It was part of a three-day tour for the delegation of six from the Royal Irrigation Department in Bangkok, which included engineers, operational experts and foreign relations officers.
Their tour was facilitated by RMCG and included its associate George Warne, who was the inaugural CEO of Murray Irrigation after it was established in 1992.
The Thai visitors were hosted on their first day by Goulburn Murray Water, their second day by Murray Irrigation and their third day by Coliban Water.
The Deniliquin leg of the tour was particularly beneficial as the irrigation area they represent is very similar to Murray Irrigation in its size and layout.
They grow five rice crops every two years and operate a sophisticated system, however they do not have the compliance levels under which Murray Irrigation operates, and nor have they had the reform to which the local irrigation company has had to adjust.
While in the Deniliquin district the group was able to visit a rice and cereal farm, and learn more about modern irrigation lay-outs, the $300 million Private Irrigation Infrastructure Operators Program (PIIOP) which was completed in 2019, and general water ordering.
They also paid a visit to Lawson Syphons and were able to learn about the irrigation history of the district.
Murray Irrigation CEO Ron McCalman thanked RMCG for facilitating the tour and everyone who participated.
“It was a pleasure hosting the team to share our knowledge and expertise of infrastructure, software, water delivery and how we manage water sharing in times of restrictions,” he said.
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