Irrigators' Share Distribution stories

Modernisation and recovered water 'changed how we farm'

Farmer Ross Stammers leans on a gate at the entrance to one of his paddocks.Increased food production

Increased food production is just one of the benefits of the modernisation of the Goulburn-Murray Irrigation District (GMID) for Ross Stammers’ 400ha farm just west of Tatura.

Recent modernisation works by the GMW Connections Project which was completed in October 2020, saw Ross and other eligible delivery share holders recently receive their share of water recovered by the project.

In October 2021, the Irrigators’ Share Distribution (ISD) provided eligible irrigators who hold 0.25 ML/day or more of delivery share about 4MLof high reliability water shares and around 2ML of low reliability water shares per 1 ML/day of delivery share.

“I’m very, very pleased we’re going to get it in water,” Ross said.

“The high security will give us more water – which is not to be sneezed at.

“It’s great news for irrigators because water is a very valuable commodity today.

“A lot of people thought it wouldn’t happen, but it had to happen because it was part of the deal.

“For us, the changes mean when we get full water right, we can do a lot more in our production growing food into summer and putting away for the winter.”

The grazier never thought after more than 50 years of farming he would see pipes installed on his property.

“I’m 72 years old and I never thought I’d see it in my lifetime,” he said.

“The modernisation has been great but obviously there will be maintenance costs to keep it going, which will be passed onto the users.

“But we need these modern facilities. It’s changed how we farm.”

Ross and Julie Stammers run a 400ha beef cattle and sheep farm with the help of their three sons.

Channel replaced

Through the Connections project, Ross and three other farmers were given the opportunity to have their channel replaced by a 2750-foot low energy pipeline with its own automated delivery system.

Because of the lay of the land and natural gravity, the old channel was disruptive and often left his property — which is on the top of the channel — without water.

“When other people were watering off the spur, I was getting no water,” he said.

The unreliable water supply had significant impacts on the family’s lifestyle and the bottom line; Ross had to constantly monitor flows to avoid damaging his crops through over and under watering.

The new pipeline has a special meter that controls and measures flow at the outlet and modulates to maintain a constant flow, even when the supply pressure is fluctuating.

So, when Ross and his neighbours need water at the same time, he still receives a reliable and accurate flow of water. As he can remotely control how much water he uses, he doesn’t even need to be onsite for an irrigation to start, freeing him up to carry out other tasks.

“The water starts automatically. I can set it to start overnight and get up in the morning and already have some of my watering done.  

“It’s been fabulous.”

With an improved supply guaranteed, Ross installed a gravity pipe and riser system over almost 10ha of his property at the same time.

So, there’s been quite a lot of change in recent years and Ross and his family can see that collectively the changes help ensure the success and longevity of their business and others in the district, with flow-on benefits for local communities.

Calculating your share

Water shares and seasonal allocations were issued between 16-31 October 2021 to nearly 7000 delivery shareholders in the GMID with 0.25 ML/day or more of delivery share. Delivery shareholders have received a copy of record and approval letter since the shares were issued.

Customers with less than 0.25 ML/day of delivery share will receive a financial benefit equivalent to the value of water shares as a credit on their GMW fixed charges bill in July 2022.


Georgie says water shares a welcome asset

Dairy farmer Georgie Sims working in her family dairy near Rochester.Project ticks lots of boxes

When a project improves water efficiency, reduces maintenance and delivers an asset in the form of increased water shares, we can’t complain.

That’s according to Georgie Sims, who with her husband Adam and his parents Judy and Neville, farm two irrigated properties north-west of Rochester. One is for fodder and the other a dairy farm that their farm business bought in 2010.

Through the Connections Project, they benefited from the modernisation of the irrigation channel that services the dairy farm and in October 2021 received water shares as part of the Irrigators' Share Distribution.

Water shares welcome

Georgie said her family welcomed the Irrigators Share Distribution, which has seen delivery share holders in the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District (GMID) receive water shares as a benefit of the modernisation works that returned 77GL to irrigators. The Irrigators Share Distribution provided eligible irrigators who held 0.25 ML/day or more of delivery share about 4ML of high reliability water shares and around 2ML of low reliability water shares per 1 ML/day of delivery share.

“As part of our business plan we wanted to buy more water, so we’re very happy with the outcome.”

“The distribution of water shares is an asset and we can’t complain about that.”

Georgie said seeing the modernisation changes in action gave the family confidence to continue their farm improvement plans, including the fast-tracking of a planned on-farm pipeline.

“The dairy farm was on the end of channel spur with several other property owners. The modernisation works allowed an outlet to be relocated which improved the water flow rate. We also contributed to some additional works which removed bulky and inefficient water infrastructure and removed a diesel pump. So, now we can irrigate via gravity and we’re not having to use as much water because it’s more efficient,” she said.

“The new infrastructure gave us better access, so it encouraged us to fast-track the upgrade of another piece of land that we had on our wish list, allowing us to get things done sooner.”

In a busy family farm that runs sheep, grows grain and hay crops in addition to the dairy, Georgie and Adam are happy with other outcomes the project has delivered.

“Over the years the modernisation project has added to local communities by providing work for local contractors for earthwork services and businesses that supply products for irrigation infrastructure works, which is all good for the community,” Georgie said.

Returning water benefits community

Returning 77 GL to the region means more water for farmers to increase production or if they have debt, the water shares are an asset they can sell to reduce their debt. On top of these outcomes that have benefits for the wider community, there’s the modernisation of systems on each farm which have helped individual farmers on a daily basis.

“My husband’s pretty happy that you can start the watering without getting out of bed and the automation saves him an extra trip out to the paddock each day.

“The electronic system for ordering water is also helpful; its accessible wherever you are.

“Then there are the operational efficiencies. As well as improved water efficiency, we’re not paying for diesel for the pump we had and we have an electric pump that’s easier to operate with less maintenance.

Long haul for great improvements

“For many, the modernisation project has been a long haul, beginning over a decade ago. Some connection works have been really frustrating and others a great success.  At the end of the day, we worked through the challenges and now have a system we are happy with, that leaves us with some great improvements.”

In addition to family members, the Sims’ farm employs three full-time and three casual staff.

Georgie has been on Goulburn-Murray Water’s Rochester-Campaspe Water Services Committee for more than five years and also served on the stakeholder committee for the Connections Project.