GWMWater has prepared a Non-Urban Metering Action Plan in response to the updated Victorian Non-Urban Metering Policy (2020) and in the context of the Murray-Darling Basin Compliance Compact. The Plan details the actions GWMWater will take to ensure accurate metering under the Policy.

The GWMWater Non-Urban Meter Action Plan demonstrates commitment to accurate metering with all applicable sites requiring accurate metering under the Policy (groundwater and surface water diverters):

• to be metered by AS4747 compliant pattern-approved meters by June 2025
• to be telemetered where feasible and cost-effective, providing near real-time data

This high-accuracy metering will continue to provide accurate data for reporting, management of allocations, and protection of water resources.

This plan is not applicable to GWMWater bulk water meters, or meters within GWMWater’s urban systems, regulated rural pipeline systems and reclaimed water networks.

Each year we produce a series of reports about our performance and highlights for the 12 months.

The South West Loddon Pipeline has been a boon for Des and Frances Lanyon, providing secure reliable supplies of clean water to both house and farm, and reducing the time and labour spent carting water when dams or other supplies run low.

The Lanyon’s farm 1100 hectares spread over a number of properties spread across Yeungroon, Woosang and Woolshed Flat Road near Wedderburn. They run a mixed farming enterprise, centred on a self-replacing flock of approximately 3500 merino sheep, with 400 hectares under crop at any one time (mostly canola, wheat and barley).

Prior to connection to the South West Loddon Pipeline Des estimates that he’d needed to cart water for approximately 20 out of the 50 years he’s been farming. In those years, Des estimates he’s spent up to 40 to 50 hours a week carting water after his day’s work had been completed, just to meet livestock and household needs.

“We’ve almost always had access to water to cart from property to property. The problem was that we often had to cart the water after dark when everything else had been done. It was just another job that needed to be done.”

By removing the need to regularly cart water, connection to the South West Loddon Pipeline has saved Des a significant amount of time. It’s also improved his farming operations in other areas as well.

As far as Des is concerned, he wouldn’t want to go back to the days before the South West Loddon Pipeline.

“In the scheme of things it’s not a huge cost, and anyone that’s had pipeline water wouldn’t want to do without it”, Des said.

More than 3000 Coliban Water urban customers will benefit from the completion of the South West Loddon Pipeline.

Coliban Water contributed $2.7 million to the $89.9-million project; led by GWMWater. Approximately 1170 kilometres of pipeline will provide a raw water supply to properties across 2900 square kilometres in both GWMWater and Coliban Water service areas.

The new pipeline provides a more secure raw water source than the Loddon River system, the former source of raw water, which was being treated to supply drinking water to townships in the Coliban Water service area.

Coliban Water Manager Community Operations Mick Dunne said the raw water for the new pipeline, largely sourced from Grampians reservoirs, was of a more consistent quality, with reduced organics and salinity levels.
Bridgewater and Inglewood customers are now receiving the new supply and Coliban Water also has plans to connect urban water supply for Tarnagulla, Bealiba, Dunolly and Laanecoorie to the pipeline in the future.

Sporting and community facilities in Wedderburn and Inglewood have been able to receive fit-for-purpose water from the South West Loddon Pipeline to irrigate green areas. This is expected to reduce the demand for treated water in these towns during peak demand periods and provide a more cost effective alternative for the facilities.

Mr Dunne said the new connection was a win for the communities involved.