(WA Region) in THIS ISSUE No Better Time to Be Waterwise Increasing

Quarterly Publication of Irrigation Australia (WA Region)

NO. 62 SPRING 2020

IN THIS ISSUE

No better time to be Waterwise Innovative Organic Biofiltration Media Increasing Water Security, Quality and Efficiency Readily Available Water explained Back to basics: Seasonal adjustment Future-proofing Western Australia’s south-west Report: Lawn is an excellent bushfire retardant Dairy Australia partners with Australian agriculture Installation Practices of Residential Irrigation Hartfield Park Managed Aquifer Recharge Controllers New water treatment plant for Bunbury Lifelong learning keyThe to Overflowbusiness growth - Spring 2020 1 Keep up-to-date with irrigation in Australia, visit the Contents IAL website at www.irrigationaustralia.com.au

No better time to be Waterwise 6 Increasing Water Security, Water Quality and Water Efficiency for the City of Perth and CBD 8 Back to basics: Seasonal adjustment 12 Mark Your Diary Dairy Australia partners with Australian agriculture to deliver smarter irrigation 14 November

Hartfield Park Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) – 2020 Season 4-6 Meter Installation & Validation (3x half-day virtual) Update 16 17 Certificate III in Irrigation Technology (Nov intake) New water treatment plant to meet future needs of Bunbury 18 17-19 Irrigation Pumps & Systems (3x half-day virtual) Innovative Organic Biofiltration Media 22 18-20, 23, 26 & 27 Readily Available Water explained 24 IRRICAD Design (6 x half-day virtual)

Designing a sustainable irrigation scheme to future-proof 3-4 Basics in Wiring & Electrical Troubleshooting (2x Western Australia’s south-west 26 half-day virtual) Report confirms: Lawn is an excellent bushfire retardant 30 Installation Practices of Residential Irrigation Controllers 34 For further information please visit: Lifelong learning key to business growth 36 www.irrigationaustralia.com.au/training/training New awareness campaign to inspire waterwise action at start of National Water Week 39

Cover: Langley Queens Gardens, see City of Perth article, page 8

National Contacts WA Contacts Bryan Ward - Chief Executive Officer [email protected] Rebecca New – IALWA Administration Geoff Harvey - National Training & Marketing Manager [email protected] Support (08) 9368 3136 Marike Froneman - Accountant (part time) [email protected] email: [email protected] Andres Jaramillo - Training and Certification Officer [email protected] Chris Delphin - Business Administration Manager [email protected] Ellen Slobe – IAL WA Projects Officer Kahla McKinless - Training & Certification Assistant [email protected] (08) 9368 3136 Mobile: 0458 291 643 Tracy Martin-National Membership & Regions Manager [email protected] email: [email protected]

Authorised sprinkler testing signs If you are testing a system outside of water rostering hours, as a gardening industry professional, you are not required to register for an exemption with the Water Corporation. However, to promote that you are doing authorized work and avoid a possible infringement, you might like to have a sign clearly displayed at the front of the property. These signs are available from the IAL (WA).

Now available in: Corflute ($20) special reduced price and Magnetic ($75) GST Exclusive. All signs approximately 400mm x 300mm. To download the order form please click here.

2 The Overflow - Spring 2020 Chairman's From the CEO Report Bryan Ward Clinton Hort

Welcome to this Overflow edition. Life is never dull in the irrigation industry and 2020 is proving to be a year that we will not At the recent IALWA Annual Regional Meeting, we could reflect forget for some time. Starting with bushfires and severe drought and acknowledge the time and dedication offered by the across the country, then a coronavirus that has impacted our volunteers on the WA Regional Committee and various sub- health and economy and now the Bureau of Meteorology has committees. They really are the lifeblood and strength of the declared a La Niña phase which typically results in increased industry. rain for eastern and northern Australia. Whilst the rain is most welcome, severe floods and increased risk of cyclones are not. I would like to offer heartfelt thanks to the Regional Committee Our primary producers are hardy folk and have become very and sub committees for their generous contribution over the adept at coping with extreme weather, but we hope they get a last 12 months. We are a volunteer organisation in WA, and our decent period of stability in the months to come. committee members work tirelessly for the benefit of the industry that generally goes unrewarded. COVID-19 resulted in the postponement of our conference from September 2020 to July 2021 however consideration is To put up their hand and offer their time selflessly to volunteer being given to a further postponement to ensure that this event for the Irrigation Australia committee shows their commitment can proceed in a safe manner and we are able to maximise to the industry. We welcome and appreciate their support. It the number of international visitors that can attend. An can be challenging to leave personal objectives behind, but announcement regarding this can be expected soon. the work they do benefits the industry greatly, their knowledge and insight into how it all comes together is invaluable and Our training team have adapted well to delivering training gives the industry some balance. This is where our strength is in the virtual online world and the range of our courses has built from. expanded since the coronavirus restricted face-to-face training. We have been fortunate that WA has been one of a In particular, we acknowledge the support of Shaye Holmes very few places that we have been able to continue to deliver and Les Oliveri who are leaving the committee this year. a mix of classroom and virtual online delivery. New courses Shaye assisted on the Overflow Sub-Committee over the last added include a Storage Meter Installation and Validation couple of years during its transition into a “virtual” magazine. Certification, commercial and urban design, electrofusion and This move is really driving value for our advertisers, and article of course the new Certificate III Irrigation Technician which is a content continues to have the best information available. Les recognised trade qualification. is moving on after serving on the IALWA committee for close to 30 years, as WA Treasurer for the past 15 years and the national Irrigation Australia have had an office at the Department Board for 6 years. We wish Les all the best in retirement. of Primary Industries and Regional Development offices in South Perth for 15 years and we have greatly appreciated the We now welcome several incoming committee members, and support received from the Department. Due to some issues will publicise assigned roles in the next Overflow edition when relating to this office building our staff were working from home they are assigned. for some months. Irrigation Australia has now taken a lease on a premise at: First Floor, Unit 2, 26 Hammond Road, Cockburn Also, without the support of important partners, we could not Central 6164 (our new mailing address is PO Box 3401 Success, achieve the outcomes that we do for the Western Australian 6964). We are very pleased that the WA team of Tracy, Ellen and Irrigation Industry. We are very privileged to have the support Rebecca are now able to work from the same office and we of several agencies, including the Department of Water & extend a welcome to Irrigation Australia members to pop in Environmental Regulation, Water Corporation and Department and meet the team! of Primary Industries and Regional Development. We value the relationship that we have developed over the many years. The Bryan Ward outcomes we have achieved together ensures the Irrigation Chief Executive Officer Industry in Western Australia remains relevant and sought after for advice. The Overflow is the quarterly publication of Irrigation Australia (WA Region). Articles published are views expressed by the authors. IAL(WA) is not Enjoy the rest of the issue. responsible for their accuracy and disclaims any liability which may arise from any person acting on the materials contained within. Editorial content does not Clinton Hort necessarily represent the views or policy of Irrigation Australia (WA Region) IAL (WA) Industry Chairman Publisher/Editor: IAL WA REGION, PO Box 61, Victoria Park, WA 6979 Tel (08) 9368 3136

The Overflow - Spring 2020 3 Regional Update

Tracy Martin - National Membership & Regions Manager and Ellen Slobe - WA Projects Officer

Dear Members, Industry Colleagues and Interested Parties,

Welcome to yet another Spring edition of the Overflow magazine.

Western Australia is fortunate enough to be in a position with the Covid pandemic to host events with no number restrictions, and subsequently the member event which was scheduled for March and got deferred, was back on the calendar for August 20th.

71 members embraced the cold morning air at Ozone Reserve, East Perth to learn about the City of Perth’s irrigation network, recent projects for water security, water quality and water efficiency presented by Blake Humble. Elliotts Irrigation (Mark Pipes) presented on the supply and installation of the groundwater filtration system (40LPS) The WA Committee co-hosted a Alannah MacTiernan addressing the and Aquamonix (Don May) presented half day field event with DPIRD, audience followed by a light dinner on the supply of the Rainman irrigation DWER, Vegetables WA and Perth over a networking session. Due to central control system. (Read more NRM targeting the Carabooda – the success of this event, Irrigation about this on pg 8) North Wanneroo area. This event Australia will continue to investigate showcased the outcomes from the 22 opportunities to deliver similar in 2021. on-farm assessments that Irrigation Australia was contracted to undertake on behalf of DPIRD in late 2019, as well as showcasing water efficiency use in view the landholders/owners will have their water allocation reduced by 10% in the future. Soil moisture, irrigation pumps, drip line and controller/sprinkler manufacturers were invited to exhibit their latest water efficient technologies as part of the field day activities. Participants were split into groups and whilst the inside presentations took place, the other group ventured outside to undertake various field demonstrations covering components such as; dye testing of drip irrigation, DU testing and the all-important soil water discussion. The event concluded with the Minister for Agriculture the Hon

4 The Overflow - Spring 2020 The Regional Committee meets on matter of days of promotion. If you are the 3rd Tuesday of every month and interested in membership with the peak incorporates the Core Executive, industry Association, please visit this along with the Chairs of the respective link to view the membership categories sub committees. This provides an and suite of services included available opportunity for all works that have been https://www.irrigationaustralia.com.au/ carried out to be reported on, actions to membership-information/membership- be identified and forthcoming decisions categories to be discussed and determined. Waterwise The Committees are: With Spring well underway, the • Core Executive Waterwise members are busy in the • Members Interests/ Technical Sub peak irrigation season. As reported in Committee the last edition of Overflow, Irrigation • Waterwise Sub Committee Australia released the “Guide to a Water • Overflow Sub Committee Efficient Garden” document on 1st • Training Sub Committee September and continues to promote • Rural Sub Committee this online through various social media channels. Members and industry are I would like to take this opportunity encouraged to distribute this to the to thank the many volunteers who community at every opportunity. participate in these various sub committees - these volunteers provide At the time of writing, preparations guidance on regional activities that not are in place to hold the rescheduled only align with stakeholder provision for Bunbury Waterwise industry launch services agreements, but also the WA on 28th October, with support from Strategic Plan. Without their support, Aqwest. We look forward to engaging the region would not achieve the KPI’s with the industry in Bunbury and have that it does. I would also like to publicly the support of several suppliers who acknowledge two volunteers who are will be coming along to demonstrate standing down this year, Les Olivieri their products. There is a renewed The Annual Regional WA Meeting was who has recently retired from the focus on introducing the waterwise held on 20th October at South Perth industry after 30+ years working with programs to the South West region Bowling Club. Nominations have been HR Products – Les has also been the – any industry members who are called for the 2020/21 year and 18 Treasurer for the WA Region for 15 years interested to obtain information on nominations have been received. All and Shaye Holmes (formerly Rainbird how Waterwise endorsement might nominees have been accepted and WA Rep) who has served as Chair on assist their business are encouraged to will meet in November to determine the Overflow Sub Committee since 2017. contact WA staff. their voluntary position on a respective committee. Irrigation Australia (WA Region) hosts The WA office of Irrigation Australia a variety of events showcasing, public has been based in the Dept of Primary open space, commercial sites of Industries & Regional Development interest in the Perth region as well as for the past 15 years and whilst these agricultural sites in various locations. premises have served us well, recent Sites are chosen on accessibility, environmental issues with a 60 year availability and irrigation specifics, old building has seen the relocation of however collaboration with stakeholders Departmental staff and tenants. also provides opportunities to showcase the irrigation industry. Some events The WA Region has therefore reviewed are open to the wider irrigation industry, its options and it was agreed by the whilst some are exclusive to members National Board that we were to relocate only. Member events are extremely to new office accommodation which popular and provide knowledge transfer is based in Cockburn Central. So, to attendees, the opportunity to enquire we recently moved and commenced and ask “why did you do it this way?” operations as of 24th September. they also provide the opportunity to Please take note of new address: network and meet industry colleagues as well see products in-situ. These 1st Floor, U2, 26 Hammond Rd, events are promoted out to our Cockburn Central WA 6164 | PO members by email invitation and are Box 3401, Success WA 6964 generally fully subscribed within a PH: 0407 701 513 No better time to be Waterwise According to the Bureau of The current two-year action plan is “Some of the items we need to push Meteorology, this winter was Perth's the beginning of a 10-year journey. ahead with are increasing participation equal warmest and fourth driest on The focus of the first 12 months of the in the Waterwise Golf Course Program record. This year Perth’s year-to- Plan has been the start of a long-term to reach another 22 golf courses,” Mr end winter rainfall was 27.6 per cent education and engagement program Seares said. below the long-term average – a stark for a waterwise Perth, with the irrigation reminder of the impacts of climate industry an important stakeholder group The Waterwise Golf Course Program change and need for Perth to be participating in the program. aims to engage WA golf courses in a waterwise. concerted effort to increase irrigation DWER Executive Director Strategy efficiency and sustainable use of A key to our waterwise future is and Engagement Patrick Seares said water helping to provide security for ensuring irrigators, both old and new, workshops, ongoing meetings with the golfing industry. understand how to use water efficiently local government and industry, as and that they adopt waterwise practices well as presentations to partners and “Currently there are 11 golf courses in their daily work. The Department stakeholders, was a critical element of undertaking accreditation within the works proactively with Irrigation the Plan’s success. program, with a further 10 registered to Australia to assist irrigators in achieving commence accreditation. this. “Each of the eight partner agencies involved in the Waterwise Perth Action “Waterwise programs in other sectors Seven of the 38 actions from the Plan contribute to, and benefit from the have achieved substantial water Waterwise Perth Action Plan (Plan) Plan’s outcomes,” he said. savings in irrigated spaces, and golf is launched by Minister for Water Dave one that can help make a difference. Kelly MLA in 2019, incorporate “Having these agencies – whether it is irrigation elements in urban areas. the Department of Communities, Water “Golf courses are considered a Corporation or local government – work substantial water user and due to In playing its role to deliver the with us hand-in-hand to deliver the their high profile water use, they can Plan, the Department of Water and outcomes has been crucial to broader be a leader in promoting efficient and Environmental Regulation (DWER) is community ownership of the Plan.” effective water management, as well working with stakeholders to establish as provide tree canopy and green a shared perspective and responsibility These outcomes include recreation areas for recreation, biodiversity and to to conserve valuable water resources, opportunities, connectivity, culture help keep urban areas cool.” with clear actions to ensure Perth and community, better long-term becomes a leading waterwise city by planning, climate change resilience and While the Waterwise Councils program 2030. adaptation and liveability. continues to be embraced with all 32

6 The Overflow - Spring 2020 greater metropolitan local governments “People are actively requesting clear government, the irrigation sector, now participating, the Waterwise Perth information and guidance on what traditional owners, the community and Action Plan has a target for 100 per actions they can take. the urban development industry,” he cent of councils as certified Gold by said. 2030. “Seeing evidence of others in the community adopting waterwise The Waterwise Perth Action Plan was “A continuing culture of improved behaviours will build the change we developed following engagement irrigation practices is driven through need.” and collaboration from over 50 this program,” Mr Seares said. organisations and more than 200 Mr Seares said transitioning to a individuals. To read the Plan and learn “Right now we have 22 Gold, seven leading waterwise city means changing how you can be waterwise visit https:// endorsed and three working toward the way we manage water in our urban www.dwer.wa.gov.au/waterwise. endorsement. landscape between now and 2030. For inquiries or feedback, please “The Waterwise Greening Scheme “This change can only be delivered contact [email protected]. provides the opportunity for Waterwise by the joint efforts of State and local Councils to receive up to $10,000 of co-funding each year to support waterwise greening initiatives.

“Greening with waterwise plants and trees can help with local water quality, improving community health and wellbeing, increasing biodiversity, improving local amenity and cooling local communities.

“We will continue to work with the Water Corporation to enhance this program and support local governments in their continuous improvement across the water cycle and adoption of waterwise principles.

“We are also working with local government and developers to determine feasibility of alternative water supplies for public open space in areas without groundwater available including the north east corridor.

“Assisting schools, universities and other institutions to reduce groundwater use through a new Waterwise Grounds Program is also on the agenda.”

“We recognise the fantastic existing programs and resources,” Waterwise Cities Program Manager Winsome MacLaurin said.

“Our goal is to adopt an approach that brings so much of the excellent work already out there together.

“Early research is telling us that the public is both willing to know what the issues are and what they can do about them.

The Overflow - Spring 2020 7 Increasing Water Security, Water Quality and Water Efficiency for the City of Perth and CBD

By the City of Perth

The City of Perth’s Parks and of a secondary Leederville aquifer 3AA producing 45 litres per second Environment team is responsible for groundwater bore. at 45 meters of head. The bore and the care and maintenance of 120 pumping system was commissioned in hectares of greenspace including The construction of the Ozone Reserve October 2019. heritage parks and gardens, foreshore Leederville Aquifer bore commenced in reserves, pockets parks and other May 2019. The bore was drilled using Fortuitously, two weeks after greenspaces. Of these 120 hectares, a rotary mud method to a total depth of commissioning, the City of Perth’s 106 hectares are irrigated during 360 meters. 54 meters of 520mm O.D Langley Park bore failed due to water the summer months, with more than steel surface casing was installed with ingress into the pump motor via the 104 separate irrigation systems in 100 meters of 393mm O.D FRP and 191 pump cable. As a result, the pump had operation. meters of 278mm O.D FRP to case the to be pulled and the motor replaced. bore hole. 69 meters of 218mm O.D During this down time the Ozone Groundwater is drawn from both the stainless steel screen was installed with Reserve bore was put to duty and superficial aquifer (West Perth) and the a 0.5mm aperture. Bore development supplied over 30,000kL to keep the deeper Leederville aquifer (Langley was completed via airlifting and jetting City’s CBD green spaces irrigated. Park and Ozone Reserve). across 48 hours and test pumping was undertaken for 24 hours. Groundwater is pumped directly With more than 60 hectares of CBD through a groundwater filtration greenspace reliant on one water The static water level being 5.0 meters, system, located within Ozone Reserve, source, the City of Perth has recently and at 80 litres per second, drawdown to remove dissolved iron and is then commenced a range of water security was 11.96 meters. Groundwater stored in Lake Vasto for irrigation initiatives, including an alternative quality is 1.84 mS/m (electrical purposes. In 2017, the City of Perth water supply strategy, main drain conductivity) with a pH of 6.3 at 17.2 released a tender for the replacement research and monitoring program degrees Celsius. The final pump of its Ozone Reserve groundwater and the drilling and commissioning selection was a Grundfos SP 160- chemical treatment system. The

8 The Overflow - Spring 2020 tender specifications called for the supply, installation and commissioning of a non-chemical groundwater filtration system capable of filtering groundwater at a flow of 38LPS with an iron content of 20PPM, ensuring that the maximum residual level of iron in the water delivered into Lake Vasto had an iron content of less than 0.3PPM.

A 6 x 60-inch modular tank system was engineered with independent remote control and monitoring capabilities allowing the ability to monitor flowrates through each unit. The lake level is also monitored allowing a comprehensive 24-hour, 7-day a week overview of Stirling Gardens system operation and performance. Aeration pumps oxidate the soluble The heart of the filtration system Computer graphing and trending is iron in the bore water, turning it into is the filter controls which operate carried out over each module, along a solid. The media in the filtration through a SCADA system, featuring a with metering and total water usage modules then capture this. This touchscreen interface. This enables allowing the City to compare trends and process continues for 15 hours of bore- the team to monitor and adjust lake fill usage over the future months and years pump run time before the system will levels, received emailed fault alerts, of operation. The system was also automatically backwash to rid itself of and even reset the pumps should it designed to have zero water wastage. the captured iron. A rinse cycle then fault for any reason. flushes the modules collectively for 3 minutes before returning the system The groundwater filtration system came to service. During backwash and online in early February 2018 with rinse cycles, all water is returned to current water quality data showing the Lake Vasto via a concrete backwash iron content to be 0.0PPM. tank which is compartmentalised to allow the dissolved iron to drop out as Maintenance challenges mainly consist it flows through the backwash tank. of iron fouling on the inlet side of the The lifespan of the filtration media is filter manifolds, the aeration pump expected to be over 30 years before impellers, as well as the submersible need to be replaced. pump fouling up over time. The Wellington Gardens

Langley Queens Gardens The project included the replacement does not exceed its allocation/budgeted you can’t beat of 104 existing irrigation controllers, amount. The irrigation central control installation of 77 RainMAN RTUs, uses the ET data to determine station RainWAN Wireless Nodes, 24VAC and runtime length to replenish soil moisture Decoder Systems, city-wide cellular levels. 20 soil moisture sensors communications, 2 x Solid State are also used to monitor irrigation Ozone Reserve Pump Station Flow Meter Weather Stations, 20 x soil moisture effectiveness and inform irrigation sensors and local and remote water management decisions during rainfall meters. The project was rolled out events. The irrigation central control The Original smoothly with a seamless “hot swapout” also provides real time data on water of the system where the contractors; use and pump system faults. Total Eden Watering Systems, the Philmac compression fitting range is made in decommissioned old controllers and Utilising the irrigation central control recommissioned new units on the same for the 2019/20 irrigation season, Australia for Australian conditions day to avoid downtime. Wireless Nodes the City has seen a massive saving were installed in various locations, in groundwater use, with a total which each connect to the nearest of 200,129 kilolitres (kL) saved. RTU. To resolve challenges caused by Specifically, use of the Leederville buildings disrupting communications, Aquifer Bores located in the CBD have 4G modems were installed to ensure also seen a saving of 107,227kL. coverage, using a closed encrypted data network. Electrical costs associated with the NEW operation of pumping infrastructure For the upcoming 2020 irrigation have decreased. In major parks season, 68 of the 77 RTUs will have such as Langley Park and Ozone the irrigation schedules informed by ET Reserve, the City has seen more than data. In the front-end, water budgets $2000 saved thanks to the irrigation are calculated for each park based on central control. Additionally, there are historical evaporation rates and the efficiencies in staff time and vehicle City’s groundwater allocations. Each transport costs associated with Ozone Groundwater Filtration System month the maximum allowable ET physically travelling to each irrigation Easy Lok replacement (mm) per irrigation event is controller to turn off the controller entered into the irrigation central control during rainfall events which is now expected maintenance cost of the to ensure the City’s groundwater usage achieved by a few clicks of a mouse. new non-chemical groundwater Joins large bore metric filtration system is estimated to be $15,000.00 per annum, compared with pipe fast and reliably a maintenance budget of $131,164.00 per annum for the previous chemical every time. treatment system.

Due to the reduced maintenance cost, it is estimated that the capital replacement cost of $545,890.00 will be recouped in savings within the next 5 years. The useful life of the filtration system is expected to exceed 15 years. Therefore, the net cost savings over a 15-year useful life period are approximately $1,000,000.00

During 2019, the City of Perth commissioned a city-wide irrigation central control management system. The RainMAN system controls 104 irrigation systems, with 77 main controllers (RTUs) controlling groundwater, storm water and scheme water fed irrigation systems. Ozone Groundwater Filtration System

PHI0817 09/20

10 The Overflow - Spring 2020 you can’t beat The Original the Philmac compression fitting range is made in Australia for Australian conditions

NEW

Easy Lok Joins large bore metric pipe fast and reliably every time.

PHI0817 09/20 Back to basics: Seasonal adjustment

Recent customer research has shown minute to explain seasonal adjustment You can share this with your that many people over-water their to customers, and even helping set up customers, and encourage them to gardens by failing to allow for seasonal seasonal adjustment on their irrigation learn more at watercorporation.com.au/ adjustments. controllers, we can achieve big water sprinklers savings while providing excellent We all want to care for our gardens as customer service. *The Winter Sprinkler Switch Off best we can, however, as the seasons applies to scheme and bore water change, so too do the watering needs The table below shows the adjustments users in Perth, Mandurah and parts of of lawns and gardens. that should be made (in Perth and the the South West and Great Southern South West) to irrigation controllers’ regions between 1 June and 31 August This represents an important “seasonal adjustment” setting to avoid each year. educational opportunity for irrigators over-watering. and irrigation design stores. By taking a

Time of year Seasonal adjustment January–February 100% March 80% April 60% May Use manually, as necessary June–August System turned off* September Use manually, as necessary October 60% November 80% December 90%

12 The Overflow - Spring 2020 By Neil Lantzke FROM ANYWHER CC2 E W S A ITH ES C CC EL A L

ADD CELLULAR TO YOUR ACC2 MANAGEMENT OPTIONS Gain more freedom and flexibility to manage your ACC2 irrigation controller on the go with the new A2C-CELL-E module. A2C-CELL-E enables powerful Centralus™ central control capabilities from your cellular device to maximise water savings and receive instant alarms and flow histories. That's the power of innovation.

RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL IRRIGATION | Built on Innovation® Learn more. Visit hunter.direct/acc2

National Free Call: 1 800 HUNTER Tel: 1 300 856 368 Suite 7, 202 Ferntree Gully Road, Notting Hill, Toll Free Fax: 1 800 651 680 Fax: 1 300 856 369 Melbourne, Victoria, 3168, Australia www.hrproducts.com.au www.nelsonirrigation.com.au Tel: 61 3 9562 9918 [email protected] [email protected] Fax: 61 3 9558 6983 Dairy Australia partners with Australian agriculture to deliver smarter irrigation

Dairy Australia is partnering with the importance of the project for Australian for dairy farmers to reduce costs by cotton, sugar, grain and rice industries agriculture. producing more feed from the same in a project to deliver the benefits of amount of water or less through better new efficient water use technologies to “SIP2 is one of Australian agriculture’s timing and scheduling of irrigation. Australian farmers. major collaborative investments – it will be a game changer for many dairy “The technologies we are trialling Over half of dairy farmers nationally farmers who rely on irrigation. Efficient through our investment in SIP2 can use irrigation with some farms in certain water use is vital to sustain dairy really help farmers maximise the regions relying totally on irrigated farming in one of the most variable potential of their irrigation by providing water. Smarter ways of irrigating can climates on earth,” said Dr. Nation. real-time data for timely irrigation provide big efficiency benefits and this decisions. Put simply, data-driven partnership project aims to increase SIP2 is supported by the Australian decisions can reduce input costs average farmer profits by $20,000- Government Department of Agriculture, associated with power, water and $40,000 annually. Water and the Environment as part labour, whilst optimising the amount of its Rural R&D for Profit program. of dry matter yield produced. But As part of its contribution to the Dairy Australia is investing $1.7 million applying the water at the right time at Smarter Irrigation for Profit phase II in the project, part of an overall dairy the commencement of the season, project (SIP2), the dairy industry has investment worth $7.7 million made and after rainfall, is the foundational established 17 research and co- possible by the support of Agriculture principle that establishes how efficient learning ‘optimisation sites in dairy Victoria, the Tasmanian Institute of an irrigator can be throughout the rest regions of Western Australia, South Agriculture and University of Southern of the season. Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and New Queensland. The total investment by South Wales. Dairy Australia is helping all partners in the broader cross-sector “The SIP2 optimisation sites involve to manage many of these sites. SIP2 project is $22 million, maximising local farms and the project aims the combined funding of levy paying to increase the number of farmers Dairy Australia Managing Director, farmers. adopting technologies, data and David Nation, said that the practices that improve water collaboration of five Rural Research Group Manager of Farm Profit and productivity and irrigation performance. and Development Corporations, five Capability, Peter Johnson, said Dairy This knowledge can then be made universities and four governmental Australia’s participation in the project’s available to farmers across the organisations underlined the first phase had shown big opportunities country,” Mr Johnson said.

14 The Overflow - Spring 2020 site and this will continue through the irrigation measurement period to the FACT BOX autumn break Dardanup, WA Irrigation Optimisation This led to the decision to start-up the site Western Dairy centre pivot on 26th September as soil moisture was in steady decline since Background mid-September as evapotranspiration (ETo) increased. • 220ha farm, 220ha milking platform, 100ha irrigation The irrigation has pushed soil moisture • Milking herd: 430 Friesian/Jersey back into readily available water (RAW) cross cows where Michael will attempt to maintain • Optimisation site 5ha: early it across the season. SWAN systems germination biannual ryegrass/ forecasts are used to predict rainfall oats/ white and sub clover/chicory and ETo. Pasture growth rates will be monitored, and water and power use Water Supply efficiencies will be calculated at the end of the season. • Water Entitlement: 0.5GL pumped by bore from the Leederville Maximising yield potential: Key Aquifer into a farm dam that also questions to be investigated at receives surface run-off Peninsula Downs • 3 x 75kW pumps, pontoon mounted on the dam. • Can a green drought scenario be • Combined pumps supply 200L/ avoided by commencing irrigation sec allowing three centre pivots to earlier in the season (mid-spring) to operate simultaneously Michael Twomey, Peninsula extend the biennial ryegrass? Downs Optimisation site irrigation system The Twomey farm is one of several • Will the adoption of using an within Peninsula Downs dairy operations irrigation strategy based on • Centre Pivot: 12ha, 4-span, 3600. in WA’s South-West, managed by depleting and refilling within in the Optimisation site irrigation system Michael. The farm uses irrigation readily available water (RAW) zone • Capability to segment irrigation strategically on two areas of the farm: throughout the dry season increase via wheel speed manipulation dry matter production in year two • Pre-project Irrigation scheduling • 55ha managed as an early and three of the project? decisions germination grazed ryegrass (April • The pivot at the optimisation – mid-December); and • Is the current pivot irrigation site currently set to deliver 30L/ system operating efficiently second. 8mm is applied every • 45ha millet/chicory/clover managed according to specification and second day over a 10hr off-peak for summer grazing. therefore is there potential to power window. maximise production uniformly Michael believes his summer pasture across the site? Technologies being trialled production can be improved by considering the variable factors that • If the system takes advantage of off- Three 40cm probes have been may be impacting upon maximising peak power rates by increasing the installed at the inner, middle and yield including soil type, selection of application volume but decreasing outer ring of the centre pivot at the plant species, getting the right star irrigation frequency can soil moisture optimisation site. Multi soil moisture start-up time for irrigation and ongoing be maintained within RAW? monitors will provide improved insight irrigation scheduling. into the true uniformity and rate of Smarter Irrigation for Profit Phase application of the centre pivot system “I am really keen to schedule irrigation II is supported by funding from the over time. Probe sensor readings events based on soil moisture Australian Government department of are taken at 10, 20, 30 and 40cm monitoring and then measuring dry Agriculture, water and the Environment increments every hour and this data matter responses,” Mr Twomey said. as part of it Rural R & D for Profit can be accessed via a smartphone. program,and Dairy Australia. IrriPasture and Pasture.io have “I think that SIP2 has a lot of potential been adopted as decision support benefits for my farming system.” For more information visit www. tools. Pasture yield measurements dairyaustralia.com.au or contact Site are taken using a rising plate meter Michael has been closely monitoring Coordinator Peter Hutton: huttop02@ before and after grazing. the soil moisture at the optimisation gmail.com Hartfield Park Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) 2020 Season Update

By City of Kalamunda

The Project has seen two significate changes prior to the 2020 harvesting season. The Woodlupine main drain extraction set up has had a major overhaul and the City of Kalamunda in conjunction with Project Engineering WA Pty Ltd (ProEng) has successfully trialled a new Double Acting Valve capable of both storm-water injection and extraction. Upgrades to the drain extraction setup included a new extraction pump mounted at the surface, model number (CRNE 64-2-1 N-F-A-E-HQQE 50 Hz) and the installation of a Rotorfulsh RF600 Self-cleaning Intake Strainer. Cross section of the upgraded extraction setup Woodlupine main drain Forrestfield

The Grundfos CRIE64-2-1 18.5Kw Multistage pump with integral VFD was selected in order achieve the hydraulic pumping requirements of the site. The Rotorflush RF600 Self-cleaning Intake Strainer was trialled with the objective of reducing pump servicing Rotorfulsh RF600 and suction screen blockage. The strainer has been selected to Submersible camera inspection mid-season The extraction pump was upgraded accommodate a full scheme system to facilitate an increase in harvesting capable of 90m3 P/hour. New Injection Valve Trial yield from the existing 6L/sec to a The previous setup required cleaning Borehole injection valves are used to maximum 18L/sec, this rate will also and maintenance after approximately control the flow of water being injected accommodate for future expansion. The 10,000kL of harvested stormwater. The into a borehole for the purpose of pump has also been relocated from the new system has successfully harvested recharging a subterranean aquifer. subsurface wet-well to the surface in close to 50,000kL of storm-water ProEng has developed a new Double order to simplify servicing requirements. without any maintenance intervention Acting Valve that performs both The pumping hydraulic characteristics required. This was objectively injection & extraction of water, in a were calculated as follows: pump flow confirmed using a submersible camera single construction. The double acting rate to be 20.5 L/sec (73.8m3/hr) @ (image below) to inspect performance valve comprises a 316 stainless steel 52m TDH, in order to deliver a flow of and monitor debris build up in the wet outer casing and a 316 stainless steel 18 L/sec to the MAR plant plus 2.5 L/ well. This inspection was undertaken at inner piston. The inner piston moves for the Rotorfulsh RF600 Self-cleaning approximately the half-way point of the within the outer casing to open and Intake Strainer. winter harvesting season. close a number of ports on the outer

16 The Overflow - Spring 2020 New ProEng Double Acting Valve Removal of existing ProEng injection only valve casing to allow water to pass through. solenoid valve on each control line will connection) and the second capable The materials of construction have open. For instance, when opening the of being connected to an extraction been chosen to minimize corrosion and valve, the solenoid connected to the pump discharge (bottom connection). enhance the durability of the valve. high-pressure feed on control line one The piston in the valve is hollow, which will open, whilst the solenoid opens provides the ability to not only reinject The piston is actuated using existing to atmosphere on control line two will water, but also extract water. When the hydraulic pressure from the headworks. open. To close the valve the solenoid valve is placed in extraction mode, the As such the same water that is being valve open to atmosphere on control piston is moved into the fully closed injected into the bore is used to open line one will open, and the solenoid position. The pump connected to the and close the valve. In the event that connected to the high-pressure feed bottom will be started and water is sent one of the seals in the valve starts on control line two will open. The through the hollow inner of the valve leaking, the only fluid that will leak is the control system is designed to open and and up the rising main. A non-return same water being injected. close the necessary solenoid valves to valve is installed on the pump discharge Two control lines run from the gradually open and close the injection such that when the valve is in injection headworks to the valve. One line is valve to control flow. mode water does not flow through the used to open the valve and the second pump. If the valve is used for reinjection is used to close the valve. The control system automatically only, the bottom connection is plugged. calculates the period that each solenoid This arrangement allows for exact valve will be open using the existing This set up retrofits to the existing PLC, positioning of the piston relative to the PLC, to allow the piston to move either with water flow, total flow, pressure, outer casing. The two control lines are a small amount or a larger amount, temperature, time and water level in connected to four solenoid valves on depending on the difference between the injection bore logged and recorded the headworks, two solenoid valves per the current flowrate and the flowrate every 60 seconds. control line. One of the two solenoid setpoint. valves is connected the high-pressure The new Double Acting Valve has been feed from the headworks and the The double acting valve has two successfully trialled at the Hartfield second solenoid valve is open to process connections, with one Park MAR site during the 2020 winter atmosphere. To move the piston, one connected to a rising main (top harvesting season, with no maintenance intervention required during the trial.

The fundamental reason for trialling this valve is to have the option of using the new decided injection bore as an extraction bore in summer. This provides must needed risk mitigation and redundancy to the system in the event an existing bore fails during the irrigation season.

The new valve also provides the added advantage of reducing operating cost, previously contracted services and specialist equipment such as a crane, was required to remove the injection valve to install a submersible pump in order to convert from injection to Testing the Control lines extraction.

The Overflow - Spring 2020 17 From left: Aqwest Board Chair Stan Liaros, Water Minister Dave Kelly, Aqwest Chief Executive Officer Gary Hallsworth and Bunbury MLA Don Punch.

Article by the City of Albany

New water treatment plant to meet future needs of Bunbury

Aqwest’s new $15 million water The new water treatment plant forms The new operations will extract water treatment plant, which will meet the part of Aqwest’s Urban Water Supply from a high quality, sustainable inland future water supply needs of Greater Strategy to relocate production away groundwater source, creating greater Bunbury, was opened by Water from the sensitive seawater/freshwater water production cost efficiencies and Minister Dave Kelly in September. interface between the Yarragadee delivering benefits to customers. Aquifer and the Indian Ocean. The Ngoora Moolinap water treatment Aqwest worked in collaboration plant (Glen Iris) secures a sustainable Water for the Bunbury area is currently with local Aboriginal Elders on the water supply for Aqwest’s 35,000 drawn from several bores along the new name which reflects the customers and will be capable of coast where, due to the impacts of Aboriginal history of and connection to producing 12 megalitres of drinking climate change, the risk of increasing the land. water per day. salinity levels threatens water quality.

18 The Overflow - Spring 2020 Above: Gloria Dann, Melba Wallam, Phyllis Bennell, Sharon Cooke and Brett Hill.

Ngoora Moolinap will be open for community and school tours so people can learn about where their water comes from, the water treatment and distribution process and the history of the land.

Fast Facts “Construction of this new water “We are delighted that local • 12 megalitres of water would fill treatment plant is Aqwest’s largest Aboriginal Elders have been so five Olympic swimming pools! capital works project of the last decade involved with this project, which • The Yarragadee Aquifer was and is integral to our long term planning started with the naming of the plant formed during the Jurassic to secure a sustainable, high quality and will continue with the landscaping Period and in some areas the water supply for the Greater Bunbury and murals to tell and preserve the age of the groundwater is more region into the future.” said Aqwest story of the land and its people.” than 30,000 years. Chief Executive Officer Gary Hallsworth.

Make your projects fl ow with appFLO valves Whether it’s an Engineering, Plumbing, Irrigation, Fire Protection or Mining project, we stock a full range of valves & fi ttings to suit. Ball, Gate, Globe, Butterfl y, Check Valves, SUPERIOR APPLICATION FLOW Strainers & more... We’ve got you covered. GAS GENERAL PURPOSE DZR

WAFER CHECK VALVES BUTTERFLY VALVES

SYDNEY BRISBANE MELBOURNE ADELAIDE PERTH RESILIENT SEAT TOWNSVILLE GATE VALVES ‘Y’ STRAINER CAMLOCK aapindustries.com.au other options “Kep Kwoba” meaning “fresh water” and “Gabi Boorawa” which means “water hole”.

Armed with the “Moullinup” name and her three options for the remainder of the name, she visited 17 local Elders who chose the name they thought best reflected the new plant.

“They were all excited and impressed that the area had an Aboriginal place name “Moullinup” that was already there and about celebrating the connection back to the country through the Noongar language,” Charmaine said.

“They all agreed that “Ngoora” was Naming of new plant the closest representation of a pays tribute to Aboriginal heritage Noongar word to describe something, so the name “Ngoora Moolinap” was the final result. The Aboriginal heritage around the Pictured above (from left): Aboriginal Corporation Noongar Language Specialist Charmaine location of Bunbury’s new water Councillor, Aqwest Board member Rhonda Due to many spellings of Noongar treatment plant has been reflected in Norman, Aqwest Chief Executive Officer Gary words it was important to make Hallsworth and IPS Aboriginal Engagement the official naming of the new facility. Consultant Joanne Hill. changes of the old to the new spelling system that is used today. This also The Ngoora Moolinap Water Excited by her find, Charmaine supports the current school based Treatment Plant in the Bunbury then read through databases of programs across the South West. suburb of Glen Iris, was named Aboriginal word lists complied by following consultation with local the WA Museum and the University “Noongar is an endangered language Aboriginal elders and means “water of Adelaide to try and uncover its and because of historic events there sitting in a well” and “swampy place”. meaning. are very few Aboriginal people and even our Elders who can speak it. In In her investigation to assist Aqwest Eventually finding it meant “swampy fact there are just five people in the to name the facility, local Noongar place”, Charmaine continued her South West of WA who can speak it Language Specialist Charmaine research to find another Aboriginal fluently, so many words from the past Councillor from the Wardandi Miya-k word which described the new water are lost,” Charmaine said. Kaadadjiny Aboriginal Corporation treatment plant. discovered that “Moullinup” was a “To be able to use those words again place name in the Glen Iris area which She came up with “Ngoora” which is very exciting and has helped us had been lost over time. means “water sitting in a well” and two bring our language alive again.”

Where does Aqwest operate? HARVEY AQWEST’s OPERATING MYALUP LICENCE AREA BINNINGUP

Map Key

Aqwest is a West Australian of Harvey and Myalup to south of Current Water Supply Assets Operating Licence Area Government Trading Enterprise Capel. Roads / Highways Towns responsible for providing drinking AUSTRALIND

EATON water to the City of Bunbury and It produces water from an integrated BUNBURY surrounding areas. treatment and distribution system.

DALYELLUP This includes Bunbury, parts of Aqwest operates independently from Dalyellup and the Picton industrial the Water Corporation and is the sole BOYANUP PEPPERMINT area, however its operating licence provider of water for the Bunbury GROVE BEACH matches the boundary of the Greater region. CAPEL Bunbury Regional Scheme, from north DONNYBROOK

20 The Overflow - Spring 2020 Distributed in WA by

IRRIGATION HAS NEVER BEEN SMARTER

CHECK OUT THE e-HME SMART PUMP

The range of Lowara Smart Pumps feature Xylem’s permanent magnet smart motor, providing market leading wire-to-water efficiencies that exceed the most progressive global standards. Installing a Lowara Smart Pump into the right application can save thousands of dollars and pay for itself quickly. With the e-HME, you also get a wide range of monitoring, control and safety features, right out of the box. There is no need to configure and this protection helps save on maintenance and repair costs. Plus, you can operate single or multi-pump systems of up to three pumps, with no need for an external control panel or PLC.

So make the smart move.

1800 LOWARA | xylem.com/au Innovative Organic Biofiltration Media

“Readily Available Water” through infiltration and treatment of contaminated water run off

Purpose designed for specific High inherent water holding capacity temporarily hold and soak in rainwater landscape and rain garden and natural microbial activity creates a run-off that flows from roofs, driveways, applications, Organic Biofiltration favourable growing environment and patios or lawns. Media allows for the efficient infiltration provides resilience in times of climatic and treatment of contaminated water stress. Raingardens are easy to maintain, run-off from roads, car parks or other especially those with native Australian impermeable surfaces. The purified It doesn’t require any additional plants. They do not need to be water can then be stored and re-used fertiliser application to achieve plant watered, mowed or fertilised as much. to irrigate landscaped areas. A wide establishment and growth due to the range of plant species can be grown plant available nutrients inherent in the Organic Biofiltration Media in such in such media that can also take up media in extractable form that nourish a situation will greatly support stored water by natural capillary action. plants through mechanisms such the process and promote further as cation exchange. This results in efficient water usage. Over 100 international and local significantly higher nutrient uptake into independent scientific studies have the vegetation (e.g. phytoremediation) Some examples of popular public rain shown conclusively that this Organic thus avoiding leaching into the gardens: Federation Square Carpark Biofiltration media containing recycled environment. Raingarden (Melbourne CBD), Lambert materials can treat stormwater, Street Raingardens (Richmond) industrial run-off and some industrial Purpose designed for rain garden and Kings Square development waste waters. Formulations are custom applications (Perth CBD). Some councils such designed using a blend of tested and Rain gardens are popular across as Wollongong City Council (NSW) accredited components, in customised Australia as a cost effective and promotes rain gardens as a water- proportions, that are engineered for beautiful way to reduce run-off in saving measure in their city. Richgro’s specific performance requirements individual properties as well as in Organic Biofiltration Media, Ecomedia, such as pollutant removal, lifespan, streets, parks and schools. is being used at Herron Park Estate hydraulic conductivity, compaction and and by the City of Melville. plant growth. To support sustainability outcomes, those formulations include Prolonged droughts in Western a minimum of 25% and up to 100% Australia has meant there is less water community recycled materials. available for home gardeners, both in terms of natural rainfall and because Organic biofiltration media reduces of water restrictions. Gardeners are costs, time, and increases sustainable looking at different ways to overcome outcomes while improving the this dire situation and to prevent their performance of vegetated biofiltration gardens from becoming a wasteland. system such as rain gardens, detention Raingardens are self-watering, One method is to build a rain garden. basins and bio swales. low-maintenance gardens designed to protect our rivers and creeks, by Organic Biofiltration Media Ecomedia This media also supports robust plant capturing stormwater that runs off hard is a product made by Richgro under establishment and sustainable growth. surfaces when it rains. It is designed to licence for Star Water Solutions.

22 The Overflow - Spring 2020 “Readily Available Water” through infiltration and treatment of contaminated water run off

Article by Richgro

• • • •

STEPS IN IDENTIFYING Readily Available READILY AVAILABLE WATER

Step 1: Dig a hole Water Dig a hole within the root zone of your explained crop. For perennial crops, dig under the canopy in an area watered by the irrigation system. Try to dig to 1 metre or at least 30cm past the main root zone (where the fibrous roots are). Turf will require a hole of only approx. 30 cm as this would be the maximum effective root depth. Scheduling irrigation requires an understanding of how much water your soil can hold and how much of that water your crop Step 2: Identify the effective root (plant) can use. zone

Introduction amount of water a soil can hold Water in the soil that is easily extracted after drainage. by the plant is called Readily Available Water (RAW). To schedule irrigation • Refill point is when the plant has with confidence that you are providing used all readily available water. the crop with enough water, you need to understand how much of the water Beyond refill point, as the soil dries your soil can hold that is available to out, the plant needs to work harder to your crop. extract water, stressing the crop. The area between field capacity and refill A plant's roots get the water it needs point is called Readily Available Water to grow from the surrounding soil. This (RAW) — water in the soil that is easily water is held by the soil with increasing extracted by the plant. strength as the soil dries out. This makes it harder for the plant to get the Unless you are trying to stress your water and therefore affects its growth. crop (for example, with deficit-irrigated wine grapes) aim to maintain RAW at The relationship between crop stress all times. Figure 2 The effective root zone of a citrus tree can be seen in the top 30cm and the amount of water held in the soil is shown in Figure 1. Some key terms The amount of Readily Available Water The effective root zone is where the relating to Readily Available Water varies with soil type, crop/plant type, main mass of roots is found (see (RAW) are “field capacity” and “refill rooting depth and irrigation system. Figures 2 and 3). This is typically one to point”: two-thirds of the depth of the deepest Follow these six steps to work out your roots. Some crops, such as irrigated • Field capacity is the maximum crop’s RAW. pasture, citrus, bananas, avocados and low-chill stone fruit, develop a mass of shallow roots with only a few roots penetrating deeper into the soil.

Figure 3 Fibrous roots which comprise the effective root zone may only extend a third as far as the deepest roots

Step 3: Identify different soil layers If you have different soil layers within the effective root zone measure the depth of each of these in Figure 1. Relationship between soil water and crop stress metres.

24 The Overflow - Spring 2020 Step 4: Identify gravel/stone in when worked between your thumb and strategy to irrigate at 40kPa would each layer forefinger (Figure 5). have the following calculations: Stone and gravel reduce the amount of water that can be held by a soil. A very From Table 1, the RAW for a sandy stony soil will hold much less water loam soil at 40kPa = 60mm/m. than the same soil without stones. As the soil contains 20% stone, reduce Grab three good handfuls of soil and the RAW by 20%. To do this, multiply using a 2mm sieve remove all stone by 0.8. and gravel (Figure 4). Place the pile of stones and gravel next to the Adjusted RAW = 60mm/m x 0.8 = pile of soil and visually estimate the 48mm/m. proportions of each (for example, 60% Figure 5 Forming a ribbon with moist soil helps stone and 40% soil). *assessing the identify soil texture Hence, for a rooting depth of 0.3m: content of gravel/stone in the soil is not applicable to a turf situation. Step 6: Calculate RAW Total root zone RAW = 48mm/m x 0.3m 1. Identify the depth of the effective = 14.4mm. root zone. 2. Identify the depth of different soil If your irrigation system wets the layers within the effective root zone. entire cropped area, use this figure 3. Determine the soil texture and (RAW mm) to schedule irrigations. percentage stone/gravel of each If you irrigate with a drip or micro- layer. spray system that does not wet the 4. Select the crop water tension group entire cropped area, you need to Figure 4 Sieving shows the proportions of from Table 1 and identify the RAW convert RAW mm to RAW litres. See stone and gravel in soil value for each soil texture layer Converting Readily Available Water to (mm/m). litres for drip irrigation. Step 5: Identify soil texture(s) 5. Reduce the RAW figure(s) by the % Identify the texture of each soil layer stone/gravel in the soil. Thanks to WA Department of Primary within the effective root zone. The 6. Multiply the thickness of each soil Industries & Regional Development for amount of water held by a soil and layer by its adjusted RAW value. allowing Irrigation Australia to reprint an available to a plant varies with texture 7. Add up the RAW for each soil layer edited version of this Information Sheet. (see Table 1). For example, a loamy to obtain the total root zone RAW. https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/citrus/ soil can hold more readily available calculating-readily-available-water water than a sand. Example calculation A citrus crop growing in a sandy loam For information, contact David Rowe, Soil texture can be assessed in the soil containing 20% stone, with an Research Officer T: 08 9368 3607 field by the feel of a moist soil sample effective root depth of 0.3m and a E: [email protected]

Water tension (0 kPa To –20 kPa To –40 kPa To –60 kPa To –100 kPa at saturation point) Water-sensitive crops Most fruit crops and Lucerne, perennial Annual pastures and such as vegetables and table grapes, most pastures, crops such as hardy crops such as some tropical fruits tropical fruits maize and soybeans, cotton, sorghum and wine grapes (except winter crops where partial root zone drying is being practised on wine grapes)

Soil texture Readily Available Water (mm/m) Sand 30 35 35 40 Loamy sand 45 50 55 60 Sandy loam 45 60 65 70 Loam 50 70 85 90 Sandy clay loam 40 60 70 80 Clay loam 30 55 65 80 Light clay 25 45 55 70

The Overflow - Spring 2020 25 Designing a sustainable irrigation scheme to future-proof Western Australia’s south-west

Article originally published in Pump Industry Magazine, June 2020. Supplied by Southern Forest Irrigation Scheme.

The Southern Forests region around Manjimup and Pemberton is one of Western Australia’s most significant horticultural regions, however climate change is expected to limit water availability in future years under current water management practices. Therefore, to support the sustainability and expansion of the region, the Southern Forests Irrigation Scheme (SFIS) will provide a new, innovative way to secure reliable, good quality water supply all year round by improving water storage and distribution through a new dam, pipeline and pumping infrastructure. Pump Industry magazine sat down with Jeremy Bower, Chief Executive Officer of the SF Irrigation Co-operative, to find out more about the design of the project.

The Manjimup-Pemberton area of Currently, farmers self-supply their this precious resource and put it to its Western Australia is one of the state’s water in on-stream and on-property most productive use. prime food hubs and the largest dams to capture and store water for economic contributor from irrigated irrigation during summer. In order to drought-proof the region’s agriculture. horticultural water supply and to However, rainfall and inflow to dams is expand the potential as a supplier of However, it is predicted that this area highly variable in some areas with poor quality fruit and vegetable to domestic will be one of the hardest hit by climate water quality sometimes occurring at and international markets, the SFIS is change, with models predicting rainfall the end of the irrigation season. being developed by the SF Irrigation could decline up to 20-25 per cent in Co-operative Limited (SFIC) in coming decades – with reduced rainfall Furthermore, the inability to capture partnership with the State Government. already being experienced. water without an adequate dam site in various locations has constrained the The SFIS was originally proposed The effects of this have been further growth of the irrigation industry in the under the previous State Government’s exacerbated with the closure of a region. Water for Food program and offers the number of sub-catchments due to full opportunity to supply water in a model water allocation in the region since This current system of water capture that fits with the National Water Initiative 2012 by the Department of Water. also lacks the infrastructure to share and to stimulate economic investment.

26 The Overflow - Spring 2020 Oversight of the scheme moved to “Over the past three years, there’s Mr Bower said there have been the Department of Primary Industries been extensive environmental surveys, some concerns around water trading and Regional Development (DPIRD) catchment modelling and monitoring, but that the rules and system being under the current Labor Government, and environmental flow studies to implemented for the SFIS does not and then in June 2017 the SFIC ensure first and foremost that the permit water investors’ or speculators’ was established to lead the project environment is not adversely affected involvement. development and will own and operate by the scheme now and into the it once completed. future.” “You must be a member of the SFIC to participate in this scheme and to The scheme received funding from The SFIS takes into account the become a member you must be a the State Government, from the unique requirements and environment landholder (lessee) and/or own a farm Federal Government’s National Water of the region, with a reservoir to be in the scheme district, with appropriate Infrastructure Development Fund, and constructed approximately 3km away plans for agricultural use,” Mr Bower from local growers via the first round from the river source. said. of water sales. Studies were completed for the location “It’s taken time for certain stakeholders Designing the SFIS: taking inspiration of the reservoir and pipe network, to understand, but being able to pipe from Tasmania and expressions of interest for water water between properties is actually purchase were sent to the local farming one of the most sustainable parts of a The most common method for water community to ascertain the water water scheme. management in agricultural regions demand and the likely scale of the in Western Australia is the use of on- scheme. If farmer A doesn’t require all his water stream or gully dams for farms, but allocation for his business for one the State Government wanted a more Originally, the demand was over 11 year or even over a certain number of sustainable method that would protect gigalitres (GL) of water, however this years, instead of that water sitting in an the region’s agricultural industry, as was subsequently reduced to 9.3GL on-stream dam, or being lost out of the well as the environment. by the Department of Water to reduce system, he could reduce costs and sell cost. the water to a neighbour for agricultural In 2015-16, various options were use. assessed including building bigger Following this, reliability studies were dams in some of the sub-catchments done to ensure the capability of the This method ensures water is always and approaching farmers to sell their scheme to be sustainable over dry put to its highest productive use and excess water to those dams. periods. not wasted. “It’s not about making money trading water, it’s recognising However, these options proved to “The end result was a 15GL dam that water is becoming an increasingly be unviable. Jeremy Bower, Chief and approximately 250km of pipeline scarce resource and we need to get Executive Officer of the SFIC, said to over 90 farms thus far. We have smarter about how we manage it. this led to the WA Government approximately 1.7GL of water available taking inspiration from a solution in for future sale, which if sold, would It’s about providing the most efficient Tasmania. create a scheme that delivers water system to ensure the provision of to over 100 farms in the district,” Mr good quality, reliable water for a really “Tasmania has now built 15 irrigation Bower said. important Western Australian food schemes where a major water source, producing region.” such as a river, has been linked to a pipe network to deliver water to farms in certain districts.

These schemes have been very successful in terms of increasing productivity and being sustainable.

Tasmanian Irrigation assisted the WA State Government in assessing the potential for a scheme in the Southern Forests region including completing a business case that clearly demonstrated that the region could support a similar scheme and would bring significant economic benefit to the south-west,” Mr Bower said.

The Overflow - Spring 2020 27 The pumps that will bring water to the farms The proposed water supply system for the SFIS has been modified based on feedback from community and key stakeholders by changing the design to minimise direct impact on the river and its riparian vegetation.

For example, the headworks have been re-designed to use submersible pumps adjacent to a deep pool created by a natural rock bar instead of constructing a man-made weir across the river, which would have created a large inundation area flooding vegetation.

In addition, the pump stations have It is important that these rates of “We’ll be guided by DWER on what been separated to reduce the footprint extraction can be achieved to ensure is needed and where it is required. at the river by around 80 per cent. that water is only extracted within DWER have monitoring stations that permitted river flow criteria so that may be utilised. The harvest pump site at the river environmental flow is not impacted. will utilise a set of five to seven “There is technology available that submersible pumps housed within a “Submersible pumps have been can provide a high level of accuracy discrete concrete wet-well capable of utilised in Tasmanian schemes and and we will decide this through the pumping up to 200ML per day. have clearly demonstrated their low detailed design process.” environmental impact and their water

These pumps will be connected to a harvest capability when high river flow Finalising the design and the OOrbitrbit BB-hyve-hyve CControllersontrollers 22020_HR020_HR PProductsroducts OOutlines.aiutlines.ai 1 225/02/20205/02/2020 88:01:31:01:31 AAMM 3ML balance tank at a boost pump rates occur during narrow seasonal tender process station located approximately 100m windows,” Mr Bower said. Working with farmers has been from the river in a sound-proof shed. important throughout the design “This new design, with the process, with the design and pipe The water will then be pumped via a submersibles and using a natural rock network ultimately controlled by their set of seven to nine variable speed bar to provide adequate suction depth requirements and their knowledge of drive end suction pumps through a 3km really reduces our footprint, as well as the region. pipeline to the 15GL reservoir in the noise and visual impact.” Record Brook gully. “We are currently working with local The SFIC has worked closely with landholders along the proposed At the dam, a distribution pump set river ecologists from DWER, as well construction corridor to finalise the containing eight horizontal variable as independent scientists and expert alignment for the infrastructure. speed drive pumps will be installed, panels to ensure the minimum flow which will move water to header tanks restrictions before pumping are correct Farmers’ local knowledge has been located at the highest points through and to ensure the river ecosystem is utilised to complete the design. C separate northern and southern maintained. Knowing where there’s a high point or delivery lines. a low point or a wet spot or something M Monitoring stream flow that is better to avoid is invaluable,” Y

The water will then be gravity fed In order to adhere to the strict pumping Mr Bower said. CM through an approximately 250km controls and to accurately measure MY pipeline network to the SFIC farmers. and record stream flow for pump Before the COVID-19 restrictions, the station control, the SFIS is investigating SFIC team was visiting landholders CY Mr Bower said the proposed options for state-of-the-art monitoring to ground-truth the alignment of the CMY

system requires significant pumping equipment. pipeline with farmers. K infrastructure as the scheme will only abstract water from the river Mr Bower said the investigation is However, consultations are now online during large flows predominantly in the early stages, but the chosen until in-person visits recommence, but through the winter months and only equipment will have the level of despite this change, Mr Bower said when the minimum flow threshold accuracy required by DWER and is the new process is working well. (set by the Department of Water and a condition of the water abstraction Environmental Regulation (DWER)) licence. “We’ve got alignment maps drawn has been exceeded. up and we’re sending those by

28 The Overflow - Spring 2020 email. Farmers are marking them up Mr Bower said two main tenders However, the two head contractors will and we’ll ground-truth them when are expected to be advertised, with need Federal Safety Accreditation, so restrictions are lifted,” Mr Bower said. the project being run as design and key suppliers will need to engage with construct contracts. those tendering for the work and to be Along with community consultations, part of the bid teams. other preliminary work is being done “We’re providing preliminary designs to including completing preliminary reduce tender costs to enable more Tier The names of companies tendering design of the dam and second stage 2 and 3 contractors to get involved.Once for the work will be posted on the geotechnical work. the contracts are awarded, we’ll need to SFIC website so suppliers and see a completed design which complies subcontractors know who to approach. Earlier this year, DPIRD tendered and with best practice,” Mr Bower said. awarded a contract to complete these Ultimately, the contracts will be works. The project works will be split into two awarded to companies that can D&C contracts, with the dam works demonstrate they can complete works Mr Bower said the SFIC planned separate to the pumps and pipelines. that will deliver the water and operate to have these field investigations the scheme most efficiently. completed before the start of winter, The SFIC is currently looking at the but COVID-19 impacts on intrastate various tender requirements, including Once the head contractors are travel has impacted the schedule. the desired performance and duty selected, notification will be posted on cycles, but this process is subject to the website. However, if these field and design approvals and environmental reviews tasks can be completed in the confirming sustainability of the scheme. For more information about the expected time frame, the SFIC Southern Forests Irrigation Scheme is anticipating releasing tender Mr Bower said ideally the SFIC will and to keep up to date with the project, documents early in the first quarter of engage local suppliers and contractors, visit http://sfirrigationcooperative.com. 2021. or those based in Western Australia. au/.

OOrbitrbit BB-hyve-hyve CControllersontrollers 22020_HR020_HR PProductsroducts OOutlines.aiutlines.ai 1 225/02/20205/02/2020 88:01:31:01:31 AAMM

CMY

K Report confirms:

With the literature review completed, Lawn is an excellent the project moved into the bushfire retardant experimentation phase. Partnering with the CSIRO’s Bushfire Behaviour and Risks group, samples By Turf Australia Ltd. of buffalo, couch and kikuyu were all Originally published in Turf Australia Industry Magazine, Winter 2020 subjected to ignition tests at varying fuel moisture levels to understand the combustibility of these turf types. The During the 2019/20 bushfire season protection. Similarly, no work has been experiments were conducted at the in Australia more than 18.6 million undertaken to understand whether high-tech Pyrotron facility at the CSIRO hectares (46 million acres) of land synthetic grass has similar strategic in Canberra, during the hot dry spring was burnt. The impact of the fires properties. and summer conditions affecting major was estimated to cost $3.9 billion fires in eastern Australia at the time. to the economy, with insurance Until now. claims estimated to be approximately The varieties were tested according to $1.9 billion. Almost 3,000 homes, Professional services company GHD different variables such as wind speed, and thousands of businesses and was engaged by Hort Innovation to length of grass and moisture levels. other buildings were destroyed undertake a study on the benefits of Different fuel sources were also tested. (According to the Center for Disaster living turf and its role as a bushfire Philanthropy). retardant. Ultimately, the experiments proved that living turf, even turf that was It wasn’t the first high-consequence Keep reading for more detail but the under severe moisture stress, was bushfire season and it certainly won’t good news is that the study confirmed highly resistant to ignition, and had to be the last so bushfire planning that not only is living turf a natural be in a dead or near-dead state and and preparation remains at the bushfire-resilient retardant, but desiccated to extremely low moisture forefront of public policy and the synthetic grass does not share those content levels before it would sustain national conversation. A national properties. fire spread. Royal Commission and several State government inquiries into the fires are RESEARCH OVERVIEW currently underway. A literature review was initially conducted to review research that Editor's Note: Irrigation Fire agencies have long valued the was already available in terms of Australia promotes the role that turf (both in public spaces flammability of turf and other materials, importance of an efficient, and in private lawns) plays in the and the fire-testing standards of functioning irrigation system strategic management of bushfire risk. synthetic grass. The literature review where possible, to provide However very little research has been also explored the extent to which is turf improved mitigation against undertaken to confirm the scientific already being identified as a bushfire fire. importance of living turf for fire retardant.

30 The Overflow - Spring 2020 Ultimately, the with distinctly different results than uncut kikuyu. None of the 14 ignition experiments proved attempts made in calm conditions that living turf, even with short cut kikuyu sustained turf that was under combustion and only two of the 28 attempts in moderate or strong winds severe moisture were sustainable, and only then, they stress, was highly were only successful at an ODW of 3.7% which was the driest conditions resistant to ignition, tested. Such moisture content can only and had to be in a be attained in dead grass, in hot and dead or near-dead extremely dry conditions. state and desiccated The literature review considered what to extremely low impact, if any, water restrictions would have on the ability of natural lawns to moisture content retain its fire-retardant properties. levels before it would All but the most extreme levels of sustain fire spread. restrictions allow for some watering of lawns, whether that be on specific days or only during twilight hours. In almost all cases, this should keep lawns alive, even if visibly under water stress.

Fire resistance in action Non-sustaining ignitions While the ignition experiments confirm that live turf has fire retardant properties, how does this align THE RESULTS state (suffering severe moisture with what has happened in real-life deficit stress) were able to be lit. The situations? According to Paul de Buffalo successful ignition attempts were all Mar, project lead at GHD, there are In total, 72 ignition attempts were made attempts from the ‘extremely dry’ or many examples where post-bushfire in buffalo turf samples. ‘very dry’ moisture range. assessment has shown strong alignment with the study. No live turf samples in a green, or Kikuyu partially green state (suffering severe No live turf samples in a green, or “It is common in post-bushfire moisture deficit stress) were able partially green state (suffering severe impacted areas to observe green, or to be lit. Therefore, the 72 ignition moisture deficit stress) were able partially green lawns remaining largely experiments focused on dead or dying to be lit. 41 ignition attempts were undamaged by fire surrounding either turf, in a very dry state at moisture made with ‘uncut’ kikuyu with 13 of unburnt houses, or burnt houses contents well below what would combusting. With uncut kikuyu, there where airborne ember attack has be expected for a healthy or even was a clear statistical significance directly impacted the house but the drought-stressed lawn. The majority of in the level of moisture which would surrounding lawn remains unburnt,” Mr testing concentrated on extremely dry support combustion. All ignition de Mar said. conditions typical of a dead lawn on a attempts made at moisture contents day with severe bushfire danger. below 11.2% ODW* were sustainable “Live turf is known operationally and those at higher moisture contents within fire agencies to both mitigate Despite the extreme testing conditions did not sustain in all wind conditions. fire spread, and is a favoured means applied, of these 72 attempts, only Such moisture content levels are only of providing defendable space near six samples ignited and only under attainable in dead grass blades, in dry, houses, to allow safe defence of incredibly dry and windy conditions. very low humidity conditions. properties. Lawns and walkways are Four of these samples required partial a form of firebreak, which interrupt the drying in an oven to get them to ignite. Leaf blade moisture contents are path of surface fire spread – they can’t expressed as mass of water as a stop airborne embers but they can Couch percentage of oven-dried weight provide defendable space from where Couch fared slightly less favourably, (ODW) of a sample. such embers can be safely put out. with 10 successful ignitions from During the 2019/20 fire season, and 66 attempts. However, no live turf An additional 42 ignition attempts in many previous fire seasons, there samples in a green, or partially green were made with short-cut kikuyu, are thousands of examples where

The Overflow - Spring 2020 31 SYNTHETIC GRASS IS NOT A SAFE SUBSTITUTE FOR LIVING GRASS

Synthetic grass comprises a mixture of combustible plastics which are predisposed to melting and ignition. There is a great deal of variation on flammability between products with different types of plastic and additives used.

Owing to the variations of product and lack During the 2019/20 fire season, and in many previous fire of international standard for fire testing seasons, there are thousands of examples where home- in artificial grass, burning behaviour is owners, or firefighters, or both, were able to use defendable difficult to test and evaluate. In addition, although fake grass sold typically passes spaces provided by maintained lawn areas to defend their legal standards relating to flammability and houses against ember attack, saving their homes. ignition, the standards are typically based around indoor settings and are significantly less extreme than testing undertaken as part home-owners, or firefighters, or both, Maintained lawns provide a healthy and of this project. were able to use defendable spaces clean environment which can make provided by maintained lawn areas an important contribution to creating a However, there have been numerous to defend their houses against ember defendable space around homes and examples of where materials made by the attack, saving their homes. infrastructure in bushfire prone areas. same types of materials as many synthetic grasses have contributed to catastrophic fire For example, the Waroona bushfire Jenny Zadro, Market Development events including the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire which burnt through Yarloop in Manager, Turf Australia says the in London. The cladding used in this building Western Australia in 2016 destroyed findings are significant. contained a polyethylene core – a main 181 houses. Green lawns are evident ingredient in many synthetic turf products. around destroyed houses (which “Put simply, this is one of the most succumbed to airborne ember attack) important pieces of research that Separate to the risks around ignition and fire whilst others with surrounding green the turf industry has invested in. To spread it should also be considered that if lawns, also subject to ember attack, uncover the scientific proof that our synthetic grass does ignite or melt, it results were saved. product can help protect homes in in the release of incredibly harmful toxins during Australia’s yearly bushfire and chemicals. In 2018, Tathra in New South Wales seasons is game changing. was subjected to a high intensity For example, many synthetic grasses are bushfire which approached from the “Not only does it add a completely new made from polypropylene or polyethylene, west through forest, but as shown in element to the turf good news story the smoke from which is considered the image above, fire has not spread but it opens up additional avenues incredibly toxic. Firefighters will not enter across maintained lawns. These lawn for us to collaborate with professional an environment with such smoke without areas provided defendable space and volunteer fire agencies, local self-contained breathing apparatuses and enabling firefighters to extinguish government and other community as many volunteer fire services are not embers and save homes. organisations to help keep them safe. fully equipped with that equipment, other locations will be chosen to defend life and Summing it all up “I encourage you to download all property. The full scientific results of the available resources on this project experiment can be found on the Hort and explore how you can use them in Innovation and Turf Australia websites. conversations with your customers and stakeholders.” However, the findings ultimately tell us that watered and mowed lawns are not A factsheet has been developed to help combustible under any conditions summarise the findings. This factsheet associated with bushfires unless can be downloaded from the Turf they are completely dead and have Australia website and should be used extremely low moisture contents. They to help you have discussions around also don’t melt or suffer permanent this empirical, proven benefit of living burn marks or damage. turf.

32 The Overflow - Spring 2020 PIONEER PRIME DIESEL A comprehensive range of Auto Prime diesel packaged options for DRIVEN SKIDS & TRAILERS fixed and portable installations.

Wear-resistant pumps manufactured with high-chrome white HWR SERIES iron to maximize resistance against destructive abrasives and maintain peak performance in light slurry applications.

A unique pumping solution that eliminates costly and disruptive VORTEX SERIES downtime by passing through the most challenging solids using a recessed impeller.

Self-priming pumps designed for reliable solids and clear liquids WET PRIME SERIES handling. Continues to reprime automatically after initial priming.

Submersible turbine pumps available in custom configurations to VERTICAL TURBINES meet demanding application requirements.

Our submersible motors are tough, built to last and come in a SUBMERSIBLE MOTORS variety of construction options.

Close-coupled, electric motor driven pumps available in singleor END SUCTION CENTRIFUGAL three-phase standard voltages to fit your site requirements.

Equip a Franklin drive to protect, monitor, and meet the different DRIVES & PROTECTION needs and demands of each application with the same pump.

Centrifugal pumps that feature heavy-duty ductile iron volutes, CLEANWATER CENTRIFUGAL designed to handle tough applications with high efficiency.

Vertical multi-stage pumps are available in high- and low-speed VR SERIES models for superior durability, efficiency, and performance in a wide variety of applications.

106-110 Micro Circuit, Dandenong South, Victoria 3175 , Australia 67 Proximity Drive, Sunshine West Victoria 3020, Australia Toll Free: 1300 FRANKLIN / 1300 372 655 Phone +6 1 399881650 Fax: +61 3 9799 5050 Fax: +61 39988 1666 Tel: +61 3 9799 5000 www.pioneerpump.com www.franklin-electric.com.au Installation Practices of Residential Irrigation Controllers

Automatic irrigation controllers have The Perth area appears to be the Some have suggested an electrician’s come a long way in recent years, with only region in Australia where this task for hardwiring a controller is simply an array of innovative technology type of installation is standard cheaper and easier than installing available for all budgets. Increasingly, practice. a socket outlet and is therefore the full landscaping packages including preferred option. complete irrigation system installations So, why is this? are included with residential land sales. Irrigation Australia was recently Having an irrigation controller on a plug asked this question, and we have and socket arrangement may avoid a Generally, manufacturers’ liaised with various stakeholders situation where the resident might turn specifications for automatic irrigation across the industry including off the power inadvertently, causing the controllers recommend that a controller manufacturers, suppliers, irrigation internal battery to drain and controller be installed on the wall and plugged installers and technicians, through to settings to be lost, thus resulting in into a 240volt mains socket outlet. electrical contractors and electricity systems running when they shouldn’t regulators. In short, there appears and potential fines for breaching However, common practice in the to be no definitive reason why watering restrictions. Perth metropolitan region for installing hard-wired controllers have become residential irrigation controllers is to common practice. Several theories, Con’s remove the plug/cord from the unit, and “pro’s and con’s” have been Currently, all automatic residential and then “hard-wire” directly from a provided and listed below. irrigation controllers are manufactured 240-volt mains supply to the controller and supplied with a 240V plug and cord transformer. Pro’s to be electrically compliant with the It is suggested that hard-wired standards in Australia. Controllers are The direct connection of irrigation controllers may be a preferred option designed so that they can be simply controllers is defined as electrical for aesthetic reasons; providing a plugged into a 240v mains power point installing work in the Western neater installation. Additionally, and hung on the wall. The controller Australian Electricity (Licensing) security reasons have been cited, as (with plug & cord) can then be safely Regulations 1991 and can only be it is much easier to steal a controller installed by a competent person. The carried out by a licensed electrical plugged into a power point than one control voltage is stepped down via contractor. hardwired to the home. the transformer connected to the plug and cord to 24vac out to the field, so

34 The Overflow - Spring 2020 there is no requirement for a licensed electrician to attend site if a controller Extracts from the OSH Regulations 1996 - Electrical Work fails or needs to be replaced. The Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996 controller can simply be unplugged and Workplace safety requirements Part 3 replaced by an irrigation technician. Electricity Division 6 Following the manufacturers’ 3.59A. Electrical work installation guidelines prevents unnecessary hazards surrounding (1) A person who, at a workplace, is an employer, the main contractor, a self- irrigation technicians or residents employed person, a person having control of the workplace or a person working on or near energised having control of access to the workplace must ensure that, before electrical installations*. Isolation would simply work is carried out on a part of an electrical installation at the workplace, the require the user to unplug the unit, thus part — avoiding danger of electric shock or physical injury**. (a) is tested by a competent person to ascertain whether or not it is energised; and The Australian Standards AS3000:2018 clause 4.1.2(e), titled “Selection and (b) if it is found to be energised, is de-energised by a competent person. Installation of Electrical Equipment” Penalty for this subregulation: the regulation 1.16 penalty. states electrical equipment shall be selected and installed “in accordance (2) Subregulation (1)(b) does not apply to electrical work carried out under the with the requirements of this Section, Electricity (Licensing) Regulations 1991 regulation 55(2). and the additional requirements as specific in the manufacturer’s instructions”. ** Power needs to be isolated (switched off) when a person enters a roof space if that is part of the course of works carried out. This poses the question for industry… 3.59B. Work in roof spaces what is the way (2) A person who, at a workplace, is an employer, the main contractor, a self- employed person, a person having control of the workplace or a person forward? having control of access to the workplace must ensure that, before work is done in a roof space of a building at the workplace, the building’s electrical installation is de-energised by a competent person. Penalty for this *For more information, see the OSH subregulation: the regulation 1.16 penalty. Regulations 1996 to provide further information on electrical hazards around live parts of an installation Pictured below from left: Rainbird ESP-ME3, Orbit B-Hyve, Hunter Industries X2 and Weathermatic as it applies to all workplaces. SmartLine. Images supplied courtesy of respective suppliers: Rain Bird, HR Products, Hunter Industries Inc. and Reece Group.

The Overflow - Spring 2020 35 Lifelong learning key to business growth

In a constantly evolving environment, business owners who commit to learning new skills will be better able to adapt to change and keep their business going in challenging conditions.

Many business owners feel that with The needs of your business can steer their business forward, deal with all the responsibilities and tasks they change over time. While you can challenges and seize opportunities. already have, there is no time, need always ‘buy in’ valuable professional Skills development is also important or capacity for them to learn new advice and services from professionals to many employees and offering these skills. However, studies have shown including accountants, lawyers and sorts of opportunities can help you that adopting a ‘growth mindset’ — consultants, there are many other retain good employees for longer, as believing that your basic abilities are needs you could meet yourself, they grow with your business. not fixed, and committing to learning if you develop the right skills and and developing over time — is an knowledge. These can include learning What sort of learning is available important attribute for those who how to effectively use social media, to small businesses? want to stay in business. People with understand your business financials, With business information readily a growth mindset prioritise lifelong and refine your business plan. available these days, there are many learning so that they can consistently affordable ways to learn such as develop new and useful skills to get Leaders who commit to learning new reading books and online articles, ahead. skills will be in a better position to watching videos or listening to

36 The Overflow - Spring 2020 for new and established business owners who want to add to their skills. The workshops are available free of charge until the end of 2020, and at low cost after that, to support small businesses to emerge from the disruption of the pandemic. A full schedule of upcoming courses is available at smallbusiness.wa.gov.au/ workshops.

Organisations including chambers of commerce and industry bodies also frequently offer affordable business skills courses which, aside from providing learning opportunities, can allow you to connect with fellow small podcasts. For those who prefer to resulted in an increase in demand business owners. be instructed directly and learn with (and supply) of online courses and others, there are also short courses webinars. Learning this way enables and workshops. At the other end of students to participate in skills the spectrum, there are longer, more development from the comfort of their formal courses such certificates and own home or office, while accessing diplomas offered by universities and subject matter experts who can answer Leaders who commit to other learning providers. questions and provide insight into learning new skills will topics. With a focus on keeping costs under be in a better position control in a turbulent economy, there The Small Business Development is significant demand for free and low Corporation (SBDC) offers a wide to steer their business cost learning opportunities for small range of affordable skills-building forward, deal with business owners. online workshops as part of their support for small business owners in challenges and seize The rise of the internet and the social Western Australia. Their interactive opportunities. distancing changes due to COVID-19 sessions cover topics designed both

The Overflow - Spring 2020 37 What types of training Practical support for your business should you do? 2020 has created many challenges, and also some new opportunities, for The best type of training for your business business owners. The situation with COVID-19 and its ongoing impact on the is a topic that addresses the specific business sector is still evolving. situations that you encounter. Considering how you will apply and practice what you With small businesses making up 97 per cent of all businesses in WA and learn is essential to making sure your generating more than $50 billion each year, they are a critical part of our learning investment is worthwhile. Many economy. If you own a small business in Western Australia, it’s important to people find they learn most effectively know where to turn to when you are faced with challenges. The Small Business through hands-on opportunities, so it’s Development Corporation (SBDC) offers a wide variety of practical and useful to put new skills into practice before accessible resources to support you. they are forgotten. Tailored business advice To decide what training you or your If you are looking for advice on any aspect of business, a good starting point is employees need to do for your business, the SBDC’s free advisory service. By calling 133 140 or using live chat on the ask yourself: SBDC website smallbusiness.wa.gov.au, you can ask an experienced business • What am I trying to achieve for my adviser questions about business matters ranging from partnerships and getting business? paid to importing and exporting, managing growth, marketing your business and • What are the gaps in knowledge or more. Advisers are available to assist Monday to Friday, 8.30am-4.30pm. skills that are holding my business back? Skills development • What tasks could I cost effectively This year, a variety of free online workshops have been made available to do myself in my business instead of support small businesses through the COVID-19 crisis. In person workshops outsourcing, if I had the skills? have also recommenced in a range of locations. The skills building workshops • What am I interested in or inspired to cover a wide range of topics from digital marketing to financial knowledge and learn more about, that I could apply to can be used to develop skills in specific areas. An interactive workshop schedule improving my business? is available on the SBDC’s website, allowing you to browse and book online.

Making time for lifelong learning Tenancy support Being a small business owner, you may Advice and support for commercial tenants has been in demand as a result feel that you don’t have much spare of the COVID-19 pandemic. The State Government’s Commercial Tenancies time to spend learning new skills. It is (COVID-19 Response) Act 2020 was passed to help facilitate rent relief important to choose learning that fits into negotiations and support small business tenants who suffered a financial impact your available time, but to also consider due to the COVID-19 restrictions. The SBDC website provides information whether you are using your spare time about this legislation in an easy to understand format. The agency also offers effectively. Recent studies show that a dispute resolution service for small business owners who are in dispute with Australians spend on average more than other businesses or government agencies, including those related to commercial an hour and a half every day on social tenancy disputes. media and almost 14 million people have subscription or pay TV services. By Online resources and news dedicating a small amount of free time to Business owners can access a wide range of free downloadable resources meet your learning goals, you can slowly such as business plan templates, cash flow forecasts and more from the but surely build your skill base. SBDC website. The blog section is a useful source of current information on matters affecting small business owners in Western Australia. Topics include To succeed in small business, owners financial management, digital marketing and general advice on running your must be committed to growing and business, plus specific analysis on developments such as state and federal learning. Small business owners who are government budgets. This is also where any information about State Government lifetime learners adapt to change more initiatives and funding for small business is featured. readily and can achieve great results for their business. Connections There is a strong and vibrant small business community in Western Australia More information and it’s good to connect with others to share experiences and advice. The Visit www.smallbusiness.wa.gov.au/ SBDC’s Facebook Group “I’m a Small Business Owner in Western Australia” workshops for more information about the (with more than 9,000 members) is particularly active. You can search and join practical and affordable business skills the group to meet fellow WA business owners and learn from their advice and training on offer from the SBDC. recommendations.

Small Business Contact the SBDC Development Corporation Visit www.smallbusiness.wa.gov.au or call 133 140 for practical support to help you run your business.

38 The Overflow - Spring 2020 New awareness campaign to inspire waterwise action at start of National Water Week

• State Government, through This year's National Water Week "Perth has just experienced its fourth the Water Corporation, theme is Reimagining our Water driest and warmest winter on record launches new climate change Future, which invites Australians to and, and with higher than average and waterwise awareness reimagine the way they use and reuse temperatures and decreasing rainfall campaign at start of National water to ensure there is enough for in the south-west of the State, we all Water Week future generations. need to continue being waterwise • Think Climate Change. in the home and workplace to help Be Waterwise campaign The educational campaign launched conserve this precious resource. to inspire action among today, encourages Western Australians individuals, communities and to make small changes to their daily "While the State Government is organisations to use water water use practices and incorporates responding to the impacts of climate more wisely the tagline Think Climate Change. change on the ground, it is the Be Waterwise. The first part of the Commonwealth Government that campaign will run until the end ultimately needs to be part of the Faced with the impacts of climate of December 2020 across print, global solution by engaging with the change and reduced rainfall, Western broadcast and digital media. international community on the issue, Australians are being urged to rethink and taking real action to reduce the their water use and reminded to The first television advert can be seen causes of climate change. practice waterwise habits as part of a at https://youtu.be/M_7VQbWO9Fg new awareness campaign launched "Addressing climate change requires today by Water Minister Dave Kelly. Comments attributed to Water Minister collaboration and action from everyone Dave Kelly: - by thinking about the impacts of Launched on the first day of National climate change on our water supply, Water Week (October 19-25), the "Responding to the significant impacts and being waterwise, we can make a Water Corporation's new campaign of climate change on our water supply real difference." aims to educate the community on how has never been more important. climate change has reduced rainfall and impacted WA's water supply, how we as a State are responding, and what the community can do to keep up their waterwise practices.

WA's climate has changed significantly since the 1970s, with the State's south- west now one of the areas on the planet most affected by climate change due to declining rainfall. On average, we have seen a reduction of over 80 per cent in the amount of rainfall runoff into our dams compared to the 1970s.

While the Water Corporation continues to secure Perth's water supplies by adding more climate-independent sources to the mix, individuals, businesses, and governments all have a part to play in conserving our precious water resource.

The Overflow - Spring 2020 39 Waterwise Workshops In response to social distancing requirements, we are now running community virtual workshop videos with the aim of educating our followers in many aspects of the irrigation world!

These workshops will cover a series of topics, narrated by Waterwise Professional & Television presenter Darren Seinor!

Sit back, kick your feet up and Irrigation Practices – Simple enjoy our range of community Measures to Improve Efficiency There are simple & easily achievable Irrigation Practices videos! Click to watch available that improve irrigation/water efficiency and are great horticulture practices.

Our Integrated Water From Hyrdrozoning techniques, to seasonal sprinkler Supply Scheme (IWSS) adjustment settings, available Rainfall… Once the key supplier of water for irrigation has sensors, meters & even simple been steadily declining in Western Australia, particularly tips & tricks. We cover them over the last 40 years. all in this quick workshop!

Join us, as we breakdown what’s happened and how there are measures System Evaluation – Measuring being put in place to save Application Rates & Calculating precious water. Runtimes System Evaluation is critical to an effective & efficient Groundwater irrigation system. The principles of irrigation efficiency The water cycle shows how interconnected all water revolve around multiple core principles… supplies are and how it is important to understand the journey, every water molecule makes. The following workshop will cover all aspects Tune in to this workshop that revolve around as we list the reasons why system evaluation & will groundwater is so important, breakdown into simple how much of it is accessible steps, how you can & the way we can harvest it. achieve this.

Irrigation Controllers – Simple to Smart Soil Water – An Important Consideration The irrigation controller is the heart of the irrigation system. Soil Water is an extremely important consideration for They vary massively in complexity & capability, but always irrigation. Soil is generally formed in one of three states… remain incredibly important. This simple workshop will help In this workshop, you’ll you better understand the ins learn about the many & outs of why Soil Water could different types of be such an important aspect irrigation controllers, their of your irrigation system. purpose & why exactly you must have one.

For more information please contact us on: (08) 9368 3136 | [email protected] | www.waterwiseprograms.com.au © Irrigation Australia 2020 Supplied by the Water Corporation Water Update Current graphs can be found at www.watercorporation.com.au

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

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

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

The Overflow - Spring 2020 41 DO YOU NEED HELP WITH YOUR RETICULATION SYSTEM?

WATERWISE ENDORSED MEMBERS ARE FULLY TRAINED IN WATER EFFICIENT PRACTICES AND CAN DESIGN, INSTALL, REPAIR AND MAINTAIN YOUR RETICULATION SYSTEM.

Whether you are starting from scratch or wanting to improve your existing system, talk to a Waterwise Garden Irrigator for professional irrigation design, installation and HAVE YOU VISITED THE maintenance services. If you prefer to do-it-yourself, get expert advice and quality parts from your local Waterwise Irrigation Design Shop (retail outlet).

WA WATERWISE PROGRAMSTo find WEBSITE?a Waterwise professional in your local area, simply scan our QR code to search the Waterwise Irrigation Directory, or visit our website wa.waterwiseprograms.com.au www.waterwiseprograms.com.au Search the Waterwise Irrigation Directory

Alternatively please contact us on: (08) 9368 3136 | [email protected] | wa.waterwiseprograms.com.au The Waterwise Garden Irrigator Program is a joint initiative of the WA Region of Irrigation Australia and Water Corporation, with a goal of optimising water-use efficiency of domestic irrigation systems in Western Australia. Endorsed Waterwise Garden Irrigators are fully trained in water efficient practices and can design, install, repair and maintain home garden irrigation systems.

WATERWISE GARDEN IRRIGATORS

AAA Irrigation Greenworx Retic Turf & Soakwells Pty Ltd Adonis Gardening & Irrigation Growing Assets Reticulation & Gardens Perth Advantage Bores & Reticulation Services Horizon West Landscape & Irrigation Reticulation Pro All water irrigation Instant Gardens Robert Reynolds Allwest Bores & Reticulation Irriscape Reticulation & Landscaping Softscapes & Reticulation Pty Ltd B & C Fiorini Pty Ltd Jim's Mowing Wilson North Sprinkler Fixers BHG Garden Service Joel Irrigation & Landscaping Superior Landscaping & Reticulation Bolesta's Backyard Creations Landscape Elements Pty Ltd The Garden Fixer Bowie Irrigation Landscape Works WA The Greenscape Collective Bradkaz Irrigation LD TOTAL The Retic Company Brighton Reticulation Love My Retic The Retic & Landscape Shop Brookwell Irrigation Lowcut Lawnmowing The Watershed Water Systems Midland CHATT Services Luke's Landscaping Co Think Water Dunsborough Chris’s Landscaping Meticulous Maintenance Services Think Water Geraldton Civic Reticulation Midwest Turf Supplies Think Water Perth Clackline Reticulation MJ Landscaping TLC Services Perth Coast to Coast Irrigation Mr Retic Top Dog Landscaping and Reticulation Condo Landscapes Pty Ltd Newground Water Services Total Eden Country Landscaping Pty Ltd Peel Scape Solutions Turfed Out Dynamic Property Solutions Perdita Reticulation & Garden Solutions Ultimate Blue Pty Ltd Earlybird Landscaping Perfect Home Solutions WA Reticulation Supplies Earth & Water Pty Ltd Perth Lawns and Retic WaterLink Ecoedge Retic Supplies Plantech Grounds Maintenance Water Well Reticulation Elliotts Irrigation Pty Ltd Portworks Waterwise Landscaping Evergreen Blades Pretty Blooming Good Waterwise West Evergrow Gardenscapes Prime Landscaping Pty Ltd Westcoast Reticulation Services First Element Irrigation PTC Irrigation Wet Frog Retic FPM Landscapes Pty Ltd Pumps N Pipes Supplies WF Landscape Industries Pty Ltd Garden Solutions Rain Maker Irrigation Services Wild Earth Landscapes GC Landscapes Rapid Retic Willetton Landscapes Great Northern Rural Services Retic Doctor Greena Outdoors Retic Express

42 The Overflow - Spring 2020 The website features an extensive and up-to- date business directory where the community can search for their local Waterwise members, based on their location. Head to the search directory at www.waterwiseprograms.com.au for members’ contact details, or if you’d like information on how to become an endorsed Waterwise business.

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

WATERWISE IRRIGATION DESIGN SHOPS

Addwater Reticulation - Maddington Think Water Perth Controlled Irrigation Supplies - Joondalup Total Eden Watering Systems - Balcatta Elliotts Irrigation Pty Ltd- Greenwood Total Eden Watering Systems - Bibra Lake Pumps ‘n Pipes - Mandurah Total Eden Watering Systems - Byford Rainscape Waterwise Solutions - Bibra Lake Total Eden Watering Systems - Canning Vale Reece Irrigation - Canning Vale Total Eden Watering Systems - Greenwood Reece Irrigation - Malaga Total Eden Watering Systems - Joondalup Reece Irrigation - Osborne Park Total Eden Watering Systems - Malaga Reece Irrigation - Rockingham Total Eden Watering Systems - Mandurah The Retic & Landscape Shop- Southern River Total Eden Watering Systems - Midvale The Watershed Water Systems - Cockburn Total Eden Watering Systems - Myaree The Watershed Water Systems - Midland Total Eden Watering Systems - Osborne Park The Watershed Water Systems - Morley Total Eden Watering Systems - Rockingham The Watershed Water Systems - Subiaco WA Reticulation Supplies - Armadale Think Water Broome WA Reticulation Supplies - Midland Think Water Dunsborough Watertorque – Muchea Think Water Geraldton

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

WATERWISE IRRIGATION WATERWISE GARDEN DESIGN SHOP IRRIGATOR PROGRAM Country Water Solutions – Bunbury ARB Landscaping & Fencing Total Eden – Busselton Country Landscaping & Irrigation Total Eden - Busselton

The Overflow - Spring 2020 43 Build On Your Professional Development

Irrigation Australia’s range of nationally accredited courses and qualifications are designed to provide you with the right skills and knowledge to pursue a career in the irrigation industry.

Take a look at the topics being delivered over the coming months

All sessions are delivered over half days and accessible from the convenience of your own office/home no matter your location.

Join Our Online Training

Certificate III in Irrigation Technology AHC32419 Duration: 18-24 Months Plan your training for the Mode of Delivery: Face to Face & Virtual Classroom Delivery Click on course name to view months ahead! more information on website This qualification reflects the skills and knowledge required to become an irrigation installer, operator, retailer or technician for residential, commercial or agriculture industries. Our courses NOVEMBER provide an in-depth irrigation training program which is assessed 4/11/20 - 6/11/20 Meter Installation & Validation (3 Half Days Virtual Classroom) Storage Meter Installation & Validation (3 Days Face-to-Face) against nationally recognised Competencies towards Certificate 9/11/20 - 11/11/20 III in Irrigation Technology AHC32419 (Trade Level). The program Narrabri NSW also engages subject matter experts for specialised topics such as 17/11/2020 Certificate III in Irrigation Technology AHC32419 (November Intake) Electrofusion Weld Polyethylene Pipelines (1 Day Face-to-Face) hydraulics, troubleshooting and basic irrigation design, to name a few. 17/11/2020 Coopers Plains QLD 17/11/20 - 19/11/20 Irrigation Pumps & Systems (3 Half Days Virtual Classroom) Electrofusion Weld Polyethylene Pipelines (1 Day Face-to-Face) Certificate IV in Irrigation Management AHC41119 18/11/2020 Duration: 12-18 Months Coopers Plains QLD 18-20, 23, 26, Mode of Delivery: Virtual Classroom Delivery IRRICAD Design (6 Half Days Virtual Classroom) 27/11/20 Storage Meter Installation & Validation (3 Days Face-to-Face) This qualification reflects the technical and supervisory skills and 23/11/20 - 25/11/20 knowledge required to operate as supervisors and specialists Goondiwindi QLD Basics in Wiring and Electrical Troubleshooting within the irrigation industry. It applies to irrigation installation 3/11/20 - 4/11/20 site managers and managers of irrigation systems in the irrigation (2 Half Days Virtual Classroom) servicing, horticulture and agriculture industries. DECEMBER Contact the training department to register your interest. Storage Meter Installation & Validation (3 Days Face-to-Face) 7/12/20-9/12/20 Narrabri NSW

Blended Practical Industry Expert Learning Approach Qualified Trainers

11/58 Metroplex Avenue, Murarrie Qld 4172 | 1300 949 891 | [email protected] | irrigationaustralia.com.au