Murrumbidgee Irrigation Limited
   

Irrigation has established an oasis in the Riverina. The efficient delivery of water throughout the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (MIA) is of paramount importance to farmers, manufacturers and local communities. Sustainability is the key to the future.

Murrumbidgee Irrigation is actively working with environmental groups to continually improve and develop water practices to ensure the ongoing viability of the MIA. Since 1999 Murrumbidgee Irrigation has been a public company with its customers as shareholders.

 

The company operatives under licences issued by the NSW Office of Water that regulate the distribution and management of water from State Water – the river operating division of the NSW Office of Water.

Water is diverted from the river at Berembed Weir upstream of Narrandera and Gogeldrie Weir near Leeton. Flows continue through a network of supply channels to each farm where it is measured onto the property.

Company employees adjust the channel flows to meet the changing needs of customers. Drainage channels collect storm run-off from farms and take it to Barren Box Storage and Wetland just west of Griffith which serves as an en route storage for customers further down the system.

The MIA's progressive, hard working farmers lead the world in productivity and water use efficiency. Murrumbidgee Irrigation , together with their customers and other groups in the region, are working cooperatively to implement MIA EnviroWise (MIA&D's Land and Water Management Plan) to ensure sustainability of the area.

Laser-levelling, recycling systems, micro jet watering and moisture probes are some of the on-farm innovations being introduced by irrigators in the region. Murrumbidgee Irrigation is upgrading its off-farm infrastructure to reduce system loss enabling water to be delivered more efficiently and cost effectively.

 

Beware the Water that Bites - Swim Safe

The channel network is vital to the supply of irrigation water. It is extremely dangerous to dive into or swim in channels especially near structures.

Dangers include:
•  sudden changes in water level and current
•  strong currents near regulators and siphons (large pipes)
•  low clearance under bridges
•  cloudy water making it difficult to judge water depth
•  hidden objects that may cause head or spinal injury
•  water weeds that may entangle weak swimmers
•  rubbish such as cans, bottles and fencing wire can pose health hazards
•  snakes such as the venomous Brown and Tiger are often seen on channel banks.


Murrumbidgee Irrigation is managing water for better farming,
the environment & community.