The opening of a new pump station and pipeline at Cobram today (Tuesday) is the beginning of a new era, bringing a closure to the dangerous open irrigation channel and siphon running through the Cobram township.
The Hon. Candy Broad, Minister for Local Government, officially launched the new Murray Valley Number 1 Pump Station and Pipeline in the State Park on the River Murray north-west of Cobram.
The project will improve service and water quality for Goulburn-Murray Water customers and remove a public safety risk from the open channel in Cobram.
Goulburn-Murray Water Chairperson Don Cummins said the pump station and pipeline supplies irrigators to the north-west of Cobram, enabling the Murray Valley Number 1 channel to be closed off on the eastern and western outskirts of the township.
"Three kilometres of channel and a 375-metre siphon currently running through residential, commercial and industrial areas will now be closed, alleviating community safety concerns," Mr Cummins said.
Construction of the pump station and pipeline was managed by Goulburn-Murray Water, which will continue to operate the facility.
The works included construction of a new pump station on the River Murray to the west of Cobram, construction of 1.3 kilometres of pipeline connecting the pump station to the Murray Valley Number 1 Channel, and the closure of the channel at either side of the town.
The new supply works cost $2.5 million. Decommissioning of the old assets is estimated at $200,000, bringing the total estimated cost of the project when complete to $2.7 million.
Mr Cummins said the works were funded jointly by Goulburn-Murray Water, Moira Shire, the Victorian Government, the Australian Government and Cobram District Hospital.
"The most pleasing part of the project is the coming together of the Shire and Hospital with Goulburn‑Murray Water, greatly assisted by state and federal governments, to produce this pleasing and rewarding community result," Mr Cummins said.
"It would have been most difficult for any one party to fund this major safety and environmental project by themselves."
Moira Shire will create new open spaces and corridors along the channel site through town while the Cobram District Hospital will use the reclaimed land for additional car parking.
The pump station and pipeline have been in operation since the start of the irrigation season and in peak times will deliver flows of up to 65 megalitres a day.
Decommissioning works of the town siphon and the Murray Valley No.1 channel through Cobram will start later this calendar year.