ROMANCE OF WATER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 109, 11 May 1933, Page 8

ROMANCE OF WATER

IRRIGATION IN VICTORIA. HUGE STORAGE SYSTEM. SYDNEY, April 20. The story of irrigation in Victoria might well be described as the romance of water. The area of country lands in that State now artificially supplied with water for domestic use, for water-, ing stock, and for irrigation totals 24,000 square miles—or 15,000,000 acres —more than one-fourth of the total area of the State. At the time of the great drought in 1902, which so clearly demonstrated the necessity for water conservation, the total capacity of storages was only 172,000 acre feet. The Water Supply Commission has brought that total to 1,351,860 acre feet, and when all the works in progress arc completed the total will be 2,309,770 acre feet. Irrigation districts now total 1,146,991 acres, having an irrigable area of 659,210 acres. Others in progress of development have a total area of 560.000 acres, making a grand total, including Mildura, of 1,707,000 acres, with 5152 miles of irrigation channels. There were in 1907 103,170 acres of land under irrigated culture in Victoria. This ha s now been increased more than four-fold to 418,415 acres. The maximum, area irrigated in the dry season of 1929-30 was 566,477 acres. The Wimmera-Mallee scheme, the largest of its kind in the world, involves 7757 miles of channel reticulation, and carries water to settlers in dry districts as far as 300 miles. The rural population of Victoria averages six persons to the square mile, and it is significant that in recent years progress has been confined to those districts that have th e benefit of the irrigation scheme. It is a striking fact that in the irrigated areas the population is 40 persons to the square mile. In the intensely cultivated areas, devoted to vine and citrus culture, the average is more than 300 people to the square mile. An enormous capital is sunk in the various irrigation schemes in New' South Wales and Victoria, but it is safe to say that the courageous policy that has been followed is justified by results. There are many acres that would bo barren to-day were it not for the foresight of previous Governments in laying down comprehensive schemes whereby the water is preserved and taken tn the parched areas.