Table of contents
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Price Submission 2024-28
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The Essential Services Commission (ESC) has provided its final determination on GMW’s Price Submission 2024-28, stating it found it to be a high-quality proposal that demonstrated “prudency and efficiency”.
This means that GMW customer bills will generally change by less than inflation from 1 July 2024.
Our focus remains on key priority areas including:
- Efficient operations
- Fair pricing
- Reliable Supply
- Responsive services
- Credible business
- Socially responsible
Combining these efforts we have been able to reduce our forecasted operational expenditure and ensure our critical delivery infrastructure is appropriately upgraded and maintained over the new regulatory cycle.
View our approved Price Submission (2024-2028) and the ESC’s decision.
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Diversions Cost Review
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GMW is undertaking a review of the costs of providing services to our Diversions customers.
Feedback received by the Essential Services Commission (ESC) on GMW’s Price Submission 2024 led to a recommendation that GMW considers reviewing the collection and accuracy of its data, and the assumptions that underly the calculations of all its Diversions tariffs.
This will ensure that costs for Diversions customers are cost-reflective and efficient.
During the review, GMW is committed to:
- Capturing data on actual activities undertaken for Diversions customers
- Reviewing data collected for activities and ensuring it aligns with Diversions Inspectors’ duties and core functions
- Testing the assumptions made in setting all Diversions tariffs
An important part of the Diversions Cost Review is the appointment of a Customer Reference Group.
The group will provide input and advice on the Review’s direction and deliverables to ensure it meets its objectives. The group will be involved at key times throughout the review and is representative of all Diversions customer groups – large, medium and small customers from the regulated, unregulated and groundwater services.
The first meeting of the Customer Reference Group is expected to be held later this month.
For more information on the Diversions Cost Review, go to our Your Say @ GMW webpage.
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Price List 2024/25
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Our 2024/25 Price List is now available to view at our website.
You can also access our dedicated pricing simulators to help you understand how your fees and charges are changing this year.
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Zone 7 metering and telemetry project update
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In September 2023 assessments of meters at 74 priority sites in Zone 7 began.
The sites are all high-use (more than 100ML/year) Murray River diverters.
The assessments were stage one of a project to modernise metering infrastructure and install telemetry to comply with the Victorian Government’s Victorian Non-Urban Water Metering Policy .
Telemetry is already in use across large parts of the GMW footprint and this project will help bring Zone 7 customers in line with a modernised water supply network and provide some of the same operational benefits to customers.
The technology improvements will provide water-use data in real-time, which will reduce the cost of having to perform multiple manual readings throughout the season. It also provides customers with real-time access to accurate water use records to help manage available remaining allocation.
During the assessment stage, 34 sites were identified as requiring meter upgrades before telemetry can be fitted.
The next stage of the project involves upgrading the meters and installing telemetry at all 74 sites.
A further 12 sites were identified as meeting the requirements of the project. Further assessment and design development will be undertaken to upgrade these additional sites.
The project is funded by the Victorian Government.
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Groundwater allocations update
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The 2024/25 groundwater allocations for the Groundwater Management Areas and Water Supply Protection Areas across much of northern Victoria have been announced.
This is the first time in four years that the Katunga WSPA has received 100 per cent allocation.
The Lower Campaspe Valley WSPA has retained a 100 per cent allocation for the northern zones which including the Rochester, Echuca and Bamawm areas, however a 75 per cent allocation remains for the Barnadown Zone to the south.
This means that in most management areas groundwater licence holders can use up to 100 per cent of their entitlement during the 2024/25 season. For more information on allocations in your area please refer our Groundwater webpage.
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West Campaspe Groundwater Management Area Local Management Plan
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The West Campaspe Groundwater Management Area (GMA) Local Management Plan has now been approved and is available on our website.
Developed in consultation with local groundwater users and key stakeholders, the Plan describes the intended management framework for groundwater resources in the West Campaspe GMA, which extends from Huntly in the south to Cohuna in the north and includes the townships of Leitchville and Gunbower.
The Plan seeks to strike a balance between recognising the benefit of using groundwater while supporting the protection of high value environmental, cultural, social and economic assets.
Thank you to everyone who gave feedback on the draft plan throughout the consultation period.
More information about the West Campaspe GMA is available at our website.
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Annual reports and newsletters for groundwater areas
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Groundwater annual reports and newsletters for the 2023/24 season will be available on the GMW website between late September and mid-October.
These documents provide key information on groundwater trade, use, water quality and water levels within each of GMW groundwater management units.
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Information about salinity
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GMW works closely with Catchment Management Authorities to monitor salinity levels across its regions.
GMW supplies raw (untreated) water for irrigation, stock and domestic purposes and for other bulk entitlement commitments. The quality of the water can vary due to various reasons, including salinity.
Salinity and waterlogging occur when watertables rise close to the ground surface. Several wetter-than-average years have led to the watertable rising, and salinity has increased as a result.
GMW is aware Kangaroo Lake has risen in salinity levels and is continuing to monitor the lake. Various factors could be contributing to the levels, including higher groundwater tables, and floodwater from recent rainfall events (October 2022 and January 2024) running into the lake.
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Contacting your local Diversions Inspector
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Our Diversions staff manage a range of rivers – both regulated and unregulated – and groundwater management areas.
The Diversions team provides services to diverters throughout our entire 68,000km² operational area, and private diverters account for more than 50 per cent of our customer base.
Our friendly Diversions operational team members are based at our Customer Service Centres and Storage Offices across GMW’s region. Head to our website to find out which diversions zone you are in.
All Diversions customer groups are represented by Regional Water Service Committees. These committees play a key role in ensuring local issues are raised with management, as well as contributing to GMW’s strategic planning initiatives. Further information on our RWSCs can be found here: Water Services Committees
If you would like to make an appointment with your local Diversions Inspector, please phone us on 1800 013 357.
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How river and stream restrictions work
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GMW monitors flows in unregulated streams and implements rosters and restrictions when flows reach trigger levels as identified in the relevant Local Management Rules. Streams that do not have a specific Local Management Rule have a minimum threshold of three megalitres per day applied.
Customers are required by their licence conditions to take water in accordance with any rosters and restrictions on their stream. It is an offence to take and use water at a level exceeding any roster or restriction.
GMW’s Rosters and Restrictions webpage provides a place for unregulated customers to review the status of their stream at any time. Select a region or catchment, select a stream and view any current restrictions on unregulated water access.
For more information about specific streams, please contact your local Diversion Inspector on 1800 013 357.
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WaterLINE and monitoring your use
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All diversions customers have the ability to monitor their seasonal use through accessing their water records via GMW’s water management system WaterLine.
While regulated diverters will be familiar with the use of WaterLine to place or vary orders, groundwater and unregulated customer may not have had exposure to the system.
WaterLine allows customers to insert their own meter readings and produce a Water Usage Statement that summarises your water use for the current season.
The report details your seasonal allocation, any movement of water in and out through trade, and how much available allocation you have remaining to use, trade or carryover into the next season. WaterLine is a valuable tool to help you manage your water.
To access WaterLine, you will need to be issued a User Number and PIN to log into the system. If you need assistance in setting up WaterLine, phone 1800 013 357 and we will connect you with your local Diversions Inspector who will help get you started.
If you have lost or misplaced your User Number or PIN, we can also assist you with resetting these.
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Fixed charges accounts to hit mailboxes soon
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GMW customers with fixed charges will soon receive their bills after the 2024/25 Price List came into effect on 1 July 2024.
New changes to fixed charges accounts
In determining our pricing for the 2024-28 price period, we have worked to absorb cost increases above inflation where we can. From 1 July 2024 we have removed the two per cent early payment discount. We understand this is a significant change for some customers. We have balanced this decision with the opportunity to minimise price increases and pass savings to all our customers.
Need help with your account?
GMW continues to have a number of flexible payment options available to help customers manage their bills and they can be found at www.gmwater.com.au/payment-assistance
For information about your account, please visit our website or phone the GMW Customer Experience team on 1800 013 357.
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Commonwealth Government's Restoring our Rivers tender
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The Commonwealth Government’s Restoring Our Rivers 2024 - Selected Catchments Open Tender is now open, with Victorian Murray zones 6 and 7 and Ovens zone 9a and King zone 9b in scope for the first round of buybacks.
Victorian Murray zones 6 and 7 are in the GMW irrigation footprint. GMW is concerned indiscriminate buybacks could see irrigation reduced inconsistently across several districts. This could lead to higher operational and infrastructure maintenance costs, resulting in increased prices.
GMW will continue to collaborate with the Victorian Government and other agencies to explore opportunities to achieve the best possible environmental outcomes from any further water recovery while pro-actively dealing with socio-economic impacts from reduced water use and a changing irrigation footprint.
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Make sure dam builds are licensed
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We are urging people to check they have the necessary licences and approvals before constructing dams on their properties to avoid unfairly impacting those downstream of them, unnecessary costs, and potential prosecution.
One illegally constructed dam can have a severe impact on many different people. If a dam is not built to the correct specifications, it can be a hazard not only for the person whose land it is on but those downstream of them who may be inundated if it fails.
Dams that are built on waterways without authorisation can also prevent downstream customers from getting the water they are entitled to.
People who build dams without the appropriate authorisation can be made to reinstate the land to its natural state at their own expense.
A licence must always be obtained prior to constructing a dam on a waterway. A waterway determination will clarify whether the land on which someone has proposed to construct a dam is classified as a waterway or not.
There are also some instances where off-waterway dams require licences. These dams are labelled as “potentially hazardous” under Section 67 (1A) of the Water Act 1989.
If you have any questions regarding what licenses you may need, phone us on 1800 013 357.
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Come talk with us at Elmore Field Days!
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The Elmore Field Days is back this year, running from 1 to 3 October.
Our staff will be at site AP103, raising awareness about our services and providing our customers an opportunity to meet with us face–to-face.
Our team can help you with the latest information and updates on:
- water trading
- carryover and spillable water accounts
- your delivery shares, water shares and groundwater
- customer accounts
- other water management issues.
With more than 700 exhibitors, the annual event showcases agricultural services and innovation from across Victoria and interstate. The Elmore Field Days is a not-for-profit organisation with all profit going back into the community.
Find out more at www.elmorefielddays.com.au
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Do the right thing this irrigation season
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The start of the irrigation season is a timely reminder to take responsibility for your water use.
Please remember:
- it is illegal to take and use more water than allowed under your entitlement
- before you take and use water, make sure you:
- have the right authorisations
- have enough water available in your entitlement and allow enough time for temporary or permanent trades to be processed
- check your meter reading and water usage against your licenced volume; and
- check if restrictions and/or bans apply.
- it is your responsibility to ensure your ABA balance remains positive throughout the year.
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Office and depot operations update
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As part of our efforts to identify efficiencies to deliver reliable, affordable water for our customers, GMW is consolidating our offices and depots to have a Customer Service Centre in each area – East, West and Central.
In the West area, the Pyramid Hill office has closed with operations transferred to the Kerang Customer Service Centre, and the Swan Hill works depot has closed and operations have transferred to GMW’s Cussen St Tatura depot.
The Kerang customer service centre is located at 78 Kerang-Koondrook Rd, Kerang and is open from 8.30am to 4.30pm Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
In the Central area, GMW’s Kyabram Customer Service Centre closed in February 2024 and services transitioned to the Rochester Customer Service Centre.
The Rochester Customer Service Centre is located at 41 High Street, Rochester and is open from 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday.
GMW is now investigating options for the East area.
Customers are welcome to drop into any of our Customer Service Centres, and booking an appointment is encouraged by:
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Help stop vandalism and tampering
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We have recently had several instances of people interfering with our assets.
This includes incidents such as tampering with regulators to redirect water, throwing large rocks on dam spillways, and ripping gates off 'no access' areas.
These actions can cause considerable expenses and can unfairly increase customer bills.
We are subsequently looking to prosecute people when they are found to be interfering with our assets.
You can help us by reporting any criminal behaviour at GMW storages and waterways by phoning GMW on 1800 013 357 or the local police.
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