Gravity Irrigation Customer Newsletter

Meet Steve Capewell, GMW’s new Managing Director

Steve Capewell joined Goulburn-Murray Water as Managing Director in July, following former Managing Director Charmaine Quick’s decision to step down after seven years in the role.

Many customers may already be familiar with Steve through his previous role as Managing Director of Goulburn Valley Water, where he led the organisation for almost six years. Before moving to northern Victoria, Steve spent 18 years with Water Corporation in Western Australia, holding senior executive roles across regional service delivery, asset management, infrastructure planning and major water projects.

During his time at Goulburn Valley Water, Steve worked closely with communities, councils and commercial and industrial customers to support regional growth and investment. This included strengthening the organisation’s relationships with major food-processing and manufacturing businesses and ensuring water services were positioned as an enabler of economic development across the region.

Steve said he was pleased to continue working in northern Victoria and to lead an organisation that plays such an important role in supporting irrigated agriculture, regional businesses and communities.

“GMW’s services underpin the prosperity of northern Victoria and make an important contribution to Australia’s agricultural production and food security,” Steve said.

“I’m looking forward to spending time with customers across the region, listening to their experiences and developing a deeper understanding of what matters most to them.”

Steve joins GMW at an important time, as customers and communities navigate the ongoing implementation of the Murray–Darling Basin Plan, changing climate conditions, affordability pressures and evolving expectations of water services.

His immediate focus is on listening and learning, building strong relationships with customers and stakeholders, and supporting the organisation to continue delivering reliable, responsive and cost-effective services.

“I have been impressed by the strong customer focus I have already seen across GMW,” Steve said.

“My role is to build on those foundations, ensure customer perspectives continue to shape our decisions, and position GMW and the region strongly for the future.”

New WaterLINE drop-in sessions

The new version of WaterLINE is now available and will be ready for you to place water orders from Monday 10 August, ahead of the gravity irrigation season opening on Saturday 15 August.

You can log in now and familiarise yourself with the new version before ordering opens. It includes improvements to make it easier to place and manage orders, check your Allocation Account (ABA) balance and access the information you need.

Need help getting started?

We're holding drop-in sessions across the GMID throughout August to help you get set up. Bring your device (phone, tablet, laptop) and our team can help you log in, navigate the new version and answer any questions.

Sessions will be held in Shepparton, Cobram, Nathalia, Tatura, Rochester, Colbinabbin, Pyramid Hill, Boort, Kerang and Cohuna.

View session dates and locations

 

Before the irrigation season starts

Planning ahead now can help your irrigation season run more smoothly, particularly with lower than usual storage levels heading into spring.

Understanding your water entitlements and delivery shares will help you make the most of your water and prepare for periods of high demand. Your delivery share is an entitlement to have water delivered to your land through GMW's channels or pipelines. During peak irrigation periods, delivery shares help ensure all customers receive a fair supply when demand exceeds system capacity.

To help you prepare for the season:

• Make sure you have enough water available in your Allocation Account (ABA) and allow enough time for allocation trades to be processed.
• Place your water orders through WaterLINE from 10 August, ahead of the gravity irrigation season opening on 15 August.
• Read your meters regularly and monitor your water use against your entitlement.
• Check your current usage and ABA balance regularly through WaterLINE.
• Submit your water orders early. Storage inflows, seasonal conditions and customer demand can all affect water availability, so ordering early can help you prepare for the season ahead.

Seasonal Preparedness

In northern Victoria, seasons can vary from one year to the next and conditions can change quickly. That's why we use a Seasonal Preparedness Framework to help plan for a range of conditions, from wet through to dry and prolonged dry periods. The framework guides how we manage water systems, communicate with customers and respond as seasonal conditions change.

Planning ahead gives customers more options and greater confidence when making business decisions. While GMW continues to monitor storage levels, inflows and seasonal forecasts, there are several steps customers can take now to prepare for the season ahead.

Now is a good time to:

• Review your water entitlements, allocations and carryover.
• Check seasonal outlooks and determination updates.
• Consider water trading opportunities if they suit your needs.
• Complete on-farm maintenance and water efficiency works.
• Stay informed through GMW updates, newsletters and SMS alerts.

NVRM video explainers

Do the right thing this irrigation season

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:
  • place an order
  • 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.

Report suspected water theft

Maintaining your on-farm infrastructure

GMW has an extensive channel, pipeline and drainage system – we recognise we must work together with our customers to ensure the system is operating the best it can.

GMW maintenance obligations

Input from customers helps ensures we can address maintenance issues as soon as they arise. If a maintenance problem is reported by a customer, it will be assigned a priority rating and we will aim to have the problem rectified within the target timeframe.

Customer maintenance obligations

Customers are responsible for maintaining all private works from the point of connection to the GMW system.

If your on-farm infrastructure is not maintained correctly, it may mean you won’t receive water at the flow rate you ordered it.

Keep stock off channels

We are urging all customers to ensure they keep stock off irrigation and drainage channel banks.

Stock can cause serious damage when they drink directly from channels. This can weaken channel banks, reduce water quality and damage important in-channel habitat.

Customers are responsible for ensuring stock are kept away from channels and other assets, with adequate fencing in place to prevent access.

If we see stock damage on a channel bank, a GMW Field Officer will contact you to talk about how to stop it happening again. If more damage occurs after we contact you, GMW will repair it and charge the cost to you.

Repairing channel banks can be expensive. Keeping channels in good condition helps keep costs down and supports reliable water delivery for all irrigators.

Please use troughs or other suitable watering points, and do not allow stock to drink directly from channels.

If you have any questions, please call our Customer Experience team on 1800 013 357.

 

Price Plan 2028 update

Work on our Price Plan 2028 is progressing, and customer feedback will play an important role in helping shape the services we deliver. Unlike the current four-year price period, Price Plan 2028 is being developed for a five-year period, aligning with our Corporate Plan and supporting longer-term planning.

We've already been working with our customer committees, local government, Traditional Owners and other stakeholders to help inform our planning. Like many water corporations, we're also considering how best to maintain and renew ageing infrastructure while continuing to deliver reliable services for customers.

Soon, there will be opportunities for customers to share their views on topics such as customer outcomes, service standards, future projects and billing.

Have your say on Price Plan 2028

Customer Committee help kick off Price Plan 2028 engagement 

 The 2026 GMW Customer Committee Annual Summit was held in Kialla in June, bringing together Customer Committee members, the GMW Board, including Chair Justin Hanney, and incoming Managing Director Steve Capewell.

A key focus of the Summit was the launch of engagement for GMW’s Price Plan 2028, with committee members providing early input on future service priorities, investment needs and opportunities to improve efficiency, value and transparency for customers. These discussions will help inform the development of GMW’s Price Plan and future customer engagement opportunities.

Committee members also discussed broader issues affecting customers, including water security in the face of drier conditions and reduced inflows, and the ongoing Murray-Darling Basin Plan Review and Water Act Review processes.

Read about the Customer Committee Annual Summit

 Learn more about Price Plan 2028

Meet our Customer Committee members

GMW’s Customer Committees provide a voice for its customers across northern Victoria and help GMW better understand the strategic issues facing customers and their communities.

To help highlight what the committees are all about we’ve started profiling members from each of the seven Customer Committees.

We’re starting out by focusing on the GMID Customer Committees for the East, Central and West Irrigation District Services areas.

The profiles are being uploaded to GMW’s Facebook page as well as the ‘GMW Customer Committees’ webpage.

Find out more about GMW's Customer Committees and the members helping represent customers across northern Victoria.

 Meet our Customer Committee members.

Winter Works wrap

Every year GMW carries out a major maintenance program over the winter months during the irrigation off-season between 16 May and 14 August.

The Winter Works program ensures GMW can continue to deliver water to customers when they need it, where they need it. This year’s program has focused on maintaining and improving infrastructure to improve water delivery flow and efficiency.

The works program has included about 9km of channel bank remediation, about 70km of channel desilting works and the removal of weeds from a further 300km of channel across GMW’s network.

The works have also included replacing or rehabilitating a number of ageing culverts, syphons and bridges in areas near Cohuna and Gunbower Island, Macorna and Durham Ox, Picola, Kaarimba, Strathmerton, Katamatite and Echuca.

Find out more about this year's Winter Works program and the projects completed across GMW's irrigation network.

View the Winter Works project

Fixed charge accounts

View the 2026/27 Price List

Mildura Weir Replacement Project

The Mildura Weir has played an important role in managing water deliveries along the River Murray for almost 100 years, supporting irrigation, communities, businesses, recreation and the environment across three states. As the structure ages, planning is underway to investigate replacement options that can continue providing safe, reliable and efficient river operations for future generations.

Goulburn-Murray Water (GMW) is leading this major project on behalf of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA), overseeing technical investigations, business case development and community engagement. While the project is centred on Mildura, its importance extends well beyond the local region. The weir is part of the broader River Murray system that supports communities, agriculture and industries across northern Victoria and the Murray-Darling Basin. The project will help ensure this critical infrastructure continues to support water security, regional economies and healthy river systems into the future.

Find out more about the Mildura Weir Replacement Project, including the latest project updates, investigations and opportunities to have your say.

Visit the project page

 

Play it safe around water this summer

As the weather warms up, more people will be heading to GMW's lakes, reservoirs and waterways to swim, boat, fish and enjoy the outdoors.

Wherever you're spending time around water, remember to:

• Wear a lifejacket when boating or participating in water sports.
• Supervise children at all times.
• Check the weather before heading out.
• Avoid alcohol when swimming or operating a boat.
• Be aware of changing conditions and hidden hazards.

Stay out of irrigation channels

Irrigation channels are not safe places to swim or play. They may look calm, but fast-flowing water, strong currents, steep banks and hidden hazards make them extremely dangerous. Even strong swimmers can struggle to get out.

Please remind family friends and children, to stay well away from irrigation channels and only swim in safe, designated locations.

Find out how you can stay safe around GMW lakes, waterways and irrigation channels this summer.

DEECA H5N1 Avian Influenza (bird flu) notification process

Cases of H5 bird flu have been confirmed in Australia.

If you find sick or dead wild birds or wildlife with signs of H5 bird flu:

• AVOID contact with sick or dead wild birds or wildlife and their environment
• RECORD what you see
• REPORT to DEECA (Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action) using this form or call the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.

Following a report, the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) will assess each report and decide if testing is needed.

For the latest updates, information and reporting resources, visit the Agriculture Victoria website.

Learn more about H5 bird flu