Supported Employment > Seawinds Nursery > Operational Procedures – Seawinds > Seawinds Irrigation System
Authorised by Seawinds Nursery Manager
Issue Date: 30 October 2023
Irrigation System- Seawinds
The irrigation system is a complex system that does not make sense. This is because it was set up by two different organisations the Portland Aluminium Smelter & Seawinds (Kyeema).
The back half of the nursery that includes “Patty” poly tunnel, “Barney” shade house and the back benches used to belong to the smelter and the rest to Seawinds.
“Selma” Polytunnel
•Poly tunnel closest to work shed.
•All 3 stations (1-3) can be automatically irrigated from the control panel inside the shed.
•Instructions for the use of this irrigation system are located inside the door of the control panel.
•Water for the irrigation comes from the pump located next to the work shed.
•Irrigation can be turned on or off manually using the solenoids at the end of station 1.
•Selma is fitted with misting heads. It is recommended that this poly tunnel is used for annual vegetable & flower seed raising mix trays, punnets, HIKO cells, tubes, etc. Anything larger will need additional hand watering.
“Bart” Shade House
•Retail shade house closest to work shed.
•Both stations (4 and 5) can be automatically irrigated from the control panel inside the shed.
•Instructions for the use of this irrigation system are located inside the door of the control panel.
•Water for the irrigation comes from the pump located next to the work shed.
•The water mains for Bart can be turned off under the vegetable seedling bench.
•Irrigation can be manually turned on or off on the solenoids at the end of the bench near the tap.
•The ends of the benches and the back of the flower bench tend to get dry and will require additional hand watering.
“Bender” Polytunnel
•Polytunnel closet to pot washing area.
•The only system that is run independently using a solar power unit.
•The fob for opening & operating the unit is hanging on the back of the office door – LARGE black plastic fob with a key.
•Use the key to open the unit panel- Located on the north side of Bender.
•Insert the fob into the unit to activate power.
•Look at the control panel screen- Press YES when most readable.
•Follow the prompts on the screen pressing YES to confirm- Use the quick reference guide inside the panel to see the menu options. Use it to change the system running time.
•Irrigation only works on one side of Bender – Use water trays for the unirrigated bench.
•Use the mains located at the end of either bench to manually turn irrigation on or off.
•Use for freshly transplanted stock, tomatoes etc.
“Patty” Propagation Polytunnel
•Propagation polytunnel located near the back gates.
•Contains the heat bed. No electricity- Thermal mass used with sand & bagged seed trays.
•Control panel located in “Ron’s shed” – The portable unit located at the back of the nursery.
•Station 6 on the irrigation system- Follow the instructions inside the door of the control panel.
•Water for the irrigation comes from the pump located next to the large concrete tanks near the glasshouse at the back of the nursery.
•Use the heat bed to germinate seeds for spring sale, winter-spring. Native seeds, spring-summer & cuttings, autumn-winter.
“Barney” Shade House
•Shade house located near the back gates.
•Control panel located in “Ron’s shed” – The portable unit located at the back of the nursery.
•Station 2 on the irrigation system- Follow the instructions inside the door of the control panel.
•Only one side of the irrigation system works. The other side has no electricity running to the solenoid & could not be replaced “because it is running under asphalt” (Geoff Sturzker.)
•Water for the irrigation comes from the pump located next to the large concrete tanks near the glasshouse at the back of the nursery.
•Irrigation can be turned on manually on both stations using the solenoids located at the back of the shade house near Ron’s shed.
•Use Barney to harden off plants taken out of the polytunnels and to hold plants destined for Spring sale.
Hardstands
Located outside at the back of the nursery.
Water for the irrigation comes from the pump located next to the large concrete tanks near the glasshouse at the back of the nursery.
Control panel located in “Ron’s shed” – The portable unit located at the back of the nursery.
Follow the instructions inside the door of the control panel. Stations 1, 3 & 5 on the irrigation system (Hardstand 4 no longer exists.)