The pipeline was completed on July 15 and included more than 300 km of new pipeline to supply a new district covering more than 58,000 ha north of Bendigo and south-west of Echuca. It will provide a year-round service to about 170 rural properties.
“This project is fantastic news for the local economy which is strongly backed by agriculture, with project construction also having supported 170 jobs here in regional Australia,” Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said.
Historically, more than 80 per cent of water supplied via the channels in the region is lost before use and only two-thirds of the project area is currently serviced, with farmers incurring high water cartage costs.
Victorian Acting Water Minister Richard Wynne said the project would reduce public and private water losses by more than 1000 Ml a year by replacing the old leaking channel with pipes, a pump station and 85 Ml storage facility to provide year-round water supply.
“A lack of reliable, quality water has constrained the expansion of agriculture in the Mitiamo region — this project will address this and help farming grow in northern Victoria,” Mr Wynne said.
“Through the Mitiamo pipeline and other major water projects, we’re replacing outdated water infrastructure and delivering for landowners and the community.”
Water saved will be used to improve the health of rivers and wetlands in line with Victoria’s obligations under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan with no socio-economic impacts.
Federal Member for Nicholls Damian Drum said the project would lead to significant productivity gains for the region through the provision of a secure and stable water supply.
“Farmers are calling for certainty of supply and this important project now means they have that,” Mr Drum said.
Terrick Terrick landholder Alli Rumble welcomed the project’s completion.
“The Mitiamo pipeline project has given me the certainty to diversify my farm. I have filled in the dam, planted silver birch, and been able to move forward with adding cattle to the property,” Ms Rumble said.
The Mitiamo and District Water Supply Project received $14.5 million from the Federal Government, $10.2 million from the Victorian Government, and $4.3 million from Goulburn-Murray Water.
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