXCLUDES PRIMARY PRODUCERS, INDIVIDUALS & RETIRED MEMBERSHIP CATEGORY) 13. Free Listing in the online National Irrigation Directory List your business for free with digital copies reaching the wider irrigation industry which attracts significant page views every month 14. Free Online Job Listing List your upcoming job vacancies on Irrigation Australia’s online job board which attracts significant targeted views every month.

15. Free Listing on Irrigation Australia’s Website List your business on Irrigation Australia’s Website Directory “Find an Irrigation Specialist” on the front page of our website www.irrigationaustralia.com.au

10. Monthly Electronic E-News Receive our monthly Irrigation E-News with the latest information on upcoming training, events as well as new products, information and industry news.

16. Advertisement Discounts on Irrigation Australia Publications Receive significant discounts on advertising in the Irrigation Journal. The Irrigation Journal is distributed each quarter to all members and industry contacts

Join online by visiting www.irrigationaustralia.com.au or contact us at 1300 949 891 or email info@irrigation.org.au

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA ON:

T 1300 949 891 | E info@irrigation.org.au | W www.irrigationaustralia.com.au | QLD: Unit 11/58 Metroplex Avenue, Murarrie, QLD 4172 | PO Box 13, Cannon Hill QLD 4170 WA: First Floor, Unit 2, 26 Hammond Road, Cockburn Central WA 6164 | PO Box 3401, Success WA 6964

MEET THE TEAM DAVE CAMERON Chief Executive Officer IAL Brisbane Office Dave.cameron@irrigation.org.au

MADDISON COWARD Training and Certification Administration Officer IAL Brisbane Office Maddison.coward@irrigation.org.au

NAOMI CARRAGHER Business Administration Manager/ Company Secretary IAL Brisbane Office Naomi.carragher@irrigation.org.au

KASEY BARTON Training and Certification Coordinator IAL Brisbane Office Kasey.barton@irrigation.org.au

TRACY MARTIN National Membership & Regions Manager IAL Perth Office Tracy.martin@irrigation.org.au

ASHLEIGH LANG Office Junior Administrator IAL Brisbane Office Ashleigh.lang@irrigation.org.au

MARIKE FRONEMAN Accountant IAL Brisbane Office Marike.froneman@irrigation.org.au

JEFF DEAN Trainer & Assessor IAL Brisbane Office jeff.dean@irrigation.org.au

REBECCA NEW WA Projects Officer IAL Perth Office Rebecca.new@irrigation.org.au

FLORENCE EDWARDS Office Junior Administrator IAL Brisbane Office florence.edwards@irrigation.org.au

STUART ALEXANDER Senior Trainer & Assessor IAL Brisbane Office Stuart.alexander@irrigation.org.au

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: Dave Cameron E dave.cameron@irrigation.org.au EDITORIAL Editor | EVE WHITE E evewhiteediting@gmail.com ADVERTISING BCB Media | Managing Director | Brian Rault T 0411 354 050 E brian.rault@bcbmedia.com.au DESIGN & PRODUCTION Bubble Creative | Director | Annette Epifanidis T 03 8516 4717 E annette@bubblecreative.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.