GMW is developing a future services strategy for our Pumped Irrigation Districts, which includes Nyah, Tresco and Woorinen.

The Nyah and Tresco Irrigation Districts are facing aging infrastructure and viability challenges.

Both irrigation systems are over 100 years old, and the original channel systems were replaced with low-pressure pipelines in the 1960s and 1970s.

Major elements of the systems are in poor condition and there is an increased risk of service failure. There has also been significant land and water use changes in both districts.

Woorinen is the most recently modified of the three pumped irrigation districts and was updated in the 1990s / early 2000s.

Looking to the future

Developing the strategy will include:

  • extensive consultation with customers and key stakeholders
  • engineering analysis of future infrastructure requirements
  • analysis of economic impacts
  • analysis of environmental and ecological impacts

The strategy will cover how each district is considered most likely to progress over the next five to 30 years, and the infrastructure and service requirements for these future scenarios.

Working with our customers

To develop the Future Services Strategy, we’ll be undertaking a period of significant engagement with our customers over the coming months.

We want to hear your views, your future plans and understand your priorities and needs when it comes to water delivery.

There will be opportunities for information sessions and drop-ins, but we also want to have one-on-one conversations with our customers.

There will be multiple opportunities to catch up with us over the coming months, and we’ll keep you updated on where we’ll be and what we’re doing via this website, as well as text messages, social media and local newspapers.

Issues and Opportunities Paper

We have developed an Issues and Opportunities Paper as an initial step in shaping the Future Services Strategy. It brings together current understanding of the key challenges and opportunities for the pumped irrigation districts of Nyah, Tresco and Woorinen.

A survey was open to customers for feedback in June. We asked for feedback on the paper, including:

  • The completeness and accuracy of key issues and challenges facing the pumped irrigation districts
  • Any critical issues that may have been overlooked
  • Additional opportunities to improve water delivery efficiency and sustainability.

If you would like to further discuss the Pumped Irrigation Districts Future Services Strategy or the Issues and Opportunities paper, please phone us on 1800 013 357.

Download a copy of the Issues and Opportunities Paper

Customer phone interviews

From Monday 19 May 2025, customer phone interviews will be launched to gather insights from all pumped irrigation customers on service needs and expectations. These will be used to test what we already know from previous engagement, as well as to learn more within the current context.

These surveys will be undertaken by market research company newfocus, and they will identify themselves at the beginning of the call as working with GMW.

Questions will focus on:

  • Current and future district profile
  • Climate variability
  • Water supply, demand and quality
  • Infrastructure
  • Customer affordability
  • Other considerations, including the community’s and GMW’s joint role in co-designing future service planning.

If you have any questions about the survey, please phone GMW on 1800 013 357 for more information, or email yoursay@gmwater.com.au.