It has been an exceptionally busy start to the 2024/25 irrigation season.
At the same point in the previous five irrigation seasons, Goulburn-Murray Water (G-MW) had delivered an average of 83,600 ML, however, this irrigation season, we have already delivered more than 250,000 ML.
Amid the 15,000 irrigation orders we have received so far this season are deliveries to service points that have not been used in many years.
The dramatic start to the season can be attributed to dry weather and strong water availability from relatively full storages.
Just two years ago we were experiencing the opposite extreme, as high rainfall across our region meant we had only delivered 13,000 ML of water at this stage in the irrigation season.
The difference in the two seasons illustrates the variability of the weather here in northern Victoria, something that is only becoming more pronounced with climate change.
At G-MW, we face the challenge of balancing our resources to operate effectively and efficiently in both extremes.
Since the start of the irrigation season, our water systems operators have been processing a huge number of orders and planning flows through our delivery network to ensure we use its capacity as effectively as possible.
Our staff have likewise been busy undertaking maintenance across our network to maximise its performance.
The busiest may be yet to come though, as our staff are already planning for autumn, where we generally see water orders peak.
When customer orders reach the capacity of our irrigation channel, these orders are managed based on their delivery shares, which are a customer’s entitlement to a share of these channels.
It is worth irrigators thinking ahead to this time as well. When irrigation demand approaches channel capacity, as it has at times in recent months, water orders invariably take longer to be delivered, in line with the levels of service defined in our delivery conditions determination.
More information on levels of service can be found in our Customer Charter, which is published on our website.
The effect is similar to driving in peak-hour traffic. If you plan your trip at the time when the road is busiest, the journey will take longer.
Likewise, if irrigators plan to order during the busiest time of the year, they may have to wait longer than usual to receive their orders.
Both irrigators and water corporations need to be flexible to deal with the changeability of our climate.
At G-MW, we take a strategic approach instead of a reactive one.
If seasons like this were the norm, greater investment would be justified. However, with the changeability of our climate, basing our expenditure on the extreme seasons alone would place an unwarranted financial burden on customers.
Increased capacity would potentially allow us to deliver water in a slightly timelier manner in seasons such as this one but leave our customers with greater expenses every year for the operation and maintenance of the channels, especially during the quieter seasons.
We instead take steps to ensure the services we provide are adaptive, efficient, and sustainable for all conditions. One of the main ways we do this is by working with our customers and communities to ensure the services we are offering them align with their priorities.
We did this extensively during our Price Submission engagement and are continuing to work with customers based on what we heard during this engagement.
This includes working with our pumped irrigation and water supply district customers to determine the preferred approach to addressing challenges such as climate change, water security, and aging infrastructure.
Engaging with our customers on these matters helps us commit the appropriate resources to these services and maintain a balance between customer fees and the level of service provided.
We also seek to make our business more efficient and adaptive through embracing technology and innovation.
Our delivery network is now largely automated with regulators and meters adjusting and monitoring the flows in our channels, ensuring we are better equipped to respond to times of high demand.
With our climate continuing to change and our customers’ priorities evolving, balancing our resources to deal with different extremes is essential. By prioritising innovation and working closely with our customers, we are well-placed to continue adapting to these challenges.
– Charmaine Quick, G-MW Managing Director