Canal lined with Elevate GeoGard EPDM gets award at World Irrigation Forum

The Trangie-Nevertire Irrigation Scheme in Australia was the winner of a WATSAVE Award in the "Innovative Water Management" category at the 3rd World Irrigation Forum, held last September in Bali, Indonesia.

In 2011, the Trangie-Nevertire Irrigation Scheme received funding under the Australian Government’s Private Irrigation Infrastructure Operators Program (PIIOP) to deliver water savings of 30,000 ML/ annum. Funding was spent mostly on rebuilding the existing irrigation channel system and lining approximately 110 km of water delivery channels.

Following a very thorough selection process, Elevate’s GeoGard EPDM 1.1 mm geomembrane was chosen to carry out the channel modernization due to its high quality, durability, speed of installation and local support.

Since the completion of the project, channel conveyance losses have reduced from up to 50% to 7%. On-farm productivity has improved from greater water availability and the installation of "state of the art" farm irrigation systems. Water savings have also allowed to reduce pumped volumes in the Macquarie River, thus protecting its biodiversity.

"We are currently experiencing the worst drought since 1900, with zero irrigation allocation and towns all on water restrictions," says Tony Quigley, treasurer of the Trangie-Nevertire Co-operative Ltd, who collected the award at the 3rd World Irrigation Forum together with chairman James Winter. "Nevertheless, we still managed to run the channel system with a small amount of water saved over from the 2016 floods. A few farmers even grew good crops. This would not have been possible without the renovated channel system."

"This is the largest EPDM job we have ever completed, equivalent to covering 213 soccer fields", says Philip Moors, Managing Director Holcim Solutions and Products EMEA. "It fills us with pride to be part of this success story and deliver a tangible, long-lasting solution to the local farming community," he added.