What centre pivot irrigation costs in Australia
Irrigation suppliers quote site-by-site, but Australia has something better than a price list: published farm water program data from real completed projects. Here is what the completed projects actually cost.
The per-hectare numbers
| Measure | Cost |
|---|---|
| Completed pivot projects, median | ~$4,600 per hectare |
| Typical range across projects | $3,700 to $6,600 per hectare |
| Program planning figure | $6,500 per hectare |
| A 40-hectare pivot development | ~$260,000 |
| A 4 to 8 span pivot, 30 to 60 ha | roughly $150,000 to $400,000 installed |
Those figures come from audited program data rather than brochures, with the caveat that they are older dollars: treat them as the floor and current quotes will sit above. On top of the pivot: bore drilling runs $3,000 to $15,000 depending on depth and geology, and agricultural pump systems, pipelines and storage are their own line. Ongoing ownership in the same data ran about $800 per hectare a year plus operating costs, with energy the big variable.
The water maths
An efficient pivot against flood or an inefficient old system pays its way in water and labour, which is why the water programs funded them. Run the per-hectare cost against your water entitlement price and yield response; the pivot is the cheap part of the equation in most districts.
Financing irrigation
Pivots and pumps write on equipment finance; bores, mains and earthworks are fixed improvements that sit against the property at roughly 6% to 9% p.a. property-backed as a working rule, and repayments can follow harvest income. Property-backed borrowers generally price around 6% to 9% p.a. and non-property-backed deals around 9% to 13%, with approvals commonly back in 24 to 48 hours. Start at irrigation finance.
Frequently asked questions
How much does centre pivot irrigation cost per hectare?
Published Australian farm water program data puts completed pivot projects at a median around $4,600 per hectare, ranging $3,700 to $6,600, with $6,500 the program planning figure. Treat these as floors in current dollars.
What does a full pivot installation cost?
A 40-hectare development runs around $260,000 on the program data, with typical 4 to 8 span pivots landing roughly $150,000 to $400,000 installed before bores and mains.
How much does a bore cost?
Drilling runs $3,000 to $15,000 depending on depth and geology, with agricultural pumps, pipelines and storage priced on top.
How is irrigation financed?
Pivots and pumps on equipment finance, bores and earthworks against the property as fixed improvements, with seasonal repayment structures available around harvest income.
Per-hectare cost to per-season repayment
Tell us the area and the quote and we will structure equipment against improvements, usually within a day.
This article is general information only and not financial, credit, or tax advice. Ventas Asset Lending is a finance broker, not a lender. Approvals are subject to lender assessment. Consider your own circumstances and speak to a qualified professional, including your accountant for any tax questions.