Latest News

• Add My News • Search Old News

Gippsland › Latest news › Department of Primary Industries

Study Highlights The Value Of Irrigation Re-Use Systems

An analysis completed by the Department of Primary Industries highlights the value to farmers of the many irrigation re-use systems that have been installed in the Macalister Irrigation District over the past four years

By Department of Primary Industries - 12th October 2004 - Back to News

Intensive monitoring of three re-use systems at Winnindoo, Denison and Tinamba during the 2003/04 irrigation season has demonstrated that a properly constructed and well-managed installation will catch and recycle approximately two megalitres of irrigation and rainfall water for every hectare of flood irrigated land that drains to it.

As an average farm in the Macalister Irrigation District has a water right of only three megalitres per hectare, this is a very significant addition to the water available for use.

Forty-one re-use systems have been installed in the Macalister Irrigation District with government financial assistance over the past four years. These have catchments averaging 62 hectares in area. With the government rebate for farm planning and re-use system installation, the average cost to the farmer for the completed re-use system was around $20,300 or $330 per hectare of catchment.

If the three re-use systems monitored by the Department of Primary Industries are typical of those installed in the district, the average re-use system on a 62 hectare catchment should recycle approximately 124 megalitres of run-off in most years.

This suggests that the cost of the extra water obtained through a re-use system should be in the order of $164 per megalitre, compared to approximately $1,000 if additional water right is purchased. Investing in a re-use system should therefore be an attractive option for increasing water security when compared with buying permanent water right or purchasing water on the sales market.

The Victorian State Government provides funding assistance in the Macalister Irrigation District towards farm plans (75% of cost up to $82.50 per hectare), re-use systems (50% of cost up to $16,600 per system) and spray conversion (15% of cost up to $410 per hectare). This funding is through its Gippsland Lakes Future Directions and Actions Plan and Water Smart Farms Initiative which target greater water use efficiency on farms in Gippsland and improved water quality in the Gippsland Lakes.

For further information on re-use systems or on the government programs that support them contact Gavan Lamb or Ken Slee at the Department of Primary Industries at Maffra on 5147 0800.

REDUCE LAMENESS FOR FREE

Heavy winter rainfall across some parts of the district has put pressure on many aspects of life on the farm, including the feet of your cows. No doubt your herd is supporting a number of lame cows, and many of them will be heifers or second calvers.

Most lameness is the result of physical damage to the feet such as bruising to the sole, damage to the white line or penetration of the sole by sharp stones. If you have large numbers of animals with these problems it may be time to look at the behaviour of your cows as they travel to and from the dairy.

Cows travel along a lane or track in a definite order. You will know the lead cows in your herd and the ones that always bring up the rear. Interestingly, the most dominant cows in the herd tend to move along in the middle of the line, with the second most dominant animals leading, and the least dominant at the end.

When the cows are allowed to move along at their own pace you will notice that they have their heads down. They carefully watch the track, looking for a safe and secure place to put their feet. Their hind feet follow their front feet exactly and the following cow tends to walk exactly the same track.

Provided they are allowed to look where they are going in this way, cows can negotiate rough and narrow tracks without damaging their feet. When they come across "danger zones" on the track, the cows will slow down to negotiate the obstacle deliberately and carefully.

If the cows are hurried or stressed on the track or in the yards you will notice heads in the air and the herd bunching up. If their heads are up the cows are no longer able to carefully place their feet out of danger. Cows that are routinely pushed along tracks are therefore at much greater risk of foot damage and consequent lameness.

Pushing the herd up from behind puts the rear guard under pressure. Remember that these cows are the least dominant animals in the herd, and they have little influence over pace of the dominant cows in the middle of the group. The herd will not reach the dairy any faster if the tail enders are hurried. What will happen, however, is that these tail-end cows will become stressed, their heads will be raised, they will be less careful about where their feet are going, and they become more likely to sustain damage and become lame.

So, one simple and cheap way of minimising lameness is to allow the cows a leisurely walk to the dairy at their own pace, and this is especially important in wet, muddy conditions and with tracks in poor repair.

FISH WASTE …. NOT WASTED!

Researchers at DPI Tatura and Werribee are investigating how the use of a waste product from one primary industry could help to solve problems in other industries and also benefit the environment.

Every year, thousands of tonnes of fish waste produced by Australia's seafood industry ends up as landfill, at a cost to processors and the environment. However, through patented technology, these wastes can be processed and incorporated with rock phosphate into mainstream agricultural fertilisers. Because seafood processing wastes are principally organic, the resultant fertilisers qualify for organic certification. This is of particular interest to the organic agriculture sector, which is faced, with a lack of suitable fertilisers.

The researchers, from DPI's Primary Industries Research Victoria division, are comparing the agronomic value of a phosphorus-based fish fertiliser with that of superphosphate in the production of tomatoes, irrigated pasture and dryland cropping (triticale).

Project leader Aravind Surapaneni said that the first tomato field trial had been conducted on a low-phosphorus site at Tatura.

"Despite some harsh seasonal conditions, good commercial yields (more than l00t/ha) were achieved with the fish-waste fertiliser during the 2002-03 season," Mr Surapaneni said.

"These yields were comparable to those obtained using superphosphate, although the plants grown with fish waste tended to establish more slowly."

The experiment has been repeated in 2003- 04, with the tomatoes to be harvested in late March.

Aravind also hopes that the fish waste work can be extended into more practical situations, with trials on commercial tomato growers' properties later this year.

The fish waste project is supported by funding from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) and from DPI (through its Ecologically Sustainable Agriculture Initiative).

FRDC program manager Ian Knuckey said that the processing of fish into fillets results in up to 60% waste product, and there are increasing environmental and economic barriers to the disposal of waste into landfill.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

• Inverloch dairy farmer Mick Hughes highlights community collaboration survive South Gippsland's dry season challenges
  Inverloch dairy farmer Mick Hughes credits collaboration with the Inverloch Cluster and local water authorities for navigating South Gippsland's recurring dry conditions and improving farm drought resilience.
• West Gippsland CMA celebrates 25 years of sustainable irrigation, transforming Gippsland farms, saving water and protecting local waterways
  West Gippsland CMA's Sustainable Irrigation Program celebrates 25 years, with 1,200 projects saving 47 gigalitres annually, enhancing farm productivity, protecting waterways, and expanding beyond the Macalister Irrigation District.
• Danny O’Brien warns 33 percent crime rise highlights Gippsland commuters’ safety concerns, lacking adequate PSO protection
  Crime on Gippsland public transport has risen nearly 33% in 12 months, raising concerns about PSO coverage and regional commuter safety under the Allan Labor government.
• Danny O'Brien commends South Gippsland Shire for securing Nyora transport study funding, urges further state investment
  Danny O'Brien has praised South Gippsland Shire Council for securing state funding for the Nyora Transport Study, urging the Allan Labor Government to follow through with real investment and road upgrades.
• Melina Bath celebrates Victorian farmers’ dedication and contributions during National Agriculture Week 2025
  The Nationals’ Melina Bath highlights Victorian farmers’ hard work, resilience, and vital contributions during National Agriculture Week, urging support for primary producers and celebrating their role in communities and the economy.
• Victorian Health Department sets Gippsland priorities, access, workforce, safety, shared services, and mental health expansion
  The Victorian Department of Health has set four Gippsland health priorities: access, workforce, safety, and shared services, while highlighting mental health needs and significant workforce investment at Warragul's regional health leaders' forum.
• Southern Rural Water celebrates World Tourism Day 2025 while linking people, culture, nature, and sustainable regional tourism
  World Tourism Day 2025 highlights water’s role in southern Victoria, connecting people, culture, recreation, agriculture, and sustainable tourism while supporting communities, ecosystems, and Traditional Owner cultural heritage.
• Cowes Primary students visited Berninneit, meeting Mayor Halstead, exploring community spaces, learning about leadership and environment
  Curious Cowes Primary students meet Mayor Halstead at Berninneit, exploring local government, community spaces and environmental leadership during community walk visit.
• Council urges transparent, community-focused approach for battery energy storage systems across Baw Baw
  Baw Baw Council raises concerns over proposed BESS projects, urging transparency, protection of prime agricultural land, community input, and stronger oversight of sites outside designated renewable energy zones.
• World Wetlands Day celebrates West Gippsland’s culturally significant wetlands and enduring traditional owner knowledge
  World Wetlands Day highlights West Gippsland’s globally significant wetlands on Bunurong and Gunaikurnai Country, celebrating traditional knowledge, heritage and efforts protecting waterways, biodiversity and Country into the future.
• Southern Rural Water declares spill entitlement in MID, boosting farmers' allocations as Lake Glenmaggie nears capacity
  Southern Rural Water has declared a spill for Macalister Irrigation District customers until 16 September, providing water above 100% allocation as Lake Glenmaggie nears capacity at 98% following strong winter inflows.
• West Gippsland CMA’s annual report showcases environmental achievements from mountain headwaters to coastal waters
  West Gippsland CMA’s Annual Report highlights major 2024–25 achievements restoring rivers, wetlands and habitats, supporting communities, protecting wildlife, and strengthening catchment health from mountain headwaters to the coast.
• Darren Chester applauds Metung Primary Footy Colours Day, showcasing student enthusiasm and schools' vital role in regional life
  Darren Chester joined Tim Bull at Metung Primary Footy Colours Day, praising student enthusiasm, community spirit, and schools' vital role in fostering connections, participation, and regional community life through fun events
• South Gippsland Shire Council celebrates major project milestones and strong financial performance, and achievements in 2024/25 Annual Report
  South Gippsland Shire Council's 2024/25 Annual Report highlights major infrastructure projects, strong financial management, expanded community services, and full achievement of Council Plan initiatives across the past 12 months.
• South Gippsland Shire Council celebrates major project milestones and strong financial performance, and achievements in 2024/25 Annual Report
  South Gippsland Shire Council's 2024/25 Annual Report highlights major infrastructure projects, strong financial management, expanded community services, and full achievement of Council Plan initiatives across the past 12 months.
• Darren Chester congratulates Nambrok-Denison Primary student leaders, celebrating confidence, responsibility and community impact in 2026
  Gippsland MP Darren Chester congratulated Nambrok-Denison Primary’s 2026 student leaders, highlighting leadership’s role in building confidence, responsibility, community engagement, and fostering future civic and volunteering contributions.
• South Gippsland Shire Council wishes everyone a merry Christmas and a happy new year and other council updates
  South Gippsland Shire Council wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, highlights skatepark opening, Australia Day awards, community programs, seasonal bin changes, and upcoming events.