STEADY progress towards the expansion of Western Australia's horticulture potential has taken another step with the delivery of piping into the Gascoyne area.
More than 250 lengths of pipe were to Carnarvon as part of a project to extend the Gascoyne irrigation pipeline and expand horticulture production.
The 21m long pipes will be laid early next year, following a tender process, to transfer water from aquifers near the Gascoyne River into the existing distribution system at the eastern end of McGlades Road.
The $10 million investment is part of the WA Department of Agriculture and Food’s $25 million Gascoyne Food Bowl project, funded by Royalties for Regions.
Project manager Tony Della Bosca said eventually both new and existing irrigated agriculture properties would be able to access water from the same pipeline to better manage the natural resource.
“The new pipeline will provide a reliable, consistent supply of suitable irrigation water to horticulture properties,” Mr Della Bosca said.
“The 25km long pipeline will extend east from McGlades Road for 11.5km, alongside the existing pipeline, then for a further 13.5km through the new northern borefield.
“Water will be pumped from 35 new production bores, identified by the department using airborne electromagnetic survey technology, selected from 120 exploratory bores.”
High density polyethylene pipe was chosen for its life-time warranty, ease of joining and price.
Pipe diameters of 900, 800, 710, 630 and 560mm have been selected to provide the desired peak flow rate of 400L per second.
While preliminary designs suggest the pipe will be able to deliver 400L per second, the department is working with the Department of Water to ensure the projected flow rate is sustainable.
“The projected 400L/sec is more than double the existing pipeline’s instantaneous flow of 183L/sec which radically improves delivery and access of water, so it is important that the adopted flow rate for the new pipeline is within the limits of the aquifer as licensed by the Department of Water,” Mr Della Bosca said.
Stage two electrification of the new northern borefield is about to commence to coincide with the completion of the pipeline in 2016 to increase efficiency and reduce water delivery costs.
The Gascoyne Food Bowl project aims to identify and release about 400 hectares of additional high-quality land for horticultural purposes.
