| 53 Ashburton Lyndhurst Irrigation Scheme REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT T T Kim Newth New pond enhances efficient irrigation The scheme’s reliability has recently been further improved with the addition of a newly completed storage pond. “Farmers now have a lot of data and tools available to them, such as moisture probes, to support onfarm sustainability and efficient use of water.” Farmer-owned cooperative Ashburton Lyndhurst Irrigation Limited (ALIL) manages a pressurised piped network delivering irrigation water to nearly 30,000ha of productive farmland in Mid Canterbury. The scheme’s reliability has recently been further improved with the addition of a newly completed storage pond. Dubbed Pond 3A, the 315,000cum storage pond on McKendry’s Road has been developed as offline storage to be used only at times of peak demand. For farmers on the scheme, who are committed to using water as sustainably and efficiently as possible, it provides further reassurance that irrigation water will be there when needed. It means there’s no need to put on water ‘just in case’. “A really important part of our environmental programme is making sure our irrigation scheme is robust and reliable for shareholders, so rather than applying water just in case, they will apply just the right amount at the right time,” says Rebecca Whillans, ALIL’s chief executive. The ALIL scheme is owned by 230 local farmers producing a variety of nutritional foods for New Zealand and beyond, with flowon value for the economy as a whole. Focused on the future and environmental stewardship, ALIL shareholders are very aware of the need to use water wisely, only when and where needed. “Farmers now have a lot of data and tools available to them, such as moisture probes, to support on-farm sustainability and efficient use of water. Over 96% of the shareholders on our scheme now have good management practices or better in place.” Pond 3A is located between Pond 2 and Pond 3. which are used to help balance demand and supply in the scheme. “Pond 3A will provide an extra backstop for our shareholders: from now on, when it looks like we’re going into restrictions, we will stop supplying Pond 3 from Pond 2 and start supplying from Pond 3A instead,” Rebecca says. The site of the new pond, encompassing a 14.1ha footprint, has been well-chosen. There was already a smaller on-farm pond at the site, so an existing inlet was able to be retained. A new outlet structure has been created that connects back into the scheme’s race under McKendry’s Rd. Rebecca says being able to connect to the open race was key to making the new piece of storage work within the wider system. While delivery between the balancing ponds is via the open race, pressurised piped delivery supplies all the scheme’s farmer shareholders. It keeps water losses to a minimum, and the whole scheme is closely monitored. “Every farm has an off-take. Using modern telemetry means we can monitor their water use in real time. The equipment is set up to deliver the right amount of water in line with the shares the farmers have got. It is so much more accurate compared to the old flow-allocation system used in the past.” Densem Contractors Ltd were hard at work over summer completing the new pond. Rebecca says their team has done a good job, with the work going to plan. Road closures required for the project were done very efficiently so as to minimise disruption to local road users. DENSEM CONTRACTING (2010) LTD Earthmovers • Dairy shed & Feed Pad site works • Water & Effluent Dam construction • Track formation and Lime Rock capping • In house Survey and Design m Ian: 027 2215288 or Matt: 027 2799819 k office@densem.nz CONSTRUCTION FOR IRRIGATION DESIGN AND BUILD RENOVATIONS AND JOINERY COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION RURAL CONSTRUCTION WWW.GEOFFREAD.CO.NZ 03 308 8807
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