Goulburn-Murray Water’s (GMW) annual winter works program is ramping up after passing the halfway mark.
The works, carried out during the irrigation shutdown period from May 15 to August 15, involve $8 million of maintenance and capital works set to enhance the capacity of the region’s irrigation network.
GMW Infrastructure Delivery Services general manager Warren Jose said staff had been maintaining and desilting channels at about 50 sites, weed spraying at 24 sites to improve channel capacity, carrying out other maintenance works at about 20 sites, and construction at about 41 sites.
“Almost 80km of channels have been desilted which is great news,” he said.
“The weed spraying portion of the works has included submerged aquatic weed control, spraying drains, and access and visibility spraying along channel banks and infrastructure, including pump stations, communication towers, outlets and regulators across more than 85km.
“Other works undertaken have included channel bank and gate repairs and bridge works, have also been completed at approximately 34 sites.
“Maintaining our channel delivery network is crucial to ensuring the network provides a reliable supply during the irrigation season.”
Mr Jose said the next few weeks would be “full speed” to allow channels to be recharged and ready for the start of the 2021/22 irrigation season on August 15.
“We have about 16 excavators operating across the GMW footprint at any one time, so we continue to remind the public to take care around any changes to traffic and road conditions near our work sites during this period,” he said.
“Our Winter Works program is a significant investment for the region. By using local contractors, it benefits the local economy by keeping money in our community.”
For more information about the Winter Works, visit the GMW website.