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 licenceDepending 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 ReportIf 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 legallyIn 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 updateThis page details the current status of both Wimmera River and Avoca River diversion triggers. |
Surface Water and Groundwater Management PlansThis 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 groundwaterGroundwater is an essential resource for our community, especially in the western parts of the region. |
Apply for a groundwater boreIf 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 licenceTo use groundwater for irrigation or other commercial purposes, you must have a ‘take and use’ licence. |
How to trade groundwaterGroundwater can be traded either temporarily or permanently. |
West Wimmera Groundwater Management AreaThe 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 AreaThe 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 legallyIn 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 changeWe 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 SystemAt 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 wetlandsOur rural pipelines also supply water to 51 environmental wetlands in our region. |
Build a wildlife pondA 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 pipelineIf 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. |
Apply to connect to a rural pipeline. Information about pipeline water allowances. Tools and advice for designing and monitoring your on-farm piped system.
Connect to the East Grampians Rural PipelineConnecting to the East Grampians rural pipeline will secure a reliable water supply for your property. |
Connect to the South West Loddon PipelineConnecting to the South West Loddon pipeline will secure a reliable water supply for your property. |
Express an interest to connect to the West Grampians Rural PipelineIf feasible, a pipeline extension will reach into agricultural areas in the south east of the West Wimmera Shire. This pipeline could provide ongoing water security for rural customers in the project area as well as the townships of Edenhope and Harrow - including significant economic, social, recreational and environmental benefits to the region. |
Connect to a rural pipelineMany properties in rural areas will have the option to join our existing water network. The primary requirement for a property is that it's fronted by one of our pipelines. |
Apply for a pipeline water allowanceGWMWater customers supplied from rural pipeline systems have fully tradable water allowances, which are registered at an individual customer level with the Victorian Water Register. |
Benefits of connecting to a rural pipelineThere are many benefits of having a piped supply, from better quality water for bathing and washing to security for firefighting or enterprise opportunities. |
Designing your on-farm piped systemIf you're planning to install your on-farm piped system, we have tools and advice available to help you come up with the best design for your property. |
Monitor your rural pipeline useWith droughts and unreliable rainfall making water such a valuable resource, it's important to make sure you're using your water supplies as efficiently as possible. |
Wimmera Mallee Pipeline
The Wimmera Mallee Pipeline Project is the best thing for 100 years!
The Wimmera Mallee Pipeline Project is the largest water infrastructure project in Australia, replacing 17,500 kilometres of inefficient earthen channel with 9,159 kilometres of pressurised pipeline and associated structures.
Construction of this great engineering feat commenced in November 2006 with the last pipe being laid in April 2010 - well ahead of the 10 year timeframe originally proposed and within the $688 million project budget.
The pipeline will save on average 103 billion litres of water a year and provide a continuous water supply to approximately 9,000 farms and 34 townships across the Wimmera and Mallee.
Thursday 15 April, 2010 saw the Horsham Soundshell come alive with celebrations for the official opening of the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline.
The Wimmera Mallee Pipeline Project was officially opened by then Premier of Victoria, John Brumby and the Minister for Water, Tim Holding, on 15 April 2010.
Federal and State parlimentarians joined GWMWater's then Chairman Barry Clugston to lower the ‘Piping It’ flag and raise the ‘Piped It’ flag with a crowd of more than 1,100 interested community members cheering them on. The flag ceremony symbolised the completion of all pipes laid and officially opened the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline.
Thanks to the pipeline project, made possible by project partners including the Australian and Victorian governments, 36 towns and our 7,000 rural customers are now receiving a high quality and reliable water supply.
Water restriction levels for these customers were eased from Stage 4 to Stage 1 in October 2009 and subsequently moved to Permanent Water Saving Rules in October 2010 as a result of the improved water security that the project has delivered.
Status update and link to Supply System maps
No Water - No Life
'No Water No Life' a historic look at our headworks system researched and written by Bob McIlvena
Series reproduced with the kind permission of the Wimmera Mail Times
GWMWater accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of the information contained in the series, please click here to view the series
Channels
The Wimmera Mallee open earthen channel system ran from the Grampians ranges south of Horsham, north beyond Ouyen, and east to the Murray River. Historically the 17,500 kilometre channel system annually supplied water to 36 towns and filled 22,000 farm dams across the region.
High levels of evaporation and seepage from the channel system were key motivators for the regional push for a piped supply system, which led to the construction of the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline Project. This $688 million project saw the channel system replaced by a 9,159 kilometre piped water supply system in early 2010.
Channel decommissioning
With the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline system in operation, channel decommissioning has been undertaken around our region and completed in 2014. Many smaller channels and structures remain, which were unable to be decommissioned within the project budget. Where some channels may provide a drainage function, ownership and management responsibility will be transferred by Deed to the landowner or appropriate entity.
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