Water infrastructure improvements for Northern Victoria

Major works to improve water infrastructure in the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District (GMID) in Northern Victoria have begun.

Victorian Minister for Water, Lisa Neville, said the massive building program would improve water infrastructure in the GMID, support over 500 local jobs and provide a 90 per cent local spend involving local subcontractors and suppliers – delivering a significant local economic benefit.

“This year’s annual winter works program is another important step towards delivering water more efficiently for our agricultural communities and we’re already seeing the benefits of this,” Ms Neville said.

This year’s $210 million package will install more than 125 automated regulators and over 500 water meters. It will also include remediation of more than 25km of channel, construction of over 45km of pipeline and the decommission of around 90km of open channel.

This year the Campaspe Siphon Relining Project near Rochester will be a key focus, with existing siphon relined with fibre-reinforced concrete to ensure the historic asset continues to operate and provide service to both Rochester and Loddon Valley Irrigation Districts.

Channel remediation will cost $4.5 million, with five crews working across nine sites in the GMID. This includes three sites in the Murray Valley area, two sites in Shepparton, two sites in Rochester, one in Loddon Valley and one in Torrumbarry.

In addition, an estimated $5.5 million will be spent on structure works such as upgraded pipes, channels, road crossings and bridges.

The Goulburn Murray Irrigation District is Victoria’s food bowl. These works will support growth in the region, jobs and liveable communities and builds on other recent advances, with the final stages of the Swan Hill Modernisation Project also underway.

This program is part of the State Government’s $2 billion Connections Project, delivered with Goulburn Murray Water. It’s the largest irrigation modernisation project in Australia and is improving the sustainability of the region, creating growth opportunities and jobs for local economies and landowners.