Water brings revival for Bourke farming family

Ross Williams is a third generation irrigation farmer at River View Farm just north of Bourke town. With a good flow in the Darling River, Ross can finally use his new water-efficient centre-pivot irrigators. PHOTO TWH

For several years, the barren paddocks of River View Farm on the Mitchell Highway between Bourke and North Bourke have been a symbol of the drought.

Now, those paddocks are a sign of renewal, with property owners Ross Williams and Jess Goulden sowing their first irrigated crop in 17 years

With good water flows in the river and enough rain moisture to plant, Ross has at last been able to get a crop of oats sown and is hopeful he will harvest by the end of the year.

“We put new centre pivot irrigators in the fields at River View two years ago and across the road at Lucerne View in 2012, and now, finally, we have enough water to use them,” Ross said.

Read more in the printed edition of the Western Herald.