G-MW undertakes water weed treatment

By Georgia Tacey

Jun 29, 2023

Water works: Channels are being treated for weeds. Photo by Contributed

Goulburn-Murrary Water is conducting an aquatic weed treatment program throughout its channel network.

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The irrigation shutdown period between May and August allows G-MW to treat the weeds to reduce the risk of them affecting water flow, promoting silting or causing issues to automatic regulators.

G-MW environmental maintenance co-ordinator Dannielle McMillan said this weed treatment program would be the biggest it had undertaken.

“Last year was a landmark year for us in terms of weed treatment,” she said.

“After successful trials using a herbicide with a very low toxicity to fish life, we were able to treat more than 230km of channel for aquatic weeds such as hornwort, sagittaria, ribbon weed and egeria.

“We are subsequently looking to undertake an even more extensive weed treatment program this year, with about 300km of channel identified for treatment.”

Around 100km of channel has already been treated in the 2023 program.