Kirwee Experimental Irrigation Farm

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31161, 10 September 1966, Page 1

Kirwee Experimental Irrigation Farm

The establishment of an experimental irrigation farm in the Kirwee-Aylesbury-Sandy Knolls area was agreed to by the Malvern County Council at its monthly meeting yesterday.

The council decided to supply two cusecs of water, equal to one million gallons a day, from its race along the State highway, and to ask farmers in the area to submit their farms for selection.

The two-cusec supply, it was said, would irrigate 200 acres, and could serve as a pilot scheme for proposed general irrigation for parts of Malvern, Paparua, and Ellesmere counties. A sub-committee reported

that proposals had been made by Mr S. Hamblett, a Minister of Works irrigation engineer. He had said that although Paparua and Ellesmere county races could supply water, the soil types were not suitable.

The two-cusec supply, taken continuously, would be ponded for periodic release into a border-dyke system. This would cushion the draw from the water-race. Mr Hamblett said the Government might be prepared to put a farm into production in two or three years. A farmer could expect to pay up to £1 a year an acre. The establishment of the experiment would be a team effort by the Ministry, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and the farmer.

Supporting the proposal, the sub-committee said the scheme had advantage for farmers. The extra income from the sale of water could be used to give water-races more capacity. As it was possible that Darfield would soon have an independent supply, more water would be freed for stock use. Two cusecs was only a beginning, said Cr. W. R. Oliver. Where would the water come from for a general scheme? The ministry proposed to take water at the Waimakarin Gorge bridge, said Cr. H. H. Deans.

“And hope that the farmers will be clamouring for water after seeing the results," said Cr. M. R. Voice.

Big strides had been made in dry land farming, said Cr. Oliver. Would farmers go

to the expense of irrigating?

“We don't know the limits if water is available,” said Cr. Voice, who foresaw possible market-garden development.

Cr. D. W. Mulholland said he thought more emphasis should be placed on irrigation for cropping, rather than for stock. The committee had felt that the scheme should fit in more with existing farm practice, said Cr. Deans. The ministry seemed to think more along the lines of a Winchmore scheme.

The committee adopted the proposals on the motion of Cr. Deans, and decided that any costs for developing races should be part of the capital cost of the experimental farm.