Major winter works kick starting in the Goulburn Murry Irrigation District will deliver improvements for local landowners and bring jobs to the region.
Minister for Water Lisa Neville said the massive building program would improve water infrastructure in the District, 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 $210 million package will install more than 125 automated regulators and over 500 water meters. It will also include remediation of more than 25 kilometres of channel, construction of over 45 kilometres of pipeline and the decommission of around 90 kilometres 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 District. 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 Andrews Labor 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.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Water Lisa Neville
“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.”
“The Connections Project is creating hundreds of jobs for rural and regional Victorians as well as a wide range of environmental and agricultural benefits.”
Quote attributable to Member for Northern Victoria Mark Gepp
“These winter works are not only upgrading our water infrastructure – but they are boosting local jobs and our local economy.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020