A $50 MILLION operation to rebuild almost 16 kilometres of irrigation channel has begun just north of Nericon, with up to 120 contractors working on the project every day.
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It is one of the biggest upgrades Murrumbidgee Irrigation (MI) has ever attempted.
When the work is finished, the channel will have the capacity to deliver 50 per cent more water to irrigators, provide more consistent flows and save 6000 megalitres of water.
With water unable to flow through the channel during construction, the bulk of the work will be completed in 16 weeks –eight in this year’s irrigation shutdown period and eight in the 2014 shutdown period.
“This project is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to replace ageing and failing infrastructure that has needed major work for 10 years,” MI executive manager of strategy and delivery Dave Gilbert said.
“A substantial amount of planning effort and design work has gone into it to make sure it delivers benefits to MI customers and the community for at least 80 years.”
The project has been funded by the federal government’s Private Irrigation Infrastructure Operators Program (PIIOP) and is being completed by the MIA Renewal Alliance, which includes MI, design company GHD, construction company John Holland Group and project managers United Group.
MI received a total of $200 million through PIIOP and will spend the remainder on modernising systems throughout Griffith, Leeton, Narrandera, Hay and Carrathool.
The current works begin near the corner of Boorga and Kalinda roads in Lake Wyangan and continue north for 15.8km.
Contractors have pulled the old concrete lining out of the channel, repaired the ground and walls and trimmed them into their final shape for the new lining to be laid.
They have now started laying out polyester geofabric and spraying concrete over the top, followed by a finishing process which the alliance has designed specifically for the project.
“We’ve made modifications to some of the equipment to quicken the process of concrete laying and lining and deliver an improved final product,” alliance project manager Paul Smith said.
“The process ensures the work is a lot safer and reduces the manual labour inputs.
“We need to complete the first section of work on time to make sure the farmers can get their water supply back when the shutdown finishes in August.”
About 130,000 square metres of concrete will be laid when the project is finished.
Meters will also be replaced and MI’s regulation system converted from manual to electronic.