GOULBURN Murray Water will waive the application fee for farmers hit with irrigation water rationing if they vary or transfer delivery shares.
GMW’s backflip comes a fortnight after Loddon irrigators questioned the fee as rationing looms in the Boort and Pyramid Hill districts.
Transfer fees and the lack of flexibility and guarantee of regaining delivery share next season were key sticking points at the briefing in Boort.
In the past two weeks GMW says it has received 374 orders for 8153 ML in the Loddon Valley area. During the same period in 2024 GMW received 308 orders for 6138 ML.
General manager water distribution services Warren Blyth said: “Water orders tend to peak in autumn, and we expect that in some parts of our system, orders may exceed what our channel network is capable of delivering.
“If water demand does reach the levels we are expecting, a rationing cycle will help ensure all customers receive a fair supply, based on their delivery share, as we manage congestion,” Mr Blyth said.
“If GMW does go into a rationing cycle in the Boort or Pyramid Hill areas, messages will be updated on WaterLINE – the platform irrigators use to order water – notifying customers ahead of any changes to arrangements that may be made.
“GMW has been closely monitoring demand in the Boort and Pyramid Hill areas and has been in regular contact with customers who are most likely to be affected by channel capacity issues.”