Strong start to irrigation season in Macalister

The irrigation season for channel and pipeline customers in the Macalister Irrigation District will start on Thursday 15 August 2024.

Lake Glenmaggie is 70 per cent full, with 122,000ML currently in storage. Southern Rural Water’s General Manager of Service Delivery, Simon Wilkinson, said these numbers align with the 10-year average.

“If we remove the past four wet years, we are above the storage level we would traditionally see at this stage,” he said.

The current 2024-25 seasonal allocation is 80 per cent for high-reliability water shares, and it is reviewed each fortnight during the season.

Mr Wilkinson said the long-range forecast is still relativity normal, with a predicted wet spring with average to above-average temperatures.

“These are great conditions for farmers to grow fodder crops using natural rainfall supplemented by irrigation,” he said.

Southern Rural Water has started filling the irrigation channels to prepare for opening day. Stock and domestic water will be available to customers on the network as the channels and pipelines fill over the coming seven to ten days.

Mr Wilkinson said customers have been able to place water orders since late afternoon on 8 August 2024.

“If customers already know what water they need, they can use Waterline now to place their orders,’ he said.

“We’ve completed our winter maintenance program, including a large investment in desilting channels to improve customer delivery, ensuring the network is ready. We’re excited to support customers in making the most of what’s shaping up to be another strong season.

“We have a dedicated irrigation planning team who actively monitor our system 24 hours a day during the irrigation season. If customers need help, I’d encourage them to contact us.”

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