Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water Lisa Neville has turned the first sod on an extra 3.9km pipeline at Red Cliffs that will see more than 90 per cent of the district’s irrigators receiving water through the Sunraysia Modernisation Project (SMP).
The expansion of the SMP at Red Cliffs will more than double the length of pipe being built in the district under the project.
It means an additional 905 hectares of the district will receive the upgraded pipeline supply through the SMP and the proportion of irrigators benefitting from it increasing from about 70 per cent to above 90 per cent.
Ms Neville said even with the additional pipeline at Red Cliffs, the SMP was still on track to be meet its original deadline of August, 2016.
The extra pipeline is the third expansion of the SMP following additional work carried out at Mildura and Merbein.
Overall the SMP is replacing 21 km of main open channel with pipeline, including 5 km through urban areas
It’s also upgrading key irrigation pump stations, 2000 irrigation meters and installing 2400 domestic and stock meters, as well as installing automated water delivery processes to improve the efficiency of the remaining open channels.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water Neville
“The Andrews Labor Government understands the crucial role played by Sunraysia’s irrigated agricultural sector in Victoria’s economic activity.”
“We support investment in irrigation infrastructure that results in more productive and efficient water use and which helps to enhance the productivity and productivity of the region’s primary producers.”
“The Sunraysia Modernisation Project is a fantastic project that aims to optimise water use efficiency and provide an improved and more flexible system for irrigators and opportunities for new crops and industries.”
“It’s also an appropriate and effective response to climate change, allowing more efficient use, reducing leakage and evaporation losses, of the finite water resources within the Murray system.
“I commend the project team on their work in being able to deliver modernisation and improved service to a greater area while remaining within their original budget and timelines.”
“The additional work will provide improved service benefits to over 90 per cent of Red Cliffs irrigators – or an extra 905 hectares of the Red Cliffs irrigation district – while still allowing the entire project to be finished by the original end-date of August 2016.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020