Murrumbidgee Irrigation (MI) will receive a further $38 million to implement additional works under the Australian Government’s Private Irrigation Infrastructure Operators Program in New South Wales as it nears completion of the expansion of the Northern Branch Canal.
MI CEO Brett Jones said that the expansion program on the Northern Branch Canal has been a success, with the additional joint customer and MI funded works complementing the government modernisation program.
The expansion program will allow new control structures to be utilised to their full extent – effectively doubling the canal’s delivery capacity.
“Our region is thriving, and in line with this the needs of our customers are changing,” said Mr Jones.
“We are changing to meet those needs and to keep this the premier irrigation district in Australia. Expanding the capacity of the NBC will allow us to deliver more water and higher flow rates to better meet the needs of customers’ farming operations.”
With modernisation projects to commence soon in the Sturt Canal, Benerembah Channel, Wah Wah, Warburn and Tabbita systems, the announcement of a further $38 million was a welcome bonus.
This represents a total investment of over $347 million by the Australian Government in critical water saving projects in the MIA.
Mr Jones said the additional funding will allow MI to continue to improve the efficiency of its water delivery system.
“Our customers want value, and this funding will enable us to deliver this to them through a more efficient and responsive irrigation network,” he said.
The government funded works include the modernisation of control structures and some channel restoration within the systems’ existing delivery capacity.