HUGE IRRIGATION SCHEME.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXVII, Issue LXXVII, 30 May 1919, Page 5

HUGE IRRIGATION SCHEME.

IN NEW SOUTH WALES

The fame of the. Murrumbidgee or Yanko irrigation scheme which is be- ' ing cjpried out by the State of New ! South"Wales has already spread far and I wide. It has cost millions' of money, /hasalready created several'settlements, i and at least one moderate town and, when completed, is expected to give a livlihood to 100,000 people and permit 6000 farms. -

i An important step just taken brings now into prominence the Murray waters irjigation scheme. Under this £4,600,- ---' 000 is to be spent by the Commonwealth, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, in equal parts, in [ taking control of the waters of the Mur- : ray river for the purposes of irrigation j_ and navigation.. There is to be a "great ( dam in the upper part of the river, ) and'from E<jhuca to Blanehetown, in i South Australia, $6 weirs and locks will ; be constructed, affording at all times a . navigable depth for vessels drawing sft j water. There are also to be locks and ) weirs in the Murrumbidgee river from 1 its junction with the Murray up to ! Hay; .

The site of the great dam has finally been fixed after investigations extending over a year, some miles above Albury, at the confluence of the Murray and Mitta rivers. The water will be backed up for a distance of several miJes along the valleys of both rivers. By means of this dam, the irrigation of a wide stretch of promising country hereabouts will be controlled, as will also the flow of water in the lowest part of the river during a great part of the year.

The complete scheme will occupy years, but parts of it will be brought into operation from time to time. Works' no.w definitely authorised represent £2,500,00.