Murray Irrigation

Project: PIIOP Round 3

PIIOP Round 3 received approval for funding of up to $114.8 million from the Australian Government’s Private Irrigation Infrastructure Operators Program (PIIOP) in NSW and focused on upgrading larger infrastructure within the main canals of our network, completing our modernisation journey.

Project summary


Some iconic agricultural assets were improved under this project, including:


  • Mulwala Canal – this irrigation channel forms the backbone of our water delivery system. Gravity-fed from Lake Mulwala, it is the longest canal in the Southern Hemisphere.
  • Lawson Syphons – built in the 1930s as a way to send water underneath the Edward River to service the Deniboota farming region, the two iconic syphons are integral to meeting the water needs of the eastern and western parts of our operational footprints.
  • Berrigan Canal – an offshoot of the Mulwala Canal, it services regions south of Jerilderie and runs into the Billabong Canal and Billabong Escape.
  • Edward River Escape – a key agricultural asset that allows us to monitor, regulate and analyse flows into the Edward River.


These upgrades provide greater control and extend the life of larger infrastructure across the main canals of our network. They have improved system control and allowed us to harvest rain water events. The project allowed strategic draining and winter watering periods, which means more water put to better use for the region.


PIIOP 3 works merged with earlier upgrades that increased flow rates and improved ordering flexibility for customers.


There was a mixture of major regulators and escapes within the project scope.


PIIOP 3 Final Report

2017 Berrigan Canal works


During winter 2017 six structures were upgraded along the Berrigan Canal.


These works began on May 1 and were fully commissioned by August 8.


In that time, 15,000 working hours were put into the project which comprised more than 80 tonnes of reinforcing steel and 900 cubic metres of concrete.


The Berrigan Canal diverts off the main Mulwala Canal that forms the backbone for the rest of our water delivery system. The Billabong Canal is fed water via the Berrigan Canal, so infrastructure upgrades to extend the life of assets and modernise its technology were vital.


2018 scope of works


The PIIOP 3 works for 2018 stretch from the Wakool system through to the beginning of the Mulwala Canal at the Mulwala Offtake. These upgrades provided greater control and extend the life of larger infrastructure across the main canals of our network. The works began in 2017. They have improved system control and allowed us to harvest rain water events. PIIOP 3 works were merged with earlier upgrades that increased flow rates and improved ordering flexibility for customers. There was a mixture of major regulators and escapes within the project scope. Works were also be carried out on three regulators in the Wakool system.

Lawson Syphons and Edward River Escape upgrades


The Lawson Syphons upgrades focused on improving the previously wheel-operated system that has been in operation for over 60 years and allows water from the Mulwala Canal to be sent underneath the Edward River to service the Wakool-Tallakool irrigation system.


The new gates installed are stainless steel and telemetry-enabled for remote control which will substantially reduce maintenance costs, increase safety and prepare the site for any increased environmental or irrigation demand in the future. The gates were manufactured by Cohuna-based AWMA.


The Edward River Escape is a key agricultural asset that allows us to monitor, regulate and analyse flows into the Edward River. It is one of the only credited environmental escapes in our system, which means that the water that is released is credited back to us by environmental stakeholders.


The AWMA radial gate upgrades on this site will improve flows, allow remote control and more accurately read the amount of water sent through.

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