Goulburn Murray irrigators will share of more than $300 million worth of water thanks to the successful completion of the Connections Project – the largest irrigation modernisation project in Australian history.
The Andrews Labor Government project has modernised channels and pipelines to improve water efficiency, recovering 429 gigalitres of long-term average annual water in October last year.
This water recovery has been central to Victoria meeting its obligations under the Basin Plan without taking water from farmers.
The savings mean that Victoria has exceeded its water saving targets by two gigalitres (GL), which will be distributed to irrigators on top of the 75GL already committed. Irrigators will receive a mix of high and low reliability shares, which will equate to 77 gigalitres of long term annual average yield.
Delivery share details will be taken from the Victorian Water Register at census date, scheduled for 1 October 2021.
Based on current data, delivery shareholders will receive around four megalitres (ML) of high reliability water share and about two ML of low water reliability water share per one ML/Day of delivery share held.
Delivery shareholders in the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District are urged to read through a new Customer Guide outlining the benefits irrigators will receive and when, and what they need to do to prepare for their share.
Irrigators can find the customer guide and calculate an estimate of what they will personally receive using an online tool on the Goulburn Murray Water website at
The Goulburn Murray Water customer service team are available to help irrigators update their account details in preparation for the distribution and answer further questions and can be contacted by emailing ISDProject@gmwater.com.au or calling 1800 013 357.
Quotes attributable to Acting Minister for Water Richard Wynne
“The Connections Project is saving water, creating jobs and supporting the long-term productivity of our irrigators.”
“The project has enabled us to exceed our water recovery targets and deliver more water to farms in Northern Victoria.”
Reviewed 26 April 2021