Problem 

Years of drought have been reducing the viability of dairy farming, and open channel irrigation was not the answer.

Solution

Underground piping system - part of the $1 billion Stage 1 NVIRP

Outcome

Gilbert Dalle-Nogare owns a dairy farm, ‘Eden Park’ 12km north of Shepparton in north east Victoria. Years of prolonged drought had taken its toll on Gilbert, ravaging his ‘oasis’ and forcing his share-farmer, Andrew Younger, to reduce his dairy herd – that is, until this year when good rains fell and the new irrigation pipeline was installed on his property.

 

“Water supply here had always been a battle. Because our open channel system was almost level with the main drain, we always had trouble getting enough flow to our higher ground. Now with the new underground pipe system - which I share with my neighbour – we no longer face this issue.

With water this land is magic.  Because we can now get the right amount of water we want onto the pasture (8-10 mega-litres per day), I can control my own feed for the cows, irrigate pasture and watch it grow. Ten days later the cows are eating it - fantastic.  That was just not possible under the old system.”

Gilbert’s aim to bring his dairy farm back to its productive best is part of the $1 billion Stage 1 Northern Victoria Irrigation Renewal Program (NVIRP). 

“We are 100% happy with the Total Eden system, the design and the installation - they are very easy to get along with and nothing was too hard for them.  I highly recommend them as contractors.”