CALLS are growing for Goulburn Murray Water to fast-track capacity building work on the Waranga Western Channel.
GMW last week said improvements around Bears Lagoon would not be part of its winter maintenance program.
Greater capacity through Bears Lagoon has been identified by major irrigator Tony Sawers as key to helping Boort district farmers avoid a repeat in future seasons of rationing now hitting farm efficiency and production.
Al and Barb Bear at Leaghur have now written to MPs and GMW managers backing action.
“With low water levels in the Loddon reservoirs this year, the Waranga Channel which carries water from the Goulburn system to the Boort irrigation area does not have the capacity to deliver sufficient water to meet the demands of irrigators west of the Loddon River,” they said.
“With the expansion of olive groves in the area and increased summer cropping we do not want this to become an annual event.
“Farmers in the Boort irrigation area will be unable to complete this year’s irrigation program under the current rationing system. 
“As a result, irrigating pasture for stock and pre-irrigation for winter crops will be cut short. This will undoubtedly cause economic losses due to reduced stock numbers and limited crop potential. The rationing system, based on a 10-day cycle, requiring separate delivery shares to be transferred has caused enormous frustration.
“We implore politicians and managers within the GMW organisation to commit to a plan which will increase the capacity of the Waranga Channel connection to the Boort irrigation area and resolve this water supply issue.”
The Bears’ plea came just two days after GMW agreed to a proposal by Mr Sawers for Boort district irrigators who own Loddon water rights to send them flowing into the Waranga Western Channel.
GMW said on Friday it “has identified that rationed customers may be able to receive delivery of more water if it is sourced from the Loddon water system (trading zone 5A).
“Most customers in the Loddon Valley Irrigation Area are supplied from the Goulburn water system via the Waranga Western Channel,” said manager water resources Mark Bailey.
“GMW has investigated the ability for Loddon Valley Irrigation Area customers to access more water from the Loddon water system, in addition to what they can use under the current ration.
“After considering the impact on other customers and system operations, we are supporting customers in these areas to consider this option.
“Customers currently in a rationing cycle will not have their orders affected. GMW will continue to deliver water within the full capacity of the Waranga Western Channel.”
About 370 irrigators in the Dingee, Calivil and Boort areas have been hit with rationing that lets them order water up to 120 per cent of their delivery share over a 10-day cycle.
“This is the first time in decades GMW has needed to use rationing to ensure fair access to water,” he said. “The irrigation landscape and water-use patterns have changed considerably since the last time rationing was implemented.
“This is why we have taken time to carefully investigate all the impacts of any operating changes. It is important to note that subject to demand there is the chance access to Loddon water could be delayed,” he said.