MINISTER OPENS INTEGRATED HORTICULUTRE SUPPLY AT STANBRIDGE

The Hon. Ian Macdonald, MLC, Minister for Natural Resources, Minister for Primary Industries and Minister for Mineral Resources is in Griffith today to officially open the Integrated Horticulture Supply program at Stanbridge.

The Integrated Horticulture Supply (IHS) project is a $70 million capital expenditure program initiated and led by Murrumbidgee Irrigation in cooperation with shareholders.

The project is a 10 year program designed to replace 260 kilometres of open channels, currently servicing 12,000 hectares of horticulture, with a modern pressurised irrigation supply network capable of meeting present and future horticulture needs.

“The Stanbridge project is the first IHS project to be completed in the MIA. The system became operational in October and has been performing very well to date,” said Dick Thompson, Chairman of Murrumbidgee Irrigation. “The pressurised supply features the ability to monitor and control all outlets remotely, the provision of pressurised and filtered water to the farm gate, the subsequent reduction in losses through strategic watering, and the information integration with high-tech on farm systems.”

The Stanbridge network supplies approx 500 hectares of horticulture running 8 kilometres of pipeline with 2 pump stations.

“The installation of technology based water supply systems to horticulture growers has the potential to revolutionise the industry and set new standards in on farm water use efficiency and off farm water savings. The project complements Murrumbidgee Irrigation’s many other completed infrastructure upgrades designed to reduce water losses and ensure the sustainability and viability of the irrigation area,” concluded Mr Thompson.