The Overflow | Spring 2024

Quarterly Publication of Irrigation Australia (WA Region)

NO. 78 SPRING 2024

IN THIS ISSUE Perth Racing's Ascot Racecourse upgrades

Amberton District Open Space Stage 3

2024 Irrigation Australia Conference and Exhibition hightlights

Popular park in Kingsley becomes waterwise

Spring into action with the Waterwise Irrigation Rebate

Gnangara projects underway

Dick Lawrence Oval innovative irrigation design

Grundfos' commitment to aquifer sustainability

Eye in the sky for turf managers

Waterwise Irrigation Expo 13 August 2025

7 AM - 5 PM

Novotel Vines Resort, WA 6069

Join us at Irrigation Australia’s biennial Waterwise Irrigation Expo!

This premier event is the ultimate gathering for Western Australia's urban landscape industry. Connect with industry professionals and showcase your latest products and water-efficient technologies to a broader audience. Don't miss this exciting opportunity!

REGISTER YOUR EXHIBITION SPACE HERE

DOWNLOAD THE EXHIBITOR PROSPECTUS HERE

Contents Rehabilitation and replacement of Perth Racing's Ascot Racecourse

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Highlights from the 2024 Irrigation Australia Conference and Exhibition

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Spring into action with the Waterwise Irrigation Rebate

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Innovative irrigation design elevates Dick Lawrence Oval redevelopment 18 Amberton District Open Space Stage 3

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Popular park in Kingsley becomes waterwise

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Grundfos' commitment to collaborating with aquifersustainability focused customers

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Gnangara Horticulture Water Use Efficiency projects underway

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Eye in the sky for turf managers

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Front Cover: New guttering collection system for recycling water at Grown Smart, implemented to collect, store and reuse excess irrigation from cucumber crops.

WA Office Staff Rebecca New National Membership Manager rebecca.new@irrigation.org.au Waterwise Administrative Support adminsupport@irrigation.org.au

The Overflow is the quarterly publication of Irrigation Australia (WA Region). Articles published are views expressed by the authors. Irrigation Australia is not responsible for their accuracy and disclaims any liability which may arise from any person acting on the materials contained within.

Editorial content does not necessarily represent the views or policy of Irrigation Australia (WA Region) Publisher/Editor: Irrigation Australia – WA Region PO Box 2249, Malaga WA 6090 Tel: (08) 6263 7774

Upcoming Training & Events EVENT

DATES

LOCATION

Electrofusion & Butt Welding

31 Oct - 1 Nov

Paterson, NSW

2024 WA Annual Regional Meeting

6 Nov

Perth, WA / Virtual

Meter Installation & Validation

12 - 14 Nov

Tamworth, NSW

2024 Annual General Meeting

13 Nov

Virtual

Certified Irrigation Installer

18 - 21 Nov

Perth, WA

Irrigation Pumps & Systems

19 - 21 Nov

Brisbane, QLD

VIC Irrigation Professionals Breakfast

25 Nov

Glen Waverly, VIC

Certified Irrigation Systems Auditor

26 - 28 Nov

Paterson, NSW

Irrigation Systems Efficiency

26 - 28 Nov

Perth, WA

Basic Irrigation Design

30 - 31 Jan

Virtual

Meter Installation & Validation

4 - 6 Feb

Griffith, NSW

Electrofusion & Butt Welding

13 - 14 Feb

Townsville, QLD

Click here for a full list of our upcoming Industry Events and Training Programs.

Chairperson's Report Alison Waters

The irrigation season has kicked off again although I am sure you’re all relieved for a few drops of rain early this spring.

I’m pleased to advise that the agreements between the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER), Water Corporation and Irrigation Australia have now been executed. Its great that we continue to work with these great industry bodies to help steer irrigation and water management knowledge within our great state.

Irrigation Australia’s Conference in Sydney was a huge success with a great number of workshops, exhibitors, interactive zones and social activities.

Great to see a number of awards being distributed at the gala dinner including a lifetime achievement to Andrew Ogden from Western Irrigation. Congratulations

to Steve Boyer from the City of Perth for winning the water efficiency award.

I hope that everyone that attended had a great time networking, attending presentations, field visits and learning about new industry innovations.

I attended the Sports Turf Association Future in turf seminar at the Sam Kerr Football Centre in September. It was great to hear from Daniel Ferguson from DWER about long term forecasting, groundwater recharge and the implementation of the Gnangara ground water management plan. Professor Sally Thompson from UWA also conducted some modelling about irrigation frequency. Her presentation highlighted the importance of soil moisture sensors, smart irrigation controllers with weatherbased abilities. All of these presentations indicate that we are on the right track

with a technology-based approach to irrigation and truly managing our water resources as adequately as we can.

The WA Annual Regional Meeting is on 6 November at 11am at the Irrigation Australia Office in Malaga. If you can make it in person please come along. If you can’t make it, we are also going to stream the meeting on Microsoft Teams so please RSVP if you would like to attend in person or virtually.

Enjoy the remainder of the spring season.

I hope the workload is like a VFD and can ramp up and down heading into summer.

Alison Waters Irrigation Australia (WA) Industry Chairperson

Authorised sprinkler testing signs If you are testing an irrigation system outside of water rostering hours, as a gardening industry professional, you are not required to register for an exemption with the Water Corporation. However, to promote that you are doing authorised work and avoid a possible infringement, we recommend you have a sign clearly displayed at the front of the property.

Updated designs are now available: 1. Magnetic 2. Corflute 3. Car Decals 4. Metal Swing and Stand For pricing and product availability, please get in touch with the WA Office at 6263 7774.

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From the CEO Dave Cameron

Hello… Our Irrigation Australia Conference and Exhibition was delivered on Wednesday 4 September, with the ICID International Executive Council finalised on Saturday 7 September. We had a great event with almost 1,400 delegates and visitors over its course.

Highlights for me included excellent panel sessions including the benefits of irrigated agriculture, and the women in water panel, along with the conference dinner. Jason Banks from This Is A Conversation Starter provided a thoughtprovoking keynote, the awards went to very deserving people and were well-received, and there were plenty of people on the dance floor at the end of the night. It was also nice to see some of the things we tried for the Exhibition go off, especially the Garry the Pipe Robot building challenge.

W.A. featured in three major awards: Water Efficiency Management Award (Individual Category): Steven Boyer from the City of Perth was recognised for his transformative work in upgrading over 100 irrigation controllers to a centralized system. His efforts saved 718,450 kL of groundwater—equivalent to 287 Olympic-sized swimming pools—over the past three irrigation seasons.

Water Efficiency Management Award (Large Business Category): The City of Cockburn was honoured for its innovative approach to groundwater management. By repurposing electrical cabinets into dosing systems and utilising soil moisture sensors, the City is set to face future water restrictions with advanced irrigation technology.

Something like Sydney costs a few million dollars to put on by the time you take into account our costs and the major investment made by our exhibitors and all those delegates travelling to the event.

That doesn’t even begin to value the time of the countless volunteers who help with committees, reviewing abstracts, and so on.

Life Membership Andrew Ogden received a Life Membership for his outstanding contributions to Irrigation Australia, where he served as a director since 2013 and Chair until 2022. His leadership helped guide the organization through critical transitions, including during the challenges of COVID-19. To read more on the awards, see page 12.

The W.A. region often leads the way nationally with this commitment to support the industry in a largely humble and understated way and it was lovely to see some awards to recognise some of these efforts. It’s time to come out of our collective shells and celebrate these achievements – the challenges of attracting good people to the industry are being experienced universally and being overly modest isn’t going to get us there!

Preparations are well underway for the next major event—the Waterwise Expo in Perth, August 2025. We are still working through all of the Sydney feedback but future national events will definitely be way lower cost and at the right time of the year (winter) to maximise member participation. There are always going to be things to improve on but the big ones for me are encouraging more technical/ operational presentations, and theming the event around attracting more young people currently working in and potentially keen to work in our industry.

Irrigation Australia hosts a number of digital platforms that attract a broad audience from the entire supply chain of the irrigation industry including retailers, installers/contractors, landscapers, irrigation professionals, manufacturers, primary producers, students, scientists, researchers and state/local government agencies.

The Advantages of Digital Publications • Digital editions available to readers immediately after publishing • Available to access anywhere at any time • Live links to websites, emails and phone numbers from the articles or adverts • Creates options to use video advertisements • Precise analytics on distribution and readership • Digital publications will be widely distributed electronically using all Irrigation Australia online platforms (ee-news, Social Media, Websites, EDM’s, etc..)

Dave Cameron Irrigation Australia Chief Executive Officer

Regional Update

By Rebecca New, National Membership Manager

Welcome to the Spring edition of The Overflow.

Following a wet winter, Perth welcomed the start of spring with some warmer temperatures in early September, setting the tone for the new season. This shift in weather has energised the industry, and according to feedback from our members, they’ve hit the ground running.

With the sunnier days ahead, it’s shaping up to be a busy and productive season for everyone involved.

Waterwise Irrigation Expo 2025 We are thrilled to announce that the Waterwise Irrigation Expo will take place at Novotel Vines Resort, WA on Wednesday, 13 August 2025, with exhibitor registration now open!

With 50% of booths sold within the first four weeks, this premier event is the ultimate gathering for Western Australia's urban landscape industry.

It’s a fantastic opportunity to connect with industry professionals and showcase your latest products and water-efficient technologies to a broader audience. Plus, the Trade Show will have "free entry" for the irrigation/ landscape industry, allowing exhibitors to reach an even larger audience.

New this year, we are also exploring exciting sponsorship opportunities that

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will provide enhanced exposure and engagement for our exhibitors. More information on these opportunities will be available soon. If you are interested in what these packages consist of, please complete the form here.

Don’t delay! Register now to select from the best booth locations. To reserve your space, go to page 2 or contact Rebecca New directly if you have any questions. Please note that booth availability will be updated regularly, so check the floor plan before submitting your request.

Member Event – Ascot Racecourse Irrigation Australia recently hosted its second WA member event for 2024 at Ascot Racecourse, with an amazing turnout despite the chilly winter morning!

Thanks to the support of Perth Racing, Wittens Irrigation & Design and Western Irrigation Pty Ltd, our members braved a few showers but enjoyed a guided tour of the track, along with insightful presentations on the course and the artesian bore constructed on site. A huge thank you to all the participants and presenters for making this event such a success!

For more information about this project, be sure to check out page 9.

Click HERE to see the full slideshow.

The WA office is actively exploring additional venues for upcoming member events and will send out invitations once confirmed. Do you have a fantastic idea for a member event? Or would you like to showcase your work to other industry professionals? Feel free to reach out to Rebecca New.

WA 2024 - Annual Regional Meeting We are pleased to invite all WA members to attend the 2024 Annual Regional Meeting. This event provides a valuable opportunity to review how the Association has been supporting members and the broader irrigation industry in WA over the past year. For those unable to attend in person, a hybrid option is available to join virtually.

The meeting will be held at our new Malaga office on Wednesday 6 November 2024, at 11:00 AM. If you are passionate about the irrigation industry and interested in shaping its future, we encourage you to consider volunteering for the WA Regional Committee. While our team is strong, we are always eager to welcome new ideas and perspectives.

To register and/or review the Annual Regional Meeting pack, click HERE.

Waterwise – Spring 2024 We are excited to announce that Water Corporation and Irrigation Australia have once again partnered to bring customers the Waterwise Irrigation Rebate as part of this year’s metro Waterwise Irrigation program.

This rebate helps customers improve the efficiency of their irrigation systems to save water. By hiring a Waterwise specialist, customers can claim up to $200 back from Water Corporation after completing eligible upgrades.

While the rebate can still be used to purchase weather-based irrigation controllers, it now also covers services such as educating customers on efficient controller usage, checking and adjusting controller settings, repairing leaks, improving coverage and replacing faulty or inefficient irrigation components. By expanding the rebate to include a range of irrigation services, the aim is to provide customers more choice and foster stronger connections with local Waterwise specialists.

The rebate is available for homeowners and tenants with an operational irrigation system and the work must be carried out between September 2024 and May 2025. With only 2,000 rebates available for Perth and Peel residential customers, and a strong campaign driving early participation, these rebates won't last long!

Nutrien Water – Busselton, GeoCatch and Eco Growth teamed up to host a free workshop on Friday, 4th October, where local experts shared best practices for irrigation and waterwise gardening. The workshop was a great success, and we extend our thanks to everyone involved for helping educate the community on water efficiency practices.

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THANK YOU TO OUR IRRIGATION FUTURES SPONSORS At Irrigation Australia, we are deeply committed to building a sustainable Australian irrigation industry through applied research, high-quality skills and careers development, and balanced policy advice.

We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to the following leading irrigation companies which sponsor our 'Irrigation Futures' initiatives. Their invaluable support, which often includes financial contributions and the provision of modern equipment and facilities for our students, plays a vital role in shaping the future of our industry.

IRRIGATION FUTURES SUPPORTING SPONSOR

Irrigation Futures provides a model which builds real opportunities for engagement and offers a unique chance to shape a sustainable future for irrigation. If you’re interested in supporting our initiative, please reach out for more information.

CONTACT US:

sam.obrien@irrigation.org.au

0448 272 078

Drill rig and drilling mud plant setup – mixing and conditioning drilling muds prior to the commencement of the day’s drilling works.

Rehabilitation and Replacement of Perth Racing's Ascot Racecourse Groundwater Production Bore Infrastructure: A Comprehensive Project Overview In 2013, Perth Racing embarked on a critical infrastructure upgrade to replace an aging bore system essential for irrigation purposes. Martyn Gray, General Manager of Western Irrigation, played a pivotal role as Project Manager at the time, assisting with the design and supervising construction of the new bore, that would draw water from the Perth Leederville aquifer.

This project represented a significant milestone in the enduring partnership between Western Irrigation and Perth Racing, a collaboration that began in 1995 when Western Irrigation was first engaged to investigate problems with, and subsequently reline the original bore which had been drilled by others in 1985.

The successful completion of a replacement bore water supply in 2013 has provided Perth Racing with a robust,

efficient and sustainable water supply to support their operations, offering longterm reliability for future needs.

The primary goal of the project was to replace the original bore which had failed due to corrosion of both the bore’s original steel casing and the subsequent steel liner, leading to significant sand ingress during pump operation. This sand caused accelerated wear of the pump, resulting in deterioration of pump performance to the point of failure.

The scope of the project included designing, drilling, constructing, testing and equipping a replacement bore water supply that would not only meet Perth Racing’s immediate irrigation demands, but help ensure long-term sustainability using modern materials and engineering solutions.

1. Restoration of Irrigation Capacity: To restore and enhance Perth Racing’s water supply system by constructing a high capacity bore capable of meeting the current and future irrigation demands of the Ascot site.

2. Long-Term Durability: To maximise the viable service life of the bore by incorporating corrosion-resistant materials such as Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) and stainless steel and in doing so, minimising maintenance and operational costs over time.

3. Water Conservation and Efficiency: By integrating modern pump and water supply management systems, the project aimed to improve water-use efficiency and optimise performance while improving the reliability of the system.

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Short-Term Benefits

Design

•

The new bore design was centred around long-term durability through selection of materials with enhanced corrosion resistance. After consideration of available options, the new bore design incorporated DN250 Permaglass FRP (Fibre Reinforced Polymer) casing centralised in the hole with pressure cement grouted annulus, and DN200 stainless steel screens telescoping through the base of the FRP casing, and set in naturally developed formation. The use of FRP casing and stainless steel screen eliminated the risks associated with previously observed steel casing corrosion, and provided a bore with a longer design life and long-term reliability.

Restoration of a critical water source ready for use during Perth Racing’s peak usage season, enabling smooth operation of race events and turf maintenance.

Long-Term Benefits •

•

Significantly reduced risk of future breakdowns or performance deterioration due to corrosion, with the particular construction materials selected to offer decades of reliable service.

Reduced maintenance costs and improved environmental compliance, aligning with longterm sustainability goals for water use.

Background

Project works

Although undertaken with a significant degree of urgency (given failure of the old bore), the project demanded meticulous planning and technical expertise.

Project site works commenced in August 2013 with mobilisation and setup of one of Western Irrigation’s specialised water well drilling rigs.

The original bore, which extended to a depth of 348 meters, suffered from severe corrosion of its steel casing, leading to failure in 1995 and again in 2013.

Original Ascot Racecourse groundwater production bore showing preexisting bore discharge headworks assembly and casing liner support structure, photo taken just prior to the commencement of bore abandonment works.

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A 180mm diameter pilot hole was constructed to a depth of 354 meters, and geophysically logged (using gamma and resistivity logs) to assist in confirming final screen setting for the bore. The pilot hole was then reamed

in several passes finally achieving a 430mm diameter hole to a depth of 290 meters. The bore was cased with DN250mm FRP casing which was pressure cement grouted in place.

The hole below 290 metres was then reamed to suit, and stainless steel screen was installed to 350 metres depth. The upper end of the screen string was sealed into the FRP casing using an Age Developments M-packer.

Following placement of screen in the hole, the development phase commenced, involving screen zone jetting and high-volume airlifting to initially remove wall cake (resulting from the drilling process) then to remove naturally occurring fines from around the screen, and optimise flow of clean water fro the saturated strata into the bore.

After completion of bore development, the bore was subject to a carefully designed flow testing program including a series of short step tests, a longer duration constant rate test, and then bore recovery monitoring. These tests ultimately confirmed the bore's ability to maintain a sustainable flow rate of 30 litres per second.

New Ascot Racecourse groundwater production bore showing completed artesian type bore discharge headworks assembly, along with new electrical bore control cabinet.

A Grundfos 30kW 3-phase model SP95-7 pump unit was selected to deliver a flow rate of 26 litres per second and that pump was installed into the bore on 50 metres of DN125 Permaglass FRP pump column. Finally, the bore discharge headworks were constructed in line with the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation specifications, incorporating a highaccuracy water meter to track water usage and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

A modern control cabinet and automation system for the bore operation were installed, enabling realtime monitoring, and optimising the bore’s performance, ensuring seamless and efficient water supply availability for operation of the site irrigation system.

Finally, the original bore (now obsolete) was decommissioned and properly abandoned by pressure cement grouting from the bottom up in strict compliance with the regulator’s

guidelines, marking the project's successful completion.

Outcomes The project successfully achieved its objective, delivering a high-performing groundwater production bore that provided both immediate functionality and long-term reliability.

Appropriate material selection, and selection of an appropriate pumping rate based on the initial testing program, has helped to ensure a long and successful operational life for the water supply facility.

Future Routine monitoring of water supply performance will be crucial to maintaining the ongoing success of the bore water supply. Regular performance testing, and comparison with historical data, will help identify any wear or performance issues early on, and enable these to be budgeted for and addressed at times which don’t impact on operation of the site.

There was initially a particular focus on pump performance, as excessive wear from sand ingress was a major contributing factor in the failure of the previous bore. However, the selection of appropriate advanced materials used in this new bore has mitigated these concerns significantly.

Looking ahead, future works will mainly be directed to ensuring optimal use of water from this bore around the site. As Perth Racing's focus on sustainability, and delivering the best result with the minimum use of water, these changes could be many and varied (including the use of new track material as discussed at the recent field day).

Whatever those changes in water distribution around the site may bring, this project not only addressed the immediate challenge of a failed bore, but also laid the foundation for longterm success by ensuring that Perth Racing's irrigation water supply needs can be reliably met for decades to come.

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CLICK TO WATCH THE VIDEO

From international experts to industry awards:

Highlights from the 2024 Irrigation Australia Conference and Exhibition In an era where climate unpredictability and population growth are reshaping agriculture, the 2024 Irrigation Australia Conference and Exhibition provided a timely opportunity for nearly 1,400 delegates to explore the latest advances in irrigation.

As well as addressing critical topics like sustainability, water management and the role of irrigation in global food production, this year's event also focused on fostering delegate interaction and fun. With special activities throughout the exhibition and exciting new awards recognising industry success, the conference balanced serious discussions with opportunities for connection and celebration.

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Throughout the conference, a series of workshops and training sessions provided valuable insights into irrigation management, cutting-edge technologies and sustainability, as well as opportunities to brainstorm and collaborate.

Conference kick-off The conference kicked off with a Welcome to Country by Darug Elder Aunty Peta Strachan, followed by a memorable performance by the Jannawi Dance Clan. Dr. Anoulak Kittikhoun's keynote address on global water trends and the work of the Mekong River Commission set the tone for the event, focusing on sustainable water management practices.

A standout panel session, titled "What has irrigated agriculture/horticulture ever done for us? And what is its role into the future?" featured Ann Gardner from Dairy Victoria, Robbie Sefton from Seftons, Andrew Kneebone from Tasmanian Irrigation, Vanessa Winning from Irrigation New Zealand and Michael Pisasale from Murray Irrigation Limited. The panel discussed the role of irrigated agriculture in food production and its importance to rural communities and their economies.

The conversation touched on the environment, technology, climate change, education, policy, social licence and more.

Exhibition highlights This year’s exhibition, which was attended by 79 exhibitors, showcased the latest products and services from leading technology companies, manufacturers, and service providers, both local and international.

PLASSON Australia won the Best Interactive Zone Presentation for their exciting showcase of the 'Plassaddle.'

The Scavenger Hunt, which encouraged networking among exhibitors and delegates, was also a popular event.

One of the highlights was the Garry Time Challenge – a lively competition where participants raced to assemble a model robot using pipes and various components as quickly as possible.

The Interactive Zone was another success, allowing exhibitors to present their innovations directly to attendees.

Social events and awards The social events were a highlight, especially the Conference Gala Dinner, sponsored by Davey Water Products.

Guests enjoyed an outstanding threecourse meal and danced the night away to live music by ClassicOz. Jason Banks, Co-CEO of TIACS, delivered an inspiring keynote on mental health, which struck a chord with many in the audience.

Monash University was awarded the Innovation in Sustainability Award for their water harvesting systems across multiple campuses, and Sunwater and Woodfield Engineering were honoured for their innovative approach to safety in irrigation infrastructure.

Several prestigious industry awards were presented throughout the evening, including the Maclean Iedema Award, which honours individuals who have made significant contributions to the irrigation industry. Ben Chapman and Chris Thompson were recognised for their outstanding achievements and decades of dedication to advancing the sector.

Another key award was the Life Membership Award, presented to Andrew Ogden for his exceptional service to Irrigation Australia. Andrew has been a driving force in the industry for over a decade, contributing his knowledge and leadership to various sectors, from mining to agriculture. His commitment to sharing expertise and supporting the growth of the industry was celebrated through this welldeserved recognition.

In addition, the Water Efficiency Management Awards were presented across several categories. Steven Boyer from the City of Perth was recognised for his innovative irrigation management approach, which saved significant amounts of groundwater.

Inform Ag took home the small business award, while City of Cockburn won in the large business category for their cutting-edge water management solutions.

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Women in Water Breakfast

Final day and closing remarks

The Women in Water breakfast, which kicked off day two of the conference, was a powerful event celebrating the contributions of women in the water management and irrigation sectors.

Hosted by Hon Karlene Maywald, former South Australian Minister for Water Security and Chair of the National Water Commission, the event featured an inspiring conversation with Narges Zohrabi, Associate Professor of Water Services and Engineering, on the challenges and rewards of being a woman in water.

The conference concluded with two insightful keynote addresses and a closing ceremony. Dr. Kathryn Wynn discussed the challenges and opportunities for irrigated agriculture in the coming decades, while Brian Walker, the ‘Retail Doctor,’ provided insights on the changing face of retail and how businesses can stay ahead in an evolving market.

The breakfast was followed by a panel session that explored strategies for empowering women in the sector.

Speakers included Georgia Brown from AGB Farming, Pat Rafferty from Yarra Valley Water, Natalie Morris from Superior Irrigation Services and Vanessa Winning from Irrigation New Zealand, who shared their experiences and insights, emphasising the importance of diversity in driving innovation and equality within the industry.

Irrigation Australia extends heartfelt thanks to everyone involved, from exhibitors to sponsors and volunteers.

The next steps for the organisation include refining the interactive sessions and focusing on increasing engagement with young professionals at future smaller-scale events.

Irrigation Training Courses Expand your opportunities in an industry full of growth!

WHY CHOOSE IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA? Irrigation Australia provides high-quality training, delivered by industry experts who are passionate about the training that they are delivering.

We provide a unique blended learning experience, focusing on a practical approach, which allows our students to learn by DOING!

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EXPAND YOUR OPPORTUNITIES We provide a wide range of nationally accredited industry qualifications and certifications for irrigation professionals that wish to join our essential and ever-growing industry.

Certificate IV in Irrigation Management AHC41119

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Certified Electrofusion Welding

Knowledge pathways to discover!

Certified Meter Installation & Validation

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Spring into action with the Waterwise Irrigation Rebate To mark the start of spring, Water Corporation has launched its new metro waterwise offer - a Waterwise Irrigation Rebate to assist residential customers with the cost of making their irrigation systems more efficient.

What is the Waterwise Irrigation Rebate?

The Waterwise Irrigation Rebate offers up to $200 toward the cost of eligible products and/or services provided by a Waterwise Garden Irrigator or Waterwise Garden Design Shop. This may include: The purchase and set up of an eligible: • Weather-based irrigation controller, or

• •

Weather-based component for an existing controller, or Weather-based irrigation controller and component.

Hiring an eligible Waterwise Garden Irrigator to: • Explain automatic irrigation controller operation, including checking that watering settings are correct and adjusting for optimal conditions.

• Fix a leak in an irrigation system.

• Improve an existing irrigation system for increased water efficiencies, for example, replacing/ fixing faulty valves, reducing overspray/adjusting coverage or replacing existing sprinklers with waterwise alternatives.

This year’s program brings together the best of the 2023/2024 offers, while also allowing customers to choose the service that best suits them and their gardens. Previous years have seen great interest from irrigators, with over 100 waterwise specialists previously working on the programs.

Last year, over 1,500 weather-based irrigation controller rebates were given out to customers, with an additional 1,982 spring irrigation checks occurring. A quarter of the irrigation systems checked had incorrect settings, including incorrect run times, watering times and watering days. With reduced rainfall and another hot summer coming our way, instilling water efficiency knowledge in the community is a key way to reduce water use and ensure we protect our water sources for years to come.

This year there are 2,000 Waterwise Irrigation Rebates available between 1 September 2024 and 31 May 2025, unless exhausted earlier.

You can still opt-in to be a part of the program by contacting Rebecca New on 6263 7774 or admin.support@ irrigation.org.au Terms and conditions.

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Project Spotlight: Dick Lawrence Oval (Hilton Reserve) With over 30 years of expertise in water management and design, CADSULT IDS is a certified irrigation and design consulting firm with offices in Perth, Melbourne, and Sydney. The company services clients across Australia and internationally, specialising in innovative irrigation solutions for golf courses, sports fields, residential communities, parks, resorts, and large-scale commercial developments. CADSULT IDS has a combined team experience of over 130 years, with projects spanning 30+ countries, making them a leader in tailored irrigation and pumping system designs.

Innovative Irrigation Design Elevates Dick Lawrence Oval Redevelopment

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Dick Lawrence Oval, a key sports reserve in Beaconsfield, Fremantle, caters to a variety of sports, including cricket and football. When the City of Fremantle sought to redevelop the site, they were looking for more than just a standard irrigation system— they wanted innovation. To meet this challenge, CADSULT IDS teamed up with Think Water Perth to deliver a cutting-edge solution that not only meets the needs of the reserve but sets a new standard for irrigation design in Western Australia.

The City of Fremantle emphasised the importance of incorporating innovative solutions into the project.

One of the standout features brought in from Victoria was the use of bench seat enclosures designed by Rubble Landscapes of Melbourne, which serve dual functions. These enclosures not only provide seating for spectators but also house solenoid valves above ground, offering easy access for maintenance. The design eliminates the need for valve boxes in turf areas, reducing the risk of damage from mowing equipment. Additionally, these raised enclosures protect cable joints from moisture, improving the longevity of the system.

To enhance water efficiency, part of the design process included producing a soil moisture map using POGO technology to help inform the design to better understand the conditions of the site, and hydro-zone accordingly. Soil moisture sensors were also installed across the playing field. These sensors provide real-time data, helping ensure that water is applied only where and when required, optimising irrigation and reducing water waste.

One of the primary concerns for the City of Fremantle was protecting the mature trees surrounding the site.

CADSULT IDS was meticulous in maintaining tree protection zones throughout the design and installation process, ensuring no disruption to the existing landscape.

The irrigation system covered all active and passive turf areas, with special features like a fertigation dosing unit that allows for the application of wetting agents directly through the irrigation system. The combination of soil moisture sensors and Evapotranspiration (ET) data collection helps to fine-tune irrigation schedules, ensuring the field remains healthy while conserving water.

To minimise disruption to the playing surface, vibratory ploughing was used for pipe installation.

Soil moisture map

Installation had to be carefully timed between the AFL and cricket seasons, ensuring the least amount of downtime for the sporting season.

For the active turf areas, vibratory ploughing was the chosen installation method, reducing the need for invasive

trenching and helping to preserve the integrity of the playing surfaces.

This project highlighted the importance of continual innovation.

By integrating new technologies and methods, the redevelopment of Dick Lawrence Oval demonstrated that there are always better ways to approach irrigation design.

The incorporation of serviceable solenoid valves within the bench seats offers significant maintenance advantages, while the fertigation dosing system ensures that wetting agents can be applied easily and efficiently. The soil moisture sensors provide valuable data that enables more precise water application, moving away from a one-size-fits-all irrigation approach to a more targeted system.

The redevelopment of Dick Lawrence Oval showcases how forward-thinking solutions can enhance the functionality and sustainability of public spaces.

The City of Fremantle’s commitment to doing things differently and incorporating sustainable practices sets a benchmark for future projects in the region.

This project not only met the immediate needs of the sporting community but also added long-term value by incorporating cutting-edge water management solutions, ensuring that Dick Lawrence Oval will continue to thrive for years to come.

The Overflow | Spring 2024

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Amberton District Open Space Stage 3 Article by LD Total

Design Process In February of 2015, Stockland Awarded LD Total the contract to Design and Construct the Playing Fields at Amberton Estate. The first 2 stages were completed between January 2016 and June 2018 with the third and final stage achieving Practical Completion in December 2023. This final stage of the project began in August of 2021 when our Design Department commenced works on stage 3.

This final stage of the project began in August of 2021 when our Design Manager Nick Zulberti, in our D&C (Design and Construct) department were engaged by Stockland to commence works on stage 3.

After some background work and coordination with Stockland, we completed our Revision A landscape design in July 2022, which allowed our Irrigation Designer to begin works on the irrigation design.

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The Initial stages of the Design and Consultation was to apply for the Construct and Alter Well Licence with DWER (Department of Water and Environmental Resources). Whilst we waited for the approval and licence from DWER, we were able to begin the planning stages of the design.

The key part of our planning was based around which sprinkler model to use, at what spacing, and which formation (triangle or square). We decided on the Hunter I-40 and in particular, the opposite nozzle variety for the playing surface 360’s. With a square formation and spacing of 14.5m x 14.5m we were able to exceed the DU (Distribution Uniformity) requirements of local council.

Two locations within the design required careful consideration of the pipework due to exclusion areas adjacent to the new school site and

local sports clubrooms which were not yet constructed. To do this we ensured that sprinklers were placed along the clubroom boundary edge and arc adjustments. This allowed for the full extent of the works to be completed at a later date without disturbing the playing surface. At the school site all sprinkler pipework was designed to tee into the sprinklers rather than run parallel to the wall. This gave us flexibility and we were able to install the irrigation system as per design but in two stages. This also eliminated the risk of damages and repairs.

With significant elevation changes in the garden areas on the north side of the site, best care was taken to design these locations to run the lateral pipework along or down these elevation changes. The mainline was also installed in HDPE with additional HDPE sleeves to eliminate any future damage.

With the Revision A irrigation design completed, we sent this off for external review and certification by a CID qualified designer, which returned with some minor amendments requirements to the display of the legend.

Issued for Construction (IFC) designs were sent to our construction team in October 2022 although we encountered a delay in the initial stages of construction. Prior to taking possession we instructed our surveyor to check the existing site levels which highlighted that the levels were low in several areas. These were corrected promptly by the civil contractors and LD Total formally took possession of the site and begin our site safety such as fencing, signage and site evaluations. Once this was completed and safety measures in place, we were able to begin construction of the Leederville bore and by March 2023 we had a functional bore and were ready to commence landscape construction.

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Installation Process Installation of the irrigation works began with the connection to the bore headworks and construction of the MDPE mainline, along with the valve setups as we progressed. Running with the mainline was a 40mm MD conduit housing the 2.5mm Hunter Two wire cable.

Each Bermad 200 series valve setup consisting of a double Rainbird Jumbo valve box layout, brass fittings and Hunter ICD-100 decoder.

Prior to installing the laterals lines and sprinklers, we engaged our surveyor to set out the perfect placement of the sprinklers across the playing fields.

The lateral pipework was then installed using PVC pipe and the sprinklers installed as this progressed.

The excavation of the site required particular care as a 200mm deep rootzone material had been installed to the site. This sand had been imported to site, so our installation process

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needed to avoid contamination with the site subbase. This was completed by excavating the top 200mm of the trench and setting to one side then excavating the remainder of the trench and storing on the opposite side of the trench (vice versa when backfilling the trench). While this slowed down the installation, we were able to ensure that the finished product conformed to the City of Wanneroo Specifications for Construction of a Sporting and Recreational POS. Once backfill was complete all final test and commissioning took place and the final arc adjustments were completed in time for the first roll of grass in early November 2023 To add to the complexity of this project we encountered a heatwave here in WA, with 10 days straight of 30 degrees + heat (4 days being over 36 degrees), during the installation of the 22,500 m2 of turf. To ensure the newly laid turf survived and the areas of soil which were prepared for the new turf to go

down, our irrigation crews scheduled the operation of the system to operate almost continuously throughout the days.

Practical completion for the project was achieved in December 2023.

6 months after Practical Completion the school walls were completed, and we remobilised to site to complete the remaining irrigation, turf and gardens with minimal disturbance to the established playing fields. The clubrooms are now in construction and some final irrigation amendments will be made post completion.

Conclusion Overall, this was a very successful Design and Construct process, with both client and council extremely happy with the result.

The learnings of this project will be applied to at least two upcoming District Open Space works within the City of Wanneroo over the coming 18 months.

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Popular park in Kingsley becomes waterwise The City of Joondalup recently redeveloped Barridale Park in Kingsley with waterwise design principles, new irrigation technology, hydrozoning and a smart meter. This project was funded by the Gnangara Waterwise Councils Grant Program thanks to the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation and Water Corporation. This initiative is part of the Government of Western Australia’s Kep Katitjin – Gabi Kaadadjan – Waterwise Perth Action Plan 2 to establish leading waterwise communities for Boorloo (Perth) and Bindjareb (Peel) by 2030.

The City of Joondalup manages and cares for 393 (1080 ha) parks, natural areas and public open spaces, which all play an important role in the liveability and wellbeing of residents and the wider community. The City is committed to achieving its target under the Gnangara Groundwater Allocation Plan of reducing groundwater use by 10 per cent from 2028. Irrigation projects like Barridale Park’s waterwise redevelopment will help the City achieve its groundwater target, while continuing to provide high-quality public open spaces to the community.

The City’s parks, natural areas and public open spaces play an important role in the livability and health and wellbeing of the community.

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Prior to the waterwise irrigation redevelopment project, Barridale Park had high-water usage to support its active sporting grounds for both local cricket and junior AFL clubs.

The popular park also contains playgrounds, exercise equipment, picnic areas, accessible and public toilets, disabled parking and dogs are permitted off lead. It is a park enjoyed by many and will continue to be enjoyed as the City reduces its water use in response to a changing climate.

Development of the waterwise landscape at Barridale Park included hydrozoning, which is the practice of grouping types of vegetation into categories with similar water requirements, with the purpose of reducing overwatering which has been estimated to reduce the groundwater consumption at Barridale Park by 21 per cent. As part of the works, the City also installed a new automated bore meter reading system. This will provide the City with extensive information to inform decision making and promptly alert the City to any issues that may be contributing to overuse or loss of water.

The City’s new Smart Control Irrigation System technology at Barridale Park for more efficient water usage.

This initiative complements the City’s award-winning Central Smart Control Groundwater Irrigation systems that have been installed in over 200 of the City’s public open spaces since 2020.

be done from a smartphone, laptop or other web-enabled device. The system captures data and information to adjust various irrigation programs for different parks and public open spaces.

The City’s Smart Control Irrigation System is linked to a web-based central control system which enables the City to monitor, adjust and maintain its irrigation system in real time. This can

The Smart Control Irrigation System aligns with the City’s Environment Strategy, Waterwise Council Action Plan and participation in the Waterwise Council Program.

Incorporating the new waterwise irrigation technologies will help the City's ambition to reach its waterwise targets. By working together with State Government, we can achieve a waterwise future.

The City has achieved continued endorsement as a Gold Waterwise Council and was awarded Platinum Waterwise Council of the year in 2022.

Visit our website to help create a waterwise future by learning about the City’s water management or implementing your own waterwise actions at home.

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Grundfos, a global leader in advanced pump solutions and water technology , is committed to aligning itself with customers who prioritise the sustainability of aquifers. This alignment is especially evident in their collaboration with JR Pumps, a familyrun business in Adelaide. Owned and operated by John Reynolds, with his daughter Kara Reynolds playing a pivotal role, JR Pumps has been an advocate for sustainable groundwater management for over 35 years.

A shared commitment to sustainability Kara Reynolds, a mechanical fitter with an electrical licence, has been an integral part of JR Pumps for the past 15 years. Her dedication to groundwater sustainability mirrors Grundfos’ commitment to preserving aquifers. This shared vision has made Grundfos one of our preferred suppliers for JR Pumps in a very competitive market.

“Grundfos pumps are not only energyefficient but also technologically advanced, helping us reduce our environmental footprint while maintaining optimal performance,” says Kara Reynolds.

Promoting sustainability through advanced technology JR Pumps conduct annual monitoring of water levels, running tests, and comparing data with previous years to assess aquifer health. This meticulous monitoring helps both JR Pumps and their client to understand how aquifers react to extraction and whether water levels are recovering as expected.

Grundfos' commitment to collaborating with aquifersustainability focused customers 26

The Overflow | Spring 2024

“Monitoring water levels and assessing how aquifers are replenishing is crucial for sustainable management,” Kara explains. "Facility managers frequently request us to perform these checks, so we understand just how important accurate data is in sustainable water management."

Practical measures for sustainable management JR Pumps install air lines in bores to help clients monitor water levels as well as depthing conduits for monitoring water levels. In some installations, level

transducers are installed for monitoring water levels and pump control. These simple yet effective tools allow clients to observe how their water usage impacts aquifer levels, promoting responsible extraction practices.

Additionally, JR Pumps equips all bores with meters to measure water usage accurately. Clients are held accountable for their water consumption, with excess usage monitored and reported.

This system of checks and balances ensures clients remain conscious of their impact on aquifers, fostering a culture of sustainability.

“We educate our clients on the importance of monitoring their water usage,” says Kara. “With Grundfos’ reliable technology, they can easily track their consumption and make informed decisions to protect our groundwater resources.”

JR Pumps serves a diverse clientele, including farms, schools, and national parks such as Cleland Wildlife Park and Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens. These clients rely heavily on groundwater, making sustainable management practices even more critical. For example, Cleland Wildlife Park exclusively uses groundwater from three bores and regularly tests its water quality, with Grundfos pumps ensuring reliable performance.

Anticipating and addressing bore problems Improving bore water management is essential for ensuring water quality and the long-term sustainability of groundwater sources. In South Australia, one common issue is iron bacteria which can negatively impact water quality. JR Pumps undertake step tests or constant discharge testing depending on the application or conditions, assessing water levels and how quickly water levels recover after extraction. This proactive approach helps identify potential issues before they become critical, ensuring the longterm viability of groundwater sources in the long run.

During the cooler months, JR Pumps finds the reduced demand on bore water allows the natural replenishment

Kara at the installation of a Grundfos submersible pump

of groundwater levels. This seasonal adjustment is crucial for maintaining the health of aquifers and ensuring a sustainable water supply during the drier months.

“Seasonal adjustments are part of our strategy to sustain aquifers,” Kara explains. “With the right management mindset and the correct tools on hand in line with Grundfos’ efficient pumps, managing these changes becomes straightforward and effective.”

Recommendations for selecting the right pump When recommending pumps to clients, Kara considers several factors, including power supply, bore depth, standing water level and water quality to name a few factors. Grundfos’ pumps, known for their efficiency and reliability, are often the top choice.

The advanced technology of Grundfos pumps ensures optimal performance

even in challenging conditions.

Grundfos utilise three variants of stainless steel to suit the bore water conditions again making Grundfos a great choice. Kara’s expertise, combined with Grundfos’ superior technology, helps clients select the most suitable pump for their needs, balancing efficiency with sustainability.

Grundfos' partnership with forwardthinking professionals like Kara Reynolds highlights the company’s dedication to promoting sustainable aquifer management. Grundfos not only supports businesses like JR Pumps by providing energy-efficient and advanced pumping solutions, but also plays a crucial role in preserving vital groundwater resources for future generations. This commitment to sustainability ensures that Grundfos remains a trusted partner for those who prioritise the health and longevity of aquifers.

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Gnangara Horticulture Water Use Efficiency projects underway Local businesses are using grants from the State Government to implement water use efficiency projects. This initiative will support horticultural groundwater users who are subject to the 10% reduction in water abstraction starting in 2028 under the Gnangara Groundwater Allocation Plan.

The Western Australian Government is offering $1.5 million in vouchers and grants for eligible commercial horticultural businesses in Western Australia to implement approved water use efficiency and soil amelioration measures.

The funding consists of a voucher program to engage a water efficiency expert for specialist advice to develop a plan to implement water use efficiency measures and grants to implement water use efficiency activities. Vouchers of up to $5,000 are available for these businesses to engage certified Irrigation Australia irrigation professionals to audit their properties, design efficient irrigation systems, and provide written advice on technologies, soil amendments and

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cropping strategies to improve water use efficiency within their enterprise.

Eligible applicants can also receive up to 50% of the costs associated with purchasing and installing approved infrastructure, to a maximum of $100,000. Grants are open until 30 June 2025 or until funds are fully committed.

Completed projects have included upgrading to more efficient irrigation systems, installing soil moisture monitors and sensors and constructing covered cropping infrastructure.

Project 1 Grown Smart has introduced a water recycling system for their cucumber farm through the Gnangara Horticulture Water Use Efficiency Program. As a Western Australian supplier of 1.2 million cucumbers into market every year, Grown Smart has several production sheds in the Carabooda groundwater sub-area.

Initially Grown Smart used an irrigation specialist to provide advice on collecting and reusing water from their production sheds, funded through the Gnangara Horticulture Water Use

Efficiency Program. This advice led the company to successfully applying for an infrastructure grant under the same scheme, to implement a system which collects, filters, sterilises and stores runoff water from the sheds, blending it with fresh water for reuse.

Cucumbers are grown in pots in the production sheds, where excess irrigation water would flow onto the shed floor. Through the project, gutters have been installed under each row of plants, so that this water can be collected, sterilised and reused (pictured above).

The concept for this innovative project had been visualised for years, brought to fruition through the Gnangara Water Use Efficiency Grants Program and will reduce water use by ~15%.

Project 2 Ms Tha Tran has 5ha property where she grows capsicum, chilli and tomato in the Carabooda groundwater subarea. As a successful applicant of the Gnangara Horticulture Water Use Efficiency Program, Ms Tran has installed a one-hectare net house (Image 2).

Historically Ms Tran’s unprotected crops have been impacted by sunburn and wind abrasion, high temperatures in summer significantly raising water demand. These conditions have led to quality grading losses of up to 50%.

to control pests. Additionally, there will be fewer instances of sunburn and wind abrasion, which should lead to higher proportion of her crops meeting first grade quality criteria and improved business outcomes.

Ms Tran anticipates that the net house infrastructure will play a key role in reducing water consumption and evaporation, reduced leaching of nutrients and fewer chemicals needed

Ms Tran is thankful for the opportunity to build the net house using the support provided through the Gnangara Horticulture Water Use Efficiency Program.

Further Information To learn more about the grants and check if your business is eligible, scan the QR code to visit the webpage.

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How NDVI is Used

Eye in the sky for turf managers

NDVI data can be collected from various sources, including satellites, drones, and handheld devices. The data is then processed to create NDVI maps or timeseries analyses. These tools provide valuable information on the spatial and temporal variability of turfgrass health.

•

• People on the ground – there’s no substitute! But how do we make the best use of our precious time identifying the areas that need attention? Remote sensing technologies, particularly the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), offer powerful tools to help turf managers efficiently identify areas that need attention throughout the entire year. It is also particularly useful for the irrigation season to assist in identifying whole or sections of sports fields that have become drought stressed before the turf becomes totally brown.

Understanding NDVI NDVI is a remote sensing metric used to assess the health and vigour of vegetation, including turfgrass. It works by analysing the difference between red and near-infrared (NIR) light reflected by plants.

Healthy, green vegetation absorbs more red light and reflects more NIR light, resulting in a higher NDVI value.

In contrast, stressed or unhealthy vegetation reflects more red light and less NIR light, yielding a lower NDVI value. This simple yet effective index allows turf managers to gauge the condition of large areas quickly and accurately.

2. Efficient Resource Management: By monitoring NDVI, turf managers can optimise water usage, fertiliser applications and pest control measures.

This helps to conserve resources and reduce environmental impact.

3. Pest and Disease Management: NDVI can aid in identifying areas of pest or disease infestation. By tracking changes in NDVI values over time, turf managers can pinpoint problem areas and take appropriate action.

4. Irrigation Management: NDVI provides early warning of potential irrigation-related problems in the field such as poor distribution uniformity, burst pipes or blocked sprinklers.

5. Fertiliser Optimisation: NDVI can help determine the appropriate amount and timing of fertiliser applications.

By assessing the nutritional status of turfgrass based on NDVI values, managers can avoid over-fertilisation and minimise nutrient leaching.

Benefits of Using NDVI for Turf Monitoring

1. Early Detection of Stress: NDVI can identify signs of stress in turfgrass before they become visible to the naked eye. This early detection allows for timely intervention, preventing further damage and reducing the need for costly treatments.

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The Overflow | Spring 2024

Figure 1: NDVI map of four sports ovals at a high school.

•

Satellite Imagery: High-resolution satellite imagery can be used to monitor large areas of turfgrass, such as golf courses, sports fields and parks.

Drone Imagery: Drones equipped with NDVI sensors offer an option for monitoring smaller areas, such as residential lawns or commercial landscapes.

Handheld Devices: Portable NDVI meters can be used to measure the health of individual plants or small patches of turfgrass.

Satellite Imagery in Turf Management Satellite imagery, particularly NDVI, is a powerful tool in managing turf quality in public open spaces.

The Sentinel-2 data set is publicly available and free for anyone to use. This satellite passes overhead approximately every 5 days, with images featuring 10-meter pixel resolution, making it suitable for monitoring very large areas where frequent updates aren’t critical.

For turf managers requiring more detail, Planet Labs provides costeffective daily satellite imagery with a resolution of 3.7-meter pixels (Figure 1).

“It’s important to remember that remote monitoring with NDVI should complement, not replace, on-the-ground assessments. Partnering with experts can enhance the effectiveness of this technology.”

Figure 2: Detection of leak using NDVI.

Temporal analysis of NDVI (Figure 4) can reveal stress from drought, disease, or pests. It can help turf managers evaluate the effectiveness of irrigation and maintenance. It can also help pinpoint problem areas and assess the impact of seasonal changes or specific events on turf quality.

Addressing Challenges While NDVI offers many benefits, there are challenges to using it for remote turf monitoring. Satellite imagery can be affected by cloud cover, haze, and smoke, which can obscure or distort the data. Additionally, interpreting NDVI imagery requires experience, though modern tools have made this task more accessible.

Figure 3: NDVI data over 12 months.

Figure 4: Temporal Variation (change over time).

Both Sentinel-2 and Planet data are seamlessly integrated into SWAN Systems' irrigation management software, which offers a suite of analytical tools.

These tools help analyse the imagery and derive insights that can inform management decisions, including identifying locations that may need on-site visits (Figure 2).

SWAN enables you to select one or more specific parts (Site Health Areas) of a field for more in-depth analysis. In Figure 3, the icons on the ovals indicate Site Health Areas that are within, above, or below the desired target zone (respectively green, blue, or amber).

Clicking on one of these icons opens a chart showing the NDVI trend over time, as well as the variability of the pixels within the chosen Site Health Area.

It’s important to remember that remote monitoring with NDVI should complement, not replace, on-theground assessments. Partnering with experts can enhance the effectiveness of this technology. Sports Turf Technology, in collaboration with SWAN Systems, is helping public open space and sports turf managers in Western Australia harness the full potential of these valuable tools, ensuring they get the most benefit from their time on the ground.

By integrating remote sensing with traditional turf management practices, turf managers can achieve a more precise, efficient and sustainable approach to maintaining public open spaces, making every on-site visit count.

The Overflow | Spring 2024

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Water Update Water Usage Metro Region https://www.watercorporation.com.au/Our-water/ Rainfall-and-dams/Water-use

Yearly Streamflow https://www.watercorporation.com.au/Our-water/ Rainfall-and-dams/Streamflow

Perth Rainfall Comparison https://www.watercorporation.com.au/Our-water/ Rainfall-and-dams/Rainfall

Supplied by the Water Corporation Current graphs can be found at www.watercorporation.com.au

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HAVE YOU VISITED THE WATERWISE PROGRAMS WEBSITE? The Waterwise Garden Irrigator Program is a joint initiative of the WA Region of Irrigation Australia and Water Corporation, with a goal of optimising water-use efficiency of domestic irrigation systems in Western Australia. Endorsed Waterwise Garden Irrigators are fully trained in water efficient practices and can design, install, repair and maintain home garden irrigation systems.

WATERWISE GARDEN IRRIGATORS Chris Simpson

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The Overflow | Spring 2024

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The Overflow | Spring 2024

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The website features an extensive and up-to-date business With an increasing numberwhere of DIYthe enthusiasts installing and maintaining their own directory community can search for their local irrigation systems, the Waterwise Irrigation Design Shop Program was developed Waterwise members, based on their location. Head to the searchto raise the standard of irrigation advice and design services offered by staff at counter directory at www.waterwiseprograms.com.au for members’ level of specialist irrigation retailers. Endorsed staff have the knowledge and skills to contact details, or if you’d like information on how to become an provide their customers with waterwise advice, products and services. endorsed Waterwise business.

Several Waterwise Garden Irrigators and Design Shops were randomly selected for audit in the 2023/24 period. Successfully audited businesses are acknowledged with this customised logo.

In recognition of their ongoing dedication to water conservation, we are proud to recognise the Waterwise Garden Irrigators which have participated in the program for over a decade.

WATERWISE IRRIGATION DESIGN SHOPS Canning Irrigation Services

Nutrien Water - Myaree

Controlled Irrigation Supplies

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SOUTH WEST WATERWISE PROGRAMS Irrigation Australia has recently launched the Waterwise Irrigation Programs in the South West region of WA, with the support of local water utilities; Busselton Water and Aqwest.

WATERWISE IRRIGATION DESIGN SHOPS Country Water Solutions – Bunbury Nutrien Water – Bunbury Nutrien Water – Busselton Think Water - Capes Region (Busselton)

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WATERWISE GARDEN IRRIGATORS ARB Landscaping & Fencing

LD TOTAL

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Gator Radio Control Systems The Gator Radio Systems can be used for agricultural watering, landscape watering, sports fields, shopping malls, residential complexes as well as applications within the nursery industry.

The Gator Radio Receivers work above the ground on post mounts, or mounted in valve boxes, up to 2kms away. The Gator System can either be newly installed or retrofitted to any existing irrigation system and is ideal to re-generate old or decayed solenoid cabled systems.

Gator Budget Parallel Wireless Systems

Gator Point to Point Systems The Gator Budget Parallel Wireless Irrigation Control System converts the output signal of any conventional irrigation controller being either a 24VAC or DC pulse type output into a wireless signal that can be passed over the air to control and switch the various devices such as valves, pumps, filters etc. within an irrigation system. Up to 64 outputs can be automated with numerous receivers. The total valves that we can control is only limited to the hydraulics of your system.

The Gator Point to Point Wireless Irrigation Control System allows for the switching of up to 2 devices and can work as a one way signal or a bi-directional communication. For example, it is ideal for starting a remote pump unit on one output, then have the flow rate from the water meter being sent back to your controller as in input. This can also be used in both AC and DC, so with the addition of a battery pack at the tank, you could send a signal up to 2kms away to remote start a pump unit and then have it turn off once the tank is full.

For more information on Gator Radio Control systems please contact your nearest HR Products Office www.hrproducts.com.au

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