TEN million dollars is being sunk in to Yanco, but where and how?
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Murrumbidgee Irrigation’s (MI) board has given the tick of approval to complete an extensive modernisation program in the town, with $10 million worth of projects given the green light last week.
Planned works include the Yanco stock and domestic and earthen channel rehabilitation initiatives.
MI chief executive officer Brett Jones said the funding provided an opportunity to rescale operations to meet the changing needs of Yanco village customers.
“It is also a great (way) to give something back to the community that is the birth place of irrigation in this area,” he said.
“At MI we are building a new future together with our customers and the community. These works will help us to do that.”
The projects will involve considerable land rehabilitation and beautification works where channels are removed or piped.
A low-pressure pumped pipeline and gravity piped system of channels will allow for the removal of open channels.
Benefits include a safer environment through the removal of narrow crossings, improved aesthetics, better water control and a reduction in escape water and maintenance.
MI general manager of asset delivery, Jody Rudd, said Yanco customers had been consulted to determine what direction they wanted to head in.
Consultation will continue throughout the implementation of the project.
“Some villagers told us that they no longer want the added cost of irrigation network access,” Mr Rudd said.
“Others had concerns about open channels running close to their boundaries.
“We also needed to take account of Yanco community needs.”
The company believes it won’t just be Yanco which profits from the project, saying all customers would benefit through operation and maintenance savings, as well as lower refurbishment costs.
“This will in turn help us to reduce long term costs and keep prices down,” Mr Jones said.
This program of works is funded by the federal government in exchange for water savings.