General News
13 March, 2025
Scaled back and late – farmers vent anger at delayed pipeline
District farmers say GWMWater's latest update on the East Grampians Water Pipeline project offers neither transparency nor a firm timeline for landowners expecting a reliable water connection.
District farmers say GWMWater's latest update on the East Grampians Water Pipeline project offers neither transparency nor a firm timeline for landowners expecting a reliable water connection.
Last week, GWMWater issued a statement announcing critical planning approval for the East Grampians pipeline which will allow work to commence in zone four of the East Grampians Rural Pipeline Project.
The company said zone four will extend rural water supply to landholders in Willaura and Moyston.
But farmers and Ararat Rural City Council are critical that the project, originally expected to begin construction at the end of 2019, is only now getting underway at a reduce scale.
Local agronomist Cam Conboy said farmers, who have invested in infrastructure based on GWM Water's assurances, have now faced declines in livestock production and suffered considerable financial setbacks.
“The East Grampians pipeline had the ability to droughtproof our region and manage risk. Unfortunately, it is being delivered two years late and not in full.
“Discussion amongst our livestock growers is that lamb growth rates are back 50% and carcass yield down 5%, using poor substandard bore water. This means (if you have the water) stock are taking four to six weeks longer to finish, and you’re getting 5% less per head. If you didn’t have water, you probably sold them at 50% value weeks ago.
“This is a critical infrastructure project- whilst not as glamorous as a Suburban Rail Loop or Airport Link, needs to be delivered as promised,” Mr Conboy said.
Langi Logan farmer Bruce McKay said the continued delay in the project’s delivery has resulted in substantial economic loss for the region's agricultural sector.
“GWM Water's promise of water over two years ago has turned into an absolute debacle. It’s incomprehensible. We were supposed to have water right through to Lake Bolac.
“Farmers invested in infrastructure to capitalise on this water that was meant to be coming through. Businesses like Keringle Native Nursery, that employees several people, are reliant on good fresh water, and they’ve got none.
“There’s a lot of recreation reserves who were putting money into improvements of their football grounds that rely on good water. Now they’re having to cart water around.
“There’s also a lot of people that have lifted their livestock number to capitalise on the fresh water that was promised and have spent a lot of money only to find out that they’re not getting any water.
“This is GWM Water’s fault, no one else. GWM Water must be held accountable for letting this district down. It's just unacceptable,” Mr McKay said.
Farmer Andrew Byron said repeated efforts for answers have fallen on deaf ears.
“We asked for more communication to all potential stakeholders. GWM Water has failed here as well. Instead, we got a glossy public newsletter and a great feel-good story in our local paper, telling us of what they are doing, which is great. But keeping it quiet on what they are not doing, by leaving a massive footprint of the project without water unless political parties throw in a heap more money. And now there is no time frame,” he said.
“We must not forget, this project was fully funded in 2019 for the whole initial footprint to be completed by 2022.
“GWM Water now need to be held accountable for not delivering the project to be the scale it was fully funded for,” Mr Byron said.
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