PIIOP Round 2
PIIOP is a once in a generation asset
renewal project which involves upgrading aging infrastructure
across our entire footprint to benefit our customers by improving
our water delivery service.
View a 10-page feature celebrating the practical completion of
PIIOP Round 2 here.
About the project
Extensive planning and consultation with customers was
undertaken after the funding agreement between Murray Irrigation
and the Australian Government was signed in 2012. In 2013, works
began to upgrade network regulators and farm outlets with automated
and/or remote-controlled technology. Customers now have improved
water efficiency, ordering flexibility and the opportunity for
higher on-farm productivity. The PIIOP Round 2 project received
$169.2 million in funding from the Australian Government.
Watch Murray Irrigation's future focus video here.
Outlets
The outlet program involved the upgrade of more than 2,100 farm
outlets with modern and efficient Rubicon
FlumeGateTM and SlipMeterTM outlets. The
FlumeGateTM automatically controls the flow of water by
varying the gate position. The SlipMeter TM accurately
measures flows even in turbulent conditions, recording the total
volume of water passed and the precise amount of water used.
FlumeGateTM

SlipMeterTM
Regulators
The regulator program upgraded concrete infrastructure along the
channel system with Rubicon regulators or refurbished existing AWMA
regulators. The regulator program was completed in September
2017 and comprised more than 1,300 sites.

System reconfigurations
The reconfigurations program kept customers connected to our
channel system but altered their supply point and reduced the
length of channels.
Reconfiguration project assessments were based on
merit and to date:
- 88 projects have been completed
- 2,012ML in water savings has been achieved (exceeding the
target of 1,800ML)
- 144km of footprint has been reduced
- 199 outlets have been decommissioned
- 103 regulators have been decommissioned
Sub-system retirements
The sub-system retirement project was the strategic voluntary
retirement of landholdings from Murray Irrigation's area of
operations by disconnecting them from the system.
Funding is being provided to enable these landholders to convert
to dryland farming and to assist with the installation of an
alternate stock and domestic water supply.
Under the project, landholders transferred their water
entitlements to the Commonwealth and terminated their delivery
entitlements and associated shares in Murray Irrigation. In total,
29 of 30 landholdings participated in this project.
Testimonials

"The PIIOP project is really about higher flows for us. We
wanted to be able to command more water when we're irrigating. We
were really happy with the whole process, from consultation to
installation it was all pretty smooth, there were no issues at all.
We are certainly looking forward to the benefits of remote
control."
Sam Armytage - Conargo
"Working on Murray Irrigations PIIOP Round 2 project has
been great for my company. Work has been very consistent and it has
allowed me to employ extra people. We have been running seven to
eight crews consistently for the last 4 years and have roughly
installed around 2,000 outlets, regulators, and syphons. One of the
best things has been having consistent work at our backdoor. In the
past, we have worked all over Australia but working locally and
being able to live at home has been great."
Peter Danckert - Director of Deniliquin Irrigation
Contracting
View more testimonials here.