Published by: GWMWater
Date: October 2010
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.
Under the Emergency Management Act 1986, GWMWater has been appointed Regional Coordinator for major blue-green algae outbreaks in the waterways within the Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water boundary below.
As Regional Coordinator, GWMWater coordinates the management of major outbreaks across these areas, while Local Water Managers (LWMs) monitor and manage local blooms under their own emergency plans.
This approach is outlined in the Blue-Green Algae Regional Coordination Plan, which is based on the Victorian Emergency Management Manual. The Plan covers:
- The role and responsibilities of the Regional Coordinator (GWMWater) and Local Water Managers (LWMs).
- How to prepare for, respond to and recover from a blue-green algae event.
- Reporting blue-green algae outbreaks.
View current supply blue-green algae outbreaks or rec lake and reservoir blue-green algae outbreaks.
Blue-Green Algae Regional Co-ordination Plan (553 kB, 24 pages)
| For warnings for the Murray River, refer to algal information issued by the NSW Department of Primary Industries. |
Published by: Department of Sustainability and Environment
Date: November 2011
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.
The Strategy aims to:
- make the best use of water resources in different parts of the region
- protect the environment
- be ready to manage the challenges of a variable climate and future droughts.
Development of the Strategy was overseen by the Western Region Consultative Committee, which was chaired by Daryl Argall and has been meeting since 2009. Water corporations, catchment management authorities, industry, farming and environmental groups and the broader community helped develop the strategy through wide consultation.
The policies and actions in the Strategy are designed to:
- provide increased certainty for water users and environmental managers
- promote sustainable urban, industrial, and rural water use; and
- protect and improve the health of waterways, aquifers, wetlands and estuaries
Western Region Sustainable Water Strategy (15MB, 291 pages)
To view the five-yearly assessment relating to the Strategy, visit: https://www.water.vic.gov.au/planning-and-entitlements/sustainable-water-strategies/western-and-gippsland-region-sustainable-water-strategies (external website)
Supporting information...Urban and Rural Water Supply Strategy Our Urban and Rural Water Supply Strategy outlines how we will manage water security to provide water services in our towns and cities now and into the future
Our Annual Water Outlook is released in December each year. It builds on our Urban and Rural Water Strategy to provide information about water security for our towns and rural users for the year ahead. |
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. We implement measures to manage the fire risk on the land we own and manage. These measures are outlined in the Fire Prevention Plan.
The Fire Prevention Plan focuses on the protection of life and property and is available as a reference for Municipal Fire Management Planning Committees.
Fire Prevention Plan (5MB, 19 pages)
Further information...
Our fire prevention plan is based on hazard identification and hazard reduction.
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. |
A wildlife pond is an inground water source designed to provide habitat for wildlife. Our region can be dry at times and difficult for the local wildlife to thrive in. A wildlife pond is a valuable water source for birds, frogs and even turtles. Wildlife ponds are generally circular with shallow sides, and around 1 metre deep, with plenty of plants and logs to provide homes and perches for local wildlife visitors and residents.
The concept of wildlife ponds was developed by the Birchip Cropping Group. They examined the impact of removal of channels and dams on biodiversity. The project trialled the concept of introducing ponds at several sites and concluded that they could effectively enhance biodiversity, particularly when located in consideration of existing habitat.
Wildlife ponds rebate
A 17 kL water rebate is available to rural landholders who construct and register their wildlife pond. Customers will need to submit an application form agreeing to the terms and conditions, which will be considered and assessed against the eligibility criteria.
Wildlife ponds fact sheet and application form (1.3MB)
Building a wildlife pond
If you decide to build a wildlife pond, you're making a great decision for the local community and our wildlife. The Birchip Cropping Group has produced a great guide to building a wildlife pond, to make getting started a bit simpler.
Farmer’s guide to installing a wildlife pond (560kB, 4 pages)
Further information...
Designing your on-farm piped system If 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.
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.
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The water we provide to our community comes from various sources, including groundwater, surface water, the Murray River, and the Grampians Headworks Storages, a major source of water that is fondly known as 'Headworks'. Water from these sources gets to your home via a network of pipelines, headworks channels, water treatment plants, reservoirs and dams.
'Headworks'
GWMWater is responsible for the care and maintenance of the infrastructure of the Headworks. It includes 11 reservoirs and diversion weirs, and the streams and channels connecting them.
The independent Storage Manager manages the distribution of the water resources from the Headworks to the bulk water entitlement holders. The Storage Manager makes decisions under strict governance laws according to the current reservoir levels.
More about the Grampians Headworks Storages, bulk entitlement holders and Storage Manager
Groundwater
Groundwater is an essential resource for our community, especially in the western parts of the region. With no regulated water supply system and limited opportunities for catchment runoff, landholders are dependent on good quality, reliable water for stock and domestic use, and even irrigation. GWMWater is responsible for managing the groundwater areas.
Murray River
The Murray River is an important water supply for our region. GWMWater holds a 6,409 ML Murray system water entitlement, which is to meet the demands of the Northern Mallee Pipeline and Wimmera Mallee Pipeline Supply System 5.
Pipelines
GWMWater is responsible for the water supply infrastructure from the source to your home. This means that assets like pipelines, water treatment plants, pump stations, reservoirs and dams are under our care.
Recent years have seen an enormous expansion in the capability of our rural pipeline network with the construction of the following pipelines:
Wimmera Mallee Pipeline
Completed in April of 2010, the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline replaced 17,500 km of inefficient channel systems to ensure a more secure and healthy water supply for the region. It supplies water to approximately 9,000 farms and 34 townships across the Wimmera and Mallee.
More about constructing the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline
Northern Mallee Pipeline
The Northern Mallee Pipeline is a 3,650 kilometre pipeline covering an area of 890,000 hectares. It was completed in 2004 to replace the old, inefficient channel system in the area to provide a more secure and healthier water supply. Water for the Nothern Mallee Pipeline is sourced directly from the Murray River from four pumping stations at Swan Hill, Piangil, Nyah and Liparoo.
South West Loddon Pipeline
The construction of another major pipeline, the South West Loddon Pipeline, started on 5 July 2016 and has been completed. The Minister for Water Lisa Neville officially opened Stage 1 on 13 October 2017. Stage 2 is currently being designed.
More about the South West Loddon Pipeline
Further information...
Our A full listing of towns, rural pipelines and their supply sources can be found here.
Information about our environmental management, sustainability and water resource plans and strategies.
Our reservoirs and lakes are open to the public for recreational activities. View current water levels and recreational activities permitted at our lakes and reservoirs.
Pipeline supplied recreation lakes and weir pools Our rural pipelines supply water to 12 recreation lakes and weir pools in our region. The water is supplied under a 3,090 ML recreation water entitlement held by GWMWater.
Pipeline supplied environmental wetlands Our rural pipelines supply water to 51 wetlands in our region. The water is supplied under a 1,000 ML environmental entitlement held by the Victorian Environmental Water Holder.
Review the economic and social contribution made by the local weirs, lakes and rivers to the regional economy. This assessment encompassed 27 lakes, weir pools and rivers around the region. |