You are here: Home / About G-MW / Reports & Publications / Annual Report 2010/11 / Year at a Glance 2010/11

Year at a Glance 2010/11

July 10

Customers started the 2010/11 irrigation season with the highest-ever levels of carryover water (582,000 ML), due to late season increase in allocations and improved carryover rules on some systems.
G-MW's FutureFlow Alliance won a prestigious Award for Project Innovation from the International Water Association.
877 applications received for the 2010/11 water share ballot. Application to trade water shares out of irrigation areas down 30% on the previous year.
Minister approved changes to management of groundwater in the Upper Loddon and Campaspe areas, forming the new Loddon Highlands Water Supply Protection Area and the new Lower Campaspe Valley Water Supply Protection Area to operate from 1 August, 2010. Under the changes, the Spring Hill Groundwater Supply Protection Area, the Upper Loddon Water Supply Protection Area and the Campaspe Deep Lead Groundwater Supply Protection Area were abolished.
Victorian Mid-Murray Storages benefited from higher flows in the Murray River due to rainfall, providing an opportunity to harvest water into Kow Swamp, Lake Charm, Lake Boga and Kangaroo Lake.
70% allocation announced for the Katunga Deep Lead groundwater area, the maximum possible, under the Groundwater Management Plan. Lands of the former Lake Mokoan transferred to the Winton Wetland Committee of Management, the organisation created to restore the wetlands which originally occupied the site.

August 10

G-MW announced allocations in all regulated systems for the first time since the 2001/02 season.

September 10

After significant rainfall across the region, many storages were filling and flooding occurred in the Loddon and Campaspe regions.
G-MW announced the merger of the Campaspe Irrigation District with the Goulburn-Murray Irrigation District. This merger, completed in October, enabled completion of NVIRP's program to decommission the Campaspe Irrigation District and allow a number of existing Campaspe District irrigators to move to alternative supply arrangements sourced from the Goulburn system.
G-MW employee Andrew Cooper won the 2010 Young Victorian Water Industry Operator of the Year Award.
In accordance with operating rules Loch Garry flood protection regulator was activated - for the first time since 1993. The manually operated structure is 100 metres long and provides minor to moderate flood protection to 140 customers in the Bunbartha area.

October 10

Blue-green algae made an earlier than normal appearance due to the recent floods.
G-MW Dam Levels Daily Update e-newsletter launched to provide dam level information.
In partnership with DPI and local communities, G-MW commenced locust control spraying on G-MW Land. Over 500 ha was treated across all irrigation areas.
G-MW introduced SMS text messages to provide speedy communication to customers on water allocations.

November 10

The Pyramid-Boort Irrigation Area became the Loddon Valley Irrigation Area, and the Pyramid-Boort Customer Reference Group transitioned to become the Loddon Valley Irrigation Area Water Services Committee.
As a result of flooding rains, high-reliability water shares reached 100% in all systems for the first time since 2001/02.
A G-MW project to install Australia's largest-ever structural liner, rehabilitating an irrigation siphon, won a Project of the Year Award. The Award was from the Australasian Society for Trenchless Technology, a not-for-profit organisation that promotes the science and practice of trenchless technology for the public benefit.
Goulburn Weir's $3.35 million upgrade was completed.
G-MW engaged PriceWaterhouseCoopers to undertake a financial review of the business.

December 10

G-MW activated Loch Garry Flood Protection alerts, as the Goulburn River at Shepparton was predicted to rise above 10.36 metres.
Community consultation underway for Lake Nillahcootie and Waranga Basin Land and On-Water Management Plans. The Plans focus on what people value and enjoy about using water storages and encourage community involvement and possible solutions to help share the lakes' future.

January 11

The 3-year, $8 million Mildura Merbein Salt Interception Scheme project was approved to commence.
Residents and visitors consulted as part of the Waranga Basin Land and On-Water Management Plan.
G-MW dams at Eppalock and Cairn Curran experienced record floods and routed the floodwaters as part of their standard operations.
While the dams were unharmed, floods at Laanecoorie Reservoir and Lake Eppalock caused damage to G-MW recreation areas below the spillways at both sites, which required their temporary closure to all visitors.
The floods were the first time G-MW's new Incident Coordination Room was operational.
MDBA helped G-MW to mitigate flood flows by providing air space in Lake Tutchewop. With this extra capacity, G-MW diverted water from its storages in the Kerang area to prepare for more flood inflows.
G-MW offered assistance to flood-affected customers with outstanding accounts for 2010/11 through alternative payment arrangements and extended payment due dates.
To assist flood-affected customers, G-MW ran advertisements in local media to provide information on channel operations, replacing information statements and records and accessing further assistance and information. The advertisements were based on the common questions fielded by G-MW's call centres.

February 11

G-MW launched a dedicated flood recovery information web page alongside its existing media, advertising and call centre communications.
Rapid progress was achieved in restoring the operations of the channel network in the flood-affected regions of Rochester, Loddon and Torrumbarry.
G-MW warned customers and communities in flood-affected areas that ongoing warm weather was likely to exacerbate water quality problems in flood waters, and areas affected by flood waters, such as lakes, wetlands and rivers.
G-MW announced a recent improvement in water quality in the Torgannah Lagoon following a decline in the levels of blue-green algae.
G-MW Managing Director David Stewart departed after 15 years. Shane McGrath appointed as Acting Managing Director.
G-MW took its Water Wheels Information Van to flood affected customers in the Loddon area to provide an opportunity to talk with G-MW staff about flood-related issues.
G-MW released its first outlook for 2011/12 seasonal allocations. Inflows to the storages across northern Victoria in the 2010/11 season were the highest in over a decade.
Allocations in all systems reached 100% of high-reliability water shares (HRWS) for the first time since the 2001/02 season.

March 11

G-MW Board resigned. An interim Board was appointed by the Minister for Water.
G-MW launched a new SMS service to alert customers of scheduled irrigation start and finish times.
Loddon Highlands Water Supply Protection Area (WSPA) and the Lower Campaspe Valley WSPA Groundwater Consultative Committees undertake tours of the region.
The Upper Ovens River WSPA Consultative Committee sought community comment on its groundbreaking Water Management Plan - the first to incorporate both groundwater and surface water resources in the same Plan.
G-MW's Central Murray Operations Manager Daniel Irwin travelled to the United States to study a Californian Water District after receiving the Sampson Leadership Scholarship.

April 11

Customer meetings to provide information on carryover and spillable water accounts were held across the G-MW region throughout April.
Customers received a full copy of G-MW's 2010/11 pricing schedule in accordance with ACCC requirements.
Goulburn, Campaspe and Murray Carryover and Spillable Water Account Simulator launched to help customers understand carryover.
Irrigators and members of the community were invited to public information sessions to share their views on the Upper Ovens River Draft Water Management Plan.
New bores installed in the Katunga Water Supply Protection Area, as recommended in the Katunga Groundwater Management Plan, to improve understanding of deep groundwater in the eastern Murray Valley.
G-MW installed new groundwater monitoring bores in the Mid Loddon Groundwater Management Area. The new bores were drilled in target regions considered important to improving current understanding of groundwater resources in the Mid Loddon GMA. Bores were installed between Serpentine and Dingee, near Carisbrook and close to existing gauging stations along the Loddon River.
Irrigators and rural water users across G-MW service region were invited to nominate to join G-MW's local Water Services Committees.
Public invited to comment on the draft Lake Boga Land and On-Water Management Plan.
The Minister for Water suspended trading of water allocation out of the Goulburn, Campaspe and Loddon systems to minimise negative impacts on Murray entitlement holders due to unusual seasonal conditions.

May 11

After two years of planning, community consultation and input, the $14.3 million East Loddon Pipeline Project commenced. The Project will provide an efficient year round water supply for 120 customers in the surrounding area of Serpentine and Jarklin. The project is a joint initiative between NVIRP, Coliban Water, Regional Development Victoria and G-MW. G-MW's Murray Valley Water Services Committee celebrated its 200th meeting milestone.
Katunga Water Supply Protection Area customers invited to provide feedback on how groundwater is managed in the Katunga Water Supply Protection Area.
G-MW updated the outlook for 2011/12 seasonal allocations. Outlooks released were the most favorable for several years due in part to the reserves set aside this year.
G-MW scheduled maintenance on the Little Murray Weir for winter - to replace deteriorated bar guides and remove debris lodged around the Weir during the floods.
G-MW undertook drilling and installation of new monitoring bores in Alexandra and surrounding region. The works were funded by and are part of the DSE State Observation Bore Network Refurbishment Project.
Water Minister Peter Walsh announced a new Board had been appointed for G-MW.
G-MW confirmed approval to increase its borrowings to meet approved obligations for the 2010/11 financial year.
2011/12 price list submitted for approval by Essential Services Commission.
Annual Golf and Bowls Charity Day raises funds for flood affected communities.

June 11

Loddon, Broken and Bullarook Carryover Simulator launched on the G-MW website. The simulator helped customers to understand common carryover questions.
Public invited to comment on the draft Waranga Basin Land and On-Water Management Plan.
Annual photography competition launched to coincide with World Environment Day.
The annual customer satisfaction survey commenced.
All positions for the Loddon Valley Water Services Committee were declared vacant. Loddon Valley Irrigation Area customers were invited to nominate for positions.
G-MW published its 2011/12 price list detailing nearly 400 prices for groundwater, unregulated and regulated river diversions, pumped irrigation, channel delivery, drainage and water district services.
G-MW commenced releasing water from Lake Eildon making the first-ever spill of carryover. The storage was at its highest level in over 15 years.
Management responsibility for the section of decommissioned channel from Benalla to the Winton Wetland was transferred from G-MW to the Benalla Rural City.

About G-MW