Information about our environmental management, sustainability and water resource plans and strategies.

Sustainability Strategy

For us, sustainability means being able to continuously provide water and wastewater services which supports customers, staff and the region and balance social, environmental and economic outcomes.

 

Corporate Plan and Water Price Submission 

Our Corpoate Plan 2019-29 Proposed Capital Works Programme 2019/20 outlines our service objectives for the 2019-29.

Our 2018-23 Water Price Submission as submitted to the Essential Service Commission. The outcomes have been grouped into three themes - Safe and Clean Water; Reliable and Affordable Services; and A Healthy and Liveable Region.

 

Western Region Sustainable Water Strategy

The Western Region Sustainable Water Strategy maps out our region's water resources and the challenges and opportunities facing water users over the next 50 years.

 

Blue-Green Algae Regional Coordination Plan

High levels of blue-green algae in water can be toxic to humans and animals and so its important to manage a major outbreak responsibly.

 

Fire Protection Plan

We understand that fire preparedness and prevention are a high priority in the community due to the impact it can have on private and public land.

 

Urban and Rural Water Supply Strategy

The Urban and Rural Water Supply Strategy outlines how we manage water security to provide water services in our towns and cities now and into the future.

 

Wimmera Catchment Surface Water and Groundwater Management Plan

This document provides the framework to manage the unregulated groundwater and surface water resources in the Wimmera catchment and provides guidance and information regarding the 'take and use' of groundwater and surface water.

 

Avoca Local Management Plan

This plan has been developed for the Avoca catchment to provide the framework to manage groundwater and surface water resources in the Avoca catchment area. It also provides information to customers regarding their 'take and use' of groundwater and surface water.

Register a dam or apply for a surface water licence.  Information about surface water mangement and allocations.

Apply for a 'take and use' surface water licence

Depending where you’re located in our region, you may be eligible to apply to harvest and use surface rainfall runoff, including from streams, rivers, creeks and catchment dams.

 

Complete your Avoca River Irrigation Report

 If you hold a licence to take water from the Avoca River system and have extracted water for irrigation use, you are required to complete a Surface Water Irrigation Report.

 

Use surface water legally

In the interests of the environment, the community and fairness, it's important for people to follow the rules regarding taking and using  surface water.

 

Latest river diverters update

This page details the current status of both Wimmera River and Avoca River diversion triggers.

 

Surface Water and Groundwater Management Plans

This page details information on the Wimmera Catchment Surface Water and Groundwater Management Plan and the Avoca Local Management Plan.

 

 

 

Apply for a groundwater bore or licence.  Information about groundwater mangement, monitoring, trading and areas.

About groundwater

Groundwater is an essential resource for our community, especially in the western parts of the region.

 

Apply for a groundwater bore

If you're planning to construct or alter a groundwater bore, you need to apply for a licence before you can start works.

 

Apply for a 'take and use' groundwater licence

To use groundwater for irrigation or other commercial purposes, you must have a ‘take and use’ licence.

 

How to trade groundwater

Groundwater can be traded either temporarily or permanently.

 

West Wimmera Groundwater Management Area

The West Wimmera GMA incorporates the area west of the Wimmera River to the South Australian border, and north to the Big Desert.

 

Murrayville Groundwater Management Area

The Murrayville Groundwater Management Area (GMA) occupies 1,916 square kms centred on the town of Murrayville, between the Murray Sunset National Park and the Big Desert.

 

Use groundwater legally

In the interests of the environment, the community and fairness, it's important for people to follow the rules regarding taking and using groundwater. 

 

 

Find out about our environmental policies and management systems.  Information about pipeline supplied wetlands, wildlife ponds and planting trees near pipelines.

Responding to climate change

We believe climate change poses a great threat to our water supply, our environment and our way of life. That's why we're taking a proactive approach in our policies regarding climate change.

 

Environmental Management System

At GWMWater, we're committed to managing our natural resources responsibly and delivering services in ways that minimise the impact on the environment.

 

Pipeline supplied environmental wetlands

Our rural pipelines also supply water to 51 environmental wetlands in our region.

 

Build a wildlife pond

A wildlife pond is an inground water source designed to provide habitat for wildlife. A 17 kL water rebate is available to rural landholders who construct and register their wildlife pond.

 

Planting trees near a rural pipeline

If you're planning to plant trees or shrubs, it's important to avoid planting them too close to a pipeline in case we need to do work on a pipe.