Workers building a pipeline under a railway near Kerang.
Goulburn-Murray Water’s (GMW) Water Efficiency Project recently reached a significant milestone.
The Project will generate 15.9GL in water savings annually once it is completed in 2023. It is now generating more than half of this total, creating 8GL in savings annually subject to the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning’s (DELWP) water savings audit.
GMW’s Water Efficiency Project follows on from the Connections Project. It is comprised of various asset reconfigurations throughout the Goulburn-Murray Irrigation District (GMID), including the treatment of 1,021 outlets and more than 250km of channel, including the conversion of numerous sections of channel into pipelines.
Water Efficiency Project Director Frank Fisseler said he was pleased with the Project’s progress.
“Water is an increasingly valuable resource and it is crucial we create savings where possible,” he said.
“8GL of savings is substantial, but we still have plenty of work to go. Once we complete the Project, we anticipate it will have improved irrigation standards for more than 1000 GMW customers across the GMID.”
The Commonwealth Government is funding the $177.5 million Water Efficiency Project. It is expected to achieve an estimated regional Gross Domestic Product increase of $167.5 million when complete.
“It’s not just a great project for irrigators, it’s a great project for the region,” Mr Fisseler said.
“The construction alone will produce about 1000 regional jobs, and the project will ensure the region can continue to be an agricultural hub.”
The Project Team enjoyed a busy irrigation off-season between 15 May and 14 August 2022, including ongoing works to install two fully automated pumped pipelines in Kerang and Waaia.
GMW was able to lower channels as needed across the GMID to allow staff to progress works in areas that would normally be below the water line.
The Project Team will be continuing to undertake works during the irrigation season to ensure that the Water Efficiency Project is delivered on time. The Water Efficiency Project is on track for completion in mid-2023.
To learn more about the project head to https://www.waterefficiencyproject.com.au/