Wesfarmers Resources, a significant Australian producer of metallurgical coal engaged Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment's Industrial Workshop [Mackay branch] to deliver fast-turnaround servicing to a large selection of DAVEY Water Products Vertical Multistage In-Line Pumps [pictured below] that are used onsite at their Curragh Coal Mine, located 30km north of Blackwater in Central Queensland. This servicing project presented a number of challenges for the Dowdens Mackay Industrial Workshop, none more important than the tight timelines in which these repairs needed to be completed.

These DAVEY Vertical Multistage In-Line Pumps play a crucial role in the operation of the mine as they are used in various dewatering applications and also to boost supply of water to all of Curragh Coal Mine's various processing areas - including the vitally important Coal Handling & Preparation Plant (CHPP). Wesfarmers are supremely confident in having their pumps serviced by Dowdens Pumping, because after many years of working together they know Dowdens always aim to provide the sale / service of suitable pumps that maximise service life and minimise power usage and downtime. Improving levels of equipment utilisation whilst reducing planned / unplanned maintenance downtime increases the overall productivity of a coal mine.

Wesfarmers Curragh Coal Mine is an open-cut coal mine that provides metallurgical coal for export markets and supplies steaming coal to the Queensland Government's Stanwell Corporation under a long-term contract. Stanwell operate two major electricity generation assets, the Stanwell Power Station located in Central Queensland and the Tarong Power Station, located in the South Burnett, Southern Queensland. Wesfarmers Curragh Coal Mine has a well-established and geographically diverse customer portfolio with a number of long-standing relationships with world-leading steel-makers.

Like with any pump that arrives to Dowdens Pumping - Mackay's Industrial or Domestic Workshop, these Davey VM Vertical Multistage In-Line Pumps were serviced using Dowdens established workshop repair procedures. It was these established procedures and highly regarded workmanship that prompted Wesfarmers Resources to award Dowdens this important servicing contract. Dowdens Pumping - Mackay are so confident in our Workshop Servicing Capabilities we offer a "12 MONTH WORKMANSHIP GUARANTEE" for any service completed in-house - this is by-far the best guarantee available in or around Mackay, QLD. All pumps were successfully serviced and returned to site within Wesfarmers specified deadlines, meaning less downtime for Curragh Mine's related water infrastructure.

A very brief synopsis of this projects Key SERVICING Procedures are listed below:

• Set up pump on work bench & preform suite of electrical tests on motor
• Remove motor from the pump wet end
• Once seperated, run the pump motor independently of pump wet end to establish & gauge motors efficiency
• Submit detailed quote to customer clearly illustrating what is required to repair motor/pump
• Once quote has been accepted immediately begin to repair motor/pump components

• Dismantle motor and replace worn bearings
• Dismantle wet end of pump - clean, strip & asses all components
• Repair and reassemble both motor and pump wet end
• Connect unit to the Dowdens 'Pump Test Bench' & check all pump curves/electrical operation is 100%
• Undertake final inspection before preparing pump for transportation back to Curragh Coal Mine

...

Since opening in Mackay back in 1973, Dowdens has grown to employ over 160 staff situated across 4 branches in Mackay, Proserpine, Rockhampton and Brisbane permitting us to confidently service customers throughout Queensland, nationally and internationally. Dowdens services now cover all aspects of water engineering and fluid handling resource management for the residential, commercial / industrial, agricultural and mining sectors. From project inception through to final commissioning - the team at Dowdens has the ability to deliver complete specialised long-term engineered solutions that are practical and innovative, ensuring our clients benefit from greater productivity and reduced downtime.

With dedicated departments of industry trained engineers, draftsmen, project managers, sales staff and tradespeople including fitters, mechanics, polywelders, machinists, plumbers, electricians and boiler makers - Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment offer an unmatched range of world-class engineering solutions for any type of water management project. We truly are Queensland's premier one-stop-shop for pumping and water treatment systems! CLICK HERE TO LODGE AN ONLINE PUMP SERVICE REQUEST, OR REQUEST AN OBLIGATION FREE QUOTE.

Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment's Brisbane branch has built a strong relationship with Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology (SNP) after more than 25 years of providing high purity water treatment systems / solutions for 22 of their Commercial Testing Pathology laboratories - from as far north as Cairns, down south to Coffs Harbour and everywhere in between. The majority of Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment's high purity water treatment systems are used primarily in Sullivan Nicolaides blood testing machines. SNP was formed in 1956 when Dr John Sullivan started a small pathology practice to service local families in and around Brisbane. Dr Nick Nicolaides joined him 18 months later and since then, it has grown to one of the largest and most trusted pathology practices in Australia.

The PROBLEM:

Tap or 'town' water contains many substances that if left untreated, can react with the reagents used in controlled laboratory tests, causing positive or negative interference which leads to unreliable test results. Cations such as sodium, calcium, magnesium or iron; anions such as bicarbonate, chloride and sulfate; and other inorganic ions, are commonly found in tap water. A number of other contaminants - such as pyrogens, nucleases, alkaline phosphatase and endotoxins may be present. As they are not harmful for human consumption, they are not thoroughly regulated or tested in the course of South-East Queensland municipalities potable water treatment and distribution. These contaminants are detrimental to experimental / laboratory processes that require precision, high sensitivity and precise instrumental operation.

Our SOLUTION:

Water purification is highly dependent upon local (and even site-specific) variations in the make-up of the town / tap water quality, which can differ greatly from place to place. For this reason Dowdens Engineers have designed each and every SNP high purity water treatment system individually, with local and site specific feed water characteristics in mind. The most recent system was installed at SNP's Central Laboratory located in Bowen Hills, QLD.

After careful analysis of the town water being delivered directly to SNP's Bowen Hills Laboratory a turn-key 'looped' treatment system was designed, manufactured and incorporated into SNP's existing Building Maintenance System (BMS). The first stage of this looped system is pre-treatment of the town water via a set of Duplex Carbon Filters and Water Softeners. The water is then fed through Duplex Matten Reverse Osmosis systems and Duplex 10" Deionisers and then stored in four 1,000L loop tanks. This treated water then passes through a set of four Deioniser Polishing Systems which (via a pump) is recirculated into and around the labs as 18 MΩ/cm ultrapure water (UPW).

This 'looped' high purity water treatment system delivers 56,000L of 18 MΩ/cm UPW / day - providing not only the capacity required for SNP's entire Bowen Hills Central Laboratory, but also delivering sufficient redundancy so that during times of service / maintenance the lab and testing machines are never without sufficient UPW to remain operational.

Dowdens Pumping - Brisbane's design philosophy for this project was: Cost Effectiveness - Ease of Installation - Simple & Reliable Plant Operation - System Reliability & Reduction of Ongoing Maintenance Costs. The entire SNP high purity water treatment system was designed, manufactured, installed and commissioned on time and within budget.

Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology's Central Laboratory [Bowen Hills, QLD] - Key Components:

• Duplex Carbon Filters (with automatic Clack Valves)
• Duplex Water Softeners (with automatic Clack Valves)
• Duplex Matten 'L Series' Reverse Osmosis Systems

• Duplex 10" Deionisers
• 4x Deioniser Polishing 'Loop' Systems
• 4x 1,000L Treated Water 'Loop' Tanks

...

As an Australian owned company that began life in 1973 selling and servicing all manner of water treatment equipment, Dowdens has grown to employ over 160 staff situated across 4 branches in Mackay, Proserpine, Rockhampton and Brisbane permitting us to confidently service customers throughout Queensland, nationally and internationally. From project inception through to final commissioning - the team at Dowdens has the ability to deliver complete specialised long-term engineered solutions that are practical and innovative, ensuring our clients benefit from greater productivity and reduced equipment downtime.

With dedicated departments of industry trained engineers, draftsmen, project managers, sales staff and tradespeople including fitters, mechanics, polywelders, machinists, plumbers, electricians and boiler makers - Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment offer an unmatched range of world-class engineered solutions for any type of water management project. We truly are Queensland's premier one-stop-shop for pumping and water treatment systems!

Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment's Mackay Branch has completed commissioning of the Moranbah 'whole-of-town' Automated Irrigation System. This Dowdens designed irrigation system was delivered to improve the control and ongoing maintenance of township irrigation within Moranbah, QLD.

Isaac Regional Council (IRC) specified a number of key criteria during the tendering process that the system was to deliver. These system criteria included, but were not limited to: provide the ability for night time automatic irrigation to numerous local Athletics Fields that have previously been irrigated manually (using static sprinklers and travelling irrigators) during the day; to replace an aging irrigation system located on Mills Ave. and achieve an overall reduction in labour relating to ongoing maintenance.

Dowdens Mackay successful tender was centred on an innovative Central Control System that enabled remote monitoring and maintenance of the 52 irrigation sites throughout Moranbah. The Dowdens designed controller is based in the Goonyella Road Council Depot. Dowdens Central Control System comprises of a desktop computer, irrigation software, an online weather station and localised communication/data collection infrastructure (routers, modem and radio transmitters/receivers).

This irrigation system is the first time Central Control System architecture has been utilised anywhere in the Isaac Regional Council shire. The system transmits all data collected / collated via several forms of communication i.e. radio frequencies, internet connection (Wi-Fi / 3G) and direct wired connections.

The Dowdens designed Central Control System has the ability to communicate to all Toro Sentinel Controllers via either radio frequency or internet connection. The operator has the ability to program and monitor all controllers via the Central Controller. The operator can set independent watering days, start times and run times for each and every station (valve) connected to Sentinel Controllers. Each day a detailed activity report is sent to all operators notifying them of all system activities, such as no. of actual stations operated, how long for, if any stations recorded abnormal flow (high or low), system communication success or failures, abnormal solenoid coil current (high or low) and the status of all soil moisture sensors. Reports can easily be generated to show the history of all/specific system activities such as those listed above.

A wireless Weather Station and remote Soil Moisture Sensors were installed and connected to the Central Controller to efficiently monitor the regions weather conditions in real-time, and then adjust the systems parameters accordingly. The Weather Station and remote Soil Moisture Sensors are used primarily to prevent irrigation occurring during and after localised rain events and to calculate Evapotranspiration (ET) based irrigation running times. For example the Central Control System is programmed to turn all irrigation off for 3 days (adjustable timeframe) when more than 10mm of rain is received on any 1 day (adjustable timeframe). Weather Station calculates the daily ET and automatically adjusts irrigation duration accordingly (lower ET = lower run time).

CLICK BELOW to hear Alan Pickering (Dowdens Turf Irrigation Design & Engineering Support) discussing the details of the
Moranbah Township Irrigation System with Meecham Philpott from ABC Radio's Tropical North Breakfast program

This systems has provided IRC control and monitoring capabilities of 52 irrigation sites throughout Moranbah from one central site. Delivering vastly improved energy and water use efficiencies this Dowdens designed irrigation systems features automatic shutdown of all irrigation during rain events; automatic adjustment of irrigation run times based on ET; daily automatic reporting of all irrigation sites activity; automatic irrigation for 75% of median strips located on Mills Avenue; addition of quick coupler valves to flush lateral lines thereby minimising blockages; automatic irrigation of Little Athletics / AFL Sporting fields resulting in reduced labour required for manual setup of irrigators; reduction of effluent contact with public via system only watering at night; filters on effluent mainline have minimised blockages to irrigation valve and sprinklers, thereby reducing labour required to clear blockages.

Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment's design philosophy for this project was: Cost Effectiveness - Current Best Practice - Ease of Installation - Simple & Effective System Operation - System Reliability & Delivering Greatly Reduced Ongoing Maintenance Requirements.

Moranbah Township Irrigation ~ Key System FEATURES & Components:

CENTRAL CONTROL ROOM Components

TORO Sentinel Water Management System software - EATON Computer with Printer, Router, UPS - DAVIS Vantage Pro2Plus Weather Station Console (Inside Temperature, Humidity, Barometric Pressure Sensors) - DAVIS Vantage Pro2Plus Integrated Sensor Suite (Anemometer, Tipping Rain Collector, UV Sensor, Solar Radiation Sensor, Outside Temperature Sensor, Outside Humidity Sensor) - WEATHERLINK Software - TORO NSN Support Systems (24/7 Phone Support for IRC operators)

FIELD CONTROLLERS Overview

Field (or Satellite) Controllers were installed at 52 sites throughout Moranbah. These units control the irrigation at their respective sites by direct wire connection to solenoid valves. The field controllers act as stand alone units, operating independently from the central controller. However all of the Controller's programming information comes via the Central Controller. This allows Field Controllers to operate even if the Central Controller is not operational for any reason (loss of power, phone network outages etc.). The Central Controller and Field Controllers automatically communicate at the end of each day to tabulate current programming changes, and again each morning to receive detailed system activity reports. The Field Controllers can be powered by AC if available on site, or DC via by 12V batteries trickle charged by solar panels.

Controllers were either mounted on existing structures or on Dowdens fabricated galvanised steel posts, hinged to allow access from ground level. Each of the 4 irrigated Sports Field sites have a wireless soil moisture sensor attached. The Field Controllers can be set to prevent watering when the soil moisture is above 50% of capacity (all are adjustable). A Mobile Soil Moisture Sensor was also supplied to allow IRC operators to manually test and record soil moisture levels at any location. All Field Controllers have a built in radio for communication to a 'Base' or 'Node' Controller. Base Controllers also have a 3G modem to communicate with the Central Controller.

MILLS AVENUE - MEDIANS IRRIGATION Overview

This portion of the project involved the design, supply and installation of 17 irrigation systems for all median strips on Mills Avenue, Moranbah (running from Goonyella Road to Clements Street). The existing systems were old, had unreliable battery powered controllers and required high levels of IRC operator maintenance. Most of the medians were generally turf with established large trees, approximately 10 metres wide, ranging anywhere from 10 - 230 metres long.

Each median irrigation system that Dowdens supplied consisted of: DC Sentinel Controller with radio, battery, panel, antenna, hinged pole, connection to existing Effluent mainline, flow sensors, isolation ball valves, solenoid valves / valve boxes, Toro T5 pop-up sprinklers with flexible risers and quick coupler valves placed at the end of the lines for flushing purposes.

LITTLE ATHLETICS / AFL FIELD IRRIGATION Overview

This portion of the project involved the design, supply and installation of an irrigation system for the Moranbah Little Athletics Field. The existing system consisted of a large travelling irrigator, which involved the IRC operator setting up the machine, manually turning it on and off and moving it to each position on the field. This produces uneven watering and often resulted in irrigation needing to undertaken during the day which goes against the applicable effluent re-use guidelines.

The irrigation system that Dowdens supplied incorporated: AC Sentinel Controller with radio & antenna (also incorporating AFL coverage), connection to existing Effluent mainline, 80 mm semi-automatic filter, flow sensors, isolation ball valves, solenoid valves / valve boxes, Toro 640 pop-up sprinklers with articulated risers and a wireless soil moisture sensor was installed on the AFL field to monitor soil moisture content.

MAINLINE FILTERS Overview

This portion of the project involved the design, supply and installation of semi-automatic filters at various locations along the effluent mainline. A 200 mm filter was installed in the mainline behind Moranbah High School, a 100 mm filter at Tallon Street and an 80 mm filter at the Athletics / AFL Field. Each of these filters included galvanised steel pipework to allow filters to be mounted above ground, isolation valves, filter, concrete pad and a Dowdens fabricated lockable enclosure. The filters are easily cleaned by opening a valve / turning a handle to allow the suction scanners to clean the entire filter without needing the removal of the element - a huge time saver for the IRC operators.

Arabon Seafoods employed Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment [Mackay] to deliver a broad acre irrigation system watering their cattle feed pasture located in Bowen, QLD. Arabon Seafoods are a proud Queensland small business specializing in the sale and export of locally sourced live, chilled and frozen seafood.

Dowdens designed an efficient energy and water use irrigation system for Arabon Seafoods that utilises a Valley Two-Wheel-Linear Irrigator - the ideal irrigator for smallholder growers with limited access to electricity - together with a Nelson S3000 Spinner Sprinkler Package, Nelson 110VAC Shut-Off Valve, Valley Autopilot GPS Ready Control Panel and a Yanmar 10kVa 3-Phase Diesel Generator Set.

The Valley Two-Wheel-Linear Irrigator is a fairly standard machine in it's configuration but it's application to Arabon's cattle feed pasture is a departure from local practice. Most irrigation in this region is normally provided by low pressure boom type irrigators which are far less efficient in regards to energy and water consumption when compared to the Valley machine.

The system is required to pump water directly from onsite bores to the Valley Two-Wheel-Linear Irrigator watering 3.5 ha of cattle feed pasture. The irrigator's purpose is to provide water to a 'baleable' hay crop which is periodically onsold to local graziers as stock feed. The installation of a Valley linear irrigator has greatly reduced the number of irrigation runs that Arabon Seafoods has previously undertaken with their smaller boom type irrigator to water the same area of crop. Valley Two-Wheel-Linears deliver the ability to easily tow or swing the machine around to cover more acres.

Valley's 'easy to operate' Valley Autopilot GPS Ready Control Panel has enabled other Arabon Seafoods personnel to operate the irrigator which had always proved difficult in the past using a more dated irrigator. The GPS Ready Valley Autopilot Control Panel allows linears to automatically perform functions similar to a center pivot. The AutoPilot Linear measures the lateral position and direction of travel of the linear, allowing functions to be easily programmed to run automatically.

Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment [Mackay] are the sole Valley Irrigation Master Dealers for the Mackay / Whitsunday region enabling the best possible pricing and unmatched product support for all of our customers.

Arabon Seafoods contacted Dowdens Mackay in mid-2015 and requested a site visit and quote. Within a week the Dowdens Ag Sales Team were onsite taking measurements and discussing options with the business owners. A system was designed to suit the area and application, and the quote was delivered. Arabon Seafoods was happy with the design and pricing and instructed Dowdens they would budget for this system in 2016.

Fast forward to mid-2016, working closely with the business owners Dowdens had successfully refined the quote and sourced all materials to be supplied. The purchase order arrived with Dowdens in late May 2016 - the irrigator was delivered to site on Friday 24th of June. The installation commenced Monday 27th of June and the machine was fully operational and commissioning was completed by Wednesday 29th of June.

Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment's design philosophy for this project was: Cost Effectiveness - Current Best Practice - Ease of Installation - Simple & Effective System Operation - System Reliability & Delivering Reduced Ongoing Maintenance Requirements.

The entire project was overseen and managed by Brett Hayes from the Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment [Mackay] Agricultural Sales Team.

Key Project Features:

• Valley Two-Wheel-Linear 'hose-drag' Irrigator with a 2.74m Overhang & 2 x 43.37m Lateral Spans
• Valley Autopilot GPS Ready Control Panel
• Nelson S3000 Spinner Sprinkler Package
• Nelson 110 VAC Shut-Off Valve
• 16.9" x 24" Tyre Package
• Yanmar 10kVa 3-Phase Diesel Generator Set
• 220m of 3½" Crusader Irrigator Hose

Long-term customers Michelmore Grazing Company have recently purchased seven solar powered pumping systems from the Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment Mackay branch. All the solar systems supplied are used to pump water from onsite bores to poly water storage tanks, to then feed the properties multiple cattle water troughs. Some existing bores were used to replace dated diesel setups / windmills, along with some new bores being added to increase the total number of watering points for the cattle. Michelmore Grazing Co. purchased three Solar Pumping Systems for Fort Cooper Station and another four systems installed at Kainga Station.

This 6 month project saw Dowdens Mackay source, supply, install and commission a number of GRUNDFOS & MONO solar pumps, a MONO 2400 WATT Solar System (all used in conjunction with solar panels / frames) and undertake repairs on an existing Mono Diesel Pump system at Michelmore Grazing Co.'s Fort Cooper and neighbouring Kainga Stations (Nebo, QLD). The repairs carried out on the existing Diesel Driven Mono Helical Rotor Bore Pump involved replacing the rusted head housing with this pump now being used as a back-up for one of the new Solar Pumping Systems.

The high-quality GRUNDFOS & MONO Solar Pumping Systems have already delivered Michelmore Grazing Co. notable cost savings via a reduction in diesel fuel usage and a significant decrease in the need for ongoing diesel motor maintenance. Michelmore Grazing Co. now saves both time and money by not having to undertake laborious daily checks on the diesel pump sets fuel levels.

As a company that has built its foundation from the servicing and development of agricultural pumps and water treatment technology / applications, Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment have the experience to engineer a solution to suit any agricultural application. For over 40 years Dowdens have been providing customers with solutions-based technology - designed to improve efficiency, reduce downtime and increase longevity of products and systems. Dowdens provide affordable and efficient solar pumping solutions to help combat ever increasing electricity prices. From stock watering systems through to large scale broad acre irrigation our dedicated sales, installation and service crews have you covered. All systems are expertly designed to suit any site specifications, utilising a variety of efficient engine and electric pump units.

Key Project System Features:

• 4x GRUNDFOS SQF2.5-2 SOLAR PUMPS (these pumps can be run by a generator if needed)
• 1x GRUNDFOS SQF3A-10N SOLAR PUMP (this pump can be run by a generator if needed)
• 1x GRUNDFOS SQF5A-7N SOLAR PUMP (this pump can be run by a generator if needed)
• 1x MONO 2400 WATT SOLAR SYSTEM running 1x MONO SS062 PUMP
• Multiple 250 WATT SOLAR PANELS

FORT COOPER SOLAR SYSTEMS

Comet Bore:

• The largest of the systems is a MONO 2400 Watt Tracking Solar System, which delivers up to 40m³ per day from a bore feeding four tanks up to 8kms away. This system consists of three tracking arrays and a MONO SS062 Pump.
• Repairs were also carried out on the existing Diesel driven MONO Helical Rotor Bore Pump by replacing the rusted head housing. The pump is now used as a back-up for the new solar pumping system.

Yards Bore:

• This six panel GRUNDFOS Solar System was installed at Fort Cooper's main yards to transfer water from a bore to a high level tank which in-turn feeds the main homestead area and cattle yards. The system uses a GRUNDFOS SQF5A-7N Solar Pump and 6x 250 watt panels on a post mount delivering up to 30m³ per day.

One Mile Bore:

• A three panel GRUNDFOS Solar System was installed at the One Mile Bore supplying water 600m from the bore to a storage tank. The pump used was a GRUNDFOS SQF2.5-2 Solar Pump that delivers up to 17m³ per day.

KAINGA SOLAR SYSTEMS

Bruce's Bore:

• This is a six panel GRUNDFOS Solar System installed on Bruce's Bore delivering water to 3 poly tanks up to 2km away. The GRUNDFOS SQF2.5-2 Solar Pump can deliver up to 25m³ per day.

Donaldson's Bore:

• This is a four panel GRUNDFOS Solar System installed on Donaldson's Bore delivers water to a poly tank situated 300m away. The GRUNDFOS SQF2.5-2 Solar Pump can deliver up to 25m³ per day.

Cattle Creek Bore:

• This is a three panel GRUNDFOS Solar System installed on the Cattle Creek Bore delivers water poly tanks situated 500m away. The GRUNDFOS SQF3A-10 Solar Pump can deliver up to 25m³ per day.

Walter's Bore:

• This is a four panel GRUNDFOS Solar System installed on Walter's bore delivering water from the bore to a poly tank 500m away. The GRUNDFOS SQF2.5-2 Solar Pump can deliver up to 25m³ per day.

Racecourse Projects recently engaged Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment's Mackay 'Infield Service Crew' to undertake emergency repairs to a damaged Valley Irrigation Centre Pivot Irrigator at their Sugar Cane Farm located in Marwood, QLD.

This project began, like most emergency repair jobs do with an unexpected call from our customer. Racecourse Projects rang the Dowdens Pumping Agricultural Sales Team to inform them a Cane Haul-Out Truck had struck the first span of their Valley Centre Pivot. The pivot was now hanging precariously and needed to be repaired immediately. Daryn Gray (Dowdens - Industrial Workshop [Engineering Support]) and Brett Hayes (Dowdens - Agricultural Sales) promptly attended the Marwood site and assessed the pivot. Dowdens advised the pivot needed to be supported or it may have collapsed further. Straightaway the Dowdens 'Infield Service Crew' were onsite to elevate and secure the damaged span.

After speaking directly with the manufacturer of the damaged Valley Centre Pivot (Valmont Industries - Australia) Dowdens confirmed with Racecourse Projects there were no suitable spans for that machine currently available anywhere in Australia. This meant repairs needed to be undertaken promptly before the machine potentially collapsed completely - making any further repair work impossible. Dowdens then promptly engaged a local subcontractor to work alongside the Dowdens 'Infield Service Crew' repairing the machine in situ (whilst still suspended in the air). As the repairs had to be effected whilst the machine was still standing, this required coordination between 2 cranes and a telehandler forklift, along with a man box (attached to the all terrain telehandler) for 2 men to carry out the repairs. All the repairs and commissioning of the irrigator were successfully completed within 2 days of the accident!

Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment [Mackay] are the sole authorised Valley Irrigation Master Dealers for the Mackay / Whitsunday region enabling access to the best possible pricing and product support, an unmatched range of spare parts & fast-turnaround repairs for all of our customers irrigators.

Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment's methodology for the Racecourse Projects Centre Pivot Irrigator Repair was: Fast Response Time - Cost Effectiveness - Fast Turnaround Servicing - Ease of Installation - Limiting Product Downtime - Enable Farming to Continue as per normal whilst the Dowdens 'Infield Service Crew' was onsite.

For over 40 years Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment have been selling & servicing irrigation products throughout Central & Northern Queensland - designing each and every system to improve farming efficiencies, reduce downtime and increase the longevity of pumps / irrigators. As a company that has built its foundation on the servicing and development of agricultural pumping systems, Dowdens Pumping and Water Treatment have the experience to engineer a solution to suit any agricultural application.

The entire project was overseen and managed by the Dowdens Pumping & Water Treatment [Mackay] Agricultural Sales Team. The Dowdens Mackay-Whitsunday Agricultural Irrigation Team of Glenn Agnew, Brett Hayes, Jeff Roberts, Kevin Krog, Mike Sanderson, Eileen Mason and Nathan Cross are one of the most experienced Ag sales teams in Australia, with over 125 years of combined irrigation system design and operational experience between them.