Irrigation Journal Autumn 2011

The Official Journal of Irrigation Australia IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA – LEADERSHIP IN IRRIGATION TRAINING, INFORMATION AND REPRESENTATION.

www.irrigation.org.au

in this issue ■ Smart automation and control ■ Smart finance

autumn 2011 VOLUME 26 No. 01

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CONTENTS

REGULAR ITEmS

ON THE FRONT COVER Advances in computer and digital technology enabling environmental sensors to be hooked up to computers have resulted in more sophisticated ways of identifying how much water to apply, when and where. Irrigation control has enabled operators and managers to manage irrigation more efficiently and effectively as a result. Photo – MAIT Australia.

ADVERTISING Advertising in this journal is managed by Hallmark Editions on behalf of the Irrigation Australia Limited.

Irrigation Australia Limited takes no responsibility for the technical accuracy of article content. All contact with businesses and organisations about advertising are made by Hallmark Editions sales staff, who must identify themselves and the fact that they work for Hallmark Editions on behalf of the IAL. No special consideration will be given to any advertisers as far as editorial content or front cover material is concerned. Decisions as to editorial content and the front cover are the prerogative of the editor and the National Board of the IAL. Advertising enquiries should be directed to the Sales Director.

IAL NATIONAL OFFICE PO Box 1804, Hornsby NSW 1635 T (02) 9476 0142 F (02) 9476 0792 www.irrigation.org.au CEO Chris Bennett

PUBLISHED BY

Commstrat 99 Bay Street, Brighton Vic 3186 PO Box 84, Hampton Vic 3188 T (03) 8534 5000 F (03) 9530 8911 www.commstrat.com.au Sales Director Brian Rault E brian.rault@halledit.com.au T 03 8534 5014 Graphic Designer Annette Epifanidis

CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE

2

FROM THE EDITOR

3

IRRIGATION TECHNOLOGY: AGRICULTURE

4

IRRIGATION TECHNOLOGY: URBAN

6

IRRIGATION RESEARCH

22

IAL NEWS

26

NPSI IRRIGATION INSIGHTS

30

TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

32

THE BIG ISSUE

36

STANDARDS

38

SMART APPROVED WATERMARK

40

AROUND INDUSTRY

42

ICID INSIGHTS

43

STATE ROUNDUP

44

BUSINESS FEATURE

45

NEW PRODUCTS AND FEATURES

48

BOOKSHELF

52

FEATURES AUTOMATION & CONTROL

10

IRRIGATION AUTOMATION: A NECESSITY, NOT AN OPTION

10

WIRELESS SYSTEM PUTS TURF MANAGERS IN CONTROL

12

SMART FINANCE

14

APPLYING FOR A LOAN: DO YOUR GROUNDWORK

14

CLAIMING GST PAID ON WATER TERMINATION FEES

16

YOUR LOAN APPLICATION

18

QUEENSLAND IRRIGATORS LOOK TO RECOVER FROM FLOODS

20

INDUSTRY SUPPORTS SUCCESSFUL DRIP IRRIGATION PROJECT

24

OHS OBLIGATIONS WITH ON-FARM INFRASTRUCTURE WORKS

46

IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA

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CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE

CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE There’s an old adage that from adversity comes opportunity. There are lessons for us all from the floods in south east Queensland and northern NSW, where much of countryside was transformed from drought declared to flood ravaged almost overnight.

The damage toll from the floods is so high that it is having an impact on Australia’s exports, currency and recovery from the GFC. In classic Australian style, governments at state, federal and local level, people from all sides of the political spectrum and the public at large have all dug in to help out. The Australian spirit has truly shone through. As attention turns from managing the disaster to recovery, we have to ask the question about whether, given the likelihood that as a result of climate change such events are going to happen more often, we avoid rebuilding in low lying areas.

Although tiny in comparison, IAL has in 2011 been met with a crisis of its own.

Over the last few years we have developed a large network of industry development officers, for which much of the funding has come from Horticulture Australia Ltd (HAL). We have also accessed HAL funding for training and to help with the costs of publishing this journal.

But, just as the board began the annual update of the IAL strategic plan, we were advised that HAL had knocked back our application for continued funding for our irrigation programme. Our annual strategic review was suddenly given a significant and vital context. The point of strategic planning is to identify changes like this in an organisation’s operating environment and plan to adapt. Although we had already identified that we needed to reduce our dependence on HAL, we had not expected to have to do this with such haste.

Our first (and natural) response has been to rein in spending immediately.

Then we reviewed every activity to identify those that are core and those that are discretionary. IAL’s constitution is very clear on our core activities: representation, industry development, RD&E, training, provision of information and ICID. As a lean and focused organisation, we do little that is discretionary and there is little fat to cut.

All external contracts are being reviewed and the use of consultants curtailed.

Our accountant has prepared a detailed budget showing a revised financial position over the life of our strategic plan.

This is being used to identify the size of the funding gap we face.

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Staff costs are one obvious area to review but this is where we must make sure we don’t cut off our nose to spite our face. We have invested a lot of time and effort into building our IDO network and, because of the value they deliver to the organisation, must try to retain them. We have asked the IDOs to identify opportunities to drive new income into the organisation – through additional certification, training and actively chasing new members.

These activities can go a long way to substituting for the lost HAL revenue.

The board and staff of IAL, however, cannot take on this challenge in isolation.

We need the help of members, regional committees and special interest groups to help identify any activities we should be looking at. We need this local focus to ensure that what we are planning nationally can be delivered locally. Every area will have different requirements and we need to tailor our strategies to suit.

To meet our plan we need to call on our cash reserves. At the request of members, IAL maintains a minimum cash reserve sufficient to fund a full year’s operation with no income. Our current reserves are well above this level. We are thus seeking member assent to draw down on the funds over a three-year period, while the critical elements of the plan are put into place. Our performance will be reviewed at six-monthly intervals to ensure we remain on track.

There always has to be a lesson in this sort of experience. For me it is that we grew to rely too much on a funding partner to whom we were a non-core

recipient. Just as society is asking the question about whether to allow rebuilding on low level land, we must ask how we can rebuild IAL without becoming too dependent on any single funding partner. Irrigation is secondary to HAL and, as the size of our funding basket grew, so too did the risk to them.

We must broaden our base to include a wide variety of partners for whom irrigation is fundamental.

To complicate the position for IAL, our CEO Chris Bennett has decided to leave the organisation to pursue other interests. His timetable will fortunately allow Chris to stay on until a new CEO is recruited. In replacing Chris, the board is seeking someone who can continue Chris’s excellent work in strengthening our internal processes, and drive the implementation of our new strategic plan. The plan will be finalised at this month’s board meeting and will then be forwarded to members. Flowing from the plan is a detailed operating budget and set of strategies to help us return to profitability as soon as possible.

The challenge for the new CEO will thus be huge – getting to know the organisation, building relationships with members and maintaining buy-in on the strategies embodied in our plan.

But with the support of the board, regions, SIGs and members, they will (and must) make it happen.

Peter Toome IAL National Chairman

FROM THE EDITOR

FROM THE EDITOR As we go to press, much of eastern Australia is recovering from heavy rains and, in some cases, record floods. What a difference from our summer 2010 edition of the journal where we were talking about the drought! Of course, some areas of the nation are still going through dry times such as in the southern portion of WA. Once again we are reminded of the effect of climatic extremes in Australia.

The IAL has wasted no time in responding. You can read about the issues identified by the Darling Downs regional committee that will be important to the industry as it recovers. One of the key ones that we don’t hear about in the media is the possibility of a shortage of equipment as irrigators work to replace or repair pumps etc that have been damaged.

To get 2011 off to a start, our two technical features examine smart finances and smart automation and control.

In smart finances we focus on getting a loan. While none of us likes to be in debt, it is an important tool in managing and building businesses and financing business needs. One of the key challenges for many small to medium businesses is working out how to approach the bank for a loan.

Preparation and doing the leg work before you apply is essential. And we show you what you need to include in your application. We’ve gone straight to the source for these articles – the Australian Bankers’ Association.

In our other technical feature we look at smart automation and control.

With advances in computer and digital technology enabling environmental sensors to be hooked up to computers, the irrigation industry has developed more and more sophisticated ways of identifying

how much water to apply, when and where. This world of irrigation control has enabled operators and managers to be more responsive to what’s happening in the plant and soil, and to manage irrigation more efficiently and effectively as a result.

In our urban irrigation feature we look at the experiences of Ipswich City Council, which tackled the issue of how to decrease water use on its playing fields by installing soil moisture sensors and hooking them up to a centrally controlled system.

The benefits were immediate with staff able to fine tune scheduling based on physical data without the need to drive out to the field to manually set the programming.

We also look at two golf clubs in Sydney that decided to trial wireless systems. Once again, the benefits in having more information to make

scheduling and other management decisions became immediately apparent.

Our regular columns feature topics as diverse as the strict OH&S requirements that accompany on-farm infrastructure projects, a study on engaging communities in water planning in Central NSW, the awarding of the Smart Approved WaterMark to Adelaidebased design and consultancy service, Hydroplan, the latest news to do with ICID, and an update on IAL training and professional activities.

I hope you enjoy the read. If you have a story you would like to tell, about the floods or any other topic, then don’t hesitate to contact me. The magazine is designed as a forum for members and as a way of communicating with industry around Australia.

Anne Currey Editor-in-Chief

SOMETHING GETTING UP YOUR NOSE? GOT AN OPINION ON AN IRRIGATION ISSUE? Then tell us what you think - write a letter to the editor.

A number of readers have asked for a Letters to the Editor page and here at Irrigation Australia we’d love to hear what you think about an issue in the irrigation industry - any issue.

Send your letters to Anne at email anne@naturallyresourceful.com.au IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA

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IRRIGATION TECHNOLOGY: AGRICULTURE

IRRIGATION TECHNOLOGY: AGRICULTURE FINE TUNING CITRUS IRRIGATION While some people have questioned whether drip irrigation has enough power to deliver enough water to citrus in hot climates, some growers in southern Australia have found it can be managed with excellent results.

One of these growers is Greg Hutchinson of Red Cliffs, near Mildura in Victoria. Greg has reduced applications to 7 ML/ha/year in a region where annual applications of 10 ML/ha are common.

He qualifies this by saying that not all situations are the same and what may work in one location may not work in another, but his experience shows that efficiency can be driven to a point where there is no more room to move.

What he has been able to achieve with his oranges also answers critics who say high-water-using crops should not be encouraged.

“Apart from water use efficiency, the total value of production than can be driven by water and other inputs has to be taken into consideration,” he said.

He has 6 ha of oranges and 70 ha of winegrapes and, with low grape prices, much better returns in recent years have come from the citrus.

Managing the 20-year-old trees, all navels, is going to be made easier with infrastructure improvements by Lower Murray Water, which will provide more frequent access to water during winter. The trees were planted by Greg on what was an old soldier settler block, at a time when water authorities preferred sprinklers to drip.

Although there were no natural hard soil layers, the soil had been compacted by vineyard traffic so was ripped and levelled before installing the sprinkler system and planting the trees.

Crop factors help determine irrigation schedule Replacing the sprinklers with a drip system a few years later involved two lines per row, able to deliver 1.25 mm an hour. Patterns of irrigation vary from once a week for up to 15 hours to every two to three days in summer for up to 8 hours.

There is not a standard irrigation schedule, however, and this may be the reason for getting the yearly use down to such a low level. In addition to crop factors, which are highest in winter, and evaporation, which is highest in summer, decisions are influenced by stage of development

Citrus grower Greg Hutchison has reduced water use with careful management of drip irrigation. (e.g. flowering is a critical period), crop load and visual observations which are made each morning.

“I believe I have to manage the citrus personally and I like to keep a track of what the trees look like,” Greg said. “There may be signs of stress in the appearance and feel of leaves, there may be a flower load issue, or an indication from the size and development of fruit.”

In addition to the indicators from personal observations, Greg uses professional services for pest and disease monitoring and he tests for nutrient status. Weather information is important, too, with a strategy to wet the soil in advance of heat waves.

Irrigation through drip has a further role as a vehicle for nutrient requirements.

Nutrient management, like irrigation, is influenced by more than one factor. For example, applications are not automatically made in prescription form to meet deficiencies indicated from leaf analyses. They can be held off if there is a small crop load and the chance of over-size fruit, or adjusted to suit growth and ripening of a normal crop.

Irrigation and fertigation focus on the root zone and it appears that good science and keen observations ensure optimum use of inputs.

Note. This article is reproduced with permission from the National Program for Sustainable Irrigation

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IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA

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IRRIGATION TECHNOLOGY: URBAN

IRRIGATION TECHNOLOGY: URBAN AUTOMATION PROVES WATER SAVINGS After flooding rains in the new year in southern Queensland, it seems hard to believe that since 2005 a key concern of Ipswich City Council, 50 km west of Brisbane, has been to reduce water consumption on its playing fields while keeping them fit for playing.

The council has a big area of green space to manage – 500 parks and 33 ha of irrigated sports fields.

To determine how much to irrigate the council developed a turf irrigation calculator, which the QWC then adapted for is volumetric allocation method.

While this was effective, it was also manually intensive. It also meant that council staff had to understand soil profile features and be able to interpret the data. The next step was to automate the process.

Until 2005, how much water was used for irrigating these sports fields wasn’t a significant issue.

“Where irrigation systems were installed, they were used to present a quality turf playing surface, and their management was at the discretion of the field supervisor in line with other agronomic management decisions such as fertiliser and aeration,” explained Geoff Faulkner, irrigation advisor to Ipswich City Council.

As the drought started to bite in 2005 and the regulation of town water use in south-east Queensland was introduced by the state government, the council knew they had to improve irrigation management of their playing fields. Lifting water restrictions to Level 6 in September 2007 underlined this.

As a result, the council took a number of steps to minimise water use while keeping fields “fit for play”, i.e. safe and useable including for sports events.

An advantage of automated systems is that management can be done from a central location, saving on time and effort. In this photo a member of council staff is adjusting an irrigation schedule.

Automation provides solution Ipswich Council contracted the job of automation to MAIT Industries, which installed permanent in-ground sensors into six preliminary sites in March 2008.

“The data we captured initially was soil moisture at root zone and at 30 cm, temperature at root zone and flow,” said Geoff. “We now capture soil moisture, soil temperature and electrical conductivity at increments to 40 cm as well as flow and rainfall.”

Ipswich City Council automated irrigation systems on its playing fields in a strategy to minimise water use.

Trial compares irrigation efficiencies Geoff explained that the council decided to compare soil moisture monitoring with a volumetric allocation system based on historic daily rainfall used by the Queensland Water Commission (QWC) as a way of determining when and how much to irrigate.

“We collected soil moisture data using a manual gauge and related the result to level of stress in the turf,” he said. “While the soil moisture probe gave us the soil moisture, it was apparent that the available soil moisture varied according to soil type. We decided that, in the absence of enough data across soil types, we would use a reading of 15% as the trigger to start irrigating based on our collected data.”

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IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA

With the centrally controlled irrigation system, staff found they could fine tune scheduling based on the physical data without the need to drive out to the field to manually set the programming. This was a great time saver.

The web-based system only allows irrigation when soil moisture reaches a predetermined, low set point. Each set point is specific to a playing area and is calculated using a variety of elements, such as soil type. A rain switch is also integrated into the system so that when it rains, irrigation is stopped.

Figure 1. Data of a typical cycle for a field showing soil moisture decreasing (blue line) and the system enabling irrigation (black line) when the low set point is reached. Irrigation (blue bars) and rain (red tag) then puts the soil moisture above the high set point and irrigation is again disabled and so on. Note that rain at the end of the irrigation cycle sent soil moisture to field capacity.

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IRRIGATION TECHNOLOGY: URBAN The predicted return on investment was also very clear – capital expenditure was about $40,000, giving a payback period of one year.

And what happened to water consumption?

From Figure 2, which uses 2005 as a base line, consumption started to decrease from 2007 although this did coincide with an increase in rainfall.

This shows the responsiveness of using soil moisture rather than an arbitrary allocation value based on a predicted rainfall pattern.

Figure 2. Irrigation water consumption decreased from 2007.

Of course, there are other benefits.

Monitoring soil moisture results in consistent, good quality active playing surfaces, reduced labour and water costs, and accountability to ratepayers and club members.

While Geoff isn’t sure that field managers would have used less water than that allocated with the allocation method, he says that human nature being what it is suggests the allocation would have been used no matter what!

Geoff said that while the drought may have put the spotlight on water consumption and use patterns, he is confident that Ipswich City Council has learnt to use water efficiently and for a defined outcome.

He is certain, however, that had rainfall been lower, council would have used more water, as is illustrated in Figure 3.

“While we can expect water restrictions will be a permanent feature, we now have the capacity to know field conditions and when to intervene with irrigation. We can fine tune the applications as required without going to each field. We have the flexibility of adapting systems for both long term and short term needs," he said.

Figure 3. Actual water consumption compared to QWC volumetric allocations, December 2007 – May 2008 (Sites in bold had the MAIT system installed).

For the six months of the trial (December 2007 to May 2008), an average of 390 kL/ha was used over 11.33 ha compared with the allocation of 1430 kL/ha average for the same fields (see Figure 3). This is a water saving of about 11.8 ML for the six months, which equates to a cost saving of about $20,640 or $1822/ha. Actual water costs using smart irrigation were $7725 while the QWC volume allocation method would have cost $28,364.

“We can demonstrate stewardship to the wider community that we are using water wisely and save money at the same time.”

Note. This article was adapted by Anne Currey from information supplied by Ipswich City Council and MAIT Industries

THREE-MONTH WATER FORECASTS TO HELP WATER PLANNERS If you go to the Bureau of Meteorology’s website and click on the new seasonal streamflow forecasts page, you will see a picture of inflows into the south-east Murray-Darling catchment that last year we would have thought almost impossible.

Unlike the same period last year – January to March – the website is forecasting that higher than average flows are likely.

This new Seasonal Streamflow Forecast Service, developed by CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology, will help water managers and planners estimate how much water is expected to flow into specific rivers and catchments up to three months ahead.

The forecasts, released in December last year, will help with decision making around seasonal water allocation outlooks, reservoir operations, environmental flow management and water markets. They are issued monthly on the bureau’s website.

According to Dr Rob Vertessy, Bureau of Meteorology Deputy Director (Climate and Water), water managers and users now have access to reliable and robust forecasts of seasonal streamflows.

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IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA

“Although there is a lot of water in some areas of Australia at the moment, water availability will continue to vary in the future as demand continues to grow and climate inevitably varies. This poses major challenges for water resource management so the need to accurately monitor, assess and forecast the availability of water resources is more vital than ever,” Rob said.

CSIRO provided the research and development that underpins the forecast service, which the bureau has developed for thirteen river sites and eight storages in the south-east Murray-Darling Basin. The service will gradually expand to other locations in Australia over the next two years.

The launch of the forecast service follows a 12-month experimental phase in which the Bureau and CSIRO consulted closely with water organisations.

These forecasts use a sophisticated statistical modelling approach, called Bayesian joint probability (BJP), to provide information on likely water inflows into major river and storage systems for the three months ahead.

The Bureau of Meteorology’s new seasonal streamflow forecasts service is designed to help water managers and planners by providing forecasts of inflows into river systems.

The BJP approach forecasts the likelihood of streamflows exceeding various volumes. The forecasts are based on how current catchment conditions and current climate patterns (such as El Nino cycles) influence future catchment runoff.

Forecasts are verified against observed streamflows. The experimental phase showed that the forecasts produced by the BJP approach are reliable and robust.

The forecasts are on the bureau’s website at http://www.bom.gov.au/ water/ssf/

Mait Industries offers you a cost effective, easy to use system for monitoring and controlling your irrigation, based on soil moisture data, keeping your turf in the best possible condition with the least amount of water.

Data is continuously measured, using the EnviroPro probe, and displayed in the iNTELLiTROL system.

Data is uploaded and displayed automatically using the web based iNTELLiWEB system for live display of soil moisture, soil temperature and salinity data, and remote management of the system.

MAIT Industries gives you amazing control over your irrigation, using live data from each site. Our intuitive system will automatically enable or disable scheduled irrigation events based on moisture conditions within the root zone of the turf.

Eliminate the risk of over or under watering your turf. Maintain optimum turf with the right amount of water at the right time.

A cost effective system that will save you time, money, water and improve turf quality.

Connect the soil moisture sensor to logging board. The EnviroPro allows you to connect other sensors to create the best reading for your turf.

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Measure how much water your turf is using; know when and how much water to apply.

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Install iNTELLiTROL logging and control board with GSM modem, and connect to existing irrigation controller.

Data from the site can be automatically updated into the live iNTELLiWEB site

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Monitoring and Control Solutions for Agriculture, Turf and the Environment

FEATURE: SMART AUTOMATION AND CONTROL

IRRIGATION AUTOMATION: A NECESSITY, NOT AN OPTION Greg Hocking, Technical Leader, MWH Whether you are buying or upgrading an irrigation system, it is important to understand the range of automation options available.

With many installations in the past, little – if any – consideration was given to specification and selection of the control system. This led to systems being installed that are unable to cater for the degree of automation and data management now required by operators.

More than controlling field valves Automation is much more that just controlling field valves. Other areas that should be considered when specifying system requirements include: • System flow and pressure monitoring.

These parameters are fundamental to how well a system is working.

Flow and pressure variations are the first indicators of potential system problems.

• Data logging and benchmark data.

Today’s irrigation manager will be held accountable for how much water is used. Accurate records will be essential, not only for justifying water use, but also for benchmarking the performance of crops against water application.

• Pump control. Although it may be better to have an independent pump control system, some integration between the system control and the pump control is necessary for both operating efficiency and system security.

• Fertigation management and efficiency. It is becoming more important to maintain data about both the quantity and timing of fertiliser application. Current control systems can accurately control application and record application data.

• Remote access. As a result of increasing technical requirements associated with

modern agriculture, remote access has moved from a luxury to a necessity, not only for operator convenience but also to allow for remote servicing by technicians.

Make your system work for you Automation systems, unfortunately, are often deemed too expensive when they are considered solely on the ability to turn valves on or off. A well designed control system can actually save money through greater accuracy of water and fertiliser delivery and reduced labour costs. If the control system is not reliable, flexible and simple to operate, however, irrigators simply have an expensive control system acting as a glorified tap timer, leading to inefficient irrigation management.

To make your control system work for you: • Spend time and do some training so you understand the capabilities of your control system. By knowing what your system can and can’t do, you will be able to programme it to achieve application efficiency and to manage problem areas.

• Understand the capacity and degree of flexibility associated with your irrigation system design, and critical points for flow and pressure within it.

This will allow for monitoring points to be installed and connected to log system performance.

• Understand the operating constraints of your pumping and filtration system. Efficient operation will reduce maintenance costs and lower overall system operating cost by reducing power consumption. In some cases, operating costs can be halved by installing modern pump automation and control systems in association with intelligent selection of pumping and filtration plants.

• Understand how the water supply infrastructure works from the water source through to the end of your system and address bottle necks to achieve maximum irrigation efficiency.

• Never be fully satisfied. New equipment that can help with operation and data management is always coming on to the market.

In summary, when looking at a control system, it is important to understand the technical detail and requirements of the irrigation system. A consultant can independently assess the options and costs for you.

About the author: Greg Hocking is a Technical Leader for MWH, a global provider of environmental engineering and strategic consulting services. Greg has 30 years’ experience in the irrigation industry. He currently supports MWH’s irrigation design projects across regional Australia and can be reached on 0417 827 909 or at Greg.W.Hocking@ au.mwhglobal.com.

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Irrigation design from source to seed MWH MWH is is aa global global consulting consulting engineering engineering firm, firm, recognised recognised for for its its leadership leadership in in water, water, infrastructure infrastructure development development and and environmental environmental management. management. We We have have provided provided support support to to some some of of the the world’s world’s largest largest and and most most significant significant wet wet infrastructure infrastructure projects, projects, but but we we also also make make aa difference difference closer closer to to home, home, helping helping farmers farmers across across Australia Australia as as they they work work to to use use water water in in the the most most responsible responsible manner manner possible. possible.

With With climate climate pressures pressures on on our our water water sources sources growing growing daily, daily, irrigators irrigators must must prioritise prioritise water water use use and and cost cost efficiency efficiency to to ensure ensure aa sustainable sustainable crop crop and and business business model. model. Our Our irrigation irrigation engineers engineers bring bring aa comprehensive comprehensive understanding understanding of of water water cycle cycle management management that that gives gives them them an an edge edge as as they they design design and and implement implement irrigation irrigation and and automation automation systems. systems.

Our Our advanced advanced irrigation irrigation solutions solutions are are scalable scalable and and suitable suitable for for the the needs needs of of all all irrigators irrigators –– from from aa family-operated family-operated farm farm to to aa large large farming farming cooperative. cooperative.

MWH MWH offers offers design design services services for for projects projects of of all all types types and and sizes, sizes, including: including: • irrigation irrigation system design and specification irrigation system design and specification • system design and specification • • automation design and specification automation design and specification automation design and specification • • irrigation and automation system audits irrigation and automation system audits irrigation and automation system audits We We are are determined determined to to make make a a difference difference in in how how we we secure secure a a future future for for all all water water users users in in Australia.

Australia.

For For more more information, information, please please contact contact Shane Shane Larkin Larkin at at +61 +61 400 400 661 661 541.

541.

FEATURE: SMART AUTOMATION AND CONTROL

WIRELESS SYSTEM PUTS TURF MANAGERS IN CONTROL With advances in computer and digital technology enabling environmental sensors to be hooked up to computers, the irrigation industry has developed more and more sophisticated ways of identifying how much water to apply, when and where. This world of irrigation control has enabled operators and managers to be more responsive to what’s happening in the plant and soil, and to manage irrigation more efficiently and effectively as a result. It has also allowed decisions to be made about things such as when and how much water to apply to help control diseases, weeds and pests.

Irrigation companies know that the full potential of automatic monitoring and control has not yet been realised and are working to improve elements

such as ease of use and accuracy. Some of these improvements depend on incremental advances in equipment and its capacities, while others depend on more general advances in technology.

Wireless technology is an example of a general advance that has led to developments in monitoring and control. One of the key advantages of wireless systems is that they do away with the costs of trenching and hardwiring systems that are necessary with radio-based systems.

Wireless systems recently released With a wireless system, sensors located in the ground and incorporating environmental monitoring capability, e.g. soil moisture probes, collect and send data to a base station. This data is then accessed with a central

computer, analysed and interpreted for management. The critical aspect is that real time information is delivered, and this facilitates real time responses to changing soil conditions, e.g. watering frequency, salt flushing and even heat management of the greens.

It also enables optimal aeration and fertigation soil enhancement strategies to be developed and implemented.

Two Sydney golf clubs – Concord and Avondale - have been trialling wireless systems to find out if the promise of wireless systems lives up in practice.

The system both have installed is Toro’s Turf Guard system.

The trials started in late 2009 after the superintendents were introduced to the system while on study tours in America. Mark Parker, Concord Golf Club’s superintendent, elected to trial four Turf Guard sensors on two problem greens. He said that this strategy has given them an extremely accurate insight into how all the greens perform in different conditions.

Avondale Golf Club’s superintendent, David Warwick, had been looking at moisture sensing systems for a few years. According to David, he decided to go Turf Guard because it could be linked to the Toro irrigation system already in use at the course.

Installation

Mark Parker, golf superintendent at Sydney’s Concord Golf Club, decided to trial a wireless central control system.

Installing wireless systems is a relatively simple matter as there is no need to dig trenches to install hard wire or to connect wires to the base computer.

According to Toro Australia’s Bronwyn Skelton, it is an advantage to be able to

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Installing sensors is a simple matter, however, it is important to map where they have been placed to avoid damage during maintenance and renovation. accurately map the location of sensors during installation. This enables course staff to locate them before renovation.

They can either be removed or flagged to prevent potential damage from aeration equipment.

Bronwyn explained that end users should be aware of their network capabilities and usage policy when considering wireless web-based systems.

Government and other sites could have security restrictions which will need to be investigated before installation. At times permission is required to install the system on the main network.

Alternatively, a separate network can be used to facilitate the product.

The verdict Mark Parker said that the first impacts on course management were less reliance on day-to-day watering checks and simpler irrigation cycles as a result of having access to up-to-date information on how long it takes water to penetrate deep into the soil.

“Obviously it would be ideal to have sensors on every green but we are more than happy with the valuable temperature, moisture and salinity data that we are getting from our two worst greens,” said Mark.

Mark knows from the data collected from each sensor’s upper and lower probes when water has moved through the profile and how long it will take for flushing to go all the way through the profile.

“We are now also able to accurately monitor temperature and as a result have a better understanding of what

impact different conditions have on disease, weed and pest activity. Armed with this level of information we will be able to refer to the data down the track enabling us to take remedial action when certain temperature and moisture conditions are repeated.

“One of the best aspects of the system is that being wireless it’s completely portable, so we are able to collect real-time moisture level data from our most susceptible greens as opposed to just relying on visual readings – which will greatly improve the health and performance of all our greens,” he said.

Being able to use a wireless system has allowed Mark to change the way he manages the course. The next phase of its development could see the introduction of text message alerts so greenkeepers will know exactly what’s going on no matter where they are and then take the appropriate steps to act on the information before a situation becomes critical. With the information being web based users can also load the SiteVision software onto any web enabled phone for complete access to your system information.

David’s Warwick’s experience at Avondale Golf Club has been similar.

The wireless system has streamlined water management on the course.

“With the information generated, we have been able to demonstrate exactly how much water is required to reach a certain depth, graphically show how much moisture is lost from the various greens and therefore why some greens are wetter than others – which helps to support our irrigation scheduling.

“We also have a better understanding of the impact temperature has on the growth of our Bent grass greens.

Temperature has a dramatic effect on how fast the greens decline and with varying micro-climates around the course it can be very rapid indeed, so with the data collected we always a have a reference point for the committee if required,” he said.

One of the key advantages of the system is that the information gathered has been used to adjust irrigation schedules depending on how quickly the greens dry out.

The verdict from both course managers is a thumbs’ up for their wireless systems. They have lived up to the promise of providing easy access to up-to-date information and have allowed both Mark and David to better manage irrigation to the courses.

Acknowledgment. This article was written from information provided by Toro Australia.

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FEATURE: SMART FINANCE

DEBT - AN IMPORTANT TOOL FOR BUSINESS MANAGEMENT While none of us likes to be in debt, it is an important tool in managing and building businesses and financing business needs. One of the key challenges for many small to medium businesses is working out how to approach the bank for a loan.

This series of articles discuss how small to medium businesses can plan to obtain bank finance.

They are taken from a factsheet prepared by the Australian Bankers’ Association and CPA Australia, Applying for a loan: information for small business, website www.bankers.asn.au.

APPLYING FOR A LOAN: DO YOUR GROUNDWORK Sources of finance

Disadvantages

All businesses need finance to establish and grow. Finance can be provided from the following sources: • Debt, financing that is provided from an external source, such as a bank • Equity, financing that is provided from an internal source, such as an owner or investor.

Before applying for a loan, you need to consider whether debt or equity or a mix of both is the most appropriate financing method for your business.

The advantages and disadvantages of debt and equity finance can be summarised as follows:

Debt

Advantages Debt • Retain control over the business • Opportunity for increased return on investment • Growth in value of the business is retained by the owner • Debt repayment commitment can be fixed • Lower cost of capital • Lower cost of raising debt finance • Interest expense is tax deductible

Equity • Ability to raise funds in excess of security • No exposure to changes in interest rates • External resources could add strategic input and alliances • Improved profile with lenders • Increased financial controls • More stable financial structure • Possible mentoring support from the investor as well as funds

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• Ability to raise funds is limited by security available • Business may be exposed to financial risks as a result of interest rate movements • Reduced opportunity to establish new external alliances • Liquidity exposure of a highly geared structure • Business opportunities lost through tight cash flow • Profitability reduced by debt servicing costs

Equity • Loss of total control and autonomy in decision making • Greater pressure on achieving growth and higher returns • Need to identify exit strategy • Potential conflict between owner and investor • Additional costs of equity process • Greater management reporting required • Dividends are not tax deductible • Length of time to raise equity can be 3 to 6 months • Loss of retained profits if dividend payments are required Once you have made the decision to apply for a loan, it’s important to spend time and do your groundwork. Here are pointers on what to do.

Shop around Most retail banks offer loans to the small business sector. They all have different products and services on offer.

Make sure you shop around to find the right loan that suits your needs and consider whether it makes sense to consolidate your business with one bank to get the benefits of a package or

have different providers for different products. You may also consider visiting a finance broker, as they can help a small business evaluate the options of many lenders.

Give yourself time to do some homework The first aspect of the process is to find out what banks have to offer you. The bank you already bank with may not be the best for your business and may not offer you a loan. Do research, talk to other people in business, look at websites and gain plenty of background information about what all the banks offer. You do not have to confine yourself to a bank within your own town or region. Technology makes it possible for you to work with a bank based anywhere in Australia.

Timing Don't wait until you are desperate to ask for money. This is not a good foundation for a successful loan application. The bank wants to feel secure in its decision. It does not want to hear that your business needs the loan to survive; it wants to hear that your business needs the loan to grow.

Find a specialist Ask around; try to find out which bank has loan specialists who understand the industry sector you are in. Most banks have loan specialists who will have a better understanding of the sector you are in, which means they have a better appreciation of the conditions your business is exposed to. If you are a small business or a start-up, consider making your first approaches to banks with a small business focus or small business support already in place.

Study bank websites to see which banks offer what kinds of business support.

Find the right tools Some banks offer free software applications that can run alongside your internet banking. Such software may help you monitor your accounts, pending automatic payments, the exchange rate and more. Ask the bank during the application process if they have a particular banking service which may assist your business.

The interview To present your business in the best light at a meeting, you need to present yourself in the best light. Remember, this is a business meeting. There is no reason to feel intimidated or nervous about asking

It’s important to make sure your bank understands the small business sector. It’s a good idea to check out bank websites to see what kinds of business support they offer.

a bank for money. They will want to do business with you if your proposition is sound and your business knowledge and skills are apparent. If it will add to presenting your business in a sound light, ask your accountant or financial advisor to go to the meeting with you. Make sure the bank officer understands clearly what the involvement this person has with your business.

Acknowledgment. This article is reproduced, with permission, from the Australian Bankers’ Association factsheet, Applying for a loan: information for small business, website www.bankers.asn.au

QUICK GUIDE TO BANK SPEAK Dealing with money and banking involves ‘bank speak’.

Here’s a quick guide to some of the most common words that you might encounter when dealing with your bank.

Risk. The meaning of 'risk' varies according to whether you are the borrower or the lender/investor. As a small business seeking a loan, risk would be the chance you take in borrowing money and being able to repay it. You may 'risk' your business or even your family home to support your business finance opportunity. As a lender or investor, 'risk' means the gamble taken to support your financial opportunity, usually risking the repayment of the loan and the interest on it.

Security. In the legal sense, ‘security’ is a right against a particular asset belonging to another; for example, the banks may hold security over the home of a small business owner as collateral for a loan. A creditor without security has rights only against the debtor, not against any specific property.

Cash flow forecast. Sets out all expected payments and receipts in a given period. It is different from the projected profit and loss account, and in times of cash shortages, may be more important. This cash flow forecast also helps you to get a picture of the likely extent of a crisis and how long it might last. Forecasts should include all assumptions used to arrive at the projected cash flow, for example increased sales versus historical actual of, say, +10% and add in the reasons why.

Cash reserves. Cash put aside or kept back, sometimes for a special use.

Capacity to repay. The determination made by a lender on whether a borrower can repay a loan after examining financial statements, financial ratios and operating data.

Credit history. A record of an individual’s or company’s past borrowing and repaying behaviour. Your credit history is contained in a credit file and it will include credit applications and enquiries you have made during the past five years; records of some current credit accounts; overdue accounts (defaults) which may have been listed against your name; bankruptcy information; judgments; and public record information such as directorships and proprietorships.

Interest cover. Determines the actual cash available to service the interest payable on the debt taking into account

possible fluctuations in interest rates over the life of the loan and making full use of the loan facility.

Loan to Value Ratio (LVR). This is the ratio that the bank will lend against a small business asset. For example, if a factory is valued at $500,000 at an LVR of 65%, then the bank may consider a loan/facility of up to $325,000.

Source. Australian Bankers’ Association factsheet, Applying for a loan: information for small business, website www.bankers.asn.au

Top tips and sources of information for applying for a loan • Your accountant and your lawyer can both advise you on your application.

• Banks will be happy to discuss your needs in a preliminary meeting.

• Make sure you take the necessary information required by the bank – relationships built on transparency do matter.

• Don't restrict yourself to one bank, shop around.

• Loan applications and shopping around take time, so it’s best to schedule time to complete the task so you aren’t rushed • If you fail in your loan application seek feedback as to why it failed and what may be needed to be successful.

Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI): www.acci.asn.au Business Victoria’s Business Loan Finder: http://www. business.vic.gov.au/BUSVIC/STANDARD/1001/PC_62522. html CPA Australia: www.cpaaustralia.com.au Council of Small Business Organisations of Australia: www.cosboa.org Australian Bankers' Association: www.bankers.asn.au Australian Bankers’ Association website on small business banking: www.smallbusinessbanking.com.au Federal Government’s gateway to information and resources about business: www.business.gov.au AusIndustry: www.ausindustry.gov.au Source. Australian Bankers’ Association factsheet, Applying for a loan: information for small business, website www.bankers.asn.au

IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA

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FEATURE: SMART FINANCE

YOUR LOAN APPLICATION What is the bank looking for in your loan application? It all boils down to three things – information, security and experience.

The more quality information the bank has about your business, your plans and your industry, the more likely you will be successful in your application.

The application The objective of preparing a loan application is to show the bank that you run a viable business, so providing you with a business loan is a low risk proposition.

One of the most important aspects of your loan application is to demonstrate to the bank that you can organise your thoughts and ideas in writing and can support them with financial information.

Make sure that you understand all the information that is being presented in the loan application. Respect the bank's need to ask what appear to be personal questions. Remember, they are going to be your business partner!

Bankers will be very interested in how you run your business as a profitgenerating exercise and your plan to generate cash flow. Healthy cash flow is the very essence of a successful small business. After all, if your cash flow is poor, your business will struggle to operate efficiently and repay any loan.

Security is also crucial to the loan application. The more security you have, the better your chance of getting a loan. The security you offer will form the basis of the loan agreement.

Preliminary discussions with banks will give you an idea of the kind of security they would be looking for, and the dollar value of such a security.

Types of securities Often small business people will offer their family home as security for a business loan. Depending on how much equity you have in the property, this may require changing your mortgage arrangements. The bank also wants to ensure you are committed to repaying the loan, so the requirement of security binds you to the business and the bank.

Alternatively, business assets may be provided as security in lieu of residential assets, at higher interest rates.

There also exists the option of a more expensive unsecured loan for small businesses that may be willing to pay higher lending costs in exchange for not risking their personal assets.

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Banks may also ask business owners and directors of companies to provide personal guarantees (depending on the circumstances of the business) as part of receiving a loan.

A bank may also impose conditions on a loan, known as covenants. A covenant is an agreement between two or more parties that binds them from certain actions. For example, a borrower is bound to provide financial information to a lender, or is to refrain from incurring further debt during the life of the loan or to ensure that the Loan to Value Ratio (LVR) does not go above a certain percentage.

Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) is required when the LVR exceeds a certain percentage for example 80%. LMI protects a lender when a borrower has an LVR that is greater than that percentage.

Where LMI is required, a one-off premium is payable by the borrower.

Checklist for writing your loan application 1. Short written detail on the following: a. What does my business do b. Business history, including information on successes of the business and depth of experience of the management or, if a startup, of the relevant successes and experience of the individuals behind the business c. Industry information d. Ownership details 2. Personal financial information. This information is relevant as it is likely that a bank will undertake a credit check of the business owners as well as the business. The types of financial information your bank may be looking for includes: o a list of personal assets o tax returns o personal banking details, including loans and deposits.

3. Historical financial information.

Where a business has been in operation, the bank will want to review historical financial information – typically balance sheets, profit and loss statements and cash flow statements for the past three years. Ideally, this information should be either prepared or reviewed by an accountant. Your bank is also likely to seek other data including BASs, current accounts receivable and payable schedules and bank statements.

4. Forecast financial information. The bank will require forecasts: cash flow forecasts, profit and loss forecasts and

balance sheet forecasts. The forecasts should: o be over the term of the loan you are seeking o state any assumptions you have made o be written as if the loan application is successful o include best and worst case scenarios 5. Details on any sensitivity analysis and/or analysis of financial ratios. Your accountant should be able to help you with this.

6. Details on loan required. A detailed description of why the loan is required should be included in the application.

This purpose will be critical in determining the type of loan you require. You should state the amount of the loan that you seek, why you need that amount and the term over which you seek that loan for. This will in part be determined by the type of loan you seek.

For most types of loans, banks require security over the loan. As part of your application, you identify the security you are prepared to offer. The value of the security should be greater than the value of the loan, and the value of that security should hold up over the term of the loan.

7. Business plan. Even if your business is already established, include a business plan as part of your loan application. This is the place to include your marketing plan and references to your major clients and suppliers.

Remember: • Be sensible about the amount you actually need to borrow and be able to justify it.

• Take your time preparing the application and don't hurry the bank to make a decision.

• A well prepared business proposition is a good sign of a borrower’s commitment to a prospective lender.

Providing the information recommended in this checklist plus any additional information requested by your bank will help the bank make a risk assessment of the business and decide whether to grant the loan.

Acknowledgment. This article is reproduced, with permission, from the Australian Bankers’ Association factsheet, Applying for a loan: information for small business, website www.bankers.asn.au

COMMON MISTAKES IN APPLYING FOR A LOAN It is likely that a loan application from a small business with only a limited amount of security might be viewed with caution by the bank.

There are steps you can take to maximise the success of the business proposal you are presenting to the bank. These include:

1. Don't ask for more than you need Banks use a variety of formulas to work out how much they think you can afford to borrow. So it makes sense not to ask for more than you need to borrow because the more you ask for, the harder it will be to prove to the bank that you can afford to repay. It is also important not to underestimate what you need. If you do, you may need to go back to the bank to ask for more money.

2. Don't rush it Each bank will have different loan approval processes. The first bank officer or loan specialist you talk to

may not be the person who makes the final decision on your loan. It depends on the size of the loan you want, the size of the bank and the systems the bank has in place for loan approvals.

You are certainly entitled to ask how long the process might take, but avoid placing any pressure on the bank to respond. This will not hasten the process and may give the bank officer reason to be more cautious.

This initial person may have to present your application to a larger group for approval, so you need this person to be on your side and have all the information they need and a good understanding of what you want to do with the loan.

3. Common mistakes that small business make in the application process • Thinking that business turnover (cash flow) reflects their actual profits. Banks look at net profits rather than cash flow.

• Not providing information about the directors of the small business. Banks will assess directors and may ask for guarantees from directors, depending on the individual circumstances of the business.

• Micro enterprises thinking that business assets can be used toward security. While this can be considered for some business customers and corporate segments (if used as additional security rather than sole security), it is not acceptable by banks from the micro business segment.

• Inflating the value of business assets.

Bank valuations assess standard market value for a quick sale therefore many small businesses overstate the true market value of their assets.

Acknowledgment. This article is reproduced, with permission, from the Australian Bankers’ Association factsheet, Applying for a loan: information for small business, website www.bankers.asn.au

IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA

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FEATURE: SMART FINANCE

CLAIMING GST PAID ON WATER TERMINATION FEES Terry Hayes, Senior Tax Writer, Thomson Reuters The Goods and Services Tax (GST) laws affect businesses in many ways, from "simply" (a term used advisedly) lodging a Business Activity Statement (BAS) to much more technical matters involving interpretation and application of the law. The irrigation industry has its own peculiarities that have an impact on how GST applies. One area where this is the case concerns water termination fees.

In late November 2010, the Federal Government announced it would make amendments to the termination fee rules applying in the Murray-Darling Basin to allow operators to add GST to termination fees.

The termination fee rules came into full effect on 1 September 2009 and aim to provide a uniform approach across the Murray-Darling Basin to setting termination fees. Under the Water Act 2007, the Minister is required to obtain and have regard to advice from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) on making or amending water charge rules, including the termination fee rules. The Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Tony Burke, said he had accepted advice from the ACCC recommending amendments to the termination fee rules to allow operators to recover GST from irrigators.

Terminating irrigators can claim GST paid on termination fees as an input tax credit, providing they are registered for GST and the GST claim is related to their business activities.

The Water Charge (Termination Fees) Amendment Rules 2011 were made 16 February 2011 and amend the Water Charge (Termination Fees) Rules 2009, which relate to termination fees in the Murray-Darling Basin. The Amendments Rules commenced 17 February 2011.

Under the amendments, the definition of total network access charge has been amended to explicitly exclude any amount of GST from the calculation of the charge. The changes allow irrigation infrastructure operators in the Murray-Darling Basin to increase termination fees by the amount of GST payable. The rule amendments allow, where an operator faces a GST liability on termination fees, for the operator to impose a termination fee in excess of the 10 times multiple to recover the cost of the GST liability.

Rule 7 has been amended to amend the calculation of termination fee to provide that where GST is payable in respect of a taxable supply relating to the termination or surrender of the whole or part of a right of access, termination fees may be increased by an amount not exceeding the GST payable in respect of that taxable supply.

Irrigators who terminate access to an irrigation infrastructure operator's network will be able to claim GST imposed on termination fees as an input tax credit, providing they are registered for GST. The issue arose following a Ruling by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) which found that termination fees are not a GSTfree supply. The Water Charge (Termination Fees) Rules 2009 were made based on the prevailing view that termination fees, consistent with water access charges, would be considered GSTfree supply. The ATO view was contained in a General Advice Ruling in March 2010 to the National Irrigators' Council which stated that termination fees were not considered by the ATO to

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Can GST be added to termination fee by operators in the Murray-Darling Basin? After a Taxation Office ruling that put this in doubt last year, the Federal Government has amended the relevant rules so that operators are able to recover GST costs.

be a GST-free supply of water rights. The ATO reasoned that a termination fee is not for the supply of water or water services, but is rather consideration for the release from an obligation to pay an access fee (release supply). The ATO said such fees would be consideration for a taxable supply provided that the other requirements of section 9-5 of the GST Act are satisfied.

Irrigation infrastructure operators face ongoing costs for maintaining irrigation infrastructure. Many of these costs are fixed, and are incurred whether an irrigator chooses to terminate or remains connected to the irrigation network. If irrigators terminate their water delivery right without paying termination fees, then operators may not be able to recover their committed fixed costs.

The effect of the ATO Ruling mentioned above and its interaction with the Termination Fees Rules meant that irrigation infrastructure operators would receive a termination fee that is less than 10 times the total network access charge.

The Government said this outcome was contrary to the policy intent underlying the Rules. The proposed amendments would explicitly allow irrigation infrastructure operators to impose a termination fee greater than 10 times the total network access charge where an operator faces a GST liability for the revenue received from the imposition of termination fees.

The understanding is that this will have a minimal impact on terminating irrigators providing the irrigators are registered for GST and the GST claim is related to their business activities.

In this case, irrigators can claim the GST back as business input credit.

Given uncertainty for the irrigation sector in light of the ATO Ruling, the ACCC said it did not propose to take enforcement action on the pass-through of GST liabilities on termination fees until the Minister has made a decision on an amendment to the Water Charge (Termination Fees) Rules 2009. As that has now been done, presumably the ACCC will advise how it will conduct its enforcement activities.

Affected irrigators might like to consult their adviser or accountant in regard to this matter.

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FEATURE

QUEENSLAND IRRIGATORS LOOK TO RECOVER FROM FLOODS Anne Currey, Irrigation Australia Over Christmas and new year, Australia proved again the vagaries of its climate - drought and scorching heat in late 2010 quickly became rains and destructive floods.

Every state was affected to some degree, with Queensland faring the worst in terms of area affected, lives lost and infrastructure damaged or destroyed.

According to members in Queensland, these floods were different from previous ones in their extent and in the velocity and volume of water that came down rivers and creeks. A meeting of the Darling Downs regional committee in mid January identified some key issues and potential responses.

“Irrigators across central and southern Queensland have been severely affected by flooding over the past month, with industries and regions most affected likely to be cotton and grains in the Central Highlands, Dawson and Queensland Murray Darling Basin, horticulture in the Lockyer Valley, South East Queensland and Burnett areas, dairy in the Mary Valley, and sugar in the Burnett and Mary areas,” said regional committee chairman Dave Wigginton.

He made the point that urban landscapes have also been badly affected, with damage yet to be assessed.

One of the main issues for the irrigation industry that we haven’t heard much about in the media is that there are likely to be supply constraints as growers start to order equipment and repairs. Former IAL Chairman, Matthew Durack, voiced the fears of many irrigators who have been affected.

“My corn crop has been under six foot of water twice in the last four weeks, but I need to have my irrigation system up and running within the next week or the crop will enter water stress,” he said from his property on the Upper Condamine.

He is concerned that demand for replacement parts for electrical and hydraulic equipment that have gone under water will put significant pressure on equipment suppliers across the country.

As a way of ensuring that bottlenecks and delays are kept to a minimum, members identified that manufacturers and suppliers could: • encourage growers to provide advance notice (i.e. pre-ordering) about potential equipment needs so that spikes in demand of particular products can be planned for • liaise logistically at a national level.

They may be supply constraints in related services such as design and earthmoving. If this is the case, alternative systems may be worth considering, preventing the need for, as an example, extensive earthmoving.

Related to this is a possible issue with red tape where existing infrastructure such as pump or sump sites and storage locations can be replaced with upgraded infrastructure or a better location or design. In some cases making these changes will require development approval.

“Irrigators may not be able to wait if there are delays in approving new, improved infrastructure, and they may have no option but to repair their existing outdated or less efficient systems,” said David. “This would be a lost opportunity for all.”

Flooded fields and storages on a Dawson Valley cotton and grain farm. One of the main issues for the irrigation industry is that there are likely to be supply constraints as growers start to order equipment and repairs during the recovery process.

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Dead leaves on cotton plants show how high the recent floods went.

An obvious consequence of such widespread flooding is lost production.

Members have suggested that a report quantifying lost production could be useful to justify policy recommendations. One option is to do a case study on region, e.g. Theodore.

Members highlighted that they weren’t certain of how Sunwater is going to treat water charges, particularly fixed water charges.

“We need to know what the situation is pretty quickly,” said David.

While some Sunwater infrastructure may be damaged and unable to supply growers, in other cases, growers will not have the capital required to pay water charges where infrastructure damage and crop losses are severe.

Members are looking to an equitable solution for all.

WHAT’S YOUR STORY?

Irrigation Australia CEO Chris Bennett has called on feedback from across the industry to be channelled through the association so that issues affecting the supply of equipment and skills to the massive repair program can be better understood and coordinated.

“Please phone our office and tell us your story,” he said. “We need this information to better support discussions we will be having with government and suppliers.”

IAL has a feedback site on its website (www.irrigationaustralia. com.au) with useful links for irrigators and businesses about government and industry support programs already underway.

Phone the IAL with your story, 02 9476 0142.

DROUGHT THEN FLOOD: WHAT NEXT FOR 2011?

Weather records were tested in 2010 and, already in the early days of 2011, Australia has witnessed some extreme conditions that are forecast to continue into at least autumn this year, according to a recent seasonal update released by Rabobank.

The Rabobank update says a strong La Niña weather pattern has been responsible for the well-above-average spring and summer rainfall, particularly in NSW and Queensland, which has caused significant delays and downgrades to the 2010-11 grain and sugar harvest.

Rabobank analyst Tracey Allen says the latest round of severe weather, including widespread flooding of biblical proportions in Queensland, has destroyed summer crops across a number of regions.

“It is still early days, but losses seem most acute in the cotton sector where around 65,000 hectares are estimated to have been washed out in Queensland,” she says.

Tracey, who is based in Rabobank’s Sydney head office, is part of the bank’s Food & Agribusiness Research and Advisory division (FAR) – a team of analysts who research developments in food and agricultural markets and

industries and advise the bank and its clients on the strategic implications for their businesses.

She said it is no surprise that the 2011 season is difficult to predict. According to the BoM (Bureau of Meteorology), La Niña conditions are expected to persist into the autumn, yet rainfall patterns are likely to moderate toward average levels as the influence of La Niña wanes throughout summer.

“In addition to this pattern, cyclone activity remains a key concern, particularly in northern Queensland.

This may disrupt the flood clean-up and lead to additional damage to sugar and cotton crops, also troubling port operators already struggling with delays and disruptions to shipping stems,” Tracey said.

Looking towards the second half of 2011, the BoM currently expects weather patterns to return to more normal conditions in 2011, which is a clear positive for winter crop quality on the east coast, particularly now that soil moisture levels are high.

In WA, the BoM expects a betterthan-average chance of higherthan-median rainfall leading into autumn. The Rabobank report warns, however, that if dry conditions were to

persist in WA such an event would have a significant negative impact on the Australian wheat crop for the second year running.

Despite a very tough harvest and severe flood damage, and although it is still early, some sectors such as cotton are expected to achieve record-breaking production.

With favourable prices expected to continue across most broadacre crops, the Rabobank update anticipates a better-than-even chance of an aboveaverage year ahead.

“With this in mind, we must also be aware of high risks on the production side, especially with a very active cyclone season predicted and ongoing wet conditions expected in south-east Queensland and north-eastern NSW,” Tracey said.

In addition, being able to realise these current high global prices relies on our ability to ship these commodities, and these weather and infrastructure constraints may offset some of the benefits that high prices could provide growers who have suffered production losses.

Note. This article was provided by Rabobank.

RESEARCH

IRRIGATION RESEARCH HOW LEAKY ARE THOSE DAMS? David Wigginton, National Centre for Engineering in Agriculture, Toowoomba The Australian cotton industry is located mainly in the summer rainfall zones of northern NSW and southern Queensland. There are few irrigation schemes in this region and most water for irrigation comes from a mix of regulated and unregulated rivers, streams and groundwater sources. To enable successful irrigation under these conditions, large on-farm storages, which capture water from irregular flow events and retain farm runoff, are common.

Given that the total capacity of such storages could be as high as 3150 GL (Webb, McKeown & Associates, 2007) the potential losses could be significant.

To determine the extent of storage losses, the Cotton Catchment Communities CRC has been delivering the Cotton Storages Project, funded by the National Water Commission. The project uses commercial consultants to determine evaporation and seepage losses from individual storages using the Irrimate™ Seepage and Evaporation Meter. This approach will help to build capacity of irrigators and consultants to continue measuring losses when the project is completed.

By the time the project is completed in June 2011, it is hoped that: • 135 storages will have had an initial measurement of seepage and evaporation losses • up to 70 storages will have been measured to determine the impact of amelioration works • causes of problems and potential solutions will have been identified and reported.

Capacity building approach One of the objectives of this project is to test and promote the use of cost-effective tools for measuring losses from onfarm storages. As part of its methodology, the project used the Irrimate™ Seepage and Evaporation service to measure losses. It is hoped the project will help improve: • the capacity of delivery agents through training and financial support (by providing an immediate market for a specified number of evaluations) • the service through widespread testing of equipment and software and validation of the approach • future demand by creating awareness of the size of potential storage losses and the benefits of this service to assess these.

If the industry were to successfully achieve these aims it would potentially provide an immediate benefit in the

efficient use of those storages measured in the project as well as a mechanism for ongoing evaluation and improvement of all storages across the industry.

Seepage and evaporation results

By June 2010, seventy evaluations had been completed.

The results were then analysed by the National Centre for Engineering in Agriculture. A summary of some major findings is included in the table and figures. Note that these results are preliminary; as more evaluations are completed, overall trends may change.

The main results are summarised in the table, which includes a variety of storage sizes and water depths (at time of measurement). Average seepage is very low (<3 mm/day), especially considering these are earthen dams. This is evidence that many growers have spent a lot of effort and cost at remediating any potential seepage losses over a long time and suggests that while the total volume of storages across the industry (≈3150 GL) may be large, the level of seepage losses may not be significant.

Evaporation is driven mainly by local climatic conditions, so you would not expect to see big differences between storages. Some local factors such as water temperature, storage shape, orientation to prevailing winds and windbreaks, however, will cause some fluctuation (about ±15%) as illustrated. These differences are reflected in a ‘dam factor’ which is specific to a particular storage and can be applied to easily accessible climatic data for future use (in this case, SILO data).

Table. Summary of main results

Mean

Minimum

Maximum

Seepage (mm/day)

2.59

0.5

36

Seepage (m/year)

0.95

0.18

13.9

Evaporation m/year

1.97

1.87

2.39

Storage size (ML)

1665

110

8000

Water depth (mm)

3607

1000

9120

Figure 1 shows the distribution of seepage results. Most storages (≈60%) had less than 2 mm/day of seepage (730 mm a year). While seepage rates for some storages are medium to high (4 to 12 mm/day), only a single storage had extremely high seepage (36 mm/day). This storage was known to leak badly and had not been used for well in excess of six years.

Identifying the extent of water losses from on-farm storages in cotton growing areas in NSW and Queensland has been the focus of a major research project being managed by the Cotton Catchment Communities CRC

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IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA

The storage was filled during a period of flooding and the water was used as soon as possible so that it only held water for a few weeks.

Interestingly, 12% of the growers who believed they had low seepage before measurement, in fact had a seepage rate that could be considered medium or high (more than 4 mm/day).

The range of annual evaporation for all storages, after taking account of dam factors, is included in Figure 2. This data is based on readily available SILO ET data. The range of annual evaporation is as expected, and the variation in evaporation appears to be due to storage specific characteristics, rather than Figure 1. Distribution of location (in this case, latitude). seepage results.

Volumetric losses To put the typical losses into perspective, two real world example storages were analysed so that their seepage and evaporation losses could be converted into a typical average volumetric loss (see Figure 3). Volumetric losses for an individual storage Figure 2. Annual will depend on the storage evaporation for each dimensions, how the storage storage. is used and when it contains water. The seepage and evaporation ready reckoner www. readyreckoner.ncea.biz was used to determine these losses.

Figure 3. Seepage and evaporation from two storages were analysed and converted into a typical average volumetric loss.

This project finishes this year, after which a final analysis of all evaluations undertaken will be available.

Acknowledgment. This project is funded by the National Water Commission through its Raising National Water Standards Program. This Australian Government program supports the implementation of the National Water Initiative by funding projects that are improving Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s national capacity to measure, monitor and manage its water resources.

Reference Webb, McKeown and Associates Pty Ltd 2007, State of the Darling, Interim Hydrology Report, Murray Darling Basin Commission, Canberra.

FEATURE

INDUSTRY SUPPORTS SUCCESSFUL DRIP IRRIGATION PROJECT Rohan Prince, Development Officer, Department of Agriculture and Food WA With high production costs compared to many other crops and pressures on limited groundwater resources, it is more important than ever to maximise the efficiency of water use in tomato production. Decisions about drip irrigation for WA’s sandy soils have not always been related to best performance and usually the farm situation, hydraulic constraints and cropping pattern have been determined by dripper spacing.

A new project by the Department of Agriculture and Food to develop good practice irrigation for drip irrigated tomatoes should help improve this situation. An important element is the support provided by the irrigation industry.

The key aim of the project is to develop a framework of practices that will lead to the best drip irrigation and nutrition practices for producing good quality tomato crops efficiently on WA’s sandy soils. As a result, growers will have information they can use to select the most appropriate drip flow and spacing for their particular soil and crop. This should help them tailor water application to crop demand and increase water use efficiency.

The project was identified as a priority by the Vegetable Producers Committee in the first funding round since fresh tomato growers joined the Agricultural Produce Commission fee-for-service scheme. Matching funds have been contributed by Horticulture Australia Limited for the project.

Trials show drip tape wetting patterns The first part of the project was to conduct trials using dye to show the wetting patterns of various drip tapes in typical WA Karrakatta sandy soils. It began in early September 2010 at Medina Research Station. The dye trial was followed by production plot trials of the best treatments over spring and summer in 2010-11, and will move to larger on-farm trials and demonstrations in spring 2011.

Thirty different combinations, including application rate, dripper spacing and volume of water applied, are being tested. Five dripper volumes - 0.3, 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 L - were applied through drippers and lines with six different flow rates - 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 8 L/hr.

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IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA

A rate of 5 mL/L of dye was mixed with water in a small tank and pumped through a pressure regulated system to the six drip lines. Each 30 m section of drip line was run with taps at 6 m intervals shut off from the far end back towards the inlet end as each required volume was delivered. A small pit was then dug along each 6 m section of drip tape to expose a smooth face of soil directly down from the drip line.

The depth and spread of the dye was measured and recorded.

Spacing and timing important on WA’s sandy soils Results from this trial indicate that spacing of drippers and the timing and frequency of irrigation are particularly important in the coarse sandy soil of WA. Applications of 0.5 L had travelled to a depth of 30 cm, the average active root zone depth for most plants, while only spreading about 20 cm laterally.

After a 2 L application this had increased to as much as 58 cm deep with very little extra sideways spread.

The information from the dye trial was used to choose combinations of dripper spacing and flow rate to be tested in a production trial planted in late October 2010 at the department’s Medina Research Station.

By knowing the area of water spread beneath the crop, it is hoped we will be better able to match water application to crop requirements, reducing excess drainage while also keeping the nutrients in the root zone and delivering increased profits for growers.

While drip irrigation is talked about being very efficient, without knowing the wetted area, excess water may be applied causing unnecessary drainage below the roots of the plants being irrigated. This is why the trial is

Rohan Prince says that the project will lead to guidelines for water efficient drip irrigation and nutrition practices. important. In regions with poor water quality a benefit of understanding the wetting pattern is ensuring salts do not build up in areas near plants roots.

Adding dye to the water is a way of being able to see water movement in the soil.

Industry support crucial The trial has provided very useful information not only for growers, but also for drip manufacturers. These trials have been well supported by all major drip irrigation companies, which have provided tapes to trial, offered advice and helped set up the trial site. It’s great to know the industry values the research and is willing to participate in the project.

Information For information about the project you can contact Rohan Prince at email, rohan.prince@agric.wa.gov.au or sms your email address to 0429 680 069.

Write “tomato trial updates” in the message subject line, and you will receive email updates on the trial including photos, results and events at the site.

The photo on the left shows the wetting pattern for a dripper volume of 4 L/hour applied at a flow rate of 0.5 L/hour compared, while the right hand photo shows the pattern for the same dripper volume applied at a flow rate of 2 L/hour.

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IAL NEWS

CEO MESSAGE IT NEVER RAINS, BUT IT POURS I can’t think of a more appropriate saying to describe where the irrigation industry, its members and IAL itself is at this moment.

For one reason or another, most of that vast and diverse industry we commonly refer to as “irrigation” is in serious trouble. From one extreme to the other, from drought to floods, the industry is taking a battering. The stories coming out of Queensland showing the devastation caused by the floods and cyclone are indeed heart wrenching. Those of us who are not affected can only imagine the losses and challenges facing those who have suffered.

Further south in the Murray-Darling Basin and over in the west at Carnarvon, there are perhaps less dramatic and sudden losses, but devastating nonetheless. Loss of crops and stock and severe damage across huge areas will present no less of a challenge to the irrigators who have to rebuild their properties and businesses.

One region that has been particularly devastated is the Lockyer Valley in South East Queensland. Many irrigators have lost crops, buildings, machinery and entire irrigation systems. They need to get back into production to restore cash flow, but they often do not have the machinery or irrigation systems to allow them to do this.

This sort of devastation brings challenges you would not normally think about. Most would assume that centrepivot systems would be fairly safe, but no. Electric motors ruined, electronics destroyed and gearboxes full of water. You can’t even buy suitable gearbox oil - it’s all sold out. Electricians are in short supply, electronics are virtually impossible to replace. It will take some time to get them all back in full working condition so that a crop can be planted.

What about the other systems? In many cases, they are even worse off, especially where properties are near the rivers and creeks. Pump motors drowned, switch gear ruined and systems buried by silt or washed away. One of the major challenges for our manufacturing and supplier members is to have adequate stock to replace these losses. Don’t forget this is not just about the Lockyer; there is now huge demand around the country, so equipment stockpiles are rapidly depleting. Again, the challenge is being able to supply the products necessary to

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IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA

YOUR IAL BOARD MEMBERS Chairman Peter Toome Adcon Telemetry Australia Pty Ltd PROSPECT SA 5082 P (08) 8342-5343 M 0438 813 678 E p.toome@adcon.at

Deputy Chairman Tom Vanderbyl SunWater Limited BRISBANE QLD 4002 P (07) 3120-0105 M 0411 066 793 E tom.vanderbyl@sunwater. com.au Scott Barber State Water Corporation DUBBO NSW 2830 P (02) 6841-2052 M 0428 245 485 E scott.barber@statewater. com.au

Ann-Maree Boland RM Consulting Group CAMBERWELL VIC 3124 P (03) 9882-2670 M 0427 679 042 E anne-mareeb@rmcg.com.au

Ian Moorehouse Goulburn-Murray Water TATURA VIC 3616 P (03) 5833-5515 M 0409 438 323 E ianm@g-mwater.com.au

Colin Campbell Hydro Plan Pty Ltd BENTLEY WA 6983 P (08) 9470-2233 M 0412 513 886 E cjc@hydroplan.com.au

Karen Murday Department of Natural Resources & Water BRISBANE QLD 4001 P (07) 3247-4405 M 0414 607 716 E karen.murday@nrw.qld.gov.au

Simon Cowland-Cooper Broadwater Consultants LABRADOR QLD 4215 P (07) 5591 5353 M 0415 733 431 E simon@simoncooperassoc.com.au Vern Costelow Water Dynamics PACKENHAM VIC 3810 P (03) 9874-6655 M 0417 356 694 E vcostelow@typac.com.au

get the growers back into production to help in restoring their cash flow and save their businesses.

So is there anything IAL can do?

Certainly in the Lockyer Valley the leadership shown by “the locals” has been instrumental in setting in train what hopefully lead to an ability to help local irrigators.

I am proud to report that the local members of the IAL’s Darling Downs and Brisbane regions have gotten together and provided the leadership to start to rebuild.

They have begun to assess the short- and long-term damage and are working on developing a plan to help the industry get back on its feet.

Excellent detailed factsheets to advise growers on a range of topics were prepared within days, a remarkable effort.

A few calls to the IAL national office outlining the problems could lead to IAL successfully obtaining funding to put in place a short-term project to help growers on system design, replacement and strategies to get back into production.

I am also pleased that the Department of the Environment and Resource Management (DERM) has been very quick to respond by allowing some of the IDOs they sponsor under their SEQ-IF program

Peter Smith Department of Primary Industries TAMWORTH NSW 2340 P (02) 6763-1262 M 0411 128 437 E peter.smith@industry.nsw. gov.au

to be redeployed to help in the affected regions. One of these is IAL’s Merv Jessen, who has been very much involved with assisting to date, along with Mark Quayle.

If all goes according to plan, Mark and Merv will become very familiar faces around the area as they assist in the rebuilding, supported by the Darling Downs and Brisbane members. This is a fantastic example of everyone pulling together to overcome the problems and the value of IAL’s regions and members in providing leadership and technical guidance. Well done, David Wigginton, Pat Daley, Karen Murday, Matt Durack, Simon Cowland-Cooper and all the others who have stepped up to help.

Chris Bennett CEO

IAL 2011 Conference 21 – 23 August 2011 Launceston Tasmania

Important Dates Closing date for abstracts 30 May 2011 Registrations open 31 March 2011 Early Bird registration closes 4 July 2011

FUNDING CHANGES BRING A SILVER LINING Chris Bennett, IAL CEO As many members are aware, changes to HAL funding policies have meant that from now on IAL will need to depend much less on HAL for funding our projects. The major issue is that IAL does not exclusively work with horticultural industries; irrigation is not crop specific so we are happy to work with the dairy, rice, sugar, wine grape and many other industries.

HAL, however, can only fund work with direct benefits to the horticulture industry, so there is a potential problem as we need to define clearly who we will benefit and how.

While we are likely to continue to access some HAL funding, this will be far less than in the past. So, we will need to be more “creative” in the way we ensure IAL continues to find the funds to support our members. In fact, this should be a good thing as it will force us to be more vigilant in identifying a wider range of options and so lower our dependence on a few sources. There will therefore be less risk. It should also open up some independent options not tied to funding requirements; in other words we can concentrate more on our specific

strategies and member needs rather than help the funding organisation achieve their strategies.

The board and management have been working very hard to develop a sound and viable strategy to make IAL less dependent on outside funding, to provide a reliable and stable financial foundation for the organisation. Any external funding will then build on that foundation to extend member services and benefits further, but IAL’s future will not depend on it.

Strategy focuses on regions Central to this strategy is to develop a much closer and dynamic working relationship with the regions. This will provide the ability for IAL to do a better job providing benefits to members by developing the regions. It will also provide one of the most important avenues for driving IAL’s finances in future.

In essence, the national body will work very closely with the regions and, in return for regional assistance in progressing IAL’s strategies, provide them with significant funding. This funding will be given to the regions under a formal agreement and will form the basis of financing local activities and employing professional staff such as IDOs and secretaries.

Regions will receive rebates from membership renewals for all members in the region, a significant rebate for all

new members and a share in the surpluses from all local events such as training.

In other words, if the regions help IAL in benefiting members, finding new members and organising and promoting local events, the regions will be rewarded.

They will then have the resources to develop further and provide greater benefits within the region.

This model will provide a very fair and equitable approach to resourcing the regions, especially as the membership rebates will be in proportion to the number of members involved.

It should see higher membership, more training and better results for all members. Regions without an IDO or secretarial support now have a real chance of achieving that goal. Smaller regions will also benefit, even if it is only to ensure they can become more active and have more events for their members.

So, yes, there is a silver lining. IAL has a great opportunity to improve its game, become more active and deliver better results to members. To some extent, we will also be more flexible without the need to only work within horticulture, as is the case with HAL projects.

By responding to the challenge of improving our game and involving the regions more closely, IAL will become stronger and better for the experience.

CEO MESSAGE POST SCRIPT As most of you will now know, this will be my last CEO’s message for the journal. It has been an interesting but tough two and a half years. I once commented in the journal that “IAL is trying to do a lot, with not much” or words to that effect. It is even truer today.

We have many challenges and issues, an incredibly diverse membership and just a few people trying to be all things to all people.

When the chairman Peter Toome came into the office earlier this week, his comment was “Where is everybody?” The reality is that “everybody” does not exist. There are only three full-time people at national office, with the other three all working part-time from one to three days per week.

This lack of resources has become a significant issue, with the increasing demands on the staff meaning that often things simply cannot be done. Often these things are important to members and for the future of the industry. Thus, the resource issue will either need to be addressed, or members’ expectations will need to be lowered.

The board and management are currently working on a new business model for IAL, and I believe it will eventually deliver a more robust organisation. But it will take commitment and support from the members and regions to succeed. That is the challenge.

I have also agreed to stay on to help with the transition to the new CEO.

I would particularly like to acknowledge Tim Gilbert and his work over the last three years.

Tim has worked diligently in the background and his contribution has often gone unrecognised as a result. By the time you read this Tim will have taken up a very good offer for a position in the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW. I wish him well and thank him for his very significant contribution.

Finally, to all members and staff, thank you for your support and advice. It is this that makes it all worthwhile.

Chris Bennett CEO

IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA

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IAL NEWS

UP CLOSE One of the new members on the IAL National Board is Simon CowlandCooper. Simon is a long-time member of the association and is a familiar face to many members, especially in south east Queensland. Irrigation Australia caught up with Simon to find out a bit more about him and what he hopes to achieve as a member of the board.

IA. How long have you been a member of the irrigation industry and IAL? SC. I’ve been in the irrigation industry since 1964 one way or another – managing irrigation properties, farming, irrigation contracting, working in technical sales and developing irrigation designs - in northwest and central NSW and in Queensland.

After a number of moves in NSW and Queensland, and much to the relief of my wife, we settled in the Gold Coast in 1984 and I eventually started a design and project management consultancy, dealing mainly in urban irrigation, which I sold in July 2008. I still work in the business on a part-time basis.

I joined the Irrigation Association of Australia when it was formed in 1983 and have been a member ever since.

I’ve chaired the South-East Queensland regional committee and have been involved in the region’s executive for

some time. In 1998 and 2006 I also chaired the organising committees for the Irrigation Australia Conference and Expos, which were held in Brisbane.

IA. Why did you decide to nominate for the national board?

SC. Firstly, I love irrigation and I felt that I wanted to put a bit back into the industry, which has supported me pretty well for all my working life.

I saw some issues that I thought needed to be tackled at a national and strategic level. One of the most important of these is the use of recycled water. I believe this is a valuable resource that can and should be used safely for irrigation, and we aren’t doing enough with this at the moment. I see that being a director on the board as a way of working on this and other issues.

Importantly, I want to see the industry grow and I thought by being on the board I could represent the membership in achieving this growth.

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IA. What’s been the main change in the industry since you started your career?

SC. I often ask myself have things changed that much, and sometimes I’m not sure!

There have obviously been changes in efficiency of equipment, such as sprinklers and system control and the manufacturers have done a great job in this area. I think we still have a lot to learn in the contracting area. We need to realise that installing irrigation equipment is a technical skill that requires care and thought – design it right, install it right and manage it right and if you don’t do all those things it won’t work. While there are good contractors and managers out there, there are also a lot that need to improve their skills.

The bottom line is that as an industry we all have to get more efficient and be good at what we do.

IA. What is the main challenge to irrigation industry that we should be focusing on as an association?

SC. Efficiency. There are a lot of elements to this but basically we have to ensure that our systems are designed, installed and managed to maximise efficiency. This isn’t a cheap industry any more – it costs money to have a system designed and installed - and we need to be able to get the basics right.

We have to be more caring and aware about people in the industry. Professional development is part of this and even though we have a certification program, we have to work hard to maintain standards. It’s not good enough just to award someone a certification – there needs to be quality control to ensure the integrity of the program. Forming the Certification and Professional Development committees a couple of years ago was a good first step but these committees now need to perform and achieve more as that is what will satisfy the membership.

IDOs are also very important as they provide an important support and education role, and regions need to get more involved in funding them. We can’t rely on head office to do all this anymore, especially since we in the regions benefit from the activities of IDOs. IA. Where’s your next holiday?

SC. At the end of February I’m taking the longest holiday I’ve had in my life – 8 weeks in Europe and England and Israel.

IA. You never too old to....

SC. To feel you are too old to do the things you want.

New Irrigation Tools

from the CRCIF

For providers of professional irrigation services

The Cooperative Research Centre for Irrigation Futures has now finished and is pleased to leave a legacy of knowledge and technology with the following organisations;

EvapCalc 4 -

Commercial package which analyses a range of measured data to accurately calculate seepage and evaporation losses from storages, channels and drains. – Available now via the Cotton Storages Project in the Nthn Murray Darling Basin.

Contact Aquatech Consulting Narrabri and Warren Phone 02 6792 1265 Website www.aquatechconsulting.com.au

SISCO – New generation analysis package for evaluation and

optimisation of in-field measurements of surface irrigation events using the Irrimate™ Commercial Service – Available now via Aquatech Consulting Narrabri and Warren for all of Australia and exclusive distribution in the Nthn MDB. Non – exclusive licenses will also be offered for the use of SISCO in other regions in Australia (other than the Nthn MDB) – Contact; Erik Schmidt, NCEA 0746 311 347 schmidte@usq.edu.au

IrriSATSMS –

Satellite and SMS Irrigation Water Management Service – This tool will be transitioned in 2011/12 from a number of current research projects.

National distribution has been assigned to SunRISE21 in Mildura, and they are looking for irrigation agronomists based in regional areas who have the capacity to deliver the tool to groups of growers.

Contact SR21 (03) 5023 7355 www.sunrise21.org.au

Smart Water Metering - LiquiPulse

This product will be of most value to auditors of complex piped networks where detailed flow information can provide significant benefits. Water Data Services will be offering the Smart Metering technology to managers and operators of irrigation systems in two forms, a portable auditing tool and a stand alone installed device. Contact George Willcox at WDS, 0407 724 584 George.Willcox@waterdata.com.au

WaterAirSoilPlant –

WASP was developed by Bhakti Devi to provide a transparent mechanism to estimate water requirements for open space irrigation. It is a web based tool which allows peak water requirements to be estimated from 100 years of climatic data. WASP is being offered for commercialisation by UWS Innovation & Consulting. Contact Stephan Golla 02 9685 9853 Email: s.golla@uws.edu.au

PIMS – IrriWATCH –

The Pressurised Irrigation Monitoring System from SEQIF is being made available nationally by WaterBiz, and has been rebadged IrriWATCH. This tool is most commonly used to evaluate the performance of centre pivot and lateral move irrigation machines over the full cycle. A range of devices will be offered and are available based on orders now. Contact Justin Schultz 0427 114 864 justin.schultz@waterbiz.com.au

IRRIGATION INSIGHTS

IRRIGATION INSIGHTS GROWER LINKS BOOST OXYGATION DEVELOPMENT Growers of a range of crops have ensured that oxygation will have an increasing part to pay in future irrigated production, including of fruit and vegetable crops.

Oxygation is essentially the mixing of air with irrigation water. Research over the past decade has shown that it has the potential to generate healthier interactions between water, soil and plant physiology.

While the National Program for Sustainable Irrigation was funding scientific studies on oxygenation, it recognised that there a gap was oxygation technologies that suit the practical needs of irrigators. So, it was decided to encourage growers to test the technique, working closely with researchers.

Much of the research into oxygation is being done by the Centre for Plant and Water Science at the Central Queensland University. It aims to: • optimise the delivery specifications for water/air (oxygen)/ nutrient ratios for different soil types, and to develop a simple decision support system to allow for implementation by growers • extend the use of recycled water for irrigated cropping, while accounting for salinity and elevated biological and chemical oxygen demand through oxygation • ensure that oxygation does not adversely affect quantity and quality of soil carbon or soil structure • quantify the effects of oxygation using different injection systems and different methods of applying irrigation (from furrow to subsurface systems) • add to the knowledge base on plant physiological responses to oxygation, particularly in perennial species.

A practical tool for improving production While researchers are confident that water with more oxygen is better for the soil environment and for plant uptake of water, which will result in healthier plant growth and improved quality of production, benefits are being continually assessed in commercial settings. This is why it has been important to work with growers of a range of crops to ensure that it is practical and to identify how a range of water sources and soil types can affect how it can be implemented commercially.

One of the research team members, Dr Surya Bhattarai, was recently recognised for his work on developing oxygenation techniques in conjunction with industry. He received the inaugural Central Queensland University Opal Award for excellence in building relationships with communities with a focus on research and innovation.

Crops he has worked on include watermelons and pumpkins. A study to evaluate the effects of oxygation with subsurface drip irrigation and an in-line air injector on these crops growing in heavy clay soil found yield and quality improved. Season-long water use efficiency was also greater with oxygation compared with the control.

The higher yield with oxygation (expressed in fruit numbers as well as size) was associated with a more rapid canopy cover, more leaf chlorophyll, and an increase in leaf photosynthetic rate.

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IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA

Central Queensland University Vice-Chancellor, Prof.

Scott Bowman (left) presenting Opal Award 2010 for Excellence in Research Innovation and Engagement to Dr Surya Bhattarai (right), in the presence of Pro Vice-Chancellor (Community & Engagement) Dr Pierre Viljoen (on the background) Other work has included trials across a wide area of irrigated production in Queensland and grower workshops to expand the number of potential adopters of oxygation technology.

Surya has fostered links with students at Emerald Agricultural College and Central Queensland University, including Michael Law, a recipient of a National Program for Sustainable Irrigation summer scholarship. Although Michael was under the ultimate supervision of Professor David Midmore, Director of the Centre for Plant and Water Science, Surya helped him interpret data for a project to do with figs and pineapples on different soil types.

Mazzei air injector installed in pressurised irrigation line near a research plot. The injector creates a pressure differential across the injector, resulting in suction and mixing of air bubbles in the irrigation water. CQU PhD researcher Jay Dhungel inspects the installation.

A site at Yeppoon in Queensland, where oxygation has been trialled in pineapples since 2007 and compared with non-aerated drip irrigation and no irrigation (rainfed crop).

Oxygation of irrigation water for pineapples was the main component of Michael Law’s project. While the advantages of aerating heavy soil types are well known, the potential of using the technique on loamy soils at Yeppoon was assessed.

Root, stem, crown, and fruit weight was higher for oxygation compared with a normal irrigation control and no-irrigation treatments. The work involved measuring and compiling a long list of data, ranging from soil water characteristics to transpiration and other aspects of plant function under different conditions.

“The scholarship program has been an ideal way to provide me with additional experience in the water management field which has evolved into a fulltime job with the Tweed Shire Council working on water quality in the region,” Michael said.

“I would like to thank the National Program for Sustainable Irrigation for the scholarship and the opportunities it presents.”

LEARNING TO BE MORE PRECISE While Australian irrigators can claim high levels of water use efficiency, a new report, Review of Precision Irrigation Technologies, claims there is potential for fine-tuning.

The report, prepared by the National Centre for Engineering in Agriculture, University of Southern Queensland, with funding from the National Program for Sustainable Irrigation, identifies significant existing benefits from applying irrigation knowledge and modern technologies. At the same time, it calls

for irrigation practices to be further refined for production efficiency and water saving gains. The authors claim that this is possible by developing sensing measures to allow variable application rates according to weather, plant growth stages, varying soil types across the irrigated area and soil water availability.

A distinction is made between micro irrigation and precision systems.

Micro irrigation has to be given credit for big advances in water use efficiency over the past two decades in particular.

Assisted by soil moisture monitoring to contain moisture to the root zones of plants at optimum levels, it has been possible to reduce applications and water loss through leaching and evaporation.

The report also highlights the importance of spatial distribution and data collection being brought into focus with micro irrigation. For example, soil characteristics (physical and chemical) plus calculations of crop requirements and recording of weather data have become important guides for irrigation scheduling.

Of all water application methods, the authors identify micro irrigation as the one with greatest potential for applying precision irrigation. It is important to remember that a micro irrigation system is not in itself precision irrigation, which is really about technology-aided management.

Among case studies used in the report to describe precision irrigation is managing water applications with the aid of vision sensing of crop responses. Indicators like the extension of internode length of cotton plants combine with other factors to give automatic, real-time signals about the varying needs across sections of a field.

“While many of the tools and technologies for precision irrigation are currently available, substantial research and development will be required before true precision irrigation is available for testing and adoption,” the report states.

Key requirements, it asserts, are: merging of crop and soil sensing with crop growth simulation models; continuing development of technologies to aid management and determination of variations in irrigation amounts to be applied; and feasibility, because at the practical level, precision irrigation needs to show that it is worth adopting (as has been the case with some broadacre dryland production).

For the full report Review of Precision Irrigation Technologies (2010) by Smith R.J, Baillie J.N., McCarthy A.C., Raine S.R., and Baillie C.P., National Centre for Engineering in Agriculture, visit the National Program for Sustainable Irrigation website www. npsi.gov.au

MDB SETS RECORD – AGAIN In January, Waterfind released its report on average rainfall in major irrigation districts in the Murray-Darling Basin.

The report showed that rainfall for the 2010 calendar year represented 163% of the long term average and created a new 110-year rainfall record.

This compares to the previous high rainfall years of 1917, 1956 and 1974 in the basin of 138%, 146% and 158% respectively. According to Waterfind CEO Tom Rooney, the 2010 record rainfall year coincided with record water storages, allocations and low temporary water pricing.

He said that the more than 18 million ML of active storage in the basin in 2010 exceeded the previous high of 13.9 million ML recorded in 2000.

“The enhanced storage position has been as a result of rainfall conditions as well as increased carry over rules within the southern systems which have left water in storage from a previous irrigation season,” he explained.

Waterfind recorded that the major General and High Security irrigation entitlements in the basin are currently

allocating over 8 million ML of water, a substantial record that exceeds the previous high of 6,056,836 ML allocated in these water security types during the 2005-2006 season.

Historic odds indicate 2011 will also be a year of high rainfall in the basin as there has only been one time in the past 110 years where average rainfall above 140% has not been followed by a subsequent above average rainfall year. This 110-year aberration was in 1906.

For information go to the Waterfind website, www.waterfind.com.au

IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA

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TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

CERTIFICATION EXPLAINED

Type of credential

Recipient

Credentialing body

Required or voluntary

Examples

Lifespan

Consumer protection

Licensing

Individuals

Political or legal body

Required

Driver’s licence

Periodic renewal

Aged challenge test. Can be withdrawn for misconduct

Accreditation

Programs or businesses

Association or agency

Voluntary

Quality assurance programs

Periodic renewal

Regular audits.

Can be withdrawn for misconduct

Certification

Individuals

Association or agency

Voluntary

IAL CID CPA

Periodic renewal

Regular skills updates.

Can be withdrawn for misconduct

Qualification

Individual

Training group

Voluntary

Degree, No diploma or renewal certificate

None

Table 1. The difference between certification, accreditation, licensing and qualifications at a glance.

Qualifications

Certification

Qualifications are developed and awarded by training institutions

Certification programs are developed and credentials bestowed by an industry association Standards may be higher than those of a qualification

Qualifications can be gained by school leavers or new entrants to the industry

Certification is for experienced people only

Qualifications are gained for life, there is no further learning required

Certification is only renewed if a person is active in their industry, keeping their knowledge and skills up to date

Qualifications cannot be taken away

Certification can be revoked if accepted industry codes or standards are not met

IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA

Wikipedia defines certification as: … a designation earned by a person to certify that he or she is qualified to perform a job. Certification indicates that the individual has a specific set of knowledge, skills, or abilities in the view of the certifying body. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Professional_certification Table 1 sets out the differences between certification, accreditation, licensing and qualifications. The main difference between licensing and other designations is that licences are required by law whereas the others are generally voluntary.

Qualifications are often confused with certification, especially in Australia where we have educational qualifications called certificates.

The key difference is that qualifications, once gained, are held for life whereas the other designations must all be renewed at some stage, with renewal based on evidence of continual learning or quality improvement to ensure the integrity of the program is maintained.

Generally people become certified through training and/or passing an exam or test, with the certifying body determining the policies of the "certification program". Potential consumers of a certification wish to understand the nature of the certifying body and the certification process.

Why seek certification?

Table 2. The differences between qualifications and certification.

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While everyone in the irrigation industry acknowledges the value of training and professional development, there is still some confusion about the different training terms and what they mean.

In particular, many people are not clear about what certification is, and how it differs from educational qualifications. We trust that this article helps to explain certification as the term is used by the IAL.

Generally speaking, professional people seek certification to go “one step further”. They have the qualifications and more. They have experience, they are committed to ongoing professional development and they are proud of their achievements. They are more than qualified – they are committed professionals.

How do I join the IAL certification program?

To enter the IAL certification program a person is required to have industry experience, proof of knowledge and skills. In most cases the IAL has used the national competency standards to describe the minimum skills and knowledge a practitioner should have to practice in an occupation.

Certification of this type is available for those in the irrigation industry who are: • managers • operators • installers • contractors • agronomists • retail assistants.

The value of using competency based training to describe the skills is that a person must be able to DO certain things to be deemed competent, not just know about them.

All certified personnel are expected to maintain their skills and knowledge, and renewal of their certification will depend on being active in their industry and demonstrating ongoing Professional Development.

Why should I be involved?

If you are an irrigation installer you will want to maintain your right to install irrigation systems. The old “restricted” licences, where they exist, are currently being reviewed, so you will need to check your local state regulations. All our advice indicates that IAL certification could, and should, be a likely replacement for licensing, especially as one of the skill areas is environmental protection.

Also, as more and more irrigation water in future will be grey water it will be even more important to prove your ability to install fail-safe systems.

If you are an irrigation farmer you know better than most the importance of maintaining access to water resources. Increasing competition for water for environmental, recreational and urban use is putting irrigators under pressure to ’justify’ their right to access water resources for productive use. If irrigators are to continue to have access to water, they may need to provide proof of expertise, knowledge and good practice. Qualifications and certification can provide this proof, especially if they are linked to best on-

farm practice for production and the environment.

If you are a natural resource manager the IAL’s certification program provides you with a national industry self-regulation program that can assure you that water users have the skills and knowledge to use the water you supply, efficiently and productively and that they are implementing best irrigation practice. This can strengthen your organisation's justification for improved access to water.

Consumers will know that, when they use a certified irrigation specialist to install or run their systems, those people have the minimum skills to install or operate or manage a system efficiently, effectively and with least environmental impact.

And finally, whatever your occupation within the irrigation industry, certification can provide young people and other job seekers with national industry recognition of skills and knowledge, and improved career pathways.

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TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

BEHIND THE SCENES WITH TRAINING Anne Currey, Irrigation Australia An important strategic area for IAL is training and professional development. For our membership, professional development and training provide opportunities to develop their skills and knowledge and a career in the industry. For the industry itself, having a workforce that is skilled and knowledgeable underlines its credibility.

In the past six months there has been much activity behind the scenes as far as training is concerned, including representing the membership in discussions with federal and state training authorities. As a result of this representation, IAL has been asked to comment on and provide feedback on a number of important policies and initiatives to do with training. Irrigation Australia talked to IAL business manager Trevor Le Breton for an update.

Review of irrigation qualifications and units of competency. In January this year Agrifood Skills Council put out a tender to review the irrigation qualifications and units of competency in the Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management Training Package (AHC10). In particular it is looking at the units of competency and packaging rules (rules about subjects that are core and which elective subjects can be used to make up a qualification). This review will examine Certificates 2, 3 and 4 qualifications as well as a detailed review of the Diploma of

What’s so good about the IAL’s certification program?

1. IAL certification is a voluntary, national program that recognises the minimum skills people should have to perform their job to the satisfaction of water managers and customers.

2. IAL certification is easy to obtain – only five to seven skills required for each occupation, especially chosen to be as relevant as possible. Many other certification programs expect people to complete entire qualifications.

3. You don’t have to go “back to school”. Skills can be proven by completion of training but also by involvement in associated industry programs, by providing proof of ability to an industry assessor or any combination of these. Three years experience is simply documented on the application form.

4. IAL certification is robust and flexible. It works regardless of irrigation system type, crop grown, region, for both rural and urban areas. The skills can even be negotiated to better suit particular industries.

5. The continuing professional development program ensures that those who become certified will keep their skills current. This can be done by taking part in activities such as attending industry events, training or teaching or by taking a leadership role in the industry through representation and involvement.

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IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA

Irrigation to explore the possible need for specialised diploma level qualifications.

The review is the result of comment on AHC10 by IAL through its Professional Development Committee.

Workplace innovation funding application. Mid last year, IAL submitted a Workplace Innovation Program Application to federal government. In the context of the application a workplace applies to all aspects of the workplace, including physical, social, technical and professional, not just the “factory floor”.

The IAL application was developed around a different approach to training to support the development of a more innovative workplace. It focussed on: access to training (barriers and how to remove them), delivering training in different ways to promote innovation in the workplace, and how to provide training for people in remote and rural locations.

According to Trevor, IAL is waiting for advice on whether the application was successful.

Professional Development Committee. A key activity of the committee in the last few months has been to review the IEC course.

“The course has historically been a ‘best seller’ in the IAL training offering, however, it’s time we looked at the structure of the course and who the course is targeted at,” said Trevor.

The review has examined whether the course it at the right level, whether it should be split into an entry level course for operators and an advanced course for managers, including business skills, and how much course content needs to change as a result. The review is with IAL management now.

Retail Course make over. IAL and ThinkWater have started work on merging their retail irrigation courses. The aim is to develop one industry course that is supported by all stakeholders. The new course will still be competency based and will most probably involve a similar amount of time i.e. thirteen days. Because some businesses have been concerned about having staff off the job for nearly two weeks, options will be to offer units separately at different locations or online for people who don’t want to or can’t be away from the workplace for that long. The aim is for the merged course to be ready to run this year, probably in June.

“This will provide better value for money and flexibility as far as attendance and training method are concerned,” said Trevor.

Review of Non Urban Metering Certification. A review of the Non Urban Metering Certification has just been completed.

Trevor said that with developments in non urban metering since the certification scheme was completed in 2008, a review was timely.

“We want to ensure that what was developed is consistent with the revised National Water Package, that the skill sets defined by the certification training are what was required by industry, and that the pre requisites originally set are still valid,” he explained.

Information For more information about IAL training and professional development, check out the IAL website, www.irrigation. org.au

THE BIG ISSUE

BIG ISSUE BEFORE THE WELL RUNS DRY: A CASE STUDY IN COMMUNITY-BASED SUSTAINABLE WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Jenny Bennett, Central NSW Councils, and Emma Pryor, MWH A big issue in Australia has been engaging communities in planning to manage our valuable natural resources such as water.

Unfortunately, success stories seem few and far between, and nowhere is this better illustrated than with the Draft Guide to the MurrayDarling Plan, being debated now.

A recent study in Central NSW just might provide one of these success stories. While implementation of its recommendations will be the proof, the study illustrates the value of holistic planning that recognises the importance of water to different sectors of the economy and the environment. In this article, Jenny Bennett and Emma Pryor consider some of the issues and key learnings of community-based planning for sustainable water resource management.

In support of the Mid Lachlan Alliance of Councils’ concerns about the worst drought on record, Central NSW Councils (Centroc) began a study of the region’s water supplies in November 2008. With funding from the NSW Government, Centroc engaged global wet infrastructure specialists MWH to provide water planning, engineering and community engagement services to develop a regional Water Security Study.

This recently completed study into managing the Centroc area’s water supply was developed as a result of the support and input of the local community, including the irrigation industry.

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IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA

Twelve months later, the recommendations of the study were unanimously adopted by the seventeen Centroc member councils.

Leaving the past behind As is the case in much of NSW, water supply planning for towns in the central part of the state had traditionally focussed solely on the effective and efficient delivery of urban water needs. In fact, planning tended to focus specifically on developing new sources of raw water.

In the drought that began in the early 2000s, many local water utilities in the region acted to integrate recycled sewage and treated stormwater into their product offerings. Traditional silos began to give way to a more holistic understanding of the urban water cycle.

At the same time, stakeholders began to appreciate that local government administrative boundaries were not contributing to sustainable, long-term water resource planning - and that they were particularly onerous in stressed situations like the continuing drought.

Consensus began to build around the idea that collective action and a new approach to water resource planning were required.

A sense of urgency The Central NSW Region, which contributes a similar amount to the Australian economy as Tasmania, has a number of competitive advantages (NSW Department of State and Regional Development): • extensive freight and commuter road and rail infrastructure • natural resources including gold, copper and timber • proximity to the major population and market centres of Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong and Canberra • diverse regional economies • strong education and service sectors.

Successful water-dependent industries in the region include mining (coal, gold and copper), manufacturing (food and beverage processing, equipment manufacturing) and agribusiness (wool, cattle, wheat, horticulture, dairy farming and viticulture).

With consideration for these industries and the communities, industry-leading analytical water modelling work with a 50-year planning horizon was undertaken to understand the size of the problem.

Forecasts of water demands considered projected population growth, tempered by the necessity for the region to use urban water more efficiently. Available surface and groundwater resources were considered as was the expected impact of climate change on the availability of resources and the size of water demands.

Nearly 30 cities and towns across the region, from the village of Cumnock to the city of Orange, were identified as being at risk and required water supply security improvements.

The case for urgent action was clear.

An effective vehicle for driving action Centroc represents over 236,000 people, spanning more than 70,000 square kilometres and comprising the local government areas of Bathurst, Blayney, Boorowa, Cabonne, Cowra, Forbes, Harden, Lachlan, Lithgow, Oberon, Orange, Parkes, Upper Lachlan, Weddin, Wellington, Young and Central Tablelands Water.

Centroc’s role is to foster the prosperity and growth of central NSW. This is achieved by advocating on agreed positions and priorities for the region and by facilitating cooperation and sharing knowledge, expertise and resources. Centroc works collaboratively with local council members as wells as stakeholders from government, industry and the community, to create an environment where present and future generations can thrive.

With the case for action clear, the already established and functioning entity of Centroc provided an effective means for taking action.

Understanding what makes a sense of community Perhaps because water, or the lack of it, is so much more visible in the landscape, and because regional communities are intrinsically more interconnected, there was a very

as an offsetting mechanism for new infrastructure, particularly where it will remove extra water from river systems.

This strategy was commended by the irrigators themselves who saw local government as a more contextual level of government for maintaining the integrity of rural communities than the federally-administered buyback scheme.

Benefits to the mining sector

Centroc represents over 236,000 people living in local government areas in NSW from Bathurst to Wellington. practical sense of the interdependence and mutual success of industry and community in the region.

Local government decision makers acknowledged that without the industries that build a vibrant economy, towns and cities won’t grow or prosper.

Despite the notions of the popular press about regional communities, this sense of linked economic and community prosperity included an understanding of the need to ensure environmental assets, systems and services are well managed and functioning.

Endorsed by the Centroc Board, a Project Reference Group representing key regional players was established to participate in the planning process.

The group consisted of representatives from the Central West and Lachlan Catchment Management Authorities, Rio Tinto and Newcrest Mining, Lachlan Valley Water and Macquarie Food & Fibre and representatives from the broader community. This group was engaged to support the development of the study objectives and decision-making framework, and to generate and assess options for improving water security.

Defining what success looks like To shape the study, key principles for sustainable success were agreed: • share – improve and secure water supply for all users • save – reduce water loss and increase water use efficiency • diversify – adapt to the threat of climate change by putting in place less climate-dependent water supply measures • optimise – improve the operational efficiency of our existing water supply network

• organise – combine forces and resources for the benefit of the region.

Recommendations for action The study recommended a twopronged approach to water security for the region: • demand management and conservation initiatives for the urban water sector • additional and upgraded water security infrastructure, including an augmented Lake Rowlands Dam and expanding the existing network of pipelines to transfer water between towns.

The study also recognised the potential need for emergency water supplies in some areas and acknowledged actions that may be required. In addition, it supported the ongoing implementation of the local integrated water cycle management plans developing stormwater and recycling opportunities in the region.

Benefits to the irrigation sector A key benefit of the recommended strategy to irrigation is that it reduces the dependence of riverside towns on the Lachlan and Macquarie rivers by providing new additional town water storage and a regional network of pipes. This will reduce the need to manage the major dams in relation to town water supplies in times of drought and remove the towns from competition for water at these times.

Additionally, on a case-by-case basis, Centroc member councils will consider a program to provide upfront funds for capital investment in improving irrigation water use efficiency in return for a share of the water saved.

This saved water will be used mainly

As part of engaging with the mining sector, the potential mutual benefit of providing for some of the region’s mining-related water demands in association with the recommended strategy was identified. The mining industry would have to commit funding before investment in larger assets, and the study did not consider the need for the mining sector to acquire additional water allocations.

Next steps to a sustainable future The sustainability of the region’s urban, rural and industrial economies will be assured by achieving water security. The strategy for achieving that security has been agreed in a successful regional communitybased planning process. What has to happen now is for the three layers of government overseeing sustainable water resource management to agree on funding to implement the recommendations.

Additionally, with actions to improve water security clearly identified, Centroc is now building on the success of its collaborative approach to close the water-energyclimate change loop. At the time of writing, Centroc is in the strategic phase of choosing options for developing the Centroc Carbon Plus Plan. This plan will identify a sustainable carbon emissions management strategy for the life of the water security infrastructure.

This will ensure that providing water security infrastructure does not further exacerbate climate change.

About the authors Jenny Bennett is the executive officer for Central NSW Councils (Centroc), an organisation that advocates and improves operational efficiencies for its members. Emma Pryor is a Senior Consultant for MWH, a global provider of environmental engineering and strategic consulting services. For more information about the Centroc Water Security Study, please contact Jenny at Jenny.Bennett@centroc. com.au or Emma at Emma.Pryor@ au.mwhglobal.com

IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA

37

STANDARDS

RAISING STANDARDS WHAT HAPPENS AT A STANDARDS MEETING? Jeremy Cape, CapeAbility Pty Ltd International Standards Organisation (ISO) subcommittee 18, which is the committee that deals with irrigation equipment, meets once a year for a week. That’s a long meeting by any stretch! So what do representatives spend their time doing? In this article, Australian representative, Jeremy Cape, gives an overview.

In October last year, ISO subcommittee 18 met in Adelaide and discussed a range of standards issues.

The committee comprises a series of working groups that deal with specific standards and types of equipment. All members of the committee participate in the working group meetings. For example, Working Group 1 reviews definitions for irrigation standards, and other working groups review specific standards for particular types of equipment such as media filters or chemigation valves.

After each working group discussion a resolution is prepared for the plenary meeting of the committee.

Ten resolutions were passed by the committee, covering a range of subjects from definitions to standards for sprinklers. Six of the resolutions, which concern subjects of interest to the Australian industry, are summarised below.

Resolution 363, definitions. The aim of working group 1 is to develop a set of definitions so that each standard edited or developed by the committee uses definitions and terms that are consistent across all standards.

It was agreed that the authors of the new set of definitions will update the definitions document and place it on the committee website. A summary document of definitions for use by the wider irrigation industry has been prepared. If you are interested in this summary document, contact the standards committee of IAL, at email jeremy@capeability.biz.

Resolution 364: Ad hoc working group on surface irrigation equipment. Two key issues were reviewed in Adelaide: 1. A literature review of methods for measuring flow in open channels had been prepared by the Mexican

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IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA

delegation and submitted to the meeting. The committee concluded that it was not necessary to develop any other standards and that a summary document of the literature review should be tabled at the next meeting.

2. In collaboration with the ICID committee on On Farm modernisation, the committee was asked to research whether there were any types of surface irrigation equipment that should be the subject of standards.

Resolution 365: Ad hoc working group on testing laboratories.

This committee is producing a laboratory manual for testing facilities in developing countries to help them test and evaluate irrigation equipment.

The draft manual is to be updated to include the comments made by committee members during the year.

Resolution 366: working group for meters for measuring irrigation supplies. Australian Technical Standard 4747 (ATS4747) was published in Australia in 2010.

Previously the National Measurement Institute had published a series of protocols for testing and verifying the laboratory performance of irrigation meters. The ISO SC18 committee, chaired by the Spanish delegation, is developing a standard which will be “harmonised” with ATS4747, the NMI series and some ISO standards for meters for potable water supplies.

A new committee draft will be produced in the middle of 2011 and this will be able for review in Australia around this time.

Resolutions 368 and 369: working groups on filters and clogging in micro irrigation drippers. As well as reporting on progress on updating existing standards the filter group reported on further testing of a device called a clogging capacity meter (ccm).

The ccm was developed in Israel and measures the physical difference between water upstream and downstream from a filter. The device measures the time taken for a specific head loss to be generated.

The difference between the time taken to reach the 50 kPa pressure drop in

The ccm meter has been used in South Africa for evaluating water quality.

filtered water and unfiltered water shows whether the filter is working or not. From work carried out in Israel it appears that if the ratio of time taken to reach the required pressure drop is more than six times greater in unfiltered water then the filter is not working correctly.

The IAL standards committee is keen to talk to anyone interested in testing a ccm in Australia. To find out more, send an email to Jeremy@capeability.biz.

Resolution 369: field test protocol for measuring the time to clogging in in-line drip products. The French delegation to SC18 had previously developed a method for assessing clogging of drippers under laboratory conditions but this method has not gained universal acceptance. The Israeli delegation has developed a field test which compares the time to clogging for different drip products using the same water source.

The importance of both the filter test and the dripper test is that for the first time standards are being considered which use field tests rather than laboratory tests. It has generally been assumed that it is not possible to carry out valid, comparative tests unless the tests are conducted under identical, defined conditions such as in a test laboratory. The recent experience of members of SC18 suggests that there may be a growing demand for field tests as a way of evaluating irrigation equipment performance.

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SMART APPROVED WATERMARK

SMART APPROVED WATERMARK DESIGN CONSULTANCY GETS THE MARK While many of our readers are familiar with the fact that the Smart Approved WaterMark Scheme applies to products, they might not be aware that it also covers commercial irrigation services.

A number of services have been awarded the mark in the last few years – the Queensland Water Commission’s Efficient Irrigation for Water Conservation Guidelines, Irrigation Management Pty Ltd, Knowledge Tree Environmental Services Pty Ltd, One Stop Sprinklers and Greene Eden Watering Systems Pty Ltd. The most recent service to be included is HydroPlan Pty Ltd’s independent irrigation design consultancy.

“We’re looking to expand our commercial irrigation products and services, so their inclusion is a great step,” said Smart Approved WaterMark CEO Julian Gray.

HydroPlan has offices in Perth, Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane and Beijing, and provides irrigation planning, design, auditing, training, supervision and project management services to all industry sectors.

According to CEO and long-time IAL member John Gransbury, its clients include councils, golf courses, horticulturalists, developers, architects and engineers.

To be awarded the mark, a service has to demonstrate that it can save water.

“HydroPlan prides itself on incorporating water efficient and practical features into its designs,” said John.

“For instance, when we design systems we choose operating pressure, emitter types and spacing to optimise application efficiencies, and we use technologies such as rain sensors, soil moisture sensors and flow sensors. But we are careful to align the technologies with the environment they work in so that it is a robust tool for scheduling irrigation based on application rates, soil type and condition, root depth and climatic variables. We’ve developed web-based monitoring as an extension of this.”

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IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA

John Gransbury gets a bit more involved with pumps than usual.

Included in the mark are HydroPlan’s auditing and project management and site supervision services, as well as a service developing irrigation management plans and providing information and education services on using water efficiently.

John said that HydroPlan decided to apply for the mark because it represents industry-based recognition that their services are water efficient. “I like the idea that our people and processes have been recognised as being water efficient, irrespective of the products involved,” said John.

“Sure there are some very smart products out there, but there are some smart people out there too. We’ve all seen large sums of money spent on new systems and gadgets when less money could have been spent on upgrades, training or maintenance.

“Water authorities and regulators are being pushed to enforce water efficiency, and hence they are keen to support signs like SAWM so that they can guide consumers.

“The thing I like about SAWM is that their charter allows them to recognise innovation. It’s run by our industry, not by bureaucrats following a rule book. Anyone who thinks it is possible to write a rule book for irrigation water efficiency hasn’t tried it. The interactions between water, plants, soils, people and the environment

are just too complex to regulate. It is really important that our industry helps consumers make good choices – they are yearning for guidance. We’ve all heard regulators threaten some crazy rules. Let’s hope they get behind SAWM instead and help consumers recognise it as a mark of quality. We are going to use the mark in advertising to differentiate from all those experts who popped up recently. The mark will be a sign that HydroPlan is a good choice.

That’s great!” he said.

2011 APPLICATION SCHEDULE The Smart WaterMark Technical Expert Panel meets quarterly to consider applications. If you have a water saving product or service you think deserves recognition, please submit your application before the closing date.

Closing dates for applications

Expert Panel meeting dates

11 March 2011

25 March 2011

3 June 2011

16 June 2011

2 September 2011

15 September 2011

24 November 2011

8 December 2011

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AROUND INDUSTRY

AROUND INDUSTRY BOARD CHANGES AT WATER INDUSTRY ALLIANCE In December last year the Water Industry Alliance (WIA) announced that company director Tim Waterhouse had been elected chair, and that Minter Ellison partner Judith Bradsen, deputy chair.

With his background in the irrigation industry, Tim Waterhouse’s is an ideal chair. He was managing director and is now a director of Sentek which designs, manufactures and markets soil moisture and salinity sensors and display software.

He was also a director of the CRC Irrigation Futures and is a director of Australian Water Investments.

Judith, a highly respected lawyer, is the first woman to hold the position of deputy chair on the WIA’s Board since it was established in 1998. She is a partner at commercial law firm Minter Ellison, and her main areas of practice are environmental, resources and planning law, heritage law (including Aboriginal heritage), water law and administrative law generally.

The newly elected WIA Board, which was voted in by members at the November 2010 AGM, is: • Andrew Ferguson, United Utilities • Chris Stathy, Philmac • David Rush, Department of Trade and Economic Development • Doug Gee, SA Water • Duncan Whitfield, McConnell Dowell • Grant Schroeder, Maric Flow Control • Judith Bradsen, Minter Ellison Lawyers • Mike Terlet, United Water • Robert Debelle, Consultant • Tanja Stefanovic, Australian Water Association • Tim Waterhouse, Sentek The WIA is a not-for-profit cluster of 250 water-related companies focused on growing the South Australian water industry.

Meet the new chair and deputy chair of the Water Industry Alliance.

In November last year, Tim Waterhouse was elected chair, and Judith Bradsen deputy chair.

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IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA

MWH CONTRIBUTES $50,000 TO PREMIER’S FLOOD RELIEF APPEAL In January, global engineering, consulting and construction firm MWH donated $50,000 to the Premier’s Flood Relief Appeal in Queensland.

MWH maintains ten offices in Australia, including four in Queensland.

More than 100 of its Queensland staff have been affected by this month’s devastating floods though none has been harmed.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Robert B. Uhler said, “Our thoughts are with everyone. In addition to our monetary contribution to the Premier’s Flood Relief Appeal, we are reaching out to our clients and partners in Queensland to offer assistance with the cleanup”.

This help has included working on the restoration of roads damaged in the Fitzroy region and deploying water engineers around the south-east of the state to get water and wastewater infrastructure back up and functioning.

The donation was made through the MWH Caring Foundation and is in addition to individual fundraising efforts of MWH personnel. Locally in Australia, MWH will further match, dollar-fordollar, the money raised by staff.

JOHN DEERE WATER RESTRUCTURES FOR GROWTH John Deere Water say that unprecedented changes in the irrigation market over the past three years have led them to restructure their business to provide a service that will most effectively support their dealer network in continually changing conditions.

“Whilst many businesses are contracting during this time of uncertainty, we are growing and restructuring our teams to provide better long term ongoing support for our customers,” Managing Director Peter Wanckel comments. “Our goal is to provide the highest level of service throughout the entire business. From supply chain to sales support, our priority will be on building a business that focuses on supporting our dealer network and ultimately the end customer."

Initial restructuring included relocating all administrative functions to the Brisbane head office late last year, while retaining production/warehousing in Melbourne.

The John Deere Water team Resulting from this change is a customer service team with over 25 years experience in irrigation, a newly created position of supply chain manager, a new supply chain team and the staffing of many other key support roles.

Significant changes have also been made to the sales structure of the business. Guy Hoffensetz, previously regional marketing manager, has moved to the newly created position of Director of Sales and Marketing for Australia and New Zealand. Guy will oversee both marketing and sales activities so that they work together to support John Deere Water’s dealer channel and company goals.

The Australia/New Zealand market has been split into two regions, which are now managed by newly appointed regional sales managers.

Marcus Ashley, who has 10 years of irrigation industry experience, and was instrumental in building the T-Tape brand in Queensland, will manage a team of district sales managers in Queensland, NT and WA. Mac Ross, who has more than 17 years irrigation experience, will likewise manage a team throughout SA, NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and New Zealand. Both managers will also provide high level sales support to enable quicker response times and guidance of major projects.

A pressing need identified by John Deere Water is technical support for customers. In response, Nick Darby has been appointed as technical manager and will oversee the company’s senior agronomist and senior irrigation designer. Under Nick Darby’s direction, the technical department will focus on providing technical, agronomic and design expertise to our dealers and end customers as well as guidance to major projects.

John Deere Water continues to grow globally with major restructuring in its sales offices throughout the world to build an organisation with a high priority mandate of ‘focus on the customer’.

For information, including the current John Deere Water product range, go to the website, www.johndeerewater.com.au

ICID INSIGHTS

ICID INSIGHTS Willem Vlotman, Vice President ICID and Chairman, Australian Nation Committee of ICID Now that IAL has formed a special group taking care of ICID interests, ICID-NCA’s commitment and ability to contribute to ICID activities have grown significantly. Dedicated staff in the Sydney Office will help with the information flow to and from ICID central office and the various national committees. In addition, as a result of direct links with organisers of the 6th World Water Forum, the IAL office is receiving a growing stream of information related to this.

Because of this growth in activity, IAL will formalise the structure of the ICID National Committee of Australia. A draft Terms of Reference (ToR) soon will be prepared and circulated to IAL members for review and feedback. The ToR will include objectives and organisation, and will propose that an executive committee be elected to manage the affairs of ICID-NCA. The IAL office will act as a permanent secretariat. This is a change from the old ANCID organisation where the secretariat used to circulate among interested rural water authorities. Water authorities are not forgotten at IAL and they will also organise a special interest group within IAL to cater to the other traditional activities of ANCID. We will discuss and hopefully finalise details of the organisation of ICIDNCA at the IAL Irrigation and Drainage Conference in Launceston. Until then we will use the current ICID email list to communicate. It is important to remember that we are an organisation mainly relying on volunteers to generate the technical achievements of IAL and ICID, and this will continue to be the case. This means that to attend some of the international events we (IAL) will be looking for members who bring their own (financial) support and arrangements to support the ICID activities.

ICID Activities in 2011 As part of my role on the Nominating Committee of ICID to select a new Secretary General of the ICID, I travelled to New Delhi in January to interview five short-listed candidates. The selection of the new Secretary General will be ratified by the International Executive Council in October during the ICID Tehran meeting.

Preparations for ICID 2011 in Tehran are underway; see the dedicated page on the IAL website for more information (www.irrigation.org.au). Currently, two special sessions initiated by ICID-NCA are in the pipeline: a half-day workshop in

committees will be responsible for research activities and ICID intends to sign MoUs with these committees and appropriate organisations in the country itself.

Climate change and the Asian Regional Working Group (ASWRG)

Contributing to the success of ICID is its hard-working staff. Shown in the photo are the central office staff with vice presidents of the Nominating Committee. irrigation modernisation in Australia and a workshop on potential formation of a special ICID workbody on the status and advancement of the water management related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In addition, we are looking into organising activities to promote ICID 2012 in Adelaide.

IPTRID-2 activity Another interesting development at ICID, and this will interest our CRC-IF readership, is the bottom-up restructuring of IPTRID, the International Programme for Technology and Research in Irrigation and Drainage.

IPTRID started in 1990 at the World Bank and was based at FAO from 1998 till 2008. It has been restructured and will now be based at ICID, but functions through regional nodes that network national committees in the particular region. This means that national

This activity involves the wrap-up of work under the ASRWG to provide two case studies on climate change effects in Australia. The aim is to complete this

by May 2011, provided we can identify volunteers to help identify and prepare these cases. The ASRWG will present the cases in October 2011 in Tehran. If you are interested in helping, contact the IAL office, phone 02 9476 0142. For more information check the ICID drop down menu on the IAL website (www. irrigation.org.au).

Other activities You can also check out the following activities, which have been referred to in ICID emails and Backwash on the ICID pages on the IAL website: • Task Force on Finance. Summary of TFFIN minutes..

• Starting a workbody related to achievements in irrigation and drainage to contribute to achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

Contact Nadeem Ashgar and check the ICID2011 Tehran drop down menu.

• Inputs for the sixth World Water Forum (WWF6)

IMPORTANT DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Date

Place and Country

Details

14 - 16 March 2011

Orleans, France

24th ICID European Regional Conference. Groundwater 2011 www.groundwater-2011.net

16 - 20 May 2011

Groningen, The Netherlands

25th ICID European Regional Conference.

Integrated water management for multiple land use in flat coastal areas. www.icid2011.nl

15 - 23 October 2011

Tehran, Iran

62nd IEC meeting of ICID 21st ICID Congress 8th International Micro-Irrigation Congress Deadline for full papers: 1 March 2011. www.icid2011.org

March 2012

Marseille, France

WWF6 6th World Water Forum http://www.worldwatercouncil.org/index.php

23 - 30 June 2012

Adelaide, Australia

63rd IEC meeting of ICID, 7th Asian Regional Conference, IAL 2012 Conference and Exhibition Deadline for abstracts: November 2011 www.irrigation.org.au

October 2013

Antalya, Turkey

64th IEC meeting of ICID 8th Asian Regional Conference E: tucid@dsi.gov.tr

October 2014

Seoul, Korea

65th IEC meeting of ICID 22nd ICID Congress www.icid2014.org

IEC – International Executive Council, annual ICID meeting ICID – International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage, New Delhi India IAL – Irrigation Australia Ltd, Sydney Australia

IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA

43

STATE ROUNDUP

MAINTENANCE SAVES WATER Under pressure to find any way of squeezing more from their irrigation, horticulture producers are finding scope for lifting efficiency through drip system maintenance.

Maxine Schache from the Victorian Department of Primary Industries, who has been facilitating drip irrigation maintenance courses, says irrigators, particularly those who have had drip systems for 10 years and longer, are discovering the importance of understanding measures for checking and cleaning their systems.

While distribution of dripdelivered water has brought a higher level of precision, no one expects 100% perfect coverage but testing is showing that, left without a checkup, drippers can begin to perform poorly and contribute to very uneven delivery.

“In one reported case a grapegrower with a 20-year-old drip system, which previously had no maintenance, scored an unevenness rating of 30%,” she said. “By following maintenance measures this was reduced to 9%.”

The courses Maxine runs begin with the basics - to get the best out of an irrigation system it is important to have a reasonable understanding of the design description as all models have their own specifications. There are different emitter types, pipe diameters, maximum operating pressures etc.

The importance of flushing Participants learn that flushing is one of the main maintenance measures and that how often to flush ranges from weekly to every six months depending on water quality. Density and texture of the discharge when flushing should be used as a guide to frequency. If the discharge is thick and dark this indicates that flushing needs to be done more often.

Order of flushing should be main line, sub-main then laterals.

Some drip systems, particularly older systems, have not adequately considered flushing in their design, e.g. the diameter of laterals may be too small for good flushing even though they can deliver sufficient pressure for irrigation.

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IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA

STATE ROUNDUP NEW HEAD FOR MDBA

Irrigation maintenance courses being run by Maxine Schache with horticulturists in Victoria emphasise the importance of maintenance to irrigation efficiency.

If flushing doesn’t do the job, some flexibility may be provided where there are three-way hydraulic valves.

If a three-way tap can be turned from “auto” to “open”, thereby bypassing the pilot, greater pressure can be allowed to pass the valve.

Flushing velocity is critical and the level recommended is between 0.3 to 0.5 m/second; a flow rate of less than 5.4 L/minute will not be enough.

Maintenance includes use of chlorine, hydrogen peroxide or halosan which can be injected into drip irrigation systems to kill organisms like algae and bacteria.

Cutting and inspecting an emitter will determine if chemical injection is required and to confirm whether the choice of chemical is effective or in the right concentration. Placing in a solution of the chemical for an hour will reveal if deposits are being effectively removed.

Another category of cleaning product is acid to dissolve chemical deposits. The need for such products is indicated by a white film of precipitated calcium salts inside pipes and around emitters. Acid lowers the pH of the water allowing chemical deposits to be dissolved.

Note. This article is reproduced with permission from the National Program for Sustainable Irrigation

Some might question the wisdom of this career move. Craig Knowles, who was the natural resources minister in NSW government when the National Water Initiative was being developed, has been appointed as the new head of the Murray Darling Basin Authority.

He will replace Mike Taylor as the authority chairman. Mike resigned in protest before Christmas because he believed he was required by the Water Act to put the environmental needs of the basin ahead of the social and economic impacts of cuts to allocations on communities.

The Australian Conservation Foundation is pleased with the appointment, saying that he is a good choice for the job.

Craig Knowles left politics in 2005.

WA DEVELOPS DRY SEASON RESPONSE Much of eastern Australia has been affected by floods or high rainfall this summer and will be going into winter with full soil profiles and storages that are full or close to.

The story isn’t the same in WA, where the western and southern part of WA has had the driest winter last year on record.

The WA government says that the low rainfall has implications for everyone, in particular agriculture and other water using businesses, parks and gardens, rivers, estuaries and the environment. As a result its Department of Water is taking a proactive approach in responding to the dry season.

The department is acting now to minimise impacts this summer as much as possible. One reason for this is that if the 2011 winter rainfall is similar to this year’s, in the summer of 2011-12 there will be serious implications for outdoor water use, industry and agriculture, self supply users, and the environment.

The department is producing weekly dry season summaries and has a Dry Season Response line, 1800 464 956.

BUSINESS FEATURE

ONLINE BUSINESS – WHAT IS GOOD PRACTICE? These days, most businesses have a website. In fact, if you don’t have one, at the very least you are behind the eight ball as far as marketing is concerned, and you could be missing out on business.

Online trading can benefit both businesses and consumers. However, the online trading world can be a scary place for some consumers.

The Best Practice Model, a best practice guide for business, has set out practices for businesses to encourage consumer confidence in eCommerce. Using the principles in the model, the following information is a general guide for businesses when developing an online presence.

• The trader’s full contact details including a street address will give consumers more confidence. Some may even choose to make contact before making a purchase 'just to be sure'.

• If trust marks or seals are used they should be easy to verify and relevant.

• Secure online payments or the provision of an offline alternative are vital. Few consumers are prepared to trust their money to an unsecured site.

• Terms and conditions should be clearly written and displayed, easily accessible and comply with all local and federal laws.

• Warranty and refund policies are important to consumers. These should also be clearly written and displayed, easily accessible and comply with all local and federal laws.

• Products and services should comply with all Australian standards such as product safety standards.

Overwhelmed by spam

• Advertising and any representations made about the product or service should be accurate with no hidden fine print. Consumers do not like surprises where their bank balance is concerned.

• If prices are displayed, accuracy is the key. For instance consumers should be made aware of which currency is being used.

• A reliable complaints handling procedure will also encourage consumer confidence in a business.

No one wants things to go wrong but if a speedy, helpful service is in place the customer’s experience will ultimately be a positive one.

• Special care should be taken when dealing with minors. Businesses should be aware they are dealing with a minor and when appropriate get consent from the child’s parent or guardian.

• Online businesses may need to make adjustments in the provision of goods/services to ensure that they are accessible to people with a disability.

Good online business practices will encourage consumer confidence and this will generate more sales.

For more information For more information on eCommerce and the Best Practice Model visit the

BIG RESPONSE TO GUIDE RURAL WATER PRICING TO PROPOSED BASIN PLAN FOR SUNWATER SCHEMES It would hardly come as a surprise given reaction when it was released, but the Murray-Darling Basin Authority says that feedback on the Guide to the proposed Basin Plan has been overwhelming, with more than 2,000 items received by the end of 2010.

The MDBA is currently reviewing the feedback and will use this to help it draft the proposed Basin Plan. The feedback will be summarised in a report once the analysis is complete.

Setting irrigation water charges can often be controversial and subject to challenge. As a result, most state governments involve independent authorities such as IPART in NSW and the Queensland Competition Authority (QCA) in that state in the process.

In March last year, the Queensland government asked the QCA to provide an independent recommendation on rural irrigation water prices to apply to specified SunWater water supply

Feel like you spend most of your time on your email program deleting spam messages? It’s not your imagination.

According to a recent report by Symantec (Message Labs Intelligence Report), spam messages made up almost 90 per cent of emails sent in 2010. The peak was August, when 92.2 per cent of emails were spam.

Almost all these messages were sent out using botnets, computers that have been hijacked by hackers and used to send on spam. There are estimated to be 3.5 to 5.4 million botnets in the world.

Another issue for computer users is malware. Malware, or malicious software, is software designed to secretly access a computer system without the owner knowing it. A key source of malware is legitimate websites, which have been infected without the owner’s knowledge.

All this is a reminder that the best protection is to ensure that computer and internet security is up to date. eCommerce site of the Department of the Treasury (www.treasury.gov.au) and the National Office for the Information Economy (NOIE) now called the Australian Government Information Management Office (AGIMO) (www. agimo.gov.au).

Acknowledgment. This article is reprinted from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission from website, www.accc. gov.au

schemes for the next price path from 2011 to 2016 (SunWater's rural irrigation water prices are set for specific periods known as 'price paths').

Just before Christmas the Queensland Government announced key changes to the policy to determine SunWater's rural irrigation water prices, including that the next price path will now commence 1 October 2011 and conclude 30 June 2016. The QCA's draft report about SunWater's rural irrigation water prices for the 2011 to 2016 price path is due by 30 June 2011 and the final report is due by 31 August 2011.

IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA

45

OH&S FEATURE

BEWARE: OHS OBLIGATIONS WITH ON-FARM INFRASTRUCTURE WORKS Jenni Mattila, Mattila Lawyers, Sydney On-farm infrastructure programs are being implemented throughout Australia by the Commonwealth Government in a bid to improve regional infrastructure, sustainability and water efficiency.

The Water for the Future Plan is one example, which has seen private irrigation infrastructure operators across regional NSW receive $650 million in Commonwealth funding.

First, it’s important to understand which OHS laws and regulations apply to you. OHS is mainly regulated by state and territory laws, so there will be slightly different criteria and obligations depending on where the construction work is being carried out. In some circumstances Commonwealth legislation will also apply, e.g. where construction is funded by the Australian Government and therefore subject to Commonwealth procurement policies or where the national OHS accreditation regime applies.

It is not possible in an article of this length to examine in detail how OHS legislation applies to on-farm infrastructure programs in every state and territory, so we’re going to use NSW as a case study.

‘construction work’ is defined very broadly to mean (emphasis added): 1. building, including the construction (including the manufacturing of prefabricated elements of a building at the place of work concerned), alteration, renovation, repair, maintenance and demolition of all types of buildings; 2. civil engineering, including the construction, structural alteration, repair, maintenance and demolition of, for example, airports, docks, harbours, inland waterways, dams, river and avalanche and sea defence works, roads and highways, railways, bridges and tunnels, viaducts, and works related to the provision of services such as communications, drainage, sewerage, water and energy supplies; 3. excavation conducted for the purposes of building or civil engineering, including the excavation or filling of trenches, ditches, shafts, wells, tunnels and pier holes, and the use of caissons and cofferdams, but not excavation work at a coal workplace or mining workplace for the purposes of extracting minerals or quarry product.

It is clear from the definition (particularly the words in bold words) that ‘construction work’ encompasses the following on-farm infrastructure work: • decommissioning channels and pipelines used to provide water for irrigation • altering channels by including channel lining • building new pipelines and stock and domestic infrastructure designed to make water use more efficient • upgrading and repairing existing pipelines • civil engineering work associated with all of the above.

On-farm infrastructure projects as ‘construction work’

Construction work with a ‘principal contractor’

OHS obligations may arise where work to be performed constitutes ‘construction work’. In NSW, where OHS matters are regulated by the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 (NSW) and the Occupational, Health and Safety Regulation 2001 (NSW) (the NSW Regulation),

Not all construction work brings with it OHS obligations; there is a second criterion to be met. There must be a ‘principal contractor’ in charge of the construction work.

Chapter 8 of the NSW Regulation provides that an owner of a place of work (which includes a farm owned by

No one will deny that such programs are vital and very welcome. What may come as a surprise, however, are the strict occupational, health and safety requirements (OHS) that can accompany them. If these requirements are not adhered to, the regulatory and financial consequences may be serious.

These OHS obligations (usually specific to employer-employee scenarios in the construction industry) arise in any situation where ‘construction work’ is undertaken by a ‘principal contractor’. Under the law, many on-farm infrastructure programs fall into this category, as this article explains.

OHS laws

46

IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA

a farmer on which construction work is carried out) must appoint a principal contractor where: • construction work that exceeds $250,000 is undertaken • high risk construction work is undertaken and the cost of the work does not exceed $250,000 • demolition work or asbestos removal work for which a licence is required is undertaken.

‘High risk construction work’ covers situations where construction work is undertaken ‘over or adjacent to water where there is a risk of drowning’.

Depending on such matters as the depth of excavations and channel construction, on-farm infrastructure work may create a risk of drowning and therefore falls within that definition, so a principal contractor will need to be appointed.

While the above terminology and monetary thresholds apply in NSW, other Australian jurisdictions may use different terminology and have different monetary thresholds that achieve a similar outcome. For example, SA legislation refers to a ‘safety supervisor’ and WA legislation refers to a ‘main contractor’.

In the same vein, NSW and Victorian legislation explicitly refer to ‘water’ in the definition of construction work, while legislation in other states such as Queensland do not, but may nevertheless apply to on-farm infrastructure work associated with water.

Who can be a principal contractor?

In NSW any person may be appointed as a principal contractor. However, given the obligations imposed on a principal contractor and the ramifications for failing to comply with those obligations, a person with appropriate experience will generally be appointed. In all cases, a person cannot be appointed as a principal contractor unless he or she is responsible for the construction work at all times until the work is completed.

Importantly, NSW contains a deeming provision where the owner of the site on which construction work is being undertaken will be taken to be the principal contractor if no other person or entity is appointed as principal contractor. In that scenario, liability for non-adherence to the OHS law will rest with the farmer if no third party is appointed as principal contractor.

What OHS obligations fall on the principal contractor?

Options in appointing a principal contractor

In NSW, a principal contractor’s obligations include: 1. Ensuring OHS induction training is undertaken by those people involved in carrying out the construction work.

This training covers general induction training, task-specific induction training and site induction training.

2. Preparing an OHS Management Plan specific to the site before starting the work and updating the plan during the completion of the construction work.

3. Maintaining a register of hazardous substances.

4. Providing a safe work method statement or plan to any subcontractors engaged on the site.

5. Maintaining adequate OHS records, to ensure that safe work practices are followed and people on-site are not exposed to risks and hazards.

Not complying with the obligations imposed under Chapter 8 of the Regulation will result in civil penalties being imposed.

Just as the terminology and monetary thresholds differ from state to state, so too do the obligations imposed on a principle contractor

There are essentially three options available to a person who requires onfarm infrastructure work to be completed.

The farmer (or owner of the site on which the infrastructure works are being undertaken) may appoint: 1. Him/herself as the principal contractor, or otherwise be deemed to be the principal contractor for failing to appoint anyone else. In this case, the farmer is legally liable where the OHS obligations are not adhered to.

2. The contractor performing the onfarm work as principal contractor.

This can be done simply by including the appointment and relevant OHS clauses in the contract under which the contractor is appointed.

3. A separate contractor, other than the contractor performing the construction work, as the principal contractor. This option, however, will probably have additional cost implications.

Mitigating OHS risks When contracting to do on-farm infrastructure work, you should: • Be aware of the application of the OHS legislation regime and its implications.

Choose a New Holland irrigation power unit for your farm

• Undertake a thorough and regular review of the OHS risks on the sites where on-farm infrastructure work will be performed. This should include undertaking appropriate due diligence and obtaining advice from people with experience in dealing with OHS matters in a construction context.

• Ensure that OHS matters are appropriately dealt with in all contractual documentation.

On-farm infrastructure work may potentially give rise to OHS obligations.

If you are intending to carry out onfarm infrastructure work, it is very important to understand which OHS laws and regulations apply to you, and to proactively take steps to mitigate the regulatory and financial risks.

Information If you have any questions you can contact Mattila Lawyers on (02) 9252 7177.

Note. This article is intended only to provide a summary of the subject matter covered. The summary is not intended to be, nor should it be, relied upon as a substitute for legal or other professional advice.

PUT T WATE HE R BAC K WHER E IT BELON GS

Now is the ideal time to visit your local New Holland dealer and select the appropriate New Holland irrigation power unit for your farm.

Four models are available – SE240, S170, S110 and S85. All feature a covered front radiator that is surrounded by a protective shroud – as well as a side-mounted control panel that can easily be removed and remounted to meet your specific requirements – and a special intercooler which increases engine efficiency and saves on fuel consumption.

Visit www.newhollanddealers.com.au for the location of your nearest New Holland Dealer.

CNH8842B

With New Holland easy servicing and maintenance programmes this all translates into lower cost of ownership.

NEW PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

NEW PRODUCTS AND SERVICES Hunter professional landscape dripline released Nelson Irrigation Australia has announced that Hunter Professional Landscape Drip (PLD) is available exclusively* through the company for the first time in Australia. This technically advanced dripline offers an impressive list of features.

The Hunter’s PLD aims water exactly where you want it.

This means improved performance because watering is specific and precise, giving you control without waste in situations from commercial through to suburban landscape gardens.

In-line pressure-compensating emitters ensure even flow on all terrains and lateral lengths, and built-in check valves stop both debris suctioning back and drainage at low-lying points.

Other features include: an anti-siphon mechanism preventing contaminants from being drawn inside the emitter, pressure compensation allowing a constant flow rate at variable inlet pressures, and a no drain feature that stops water flowing through the emitters when the pressure drops to 1.0 m, protecting drip lines from sucking in small soil particles at system shut down.

The PLD applies water slowly and evenly for consistent distribution. Water soaks in gradually, easily reaching its intended goal. It also incorporates a pressure compensation system with a built-in check valve that helps stop emitter clogging and water loss. It’s flexible and kink resistant.

Hunter durability is assured with UV resistant qualities and premium resins supported by a 5-year warranty.

Nelson Australia Marketing Director Tony Shepley said the launch of the new Hunter PLD is an exciting development for the landscape irrigation industry.

“Landscape irrigation is all about accuracy and functionality and we are proud that the Hunter PLD provides this. For the landscape professional who is looking for the best then the Hunter PLD is it,” said Tony.

Find out more by going to the Nelson Australia website, www. nelsonirrigation.com.au, or phone 1300 856 368 to find your local Nelson irrigation dealer. *This is a Hunter approved product manufactured under contract by a third-party exclusively for distribution in Australia

by Nelson Irrigation Australia.

The Hunter Professional Landscape Dripline is the most advanced in its class.

CONTROL THE UNCONTROLLABLE

WIRELESSLY

Through wind and hail and blazing sun. Solar Sync is in control. Every day, Solar Sync gathers your local weather data and determines whether or not your lawn needs to be watered. And now available in a wireless version, this revolutionary smart product is even easier to install.

It’s not just smart, it’s genius.

www.hunterindustries.com/solarsync

8 The Parade West, Kent Town, South Australia Tel: 08-8363-3599 Fax: 08-8363-3687 Call today for your Free Hunter Products Catalogue 1-800-811-370

Authorised Hunter Distributors:

HR PRODUCTS National Free Call: 1800 HUNTER Toll Free Fax: 1800 651 680

NEW PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Nelson provides solution for summer weather A sprinkler system that is smart enough to sense summer evaporation, sun radiation and rain – I’d like to see that! The latest generation of weather sensing irrigation technology is simplifying the challenge of unpredictable summer weather and you won’t believe what it is capable of!

Available through Nelson Irrigation Australia, the Hunter Solar Sync is an innovative piece of technology that makes sure your valuable plants get the water they need, when they need it. The Solar Sync continually gathers on-site solar and temperature data used calculate evapotranspiration, then extends or reduces the watering time accordingly.

The Hunter Solar Sync conserves valuable water and, more importantly, removes the hassle of re-programming your irrigation controller when those

hot or rainy days hit. And at an affordable price.

The system is compatible with most Hunter controllers, a popular brand in commercial landscape and high end domestic garden irrigation.

The Solar Sync consists of a weather sensor connected wirelessly to a Solar Sync module that is attached to a Hunter irrigation controller.

To operate it, you simply set the controller to irrigate as you usually would and the Solar Sync will then reduce or extend the irrigation time according to the weather. If it has been raining it will stop irrigation or if solar radiation or evaporation levels are high it will extend the irrigation time for maximum efficiency.

The system varies irrigation to match the seasons so there is no more wasted time spent evaluating when the gardens need to be watered next.

The Hunter Solar Sync will adjust irrigation when summer rain arrives.

It also has the Smart Approved WaterMark and will potentially save users thousands of litres of water.

For more information contact Nelson Australia, phone 1300 856 368 or go to website www.nelsonirrigation.com.au.

Iconic Australian gets a facelift The Philmac Ball Valve, designed to offer an affordable yet durable, corrosion-resistant high quality alternative to brass valves, was launched on the Australian market in the 1970s.

Now this iconic part of the rural landscape is being given a facelift. The Philmac Ball Valve still offers the same core benefits it has always offered, including: • high quality thermoplastic construction for longevity • high impact, UV and corrosion resistance for market durability • compact size for ease of use in tight situations • easy-to-turn handles in ½” to 2” sizes

• Australian made for Australian conditions • service kits to ensure your dollar goes further • comprehensively lab tested to provide peace of mind.

Through years of market research and product development the update valve now also offers: • industry benchmark 25-year warranty to support product quality • double o-ring and shouldered spindle for 1600 kPa pressure performance • high flow design – Philmac Ball Valve matches the internal diameter of PN16 SDR11 blueline polyethylene pressure pipe, which maximises flow through the valve

“These improvements mean that the Philmac Ball Valve is now suited to a wider range of application,” GM of Group Marketing Jason Mitchell said.

Whether it is for temporary water lines on a construction sites, an irrigation system in a winery or a water trough in the middle of a paddock, the Philmac Ball Valve suits various applications above and below ground on water distribution lines.

It also comes with a purple handle for recycled water applications.

The Blue Handled Ball Valve brings everything the Philmac brand is renowned for into one convenient valve – combining hard wearing materials with innovative design to form a valve that will last the test of time.

New lease on life for Lister Petter in Australia You could have been forgiven for thinking that Lister Petter had gone out of business - and for a while it was looking like it might, but for a couple British industrialists who had the foresight to buy the company with a view to returning it to its former glory.

After establishing its Oceania regional office in New Zealand, Lister Petter reviewed their distributors worldwide. It found that while Australia was once a Lister Petter heartland, many new players had entered the market and the Lister product had lost some of its glory.

In August 2009 Melbourne based company Welling & Crossley was appointed as the new distributor in Australia, and Mike Edwards as national sales manager. Welling & Crossley’s national distribution networks gave an immediate new market to the Lister Petter product.

The company believes there is still a place in the market for a solidly built, hardworking, old fashioned diesel engine

in Australia. Many recent comers and larger companies have been obsessed with emissions controls and making engines for the USA and European markets, but here in Australia we still use diesel engines in the outback, hundreds of kilometres from anywhere, and the need for reliability is paramount.

Mike says that Lister Petter doesn’t make throw-away engines, rather they can be rebuilt more than once, affordably.

That’s not to say technology hasn’t been updated. Engines are fitted with state-of-the-art Murphy irrigation control gear and their own brand of fully programmable generator control gear so you can start or stop them any way you like.

A full range of air- and water-cooled engines, generating sets, fire pump engines, marine engines and marine generators and purpose built generators for electric submersible bore pumps and centre pivot irrigators is offered.

For more information contact Mike Edwards at Welling & Crossley, phone 1300 524 485, email medwards@wellcross.com.au.

IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA

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NEW PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Nix – a new web-based data management tool Nix is a web-based data management tool designed for the water industry. It collects, decodes, monitors and displays data from a variety of sensors, such as flow meters and pressure sensors. It allows fine-grained access controls to delegate administrative functions and provide data to only those who need it.

Nix has an open access philosophy which means that modules can be developed to interface with existing telemetry solutions. By combining multiple solutions Nix is a single access point for all of your data without locking you to particular hardware.

The precursor to Nix is Latis, the system designed for Willunga Basin Water to augment their existing radio telemetry SCADA solution. By installing data loggers on existing flow meters, WBW saves time and adds value to their water delivery service.

“There only has to be one manual meter read every year instead of every billing period,” said operations manager Glen Templeman. “We’ve set the 150 battery powered loggers to report once a day with 10-minute data, and alerts if they use more flow than they should.

Valmont Irrigation releases Valley Variable Rate Irrigation Valmont Irrigation has released Valley Variable Rate Irrigation (VRI) for centre pivots, the first line of controlintegrated variable rate irrigation controls in the industry. There are two different applications of VRI control to fit a grower’s operation: VRI Zone Control and VRI Speed Control.

“Valley VRI allows the grower to apply different amounts of water to different parts of the field in order to match the crop and soil needs.

This improves efficiency and lowers production costs, which can, in turn, increase a producer’s profits,” said Jake LaRue, Valmont Irrigation director of product and project support.

VRI Speed Control. Used with either the Pro2 or Select2 control panel, VRI Speed Control automatically speeds up or slows down the centre pivot in up to 180 different sectors around the field. The change in speed controls the depth of the irrigation application event. After May 1, 2011, VRI Speed Control will ship standard in new Pro2 and Select2 control panels; however,

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The SCADA traffic is reduced and it’s easier to keep on top. ” Water users in the region can log on and manage their data so they can monitor their own use.

From Latis, Nix has evolved into a flexible platform for data monitoring.

Currently configured to work with OmniLizard’s AquaLizard GSM Data Logger and the Aegis Data Cell RTX, Nix already supports all standard data protocols and provides detailed graphing, reporting and usage alert capability. Other hardware or data protocols can be configured. Weather data and other data on the web can be added very easily.

WaterNix is a joint venture between HydroPlan and Prohost. This software is available exclusively through HydroPlan, which offers options for customisation and monitoring.

Although the website has a high level of functionality for self-managed data storage and retrieval, there is always the possibility that someone will want more. WaterNix will manage Nix and Latis, and other customised water industry websites when they are developed.

Using Nix, water managers can effectively keep track of large volumes VRI SPEED CONTROL

existing Pro2 and Select2 control panels may still be updated to include VRI Speed Control.

VRI Zone Control. VRI Zone Control allows for maximum precision irrigation. With up to 30 different pivot zones along the centre pivot, sprinkler control valves located within each zone pulse on and off to adjust irrigation application depth within one management zone (or “block” of a sector) in the field.

Pivot zones can be independently changed as often as every two degrees, allowing for over 5,000 different management zones around the field.

Compatible with the Pro2 control panel, VRI Zone Control software is a separate package installed both into the panel and onto the centre pivot.

of data from disparate sources and, for less than a dollar a day, be promptly informed if there is a problem.

Burswood Park and Golf Course in Perth is an early adopter of Nix, which has provided a simple and cost-effective way for operators to check what is happening and tackle any issues.

A low pressure problem was solved by comparing the logged flow to the Site Pro flow manager. This found that one of the pumps in parallel was not contributing.

“That’s pretty hard to find,” said Andrew Gibson, HydroPlan’s irrigation/ hydraulic consultant to the Burswood Park Board. As pump and valve control are separate processes, flow logging is useful even if processes communicate with each other. “On another station, vandals climbed a fence and closed a valve you’d never expect”.

“The super checks the website first thing in the morning,” said Andrew.

“When flow was low one night, investigations quickly led to a fault on a satellite’s 24v output. Without the flow logs, brown grass would have been the earliest warning. ” For information visit website www. waternix.com.au for details, call 1300 776 467, email sales@waternix.com.au or contact any HydroPlan branch.

VRI ZONE CONTROL

Prescription the key The key element of Valley VRI is the prescription. This user-friendly computer program allows the operator to use existing field data, topography, soil, Veris® maps, yield maps, or other specific field maps to develop prescriptions, or “irrigation plans.”

Prescriptions tell VRI Speed Control and VRI Zone Control what to do. The VRI Speed Control prescription, which is uploaded to the control panel, tells the centre pivot when and where to speed up or slow down. Similarly, the VRI Zone Control prescription tells the sprinkler control valves along the centre pivot when and where to pulse on or off to adjust irrigation application depth.

For information go to website www. valmont.com

NEW PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Dalby wastewater recycling plant wins engineering award Western Downs Regional Council’s state-of-the-art wastewater recycling treatment plant won the 2010 Institute of Public Works Engineering Excellence Award for Water Projects up to $5 million.

The $2.35 million Class A+ water recycling plant was designed and built

by Water Infrastructure Group. The project was an augmentation to the existing Dalby wastewater treatment plant using existing infrastructure and a new micro-filtration plant.

Mayor Ray Brown said the calibre of finalists was exceptional, and to take out the award was evidence of the success of the Queensland state government working with Western Downs Regional Council and Dalby BioRefinery Ltd to deliver this important piece of infrastructure.

“Since it was commissioned the plant has already had a significant impact on the volume of the Dalby town water supply, producing one megalitre of high quality industrial grade water per day.

This translates into a 365 megalitresa-year saving of Dalby’s bulk water supply.

“The plant is the first of its kind in the region and has been designed to provide a dedicated recycled water supply to the Dalby Bio-Refinery,” Cr Brown said.

The judges commented that it was an innovative project that will provide long-term water security to the town and put it on the front foot in managing growth. They said that the recycling plant was a “well conceived and implemented project to provide an alternative recycled water supply

Western Downs Regional Council’s Director Engineering Services Graham Cook, Group Manager Utilities Max Henderson and Utilities Treatment Manager Terry Fagg to replace significant industry use of a limited potable water supply”.

During the recent floods at Dalby, the wastewater recycling plant was taken off line to protect the micro-filtration plant membranes from high turbidity caused by floodwater infiltration in the sewerage system. Once the infiltration stopped, the plant was up and running with Class A+ recycled water production back to normal within a few days.

BOOKSHELF

BOOKSHELF AUSTRALIA'S WATER MARKETS MOVING FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH In December the National Water Commission released a report showing that Australia's water market continued to grow during 2009-10.

National Water Commission Australian Water Markets Report

9–10 2009 200

The Australian Water Markets Report 2009-10 finds that the overall value of transactions for the year rose 7% from around $2.8 billion in 200809 to about $3 billion in 2009-10.

Entitlements trade rose 8% from 1800 GL the previous year to 1949 GL, and allocation trade also continued to grow significantly, rising by 16% from 2158 GL the previous year to 2495 GL. Since the commission's first water markets report in 2007-08, entitlement trade has grown 112% and allocation trade has grown 57%.

The report also found that although entitlement prices remained relatively steady compared with the previous year, allocation prices dropped significantly from a peak of $590 a ML to $70-$90 by the end of the year.

In 2009-10 the Australian Government bought 659 GL of water for the environment, 36% of total entitlement trade in the MurrayDarling Basin.

Major findings Trading summary. The overall value of the water market transactions for the year is about $3 billion, an

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increase of 8% on the estimated $2.8 billion in 2008-09, or an increase of 100% on the estimated $1.5 billion in 2007-08. Most trading activity was in the Murray-Darling Basin states. This growth reflects the increased volume of trade in both allocations and entitlements.

Trade activity in the water market has continued to grow, even though there was an improvement in water availability in 2009-10. The total volume of entitlement trade increased 8% from 1800 GL in 2008-09 to 1949 GL in 2009-10, which is a 112% increase since 2007-08. About 7% (by volume) of the total entitlements on issue in Australia were traded. There was also increased water allocation trade, up 16% from 2158 GL in 200809, to 2495 GL in 2009-10, which is a 57% increase since 2007-08. In 2009-10, there was a total of 29,672 trades, 7,386 for entitlement trades and 22,286 for allocation trades.

NSW and Victoria had the most active markets with approximately $1.8 billion and $861 million in turnover respectively. NSW accounted for 65% of total national entitlement trade, and Victoria accounted for 20%. NSW accounted for 45% of total national allocation trade, and Victoria accounted for 21%. Twenty per cent of national allocation trade was for interstate trades.

Improved water availability led to reductions in allocation trade prices over the course of the year. Allocation trade prices started the year at a peak of $590/ML and dropped to between $70/ML and $90/ML by the end of the year, at which time they were less than one-quarter of prices at the end of the previous two years. Reported entitlement prices remained relatively steady, with the average price for high reliability entitlements being $2100/ ML in 2009-10 compared to $2000/ ML in 2008-09.

Murray-Darling Basin. Most trading activity occurred in the Murray-Darling Basin: • 1818 GL of entitlement trade representing 93% of the Australian total and a 20% increase on 2008-09 • 2301 GL of water allocation trade, representing 92% of the Australian total and a 22% increase on 2007-08.

Other regions. Overall entitlement and allocation trading activity decreased in water systems outside the Murray-Darling Basin: • 131 GL of entitlement trade - 7% of the Australian total, a decrease of 54% on 2008-09 • 194 GL of allocation trade - 8% of the Australian total, a decrease of 29% on 2008-09.

Interstate trades. Interstate allocation trade continued the downstream trend established in previous years. NSW was a net exporter (275 GL exported in total).

Victoria exported 47 GL net to SA, but experienced a net increase in water due to imports from NSW. The volume traded out of NSW in 200910 decreased by 59% compared to 2008-09. Victoria's net exports to SA in 2009-10 were more than double those reported in 2008-09. SA imported 253 GL from interstate.

Australian Government water purchases. In 2009-10, the Australian Government continued to purchase entitlements through the Restoring the Balance in the Murray-Darling Basin Program. The Australian Government also registered entitlements resulting from the Sustainable Rural Water Use and Infrastructure Program, and registered gifted entitlements from Queensland. By 30 June 2010, the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder had total registered holdings of 724 GL. In 2009-10 the Australian Government registered purchases of 648 GL, registered 1 GL of entitlements resulting from the SRWUI Program, and registered 11 GL of gifted water from Queensland.

The Australian Government secured purchases for 415 GL in 2009-10. Some of these purchases have already been registered. Others are still to be settled.

The total Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder registered holdings at 30 June 2010 (724 GL) represents 5.4% of the types of tradeable entitlements on issue at 30 June 2010 that the Australian Government holds.

The volume of Australian Government purchases registered in 2009-10 was 36% of total registered entitlement trade in the Murray-Darling Basin.

ISO 2858 Standard

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For further details call... 131 PUMP... or your Local Dealer

Made for Australia

by Australians.

Philmac have been manufacturing valves in Australia for Australian conditions since 1929. Trust the experience.

Proven

• More than 3 million sold • Comprehensively lab tested • High flow design

Compact Reliable

• Industry leading 25 year warranty • Australian made for Australian conditions • Double o-ring and shouldered spindle for 1600 kPa pressure performance

AUSTRALIAN AUSTRALIAN MADE FOR CONDITIONS

• Compact size Compact size • Suitable for use above or below ground • Easy to use in confined spaces