Storage Management Plans

 Goulburn-Murray Water  develops Storage Management Plans (SMP) for all storages under its control.  The SMP’s will consolidate our policies, practice and future directions for storages into clear and concise strategic documents. 

 The broad objectives of the SMP’s are:

  •  To identify and address key management issues in a systematic way
  • To provide a mechanism for integration, optimisation and coordination of management actions within G-MW and with other stakeholders
  • To provide a process to inform and educate stakeholders about management issues

The plans are intended to enable Goulburn-Murray Water to properly assess and prioritise works required to achieve long-term Water Quality and Biodiversity objectives.  The term ‘Water Quality’ refers to the physical, chemical and biological health of water.  ‘Biodiversity’ (derived from Biological Diversity) is the variety of life forms: the different plants, animals and microorganisms, the genes they contain, and the ecosystems they form.  The plan describes the specified storage and its catchment, details the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders, and identifies and discusses water quality and biodiversity issues relevant to the water body and its environs.

Numerous current and potential future issues of relevance to water quality and biodiversity are identified. Issues identified are subjectively ranked as high, medium or low priorities.  Most issues relate to a current lack of data or insufficient knowledge about the likely impacts of various aspects of water quality and biodiversity management.  Other issues are better understood, and require the implementation of actions such as the completion of risk assessments or the implementation of remedial works.

A strategic works program will be developed from the projected objectives that will incorporate a preliminary five-year schedule.  Successful implementation of the program will need extensive cooperation between business groups, customers and external authorities and stakeholders.

For further information contact G-MW