Concept
The concept of modernisation of the irrigation infrastructure in Northern Victoria was born out of a regional community-driven belief held by the Food Bowl Modernisation Steering Committee.
This committee recognised that water savings could be captured and shared, if ageing irrigation infrastructure was replaced by modern technology throughout the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District.
Early Works
In December 2007 the Victorian Government agreed to fund an Early Works program, which was carried out during winter 2008. The Victorian Government committed $113 million to this program.
The Early Works covered Central Goulburn 5-9 channels, Murray Valley 1-2 channels, Torrumbarry 1 channel, Pyramid-Boort 1 channel and Rochester-Campaspe 14 channel.
The works included:
- installation of 1000 automated gates mostly in the Central Goulburn Irrigation Area
- installation of 1000 on-farm meters for landowners in the Central Goulburn Irrigation Area
- plastic lining more than 5km of channel to reduce seepage and leakage
- upgrading the Torrumbarry and Murray Valley communications systems.
An alliance was used to deliver the Early Works Winter Program in 2008. This alliance, known as FutureFlow, was made up of G-MW, Transfield Services Australia, Comdain Civil Constructions Pty Ltd and Sinclair Knight Merz. The FutureFlow alliance comprised leading water engineers, designers, construction companies and risk managers.