That’s according to Ararat Rural City mayor Paul Hooper, who joined municipal government delegations to Canberra and Melbourne this week.

A group of stakeholders led by Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water submitted the business case for an East Grampians Water Supply pipeline this month.

The project submitted by the group would deliver stock and domestic water to properties that have previously relied on their own catchment dams and carting water for use.

The $85.2 million project would construct a pipeline network that would deliver a secure stock and domestic township water supply for up to 530,000 hectares of land. 

Cr Hooper said the delegation had made the case that the pipeline project would boost employment and attract new industries to the region.

“I think, in all honesty, the message on the pipeline was received well with everybody that we spoke to” Cr Hooper said.

“Does that guarantee success? No, it doesn't.

“In the Victorian government, the people that we spoke to understood the importance, not only to our municipality but to Northern Grampians and Pyrenees, and why this project is an imperative piece of long-term infrastructure that will bring benefits to our region.”

Cr Hooper said the pipeline would encourage more jobs in the existing farming and wine businesses in the region and make it more likely that intensive agriculture could establish itself.

“Without water security, we can’t do any of these things. There are potential workflow ramifications for the abattoirs,” he said.