The $85.2-million project was originally funded by the Federal Government’s National Water Grid Fund, $32-million; State Government, $32-million; project beneficiaries, $21.2-million; and GWMWater, responsible for delivering the project, has committed an additional $9.3-million.
A working group, supported by Ararat Rural City Council, has now set about lobbying the State Government to help make up the funding shortfall.
Cam Conboy, of Gorst Rural, told the meeting his livestock team estimated the East Grampians area to be currently down 25 per cent in livestock after a low rainfall season in 2024.
Mr Conboy said it was a 14-20 day wait for a truckload of water, such was the demand in the area.
He spoke about farmers being careful with spending their money, which had a flow-on effect to all businesses – not just agricultural-related – in the Ararat region.
“What it will do is flow onto the greater economy and the whole of Ararat and our region will be affected,” he said.
“And after that frost in 2017, it took us a long time to get on our feet without having access to water to manage the livestock – it’s going to make things a bit difficult.”
Briony Robertson, a crop and livestock farmer at Ross Bridge and Willaura and also a member of the East Grampians Pipeline Project Customer Consultation Committee, said funding for the full scope of the project was secured in May, 2019, with the expectation the water pipeline would be delivered by the 2022-2023 summer. But in December last year, Mrs Robertson received a letter from GWMWater saying her property was now outside the scope of works.
“ I was beyond disappointed personally, but I was also very conscious of what the broader ramifications of this revised scope meant,” she said.
Mrs Robertson told the meeting that both the Tatyoon and Mininera recreation reserves would now miss out on the pipeline water.
Tatyoon had just undergone a $375,000 upgrade with the installation of new drainage lines and watering system but the supply of water was now the biggest battle.
“ I don’t think I need to tell locals … how important our local sporting groups are, or to quantify the volunteer hours that go into running successful clubs,” she said.
“I see the pride that Tatyoon locals place in their facilities and the benefits they bring physically and socially to our real communities, and it is immeasurable.”
Willaura farmer Andrew Byron said he had invested significant money into water infrastructure across his property – paving the way to changing his farm to more livestock.
“ By the end of 2023, we built our stock numbers to a level that the pipeline would’ve supplied sufficiently,” he said.
“Then to be given the official news in late 2024 by GWMWater that due to lack of funds, all of our owned and leased farmland would not be eligible for the once fully funded East Grampians Pipeline Project connection – the economic loss to our business has just had a large shock.
“There’s been no mention of accountability from GWMWater’s behalf, so the GWM board and staff – we are not going away until this once fully funded project is completed in full as the footprint initially set out.”
Country Fire Authority Westmere Fire Brigades group officer Pat Millear, of Willaura, spoke of the lack of water and its effect on fire-fighting capabilities.
“A huge amount of time has been put into designing a pipeline route with CFA back in 2017. We need this to come to fruition,” he said.
GWMWater chairperson Caroline Welsh said in a statement that as a Berriwillock farmer who experienced the millennium drought, she could appreciate the significant impact of the recent dry period on farming and regional communities.
“The stories of the community were the same as those coming out of the Wimmera and southern Mallee during the millennium drought period where there was large-scale water carting, limited water for recreation reserves and industry, and businesses impacted as farmers tightened their belts,” she said.
“The board is committed to delivering the full scope and the meeting was an opportunity to demonstrate the work GWMWater has been doing to try to get further funding – and also working to do as much as we can with the money we do have now.
“The project is progressing well, with the Lake Fyans Pump Station now operational and more than 150 kilometres of pipe laid.
“Some landholders are already taking an interim water supply off the installed pipes.”
– Lauren Henry
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