From Early Canals to Modern Irrigation

Irrigation has never stood still in the Morven–Glenavy–Ikawai district. What started with simple systems and a lot of manual work has steadily evolved alongside farming practices and technology.

Early irrigation infrastructure did the job at the time, but it came with limits. Systems were labour-intensive and offered less control over how and when water was applied. As farming needs changed, expectations of irrigation changed too.

Over the years, continued investment has brought major improvements. Automation, upgraded infrastructure, and better monitoring have all helped make water delivery more reliable and efficient. These changes support better decision-making on the farm and help manage water more carefully.

Today, MGI is a modern irrigation scheme built on strong foundations. Its evolution has been about steady improvement, making sure the scheme keeps pace with the needs of farmers while respecting the work that went into building it in the first place.