4.1.3 - What does border-check irrigation cost?
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New border-check layouts are expensive to set up. While the costs are site specific, commonly they are of the order of about $4000 per hectare (2004 costs). This includes WFP development, earthworks, drainage reuse, structures, pasture establishment, stock watering system, fencing, automatic irrigation and tree planting. Indicative costs of these activities are detailed in Table 4.1.
Table 4.1 - Costs of preparing and implementing a whole farm plan including all Catchment Strategy works in the Shepparton Irrigation Region
| Costs of implementing a Whole Farm Plan | Costs | |||
| Preparation of Whole Farm Plan | ||||
| Surveying | @ 30 x 30 grid | 60.0 ha | 35.00/ha | $2,100 |
| Design | @ 30 x30 grid | 60.0 ha | 40.00/ha | $2,400 |
| Certification of Whole Farm Plan by Local Government | 250.00 | $250 | ||
| Total | $4,500 | |||
| Channel, Drains, Reuse and Laneways Earthwork | ||||
| Channels | - Pad | 6,000 m3 |  | |
| Drains | - Cut | 4,200 m3 | | |
| Laneways | - Pad | 3,000 m3 | | |
| Reuse | - Cut | 5,850 m3 | 4.50 ML | |
| Net earthworks cost | | 10,050 m3 | @ 1.50/m | $15,075 |
| Reuse - pump. motor, structures | | 1 | @$10,000 | $10,000 |
| Connection to electricity | | 1 | @$10,000 | $10,000 |
| Channels | - Formation | 2,820 m | @1.20/m | $3,384 |
| Laneways | - Formation | 1,440 m | @1.20/m | $1,728 |
| Total | $40,187 | |||
| Channel and Drain Crossings | ||||
| Channel crossings (installed) | | 9 | @ $550 (600 mm) | $4,950 |
| Channel checks (installed) | | 9 | @ $300 | $2,700 |
| Drain structures (installed) | | 9 | @ $230 (300 mm) | $2,070 |
| Bay outlets (installed) | | 20 | @ $220 | $4,488 |
| Pipe bay outlets (installed) | | 20 | @ $450 | $9,180 |
| Total | $23,388 | |||
| Automation | ||||
| Automation - channels | | 59 | @ $1,000 | $58,800 |
| Automation - outlets | | 3 | @ $1,300 | $3,900 |
| Total | $62,700 | |||
| Landforming | ||||
| Peg out and check survey | | 60.0 ha | @ $50/ha | $3,000 |
| Clearing | | 60.0 ha | @ $50/ha | $3,000 |
| Ripping | | 60.0 ha | @ $65/ha | $3,900 |
| Discing (once) | | 60.0 ha | @ $45/ha | $2,700 |
| Earthwork (cut/fill) | | 16,620 m3 | @ $1.25/m3 | $20,775 |
| Topsoiling | | 6,180 m3 | @ $1.20/m3 | $7,0416 |
| Total | $40,791 | |||
| Pastures | 60.0 ha | | ||
| Gypsum | | 5 t/ha | @ $40 per t | $12,000 |
| Seed | | | @ $150 per ha | $9,000 |
| Fertiliser - super | | 0.75 t/ha | @ $250 per t | $11,250 |
| Total | $32,250 | |||
| Improvements | ||||
| Stock troughs | | 36 | @ $400 | $14,400 |
| Piping and installation | | 4,200 m | @ $850 per km | $3,570 |
| Fencing | | 12,000 m | @ $1,200 per km | $14,400 |
| Protection of remnants | | 2 ha | @ $3,500 per km | $7,000 |
| Trees, revegetation | | 5 km | @ $3,500 per km | $16,250 |
| Total | $55,620 | |||
Total Farm Cost Total Cost per Hectare | $236,048 | |||
$3,934 | ||||
Ongoing annual costs include herbicide weed control in channels and drains and pumping costs for the drainage reuse system.
The installation of a pipe and riser system instead of an open channel system would add an additional $1000 per hectare or more, depending on the site. The ongoing annual costs for pipe and riser systems include pumping of the irrigation supply and drainage reuse (preferably with the same pump), and weed control in the drainage system.
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