Rochester-Campaspe WSC

Your Rochester-Campaspe Water Service Committee

If you have any issues or concerns you would like to speak with your WSC on, please email:   RochesterCampaspeWSC@g-mwater.com.au

Message from the Chair

What a year it has been, starting with floods which covered the west of the Campaspe region, the recent announcement of NVIRP Stage 2 and the release of the draft Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

It has also been pleasant to see the increase in water being delivered during the spring in comparison to previous years.

A substantial amount of water was carried over into this season, equivalent to approximately 100% High Reliability Water Shares, which remained in Lake Eildon. As at 15 November the Rochester-Campaspe Irrigation Area customers have used approximately 15% of available allocation leaving a considerable volume still to be used.

The recent announcement of NVIRP Stage 2 was well received and the challenge to modernise our irrigation system continues. Please make sure that you are prepared, as NVIRP staff contact irrigators about your connection/s to the ‘backbone' channel. Remember they can't see all of us at once, so for some the wait continues.

The release of the draft Murray-Darling Basin plan has certainly gained a lot of attention and I would urge all irrigators to attend at least one public meeting to become better informed of the impacts this plan will have on you as water users and your community as a whole.

As the weather warms up please remember that while G-MW channels appear inviting as a place to swim they are in reality very hazardous. People should not swim in irrigation channels as some of the dangers cannot be seen from the surface. Your WSC have been busy advising G-MW of the many issues that are raised by irrigators throughout the year. Pricing is one such issue, and we have been assisting senior staff to develop ‘Water Plan 3' which will form a guide for future pricing.

There have been many changes in the water industry recently and clearly this will continue going forward as well. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all irrigators for their determination and tolerance in managing through these circumstances as they emerge.

Thanks must also go to the G-MW staff for their ongoing commitment to customer service, and to my fellow Water Service Committee members for their dedication and capacity to confront all these reforms in a constructive manner.

I would also like to congratulate local farmer David Christie for winning the National Water Week Award for On Farm Water Efficiency in October. Remember that if you are unsure or need clarification about anything related to irrigation issues then please contact the Rochester office on 5484 0400.

On behalf of the Rochester WSC I would like to wish all irrigators a Merry Christmas, a safe New Year and look forward to a dry summer.

Richard Anderson

Chair, Rochester-Campaspe Water Service Committee