Water Resource Management Expertise

Design, implementation and management services

Client: Tamar Ridge Wines

Prior to the purchase of Tamar Ridge Wines (TRW) by Gunns Ltd in 2003, ARM has worked as an integral member of the development team for TRW. Over the past 12 months, this has involved the investigation, design, supervision and licensing of 4 new dams totalling approx 800 ML, the provision of soil surveys prior to development, the provision of irrigation system designs and tender documents and general development support.

Client: Rushy Lagoon Resources

ARM staff have been involved in the implementation of this project over a 9 year period. The project, which is funded by international investors, has involved the use of 20 centre pivot irrigators to provide pasture irrigation over 1200 ha to 4 dairies milking approx 4000 cows. ARM staff provided the irrigation system design, dam design and supervision (1 x 1200 ML storage, 1 x 1000 ML storage) and set out of on farm roads (20 km), paddocks, house positions (6) and dairy positions.

The initial phase of the project which involved 3 dairies, 13 centre pivots, 15 km of roads, 4 houses and a dam was implemented in an 8 month period, with cows being milked at the end of the 8 months.

Client: Rosedale Rural

ARM staff has provided over the past 12 years, the design and planning for the implementation of a 10 centre pivot system covering 900 ha on the Rosedale Rural Pty Ltd properties in Tasmania. This system is used for irrigated fodder production, potatoes, poppies and cereals. ARM staff have recently overseen, in collaboration with Thompson and Brett consulting engineers, the design and implementation of a 2000 ML gully dam storage of 21 m in height involving 170,000 cubic metres of compacted fill.

Reuse Irrigation

Client: Brighton Council Reuse Scheme

For the Brighton reclaimed water development ARM staff have conducted soil surveys of a potential 1500ha for reuse irrigation, examined and described a total of 39 pits, provided permeability information for all soil types, provided recommendations on irrigation design and management, provided information on cropping rotation and water balances, taken some 90 soil samples for analysis for the initiation of the project.

This irrigation system utilises the majority of the Bridgewater Waste Water Treatment effluent outflow of 2 megalitres per day, applying irrigation to a wide range of sites utilizing centre pivot and travelling gun irrigators as well as solid set sprinklers and drip application in perennial crops such as stonefruit. ARM continues to provide soil sampling and cultural recommendations as well as telemetry based soil moisture monitoring services in selected crops grown by the 7 major irrigators on the system.

Client: Central Highlands Water,Victoria – Smart Cycle Project - North Ballarat Waste Water Re-use

Agricultural Resource Management staff were engaged by UK based Water and Waste water utility company United Utilities Australia (UUA) over a two year period to provide the agricultural elements to their bid to manage the waste water for North Ballarat in Victoria.

ARM staff worked closely with UUA and the Consulting Engineers SKM to develop practical and sustainable agricultural outcomes for the use of the water. The scheme was to be a Build Own and Operate scheme delivering 4000 ML annually for which ARM were to provide the on going agricultural management. This required the development of a rigorous understanding of the practical and real issues for a larger scale irrigation schemes utilising waste water, as the ongoing accountability for the farmers to meet EPA guidelines was to rest with ARM.

The UUA bid was of the last two remaining and was ultimately unsuccessful however, ARM staff were commended by both UUA and CHW for their strong understanding of both technical and legal issues and their ability and innovation in providing practical and cost effective outcomes under difficult circumstances.

Client: Coal River Water Recycling Authority - Re-use scheme, Coal Valley South Eastern Tasmania

ARM staff have been contracted by the authority to provide the extension and executive officer services for this scheme. This involves day to day consultation and support for the scheme participants in respect of the technical requirements involved in irrigation with recycled water.