Situated in prime kiwifruit growing country, near Te Puke, Coach Road Orchards is a state of the art, 45ha kiwifruit orchard developed from scratch back in 2004.

The original land was under pastoral use and required professional contouring to shape it into the model orchard that it has become today.

The kiwifruit plants have benefited from a quality layout and extensive artificial shelter. The undulating slopes provide excellent runoff and drainage, crucial to early establishment and long term productivity.

Another critical element for successful and timely establishment of the plants has been a well-designed, high uniformity irrigation system. Craig was tasked with designing the irrigation system, first in conceptual form and then adapting and customising it to suit the final contouring and block shapes.

With two 220+ m3/hr boreholes and two storage dams the orchard is well set up to fight frosts on part of, or the entire orchard at once.

Seventeen zone valves provide flexibility for both summer irrigating and targeted frost fighting in mild frosts.

Craig's careful planning and highly effective design will see this orchard's investment in irrigation paying dividends for years to come.

• Craig Bishop - Engineering Consultant, Irrigation, drainage and frost protection specialist