The Overflow | Summer 2022-3

Quarterly Publication of Irrigation Australia (WA Region)

NO. 71 SUMMER 2022-23

Before

After IN THIS ISSUE Naturelink Perth Learn about our precious groundwater

Greywater reuse for irrigation Soil moisture monitoring project

Smarter Irrigation for Profit Wind is powering net zero emissions Creating a Waterwise future

What role does turf play in our gardens?

Gnangara water use efficiency grants

Contents

Keep up-to-date with irrigation in Australia, visit the IAL website at www.irrigationaustralia.com.au

Naturelink Perth

8

Learn about our precious groundwater

13

Smarter Irrigation for Profit

14

Wind is powering Water Corporations way to net zero

Mark Your Diary February 2023 7

Basics in Drip Irrigation (Virtual)

emissions

18

8-9

Basics in Wiring and Electrical Troubleshooting (Virtual)

Creating a Waterwise future

20

23

Commencement: Certificate III in Irririgation Technology (Virtual & Face-to-Face located in Perth WA)

24

March 2023

Greywater reuse for irrigation in commercial and domestic applications

28 - 31

Soil moisture monitoring project to boost horticulture production

30

What role does turf play in our gardens?

32

Gnangara water use efficiency grants

35

Cover: Woody Meadows Project – City of Canning

Meter Installation & Validation (Virtual)

April 2023 3-5

Irrigation Pumps & Systems (Virtual)

3-6

Commercial Irrigation Design (Virtual)

18 - 21

Urban Irrigation Design (Virtual)

May 2023 9 - 12

Meter Installation & Validation (Virtual)

June 2023

National Office Staff Dave Cameron - Chief Executive Officer

dave.cameron@irrigation.org.au

Geoff Harvey - Training, Certification and Marketing Manager

geoff.harvey@irrigation.org.au

Marike Froneman - Accountant (part time)

marike.froneman@irrigation.org.au

Naomi Carragher - Business Administration Manager/Company Secretary naomi.carragher@irrigation.org.au Kasey Barton - Training and Certification Coordinator

kasey.barton@irrigation.org.au

Maddison Coward - Training and Certification Administrator

maddison.coward@irrigation.org.au

Martine Haarhoff - Business Administration Assistant

martine.haarhoff@irrigation.org.au

Stuart Alexander - Senior Trainer and Assessor

stuart.alexander@irrigation.org.au

WA Office Staff Tracy Martin - National Membership & Regions Manager

tracy.martin@irrigation.org.au

Rebecca New - WA Projects Officer

rebecca.new@irrigation.org.au

Judy Clarke - Administrative Support

adminsupport@irrigation.org.au

6

Basics in Drip Irrigation (Virtual)

7-8

Basics in Wiring and Electrical Troubleshooting (Virtual)

August 2023 16

Waterwise Irrigation Expo

For further training information please visit: www.coie.com.au

The Overflow is the quarterly publication of Irrigation Australia (WA Region).

Articles published are views expressed by the authors. IAL(WA) 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: IAL WA Region, PO Box 3401 Success, WA 6964 Tel: (08) 6263 7774

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.

Magnetic sign: $95ea non-members or $65ea for IAL Members All signs approximately 400mm x 300mm.

To download the order form please click here.

Chairperson's Report Alison Waters

From the CEO Dave Cameron

Welcome to the Summer Edition of The Overflow.

G'day again and Season’s greetings to all.

The Annual regional meeting was conducted on 27 September in South Perth and was well attended by members. We got to meet David Cameron our new CEO, review various chair reports and review nominations for the new committee. I’d like to thank Darryl Wylie previous chair for all his hardwork. I look forward to continuing the great work that IALWA is currently working on and look toward collaborative opportunities across our industry.

Congratulations to all of the new WA Regional Committee nominees and to the office holders including Alison and Mark in their roles as new Chair and Vice Chair. The number of volunteers and work program delivered in WA, facilitated

by Tracy and Bec, is enviable and a model we hope to see gradually replicate in more parts of the country in the coming year.

A quick snapshot of myself. I have worked in both state and local government across regional and metropolitan councils.

I currently manage sports grounds, amenity turf, irrigation and park assets in a metropolitan council. I wish to focus on working collaboratively with all facets of the industry to long term manage ground and scheme water for irrigation now and into the future.

Since the last edition I’ve had the privilege of attending two regional meetings including one in person along with visits to several other states and territories.

There has been a significant focus on operations since my commencement which will continue for a little while yet, but I remain keen to hear your ideas for improvements to member services and other Irrigation Australia offerings.

The past few months have seen Cert III Irrigation and Electrofusion Butt Welding training being conducted in Bibra Lake. IALWA in conjunction with Water Corporation hosted Waterwise workshops at the Perth Garden Outdoor Living Festival. IALWA and the Sports Turf Association have been in discussions with Department of Education regarding turf and irrigation maintenance discussions at public schools. Its been great to see a lot of liaison and collaboration occurring with the theme to work smarter to manage our water asset.

We welcome eight returning Directors, and two new ones in Valentina Tripp and Matt Binder. Simon Treptow has taken over the reins as Chair and has been very engaged including attending the last WA regional meeting online.

I have to say nice things about those who review my performance and sign my contract but that aside one of the most impressive things for me in joining Irrigation Australia has been the positive Board dynamic and I’m very excited for the planning to come.

Department of Water and Environmental Regulation has released the second phase of the Perth Waterwise Action Plan, I am eager to read this and determine the outcomes.

Hopefully by now you will have noticed some changes to communications including the introduction of a regular e-news (which should become more regular in time). One of the next major priorities for is planning improvements for our web site – updating content and setting up a continuous improvement model. Second up for me is more work on supporting industry careers.

The Waterwise Irrigation Expo 2023 is rapidly approaching and I will be working with the MIT committee to ensure we have an iconic Expo to undertake some great networking and see some innovative technology in our industry.

It’s the peak season of the year for our industry, so don’t forget practice work life balance. See you in 2023.

Alison Waters IAL (WA) Industry Chairperson

Finally, and on the subject, I’d like to introduce new staff to the Irrigation Australia team – Naomi Carragher. Naomi takes over as Business Administration Manager/ Company Secretary. Naomi worked with me for a few years in past lives so I know how amazingly capable she is, and I am very grateful she agreed to take up the role given the current recruitment market challenges.

Dave Cameron IAL Chief Executive Officer

The Overflow | Summer 2022/23

3

Regional Update

By Tracy Martin, National Membership & Regions Manager & Rebecca New, WA Projects Officer

Welcome to the Summer edition of The Overflow magazine.

The WA Regional Committee reconvened for 2023 and will meet 4th Tuesday of every month. The Committee oversees the deliverables from the suite of activities that align with the stakeholder agreements in place with Dept of Water & Environmental Regulation and Water Corporation.

The Members Interest/Technical sub committee have met early in January to commence the planning of the 2023 Waterwise Irrigation Expo. It is envisaged this premier event for

the irrigation industry will be held in August. Various site options are being considered to provide delegates with the best learning outcomes and experiences for a great day out. Once the committee agree on the preferred site, we will commence promotion of this event to companies who might be interested to exhibit their products and latest technologies. Some booths have been pre-sold already without knowing the dates and site, this just shows how successful this event has become. If you are interested in exhibiting, please register your expression of interest via tracy.martin@irrigation.org.au

Once the program is complete, we will commence promoting and distributing the Delegate Prospectus – keep an eye out!

Irrigation Australia delivered Waterwise Garden Workshops at the Perth Garden & Outdoor Living Festival in October 2022. Rain Bird Australia donated a major give away that was drawn at the conclusion of the 3 workshops. On 19th January an informal presentation attended by local MLA representative, Irrigation Australia, Water Corporation and Rain Bird Australia was organised with the winner.

The prize consisted of: • • • •

Smart Irrigation Controller with WiFi connectivity and local Rain Sensor 10 x Rotary Nozzles with Spray Bodies 50m of Surface Drip And all ancillary equipment (Cable, valves, filter and valve boxes)

Last issue we included content on 2 day Rostered Watering Campaign, this content was developed for inclusion in the Perth Garden & Outdoor Living Festival program publication and was designed to assist home owners with tips and tricks on adapting their garden to a reduced watering regime. The content from this article is being broken up into topical segments and posted on social media. Please assist us spread these messages through your social media networks. Visit the Irrigation Australia facebook page https://www. facebook.com/irrigationaustralia The WA office welcomes a new staff member in 2023, with the commencement of Judy Clarke in Administration Support. Judy joins the team in a part-time capacity to assist with the administration of the Waterwise Programs.

4

The Overflow | Summer 2022/23

be part of the

Waterwise

industry initiatives exclusive to Waterwise members WEATHER BASED IRRIGATION REBATE

Perth and Peel residential customers of Water Corporation can apply for a rebate for the purchase and professional set-up of eligible weather smart irrigation products.

Bore Users: Commencing 1st August 2022

Scheme Users: Commencing 1st September 2022

Eligible Products HC, PRO-HC, HPC, HCC X2 with WAND WAND Solar Sync

B-Hyve B-Hyve Pro Smart Series

ESP-RZXe, Me3, TM2 with LNK/LNK2

Rebate

$300 P

Up to

Supply | Installation

er H

d l o ouseh

2,000 available rebates

LNK or LNK2

Learn More by visiting www.waterwiseprograms.com.au/western-australia/initiatives/

WATERWISE – SUMMER 2022

We hope that the Waterwise members have been making the most of the warm weather to promote water-use efficiencies in the community, and that business is going well for all. Water Corporation launched two initiatives in 2022, The Spring Sprinkler Check Up Program and The Weather Based Irrigation Rebate, exclusively available in the Perth and Peel regions to assist in maintaining households with their lawns and gardens while minimising water use.

The Spring Sprinkler Check Up Program was officially closed on 31 October 2022 with a total of 2,066 registrations of which 71.23% were scheme users and 28.7% bore and surpassed the 2000 allocations.

As this is the second year for this specific program, the initial response from Water Corporation is very positive and further reporting and feedback will be provided in due course.

The Weather Based Irrigation Rebate is still available for Water Corporation residential customers in the Perth

6

The Overflow | Summer 2022/23

and Peel regions with up to $300 for the purchase and professional set-up of selected weather-smart irrigation products. This rebate is exclusive to members endorsed in the Waterwise Programs for customers to engage directly with. Available rebates have raised from 600 to 2000 this year – so there is plenty still available. IALWA has continued to promote the rebate through the Waterwise Programs Facebook page and recommends those endorsed Waterwise members continue to promote this initiative.

Water Corporation conducted faceto-face Customer Essentials Training back in June 2021 for all Waterwise Specialists as a free training session that was developed by experts in customer service and business development. This training module has now been moved to an online platform for Waterwise members to complete at their leisure. The training adds value for Waterwise Service Providers and improves relations between service providers and customers with the course covering 5 core modules: • Case for Change • Connect • Discover • Gain Agreement • Finalise

If you are interested to know how your business can benefit from being a Waterwise professional, please visit: www.waterwiseprograms.com.au select your location and click on “Become Waterwise” or contact the WA office on 08 6263 7774.

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 IrriNews Newsletter Receive our monthly Irrigation Newsletter 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 membership@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

Naturelink Perth Article supplied by Giles Pickard, City of Canning and Jane Chambers, Naturelink Perth.

In May 2019, the United Nations reported that 1 million species of plants and animals were under threat of extinction. Much of this biodiversity is concentrated in small areas on the planet (~2.4%). ‘Biodiversity hotspots’ are where exceptional concentrations of endemic species (plants and animals that occur nowhere else in the world) are undergoing exceptional loss of habitat (>70%). Acting now in biodiversity hotspots will make a huge difference to our city and our planet.

South West WA, including the Perth metropolitan area, is one such area identified by the UN, with greater Perth being one of the most biodiverse areas within the south west WA hotspot. This is one of only 35 biodiversity hotspots in the world where biodiversity is most at threat from human activities and land use practices. With climate change and reduced rainfall, this

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The Overflow | Summer 2022/23

area is under multiple stresses to its environment with impacts to the people, flora and fauna of the region.

and mental health and benefit child development – a green city is good for people as well as nature.

NatureLink Perth is a ‘community of practice’ of diverse stakeholders, working together across government agencies, natural resource groups and many other groups to integrate nature into our city, to conserve and enhance our internationally-recognised biodiversity and provide a healthy, liveable city benefiting the economy, the environment and people.

With Perth’s long hot summers and our increasing urban heat through hard surfaces, irrigation plays a key role in the liveability of our city.

Establishment watering is often needed to establish native gardens and restoration areas. With a warming climate and local microclimatic conditions adjacent hard surfaces, some areas may require ongoing irrigation to be sustained during summer dry spells and heatwaves. In addition, many new types of ‘green Infrastructure’ that can promote biodiversity and nature links need ongoing irrigation to thrive in the Perth climate, examples of these are roof gardens, living walls, and water sensitive urban design elements such as biofilters and rain gardens.

One of the primary goals of NatureLink Perth is to connect protected conservation areas with ‘nature links’ – wildlife friendly pathways through the city. These are beneficial to flora and fauna but a multitude of studies that show contact with nature has been scientifically proven to improve people’s physical

conservation focus

NATURELINK PERTH: CREATE LINKAGES BETWEEN ALL OF THESE

people focus

Protect and Enhance Conservation Areas

Restore Urban Nature

Create Natural Infrastructure

Bring Nature to People

Nature at Home

Focus: Conservation, minimising human impact to provide refuges for biodiversity

Focus: Restore degraded natural areas, engage people with nature, enhance biodiversity

Focus: Restore ecological function, create linkages, optimise ecosystem services and the benefits of nature

Focus: Incorporating native species in greenspace and public areas to give a sense of place and interaction with nature

Focus: Encouraging habitat and rooftop gardens, bring nature to people in their private gardens and homes.

Sensu: Standish et al. 2013, Images: Jane Chambers, Tobias Busch, Brett Dunn, Bolleter and Ramalho (2014)

One of the benefits of creating nature links is the reduction in expansive poor turf areas, often synonymous with the public open space in Perth, and replacing them with high quality turf spaces surrounded by biodiverse plantings. This treatment can reduce water use, provides habitat and food sources for local fauna and fungi. Local governments are under increasing pressure to reduce their water use in line with their groundwater operating strategies and groundwater allocations. Local government’s urban forest programs are also seeking increased tree

planting across many public open space areas to combat the rising health and environmental issues that come from increasing urban heat.

This often leads to shading and less than ideal growing condition for turf.

Many local governments also have biodiversity or green corridor plans that seek to increase the diversity and amount of local flora. These initiatives can all be complimentary and present great opportunities to establish nature links and utilise our amazing local flora to mitigate urban heat, climate change, water use, water quality health and liveability.

The Woody meadows site before (left) and one year after planting (right).

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The Overflow | Summer 2022/23

Woody Meadows

An example of this approach is the ‘Woody Meadows’ project, undertaken by the City of Canning with NatureLink Perth and ecologists, landscape architects and environmental scientists. These novel garden designs are waterwise, biodiverse local native plantings, with easy maintenance and high aesthetics.

The woody meadow transformed an unirrigated piece of verge area at the City of Canning’s operations centre and planted it with a range of local native species at densities of up to

Waterwise verge garden

a highly aesthetic form of native garden to engage people within urban areas. Irrigation was installed to be able to irrigate the garden during heatwaves and for replacement plant establishment over the life of the garden. The original poor turf areas have since become a thriving garden home to an array of birds and insects, providing year round flower displays and requiring less maintenance and less carbon inputs (from mowing) than the previously existing turf area.

7 plants per m2. The planting was designed in different zones and is pruned back to sustain new growth and prolific flowering. Planting zones were created to enable a driveable verge where plants can be driven

on for service vehicle access. The intention of this style of garden is for the plants to knit together rapidly to outcompete weed growth, minimise the maintenance requirements of native garden beds and promote

Smarter From The Inside.

RC2 Controller

www.rainbird.com/connected

D42128

showing how we can both protect and sustain our biodiversity.

How can I use this NatureLink resource?

The suggested NatureLinks provide a scientific basis and focus for improving the biodiversity connectivity and greening in your area. Rather than starting out with a blank slate, you can view these NatureLinks, see what land uses – road verges, residential gardens, green spaces, public open spaces, drains – they intersect and consider how you might improve locations along these pathways, through the provision of more and (where possible) local native vegetation such as trees and shrubs.

Everyone can be involved in improving NatureLinks from individuals to organisations.

NatureLink Perth will be working towards providing guidance and resources to help everyone with best practice for different land uses intersecting or adjacent to NatureLinks.

NatureLinks Mapping

Rapid urbanisation in the Perth and Peel region of Western Australia is fragmenting the natural landscape causing significant habitat loss, and endangering the area’s unique biodiversity. Urbanisation is also increasingly reducing the size of remaining natural areas. To combat and reverse this damage, NatureLink Perth have created a resource to enable people to adopt and improve the connectivity of the landscape for our unique flora and fauna.

The smaller the natural area, the less diversity it can support, especially in the long-term. Isolated natural areas act like islands, each island is separate from each other and the biodiversity supported is only as much as the individual island can support.

Linking protected natural areas increases their sustainability. To sustain biodiversity, native fauna need to be able to move between

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The Overflow | Summer 2022/23

remaining sources of food and shelter in protected natural areas (conservation reserves) to maintain healthy populations.

Urban infrastructure can be hostile, exposing species to hazards such as dehydration, traffic and predation.

However urban design can enhance support of biodiversity through urban greening and especially, by using native plantings to create linkages between habitats: NatureLinks.

Using GIS, NatureLink Perth has identified how connected protected natural areas are across the Greater Perth region and located the best pathways between them.

These NatureLinks are naturefriendly pathways joining two (or more) protected natural areas that provide the least risk to species moving across the urban landscape.

This mapping is available on the NatureLink Perth website (see link below) and is a great resource

The irrigation industry has a key role to play in establishing and maintaining these NatureLinks alongside many other stakeholders. Overall nature links will benefit us all by creating cool, healthy local communities for all of its inhabitants, not just humans.

How can you be part of sustaining our biodiversity into the future?

Sign up for our regular newsletter on our website or by contacting the email address below. This will keep you up to date with news, events and new programs.

If you or your organisation have information, reports, knowledge, or activities you would like to share with the NatureLink Perth network, can see an opportunity to work with us, if you want to be involved in NatureLink Perth or have any questions email NatureLinkPerth@murdoch.edu.au and visit https://www.naturelinkperth. org/ for more information, view the mapping and learn about all things Naturelink.

Learn About

OUR PRECIOUS GROUNDWATER Our groundwater is precious and suffering from the impacts of climate change.

In Western Australia most of the water we use comes from groundwater. Groundwater is a hidden water resource which comes from rain that naturally seeps into the ground and is stored in spaces between soil and rocks, called aquifers.

In Perth there are three aquifers:

• The shallow Superficial aquifer

• The deeper Leederville aquifer

• The deep Yarragadee aquifer

Climate change means Perth receives less rainfall now than we did a few decades ago, and this means our groundwater is being recharged less than in the past. Less rainfall and less recharge, and increases in use of groundwater, have caused Perth’s groundwater systems to shift out of balance.

Groundwater is an important source of water for Perth and now makes up 70 per cent of all water used in the region. Besides watering many of our home gardens, groundwater is treated to supply drinking water, keeps our parks and sporting grounds green, and is used by farmers for irrigation.

Groundwater also supports our local lakes, wetlands, bushland and urban trees, which help make Perth so attractive and liveable.

If you are using a garden bore in Perth, you are sharing Perth’s precious groundwater.

Cross-section showing the three main groundwater aquifers under Perth and how groundwater is used

When can I use my garden bore?

In Western Australia, garden bores do not need to be licensed if they are used for irrigating small areas of garden and lawn (fewer than 2,000 m2) and the water is taken from the shallow, watertable aquifer (such as Perth’s Superficial aquifer). To help save our precious groundwater and only give gardens the water they need, the following permanent water efficiency measures and exemptions apply to garden bores in Perth: Two rostered watering days a week in Perth and Mandurah As a necessary measure to protect our groundwater resources, the domestic garden bore roster has been reduced to two days per week, to align with the two-days-per-week scheme water roster in Perth and Mandurah. The new roster started 1 September 2022.

•

Daytime sprinkler use is restricted You can use your garden bore once on a rostered day, either before 9am or after 6pm. This reduces the amount of water lost through evaporation.

•

•

New lawn and garden establishment You must apply for a temporary exclusion from sprinkler restrictions if you need to water new lawns and gardens while they’re being established.

•

Switch off sprinklers for winter You must not use sprinklers from 1 June to 31 August each year in Perth and the South West. Your garden already gets enough water during this period thanks to winter rain and lower evaporation rates.

•

Automatic exemption for maintenance You may use your garden bore and sprinklers while the system is being installed, maintained, tested or repaired, to the minimum extent necessary. We recommend a maximum of two minutes per station, and to carry out work on your roster days, before 9am or after 6pm.

For more information and to find out your rostered watering days visit wa.gov.au and type in check garden bore water restrictions

To Learn More About Groundwater Visit

www.begroundwaterwise.wa.gov.au

Smarter Irrigation for Profit Article supplied by Western Dairy Adopting new technology and altering irrigation practices has helped a Western Australian dairy farmer grow more pasture. In doing so, Dardanup milk producer, Michael Twomey now has robust irrigation data to demonstrate a responsible use of natural resources – something he said was ‘vital to maintaining the dairy industry’s social licence’.

Michael uses deep soil moisture probes to inform irrigation scheduling and SWAN system forecasts as a guide to watering volumes applied to his homegrown feed. These tools help him maintain the readily available water (RAW) – a measure of water in the soil available for extraction by plants – to ensure maximum irrigation efficiency.

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The Overflow | Summer 2022/23

Smarter Irrigation for Profit was a partnership between the dairy, cotton, sugar, rice and grain sectors, supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry as part of its Rural R&D for Profit program and each of the industries involved.

Smarter Irrigation for Profit 2 (SIP2): What’s my yield gap? Improving water productivity, a Dairy Australia led project, was part of a larger suite of projects within the Smarter Irrigation for Profit program.

He adopted this technology and practices by following three seasons as an ‘optimisation site’ for SIP2. This program was designed to improve the

knowledge and practices of local dairy industry irrigators and service providers.

Michael Twomey’s property was one of 10 dairy optimisation sites established in 2019 as part of the SIP2 project. The aim was to evaluate the use of scheduling technologies over three irrigation seasons, including soil moisture monitors, to determine the productivity and profitability benefits from changed irrigation decisions as a result of using technology.

A baseline year measured pasture production, water consumption and energy use. Evaluation of this data determined areas where management could be refined to improve productivity over the following two seasons.

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the RAW zone throughout the dry season increase dry matter production in year two and three of the project?

Due to other limiting constraints than irrigation, this strategy did not result in an increase in measured dry matter production under the focus pivot. This practice was adopted by the host farmer on other pivots on the property.

Although not measured, increased dry matter production compared to previous seasons was evident in these areas.

Q3. Is the current pivot irrigation system operating efficiently and according to specification? Is production maximised uniformly across the site?

A formal evaluation was carried out on the focus pivot and it was found to be operating within design specifications.

Although a few sprinklers were individually found to be operating outside specification, a distribution uniformity of 84.5% was measured against a benchmark of 80%; therefore, no changes were required.

Cath Lescun and Michael Twomey

To help guide the work at the site, a dairy optimisation site reference group was formed in 2019 to provide valuable input and feedback into the technologies and management options to be investigated. The 10 member group consisted of dairy farmers and industry personnel who prepared four key questions for the site. These are outlined below along with a summary of the main findings from the project.

Q1. Can a green drought scenario be avoided by commencing irrigation earlier in the season (mid-spring) to extend the bi-annual

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The Overflow | Summer 2022/23

ryegrass?

Earlier watering maintained readily available water (RAW) in the root zone through spring and into early summer and while temperatures were cool, pasture growth rates from the predominantly white clover pasture were high. Establishment problems limited the contribution of bi-annual ryegrass, but had it established successfully, it would have responded to earlier watering.

Q2. Will the adoption of using an irrigation strategy based on depleting and refilling within

The pivot pressure was found to be higher than required for even distribution; however, this was the only pivot operating during the evaluation using a pumping system designed to operate four pivots. When all four operate at the same time, the operating pressure of each individual pivot would be reduced to within a normalised range. Our host farmer became aware that operating pivots separately increases the operating pressure of a single system, resulting in increased power usage and cost per irrigation application.

Q4. If the system takes advantage of off-peak power rates by increasing the application volume but decreasing irrigation frequency, can soil moisture be maintained within RAW? Soil moisture monitoring equipment provided accurate readings of the effects of rainfall, irrigation and plant water usage upon maintaining soil moisture within the determined RAW

across three varying soil types and locations under the pivot.

A change in watering strategy to apply more water less often (1213mm waterings every second day versus 5-6mm daily waterings) maintained RAW levels through a greater depth of the root zone.

In the late January/February/ early March period when water demand was highest, some peak power irrigation was required, but by watering a greater amount less frequently, a moisture reserve was created, and this reduced the need for constant irrigation.

Looking ahead, Michael will continue to use the soil moisture probes and combine them with his existing GDot soil moisture technology (shallower probes with a light-guide) as an indication of soil RAW – to advise irrigation scheduling. The SWAN system will also continue to be used to advise irrigation volumes.

“It’s quite a good guide,” Michael said.

“Sam Taylor (agronomist and optimisation site co-ordinator) compared it against the weather data, and it came out pretty good. It would be even better if we could also get rainfall and evaporation data after the fact too. That would make irrigation scheduling even more accurate.”

Measurement period

You can download the summary of the final report by clicking HERE.

as a constraint to maximising production under this pivot. White clover has a preferred heat range for optimal growth between 18°C and 30°C.

Identifying constraints to maximising production under irrigation

As illustrated in Table 1, during spring and autumn, pasture growth rates achieved were very encouraging. Dry matter measurements taken between 18 October and 12 November revealed a pasture growth rate of 62.8 kg/ha per day when the temperature did not exceed 30°C. From 13 November to 3 December 2021, pasture growth was 90.5 kg/ha per day.

An unexpected outcome of this work was that pasture production was not improved in the second season despite adoption of the ‘improved’ irrigation management techniques and technologies. Further site characterisation was required to understand what was constraining pasture productivity as irrigation did not appear to be the limiting factor.

Investigation of plant available nutrient levels in both soil and plant tests showed no deficiencies restricting pasture growth.

The soil test revealed that Exchangeable Sodium Percentage (ESP) levels (12 per cent ESP) indicated mildly sodic soil in the top 10cm and sodic (20 per cent ESP) in the 10-20cm horizon.

Further to this, irrigation water was evaluated for its suitability and found to have a Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) of 5.2, where ideally it would be less than three. The impact of prolonged use of irrigation water with a high SAR has contributed to soil structure decline (sodicity), ultimately impacting pasture growth rates at this site.

The appropriateness of white clover as the major component of the pasture sward in summer was also investigated

As temperatures increased into the summer period, pasture growth rates declined.

Hot conditions in late December, January and early February saw pasture growth rates decline significantly when temperatures were consistently greater than 30°C. Similar observations were made for the remainder of February, while pasture growth began to increase marginally to 37.6 kg/ha per day once temperatures cooled from March 1 to March 28.

While the SIP2 Dardanup dairy optimisation site was established to evaluate if enhanced irrigation management, supported by the use of irrigation technology, would increase dry matter production, site results demonstrate irrigation may not always be the greatest constraint to maximising pasture production. The producer

kgDM/ha/day

No. of temp. observations

% observations > 300C

18 Oct – 12 Nov

62.8

600

0

13 Nov – 3 Dec

90.5

481

2

4 Dec – 27 Dec

54

555

12

28 Dec – 18 Jan

50

500

20

25.6

357

34

19 Jan – 7 Feb

Table 1. White Clover growth rates achieved compared to temperature observations over 21-22 irrigation season

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17

Wind is powering Water Corporations way to net zero emissions In November, Water Corporation announced it secured the development rights for the Flat Rocks Wind Farm Stage 2. It’s one of the largest renewable wind energy projects in WA, set to be built 30km from Kojonup in the South West.

Declining rainfall and a growing population have significantly affected where the state’s drinking water comes from. Seawater desalination is an essential, rainfall-independent water source that supplies around half of Perth’s scheme water for drinking

and irrigation. But treating seawater is 40 times more energy intensive than rainfall sourced from dams. This makes the utility one of the highest energy consumers on Western Australia’s main electricity grid - the South West Interconnected System (SWIS).

Southern Seawater Desalination Plant

Seawater desalination is an essential, rainfallindependent water source that supplies around half of Perth’s scheme water for drinking and irrigation.

But treating seawater is 40 times more energy intensive than rainfall sourced from dams.

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The Overflow | Summer 2022/23

RIVULIS PROTECTED AGRICULTURE ULTIMATE IRRIGATION CONTROL

The benefits of big fans

In a move that will significantly reduce Water Corporation's greenhouse gas emissions, Flat Rocks Stage 2 will include up to 24 of some of the largest turbines in the state. Each of these stand 200m tall. Together, they will produce up to 100MW of renewable energy by 2026.

The renewable energy produced will help meet the clean energy needs of Perth and Peel Seawater desalination plants by 2026. This includes the needs for the future desalination plant proposed in Alkimos.

A field of energy for Perth

This project is part of Water Corporation's plan to secure up to 400MW of additional wind-generated renewable energy and will generate enough clean energy to supply water to around 640,000 households for one year and offset up to 240 kilotonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.

The development of Flat Rocks Wind Farm Stage 2 is in collaboration with Western Power, Synergy, the community, and other partners. The wind farm will also contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions across the Government. This is in line with the 80% net zero emissions goal across all sectors of the economy by 2050.

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To learn more about this and other Water Corporation sustainability projects, visit watercorporation.com.au

Creating a Waterwise future Water is crucial to everything we do

Noongar people, as the first people of the Boorloo (Perth) and Bindjareb (Peel) region, have been managing water for 60,000 years. Boorloo and Bindjareb’s groundwater feeds green spaces, sustains trees for shading, sustains wetlands, waterways and bushland; and provides the way of life that makes the region one of the most sought-after in the world to live in, and to visit. Groundwater also supports agriculture in the Boorloo and Bindjareb region to grow almost 20 per

cent by value of WA’s fresh fruit and vegetables.

Building on the foundations of a waterwise city

In Western Australia we use the term ‘waterwise’ to denote a holistic approach to water in all its meanings and functions. A waterwise city is sustainable over the long term, economically productive, highly liveable and resilient to extreme weather events. We design and maintain our houses, industries and communities to manage water onsite to

Reducing household water use

92 million litres of water saved through water efficient showerhead swaps Reducing household water use

9–21 achieveme change

i

resp

ate

gc ty

Reducing water use in our suburbs

The results from the first Waterwise Action Plan 2019 are in the infographic below:

Reducing household water use

142.7 million litres of water saved by retrofitting public housing Reducing water use in our suburbs

nts

49,000 students

participated in the Waterwise Schools program

20 1

The actions in the first Waterwise Action Plan 2019 helped build a foundation to identifying easy wins in water savings, mapping out the challenges for the future, to achieve a more holistic approach to designing a waterwise city.

with water efficient fixtures

A gr o w in

Increasing community water knowledge

Our

300 million litres

of water saved through Leak Assist Rebates

provide amenity and green spaces, to benefit ecosystems and the economy, and to reduce water pollution.

on din

li m g to c

100% of Perth Peel Councils recognised as Waterwise

greening our suburbs

84,000 new waterwise plantings Reducing urban heat in our suburbs

96% of aquatic centres in Perth Peel

3,500 trees

funded across 18 local governments

endorsed as Waterwise

Read the plan: www.wa.gov.au/government/publications/waterwise-perth-two-year-action-plan

Waterwise Perth action plan 2019 scorecard of achievements to December 2021

20

The Overflow | Summer 2022/23

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Featured project from Waterwise Perth Action Plan 2019: Wharf Street Basin Next Generation Community Park

One of the standout projects at the Precinct and Suburb scale from the first Waterwise Perth Action Plan 2019 was the transformation of the Wharf Street Basin, in Cannington.

This site was a fenced-off, inaccessible area used only for the purposes of stormwater management.

The project saw the transformation of eight drains or basins and surrounding parklands into living streams and parkland in partnership with local governments and is an incredible example of what can be achieved through collaboration and adopting a waterwise cities approach.

A multi-disciplinary, crossorganisational team with a shared vision was key to the successful transformation of an unattractive basin into a multipurpose space that serves as a shared public amenity, outdoor classroom, and watercleansing function on its way to the Canning River, while also encouraging biodiversity and community engagement

Kep Katitjin – Gabi Kaadadjan – Waterwise Perth Action Plan 2

Former Minister for Water Dave Kelly recently launched Kep Katitjin – Gabi Kaadadjan Waterwise Perth Action

Plan 2. The plan outlines the next steps towards establishing worldleading waterwise communities for Boorloo and Bindjareb by 2030.

The new two-year plan further supports the State Government’s ongoing commitment to tackling the impacts of climate change on our precious water resources, through water-saving initiatives and the creation of climate-resilient, liveable urban spaces.

Walking together

The Whadjuk and Bindjareb Noongar people are the Traditional Owners of Boorloo and Bindjareb and have been the custodians of the environment and water resources for tens of thousands of years. The management of our precious water with shared knowledge and wisdom is at the heart of this plan.

This plan aims to strengthen relationships with Aboriginal people and other potential partners to create systems change in how we walk with First Nations people; integrating First Nations values and knowledge systems into water planning and management and care for Country.

In recognition of this commitment to walk together, this new plan has a jointly agreed Noongar name: Kep Katitjin and Gabi Kaadadjan. These are the Whadjuk and Bindjareb Noongar terms for ‘water knowledge’.

“This plan aims to strengthen relationships with Aboriginal people and other potential partners to create systems change in how we walk with First Nations people; integrating First Nations values and knowledge systems into water planning and management and care for Country.”

The effects of Climate Change

Hotter and drier days coupled with a growing population mean it is critical that we take the steps to transition Boorloo and Bindjareb to a waterwise future, if we are to ensure Boorloo and Bindjareb remain liveable.

The new plan will help us to conserve our water resources and, at the same time, support urban greening, biodiversity, the tree canopy and urban cooling to create climate-resilient communities.

• Climate projections guidance • Climate risk assessment • Emissions reduction measures • Climate resilient water supplies • Planning for reaching net zero emissions

• Waterwise public housing • Water efficiency standards

Kep Katitjin – Gabi Kaadadjan (Waterwise Perth action plan 2)

Water efficiencies

Climate action

Behaviour change, educate, engage • Think Climate Change Be Waterwise • Be Groundwater Wise • Community connection to water

Waterwise programs

Household and building

• Waterwise Councils • Waterwise Schools • Waterwise Grounds • Waterwise Golf • Waterwise Business 2.0

Precinct and suburb

Liveable communities & ecological health

Creating waterwise communities Government leading

Applied research & data/ information

City and urban

Noongar environmental knowledge • Noongar knowledge • Walking together • Cultural learning and engagement

• Urban liveability/ Drainage for Liveability • Waterwise Greening • Swan Canning Riverpark Urban Forest Program • Swan Canning River Protection Strategy

Future water

• Appropriate water supplies for urban green space • Swan Valley managed aquifer recharge opportunities

This plan will add an estimated 500 million litres of water savings to the 800 million litres of water saved since the first Waterwise Perth Action Plan commenced.

A new plan that sets out 41 key actions

• METRONET program • Planning for exemplar waterwise schools • School landscape design • Embed waterwise in government development • Showcase waterwise developments • Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries infrastructure projects

Kep Katitjin – Gabi Kaadadjan Waterwise Perth Action Plan 2 identifies 41 waterwise actions. These actions are set out at four key scales: Household and building; Precinct and suburb; City and urban; and Government leading.

Water and land use planning

Groundwater optimisation • Water allocation plans • Horticulture water use efficiency programs • Support for local government water reductions • Waterwise nurseries & tree farms

The figure above shows an overview on the plan.

Delivery of the plan will be achieved through the collaborative efforts of eleven agencies – the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation and the Water Corporation with the Departments of Biodiversity; Conservation and Attraction; Communities; Education; Finance; Local Government, Sport, and Cultural Industries; Planning, Lands and Heritage; Primary Industries and Regional Development; DevelopmentWA; METRONET

• Water Sensitive Cities Australia • Sustainable public green spaces • Urban Recharge Estimation • Drainage retrofit monitoring and evaluation • Groundwater information and technology

• Improve water-related state planning policy • Department of Water and Environmental Regulation water policies

These agencies guide and encourage broader efforts across industry, research, community, and local government.

The community, government and industry, have the power to make changes to the way we manage water and the environment, and small changes cumulatively can have a big impact.

For more information or to view the plan please visit Program: Kep Katitjin – Gabi Kaadadjan – Waterwise Perth action plan 2 | Western Australian Government (www.wa.gov.au)

The Overflow | Summer 2022/23

23

Greywater reuse for irrigation in commercial and domestic applications Article by Sam Milani, Advanced Waste Water Systems

“The fastest way to save energy is to save water” – Don Elder, 2002 US national clean water act Climate change and population growth is resulting in more wastewater and less fresh water in most large cities and many regional areas of Australia.

Australia legislated greywater reuse during the millennium drought in 2003.

As fresh water use for irrigation was restricted, and in some places even banned, the community had to find other sources of water to irrigate and keep their gardens alive.

Since then, greywater reuse became one of the most effective methods to accompany water restrictions in order to reduce the demand for treated quality ground and surface water.

Each state government supported this national initiative, and as a results had to develop their own “Greywater Reuse Guidelines” in order to protect public health and avoid unacceptable environmental impact.

24

The Overflow | Summer 2022/23

Greywater is wastewater made up of “greywater” from baths, laundry, wash basins etc and “blackwater” from toilets, urinals, and bidets. Although kitchen water is also classified as greywater, and its reuse is not allowed without some kind of grease arrestor or an alternative pre-treatment.

The reuse of greywater provides several benefits including: • Reduces potable water demand • Reduces the amount of wastewater discharged to the oceans or rivers • A healthier garden, especially during drought periods/water restrictions • Reduces household water bills • Reduces greenhouse gas emissions (water travels less) • Reduces fertiliser use in gardens • Keeps landscape green resulting in reduced fire impact • Reduces the load on septic tanks and Aerobic treatment Units (ATU) resulting in improved system performance and reduced groundwater pollution • Helps stop desertification in some regions of the world

Although initially all domestic GDDs and GTSs had to get state and local government approvals with soil assessment and onsite inspections, in recent years all states have adopted the policy that a GDD can be installed in any house as long as the system meets the WaterMark Technical Certification.

This reduction in bureaucratic procedure for domestic applications was implemented during the super drought in 2018 and has helped in the promotion and spread of domestic GDDs. The state “Greywater Reuse Guidelines” are now mostly used to guide the installation of the irrigation and disposal system linked to the WaterMarked GDD installed.

In commercial greywater reuse applications, and for all GTs government procedural approvals are still in place. Although each state and local government have different regulations, the following table provides a summary of greywater reuse available options in Australia

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Table. Greywater reuse

Greywater Diversion Devices (GDD)

A GDD is essential to most domestic and commercial greywater water reuse application whether it be for direct reuse in drip irrigation or to be treated and then reused in other non-potable applications.

A greywater diversion device (GDD) is designed to capture and divert greywater without storage or treatment, and must have an overflow to waste (sewer, septic, ATU, leach drain).

In Australia the greywater collected by the GDD cannot be stored and needs to be discharged within 24 hours of capture.

The GDD discharge can be disposed of through leach drains, be reused only through sub-surface or sub-strata drip irrigation in gardens, or alternatively be transferred to a greywater treatment system (GTS), where, once the water is treated (to AS1546.4), it can then be stored and reused for other domestic and commercial non- potable water use such as sprinkler irrigation, car wash, toilet flushing and with washing machines.

26

The Overflow | Summer 2022/23

Due to the presence in greywater of hair, lint and other undesirable particles, GDDs incorporate some type of filtration.

GDDs have evolved considerably since they were first brought out into the market in 2003, and the combination of larger pre-filters, and the patented auto backflush mechanism, has

helped to alleviate the tedious ongoing maintenance associated with the manual cleaning of the filters.

This response to a demand for a lower maintenance regime, helped multiply domestic applications, and usher an Australian made GDD (the Greyflow) into the commercial and international markets.

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of Practice for Greywater Reuse” lists and promotes best industry practices. In addition, a very detailed and comprehensive document on greywater reuse was produced by the Greywater and Wastewater Industry Group (GWIG) in 2019 and can be accessed here.

Greywater Treatment Systems (GTS)

Since the millennium drought attempts to spread Greywater treatments for non-potable reuse in domestic applications (eg. toilet flush & laundry water) has had very limited uptake and for the most part has failed to prove viable. Many GTS manufacturers in Australia have had to close shop.

The auto backflush allows the medium to coarse pre-filters to backwash at the source of capture and reject the largest particles back to the sewer or septic. Once captured and filtered the greywater can then be used directly for drip irrigation or can be pumped into a GTS which will treat the water further to be reused in other various non potable applications as per AS 1546.4 standard.

The drip irrigation system used in non-treated applications is of utmost importance to the successful operation and longevity of the GDD. For this reason, it is imperative for the irrigation to be designed properly and matched with the appropriate GDD. Manufacturers of GDD will void the warranty on the pumps and controllers

if the irrigation equipment, layout configuration and flows do not conform with their recommendations.

In addition, it is important to note that no direct cross connection to the GDD irrigation is allowed.

As the irrigation industry has failed to take up the greywater irrigation challenge, manufacturers of greywater systems have had to start their own specialised program and have established an accredited greywater installer specialist network.

Although each state has its own standard when it comes to Design Irrigation Rates (DIR) and setback distances for greywater reuse in gardens, the “2010 WA Health Code

The drip irrigation system used in non-treated applications is of utmost importance to the successful operation and longevity of the GDD. 28

The Overflow | Summer 2022/23

These domestic GTSs have shown to be quite expensive to install and maintain via specialized trade. The combination of present low cost of water, complex government bureaucratic procedures, as well as simpler and more economical rainwater reuse alternatives, have made this option unviable.

In 2016, Australia developed a national standard for Greywater treatment (AS1546.4). This standard by far surpasses the US NSF standard as it provides for a wider range of water treatment levels (3 levels) to match more specific reuse applications.

GTS in commercial applications that meets AS 1546.4 are now on the rise in Australia and a large growth in this application is anticipated.

As opposed to untreated greywater diversion irrigation, the irrigation system equipment and design strategies for treated greywater follows standard irrigation design principles. Manufacturer of GTS strongly recommend that such systems be designed by a Certified Irrigation Designer.

When backing up the system with mains water ensure to use testable backflow prevention devices such as a RPZ, to protect the main water supply.

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Soil moisture monitoring project to boost horticulture production A soil moisture monitoring project has commenced to boost water use efficiency and profitability of Western Australian horticulture businesses.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is working with 15 fruit and vegetable growers in the South West and Carnarvon to examine how commercial monitoring technology can enhance irrigation scheduling.

The Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund has invested in the project, led by the South West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub (SW WA Hub) in partnership with DPIRD, as part of a broader national initiative.

30

The Overflow | Summer 2022/23

DPIRD research scientist Bill Bateman said significant advances in soil moisture monitoring technology had been made in recent years, making it more functional and less labour intensive.

“The technology is now all automated, with the data fed at regular intervals to a digital device, with little requirement for regular paddock checks or maintenance,” he said.

“This project aims to assist growers to understand the technology and evaluate a range of sensors for different crop types. I’ll also be working with growers to interpret the data and determine how it can be used to fine tune their irrigation

systems to reduce water wastage and improve efficiencies and effectiveness – saving growers time and money.”

Soil moisture sensing equipment is being installed on five avocado farms and five apple orchards in the South West, while interest is being sought from five tomato farms in the Carnarvon irrigation area. Data is provided via an online cloud service, where graphs of volumetric water content over time is displayed.

Growers will be guided through interpreting the data to identify soil water holding characteristics and determine the optimal timing and duration of irrigation scheduling to avoid losses in yield, water, and fertiliser.

“The use of soil moisture monitoring in irrigated agriculture is still growing in Western Australia, as growers learn more about how this technology can benefit their operations,” Mr Bateman said.

“This project will assist growers to understand and apply the data from soil moisture monitoring, making irrigation systems more efficient – reducing operating costs and increasing crop margins.”

Field walks and field days are planned as the project progresses so growers can share experiences and learnings via the 15 participating case studies.

SW WA Hub knowledge broker Tanya Kilminster said drying climate conditions could have a major impact on irrigators’ access to surface and groundwater resources, and this project would support them to use irrigated water more efficiently.

“The project is a great example of how the Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hubs are facilitating broad collaboration to achieve adoption of drought resilience and innovation practices,” she said.

“This project aims to assist growers to understand the technology and evaluate a range of sensors for different crop types. I’ll also be working with growers to interpret the data and determine how it can be used to fine tune their irrigation systems to reduce water wastage and improve efficiencies and effectiveness – saving growers time and money.”

Thinking about the Western Australian climate and lifestyle, what role does turf play in our gardens?

Article supplied by Turf Growers Association Western Australia One of the most important contributions that healthy turfed areas, or lawns, in WA home gardens, provide, is by being a cool, safe, playable, resilient surface for children and pets. It is somewhere for children to play games and exercise in a safe environment. A place to develop and extend on fine and gross motor skills development, by kicking balls, doing handstands, playing home cricket, footy, tennis or soccer games, playing chasey or running under a sprinkler on hot days. A place that research has proven improves physical health and mental well-being for children and adults alike. For our pets, lawns are cooling and again areas for exercise and play.

Whilst healthy lawns provide a place to recreate and learn, they can also provide a place of peacefulness and rest, when complimented by trees and other garden plants. It is common knowledge that lawns play a critical role in the general health and wellbeing of our nation, whether in the home garden or in our public open spaces.

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The Overflow | Summer 2022/23

Due to ever-increasing urbanisation, smaller block sizes, bigger houses, and deforestation of our urban areas; lawns have become more and more important for human health. Never in our history has this become so obvious, than due to the Covid 19 pandemic. Throughout Covid lockdowns, the one place in the home that provided enormous respite for so many, was our home gardens, (if you were lucky enough to have one).

The desire for a natural lawn backyard rose exponentially during this time. People soon realised that a dead or barren or paved or plastic backyard was not actually conducive with lockdown. To achieve respite from the indoors and mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, (that often-come hand in hand with these sorts of circumstances), and to get fresh air safely, community, in droves, installed new lawns or improved dying lawns to serve their desire for a personal haven, and attain pleasure and the many benefits that come from having

a healthy, natural green backyard space in their own home.

Residential lawns have many benefits in our changing climate too. Whilst a healthy, green lawn can look lovely, there are more pertinent benefits that must be considered. For example, healthy living lawns are a major cleanser of our environment, improving air quality, suppressing airborne dust (resulting in disease reduction), stopping soil erosion and filtering pollutants. Lawns improve air quality and help keep our cities and local environments clean and safe.

Home lawns are an essential part of a city landscape especially when it comes to rising temperatures.

Irrigated turf has been proven to be the best urban heat island mitigator.

Healthy home lawns cool our home environment. Research shows a significant reduction in the home energy costs associated with cooling homes in urban areas, where there are healthy, living lawned areas.

Turf also mitigates bushfires. Irrigated and mowed lawns are not combustible under any conditions associated with bushfires unless they are completely dead and have extremely low moisture contents. They also do not melt or suffer permanent burn marks or damage. Lawns can and have saved homes, in fire prone urban fringes and semi-rural areas.

•

Absorb carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide.

•

Help to counter the greenhouse effect.

•

Trap dust, dirt and smoke released into the atmosphere keeping air cleaner, mitigating dust related disease.

Environmental properties of lawns:

•

Reduces pollution and runoff to avoid flooding.

•

Helps with absorbing noise and noise pollution in urban areas.

•

Fibrous root system contributes to soil restoration and diminish soil erosion.

•

Are natural and not a petrochemical plastic product.

•

Do not end up in landfill.

•

Cool the environment, being 30 degrees cooler than asphalt, 14 degrees cooler than bare soil and up to 35 degrees cooler than synthetic turf.

beneath our feet.

Research studies have found that when people live with a turfed garden, including trees and plants are less susceptible to high blood pressure, stress, and mental health conditions such as depression. It is a well acknowledged fact that psychologically, the colour green makes us feel closer to nature, making us feel relaxed and rested, and importantly happy and peaceful.

Lawns can provide an oases of calm from the stress and trials of daily life.

From a health and well-being perspective, lawns: •

Output more oxygen than trees.

•

Fire retardation by buffer areas reducing bushfires.

•

Provide enough daily oxygen for a family of four.

•

Provide natural air conditioning.

•

•

•

Provide a positive environment for pets and many native animals.

Acts as barrier for chemicals entering soil.

Are safe and positive playing area for children.

•

Support soil biodiversity, the zoo

•

Positively assists children with

The Overflow | Summer 2022/23

33

attention-deficit/hyperactive disorder.

•

Access to a natural lawn area and garden, assists sick patients to recover more quickly.

•

Assist in keeping aged/disabled mobile on soft ground.

•

•

Have great community appeal – with increased safety, lower crime rates, neighbourhood socializing.

Employers with view of lawns have less stress, fewer headaches, and increased work productivity.

•

Encourage physical activity, recreation, and exercise.

•

Are a safe surface, soft and nontoxic?

•

Support lower blood pressure, reduced muscle tension, improved attention, reduced anger issues.

Lawn is usually the centerpiece of a garden, and most people still regard a turfed yard as part of the Australian dream. Lawn assists in turning a house into a home. It not only softens the look of a landscape and increases the beauty of your home but can also increase its value too. Research has proven that homes for sale with beautifully kept lawns, can attain up to $100,000 more than one without a natural, healthy lawn.

Natural Turf creates the perfect environment for people of all ages.

No matter the usage; whether it be the home playground when raising a family, the perfect pet environment, having friends over for a BBQ, holding a family event or occasion, a home cricket match, or a peaceful, sitting area for the aged to enjoy as their physical capabilities sadly decline, there is no better or more usable surface.

Natural lawn reduces the incidence of personal injuries through its cushioning ability and children are much better protected when playing and falling

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The Overflow | Summer 2022/23

Gnangara horticulture Water Use Efficiency Grants The government has committed $1.5million to assist commercial horticulture and viticulture growers to upgrade their irrigation and water farming systems, to support improved water efficiency and climate resilience.

The Gnangara Horticulture Water Use Efficiency Grants Program is supporting growers' transition to more sustainable farming systems, to protect valuable groundwater resources. The initiative supports growers to adjust to a 10 per cent groundwater abstraction reduction from 2028 under the Gnangara Groundwater Allocation Plan. This

program has recently been extended from North Wanneroo and now includes the Swan Valley.

The program assists growers to adopt infrastructure, strategies, and solutions to improve irrigation systems, enhancing production and profitability. There are three grant types within the Program: •

Grants to implement water use efficiency infrastructure with up to 50% of eligible costs, to a maximum of $50,000, claimable.

•

Grants to implement soil amelioration with up to 50% of eligible costs, to a maximum of $30,000, claimable.

•

Vouchers of up to $5,000 to enable growers to seek advice and planning from a professional irrigation consultant or soil health specialist.

Don’t forget to mention these grants to your customers. For more information, including the eligibility map visit http:// www.agric.wa.gov.au/horticulturewater-use-efficiency-grants

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HAVE YOU VISITED THE WA WATERWISE PROGRAMS WEBSITE? www.waterwiseprograms.com.au

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 AAA Irrigation

Horizon West Landscape & Irrigation

Repair Your Retic

Adonis Gardening & Irrigation

Instant Gardens

Retic Doctor

Advantage Bores & Reticulation Services

Irriscape Reticulation & Landscaping

Retic Express

Alessio’s Gardens

Jim's Mowing Wilson North

Retic Mate

Allwest Bores & Reticulation

Joel Irrigation & Landscaping

Reticulation Pro

Aqueduct Irrigation Services

Josh's Lawn & Garden Service

Rob’s Retic and Lawn

AR Landscapes

Landscape Australia Construction

Ryan Daly

Ben’s Garden Maintenance & Landscaping

Kinetic Landscaping

SK Retic

KRH Irrigation

Softscapes & Reticulation Pty Ltd

Backyard Creations

Landscape Elements Pty Ltd

Sprinkler Fixers

Beyond Reticulation

LD TOTAL

Superior Landscaping & Reticulation

BHG Garden Service

Lime Gardens

The Garden Fixer

Bowie Developments

Living Eden Property Maintenance

The Greenscape Collective

Bowie Irrigation

Luke's Landscaping Co

The Retic Company

Bradkaz Irrigation

Midwest Turf Supplies

The Retic Guy

Brighton Reticulation

Mr Retic

The Retic & Landscape Shop

Brookwell Irrigation

Newground Water Services

The Watershed Water Systems Midland

Candid Reticulation Services

Northend Reticulation & Turf

Think Water Dunsborough

Nutrien Water – Head Office

Think Water Geraldton

Chuckacan

Oasis Reticulation

Think Water Perth

Civic Reticulation

Olive Branch Landscapes

Tidy Gardens Australia

One Two Tree Irrigation & Landscaping

Tip Top Reticulation

OZ Commercial Maintenance Services

TLC Services Perth

Country Landscaping & Irrigation CS Reticulation

PC Landscaping

Turfed Out

Donewell Contracting

Peel Scape Solutions

Ultimate Blue Pty Ltd

Dynamic Property Solutions

Perdita Reticulation & Garden Solutions

Under Pressure Retic

Earlybird Landscaping

Perfect Home Solutions

Urban Reticulation

Earth & Water Pty Ltd

Perth Irrigators Perth Lawns and Retic

VIP Home Services

Ecoedge Retic Supplies Evergrow Gardenscapes

Perth Retic Repair

WaterLink

Fastlane Maintenance

Pimp My Yard

Water Smart Services Pty Ltd

First Element Irrigation

Plantech Grounds Maintenance

Water Well Reticulation

Fluid Irrigation

Portworks

Waterwise Landscaping

Garden Solutions

Pretty Blooming Good

Westcoast Reticulation Services

Greenworx

PTC Irrigation

Western Irrigation

Groundskeeper Garden Services

Pumps N Pipes Supplies

Wet Frog Retic

Growing Assets

Purely Irrigation

WF Landscape Industries Pty Ltd

Rain Maker Irrigation Services

Wittens Irrigation & Design

Rapid Reticulation Remedies

Yurra Pty Ltd

CHATT Services

Coast to Coast Irrigation Cockburn Property Maintenance

NEW

Handy Fixers Property Maintenance HomeCare Reticulation

NEW

Renoscape

NEW

Top Dog Landscaping and Reticulation

NEW

Wanda’s Gardening & Landscaping

The website features an extensive and up-todate business directory where the community can search for their local Waterwise members, based on their location. Head to the search directory at www.waterwiseprograms.com.au for members’ contact details, or if you’d like information on how to become an endorsed Waterwise business.

With an increasing number of DIY enthusiasts installing and maintaining their own irrigation systems, the Waterwise Irrigation Design Shop Program was developed to raise the standard of irrigation advice and design services offered by staff at counter level of specialist irrigation retailers. Endorsed staff have the knowledge and skills to provide their customers with waterwise advice, products and services.

Several Waterwise Garden Irrigators and Design Shops were randomly selected for audit in the 2021/22 period. Successfully audited businesses are acknowledged with this customised logo.

WATERWISE IRRIGATION DESIGN SHOPS Controlled Irrigation Supplies - Joondalup

Nutrien Water - Myaree

The Watershed Water Systems - Midland

Joel Irrigation & LHP Landscaping

Nutrien Water - Neerabup

The Watershed Water Systems - Morley

Nutrien Water - Balcatta

Nutrien Water - Osborne Park

The Watershed Water Systems - Subiaco

Nutrien Water - Bibra Lake

Nutrien Water - Rockingham

Think Water Broome

Nutrien Water - Byford

Peel H20 Solutions - Mandurah

Think Water Dunsborough

Nutrien Water - Canning Vale

Pumps ‘n Pipes - Mandurah

Think Water Geraldton

Nutrien Water - Greenwood

Rainscape Waterwise Solutions - Bibra Lake

Think Water Perth

Nutrien Water - Joondalup Nutrien Water - Malaga Nutrien Water - Mandurah Nutrien Water - Midvale

The Retic & Landscape Shop - Southern River The Watershed Water Systems Cockburn

WA Reticulation Supplies - Armadale WA Reticulation Supplies - Midland Western Irrigation - Greenwood

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

WATERWISE GARDEN IRRIGATORS ARB Landscaping & Fencing

LD TOTAL

Country Water Solutions – Bunbury

Country Landscaping & Irrigation

Nutrien Water - Busselton

Nutrien Water – Bunbury

Fastlane Maintenance

PC Landscaping

Nutrien Water – Busselton

Fergies Total Lawn Care

Russell’s Retic

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Water Update Water Usage Metro Region

https://www.watercorporation.com.au/Our-water/Rainfalland-dams/Water-use

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

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

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