Waterfind is delighted to have been part of the On-Farm Irrigation Efficiency Program and the benefits it has provided to irrigators, their communities and the environment.

In July 2018, the Commonwealth announced a new Murray-Darling Basin-wide water infrastructure program (the Program) funding water recovery across the Basin.

The Program will provide funding to undertake water efficiency infrastructure upgrades.

After being successful in previous similar funding programs, Waterfind is currently accepting expressions of interest from interested parties who have activities eligible for funding.

If you have a project and would like further information about the Program, please complete this non-binding expression of interest and return by 5:00pm Tuesday 18 September 2018.

Waterfind successfully bid for OFIEP funding totalling $46.8 million to support 24 on-farm projects involving:

• redesigning infrastructure to improve surface irrigation systems
• upgrades to bankless channels, flood layouts, drainage and reuse systems, and
• upgrades to spray irrigation and direct delivery irrigation.

To date, 78 percent of this funding has been delivered across the 24 projects. The completion of these projects is expected to save 31 GL with approximately 17.5 GL to be returned to the Commonwealth for environmental use.

Waterfind delivered $11.5 million across 19 projects in Round 3 of OFIEP. The projects included laser grading and irrigation infrastructure upgrades and/or design projects through New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia to support farmers.

A further $6.2 million was delivered across 20 projects in Round 4 of OFIEP. The projects undertaken in that round included:

• system redesign
• installation of moisture monitoring probes, and pipe and riser systems
• laser levelling to surface flood irrigation, and
• upgrades to surface and sub surface drop irrigation methods.

In total, the OFIEP projects managed by Waterfind are expected to save over 45 GL with approximately 27 GL of water being returned to the Commonwealth for environmental use.

Savings will be gained through activities including:

• laser grading which increase efficiencies in water use and reduces the instances of pooling and water wastage
• fitting variable speed pumps which reduces the power required per ML pumped
• installation of irrigation monitoring sensors resulting in water efficiencies
• upgrading drainage water recycling systems, and
• enclosing pipes and riser systems which reduce farm evaporation and seepage

The following is an individual irrigator’s story that highlights the success of OFIEP.

Dehne Vinnicombe, Dairy Farmer, Jarlkin, Victoria

Dehne’s project was approved under Round 3 of OFIEP through Waterfind’s sub-project: Laser grading and irrigation infrastructure upgrade and redesign.

Dehne and the contractors worked hard (including in very hot conditions) finishing all the landforming, completing the re-use system and installing new channels.

Benefits of Dehne’s project include:

• increased production and reduced irrigation (11.6ML/ha to 8.7ML/ha)
• water savings of 2.9ML/ha across all fields, and
• a re-use system that allows the capture and reuse of runoff

Dehne has returned 218ML of water to the Commonwealth for environmental use.

Dehne speaks highly of the program and recommends to others to participate in any similar programs that may be offered in the future.