Theoretically, Sam Macdonald should have the greenest lawn in the Tarras district. For it would be hard to beat the impressive sprinkler system that waters his garden on Bendigo Station.
A newly commissioned centre-pivot irrigator, next to the Tarras-Cromwell Rd, has caused a stir, as it travels slowly up two berms and over Mr Macdonald's house.
''People stop in the middle of the road and take photos, or they're driving past and have the camera out the passenger window,'' Mr Macdonald, the station's stock manager, said.
Station owner John Perriam said different options would have missed irrigating about 25% of the area if it were not for such an innovative solution.
Irrigation has been transforming the previously dry and tawny landscape of the Upper Clutha to green pasture, with Mr Perriam quipping the area between Bendigo and Wanaka was now ''pivot alley''.
There was pressure on farmers to efficiently use their water or lose it and they had to look at the best ways to do that, even though he was saddened to see trees he planted 35 years ago pulled out to make way for the development.
About 500m in length and the fifth pivot on the station, it represented an investment of about $250,000 and, with its unusual travel-path, it seemed to have ''intrigued a lot of people'', Mr Perriam said.
Mr Macdonald was able to remotely turn off valves on the the 50m span traversing the house, as the pivot sprayed about 10mm of water on to surrounding farmland, covering about 50ha.
He reckoned there were few drawbacks in watering the home, so long as the windows were kept shut and the spouting was unblocked.
''It keeps everything tidy and green. You could probably just about put your clothes on the line and put some washing powder on and turn it on.''
The only possible downside was the effect on his lawn: '' ... I'll have to mow it all the time.''
