The Victorian Mid-Murray Storages are a key water storage system in the north-west of Victoria which GMW operates and manages. It is made up of various waterways and waterbodies, all of which play a vital role in managing water in Victoria.

The four lakes which make up the Victorian Mid-Murray Storages are Lake Boga, Kangaroo Lake, Lake Charm and Ghow Swamp. For more information about the lakes of the Victorian Mid-Murray Storages, please visit: g-mwater.com.au/water-operations/storages/murray

Water from the Victorian Mid-Murray Storages supports a wide range of essential uses, both in North-west Victoria and across the state. It helps:

• Farmers and food producers grow crops and raise livestock.
• Towns and businesses get the water they need to operate.
• Other water authorities, including urban water authorities, manage their own supplies.
• Environmental efforts, like improving water quality in rivers and wetlands.
• Support all types of water entitlement holders, ensuring fair and reliable access.

In addition to the primary purpose of the Victorian Mid-Murray Storages as a water management system, the lakes are used by local communities for various other purposes and are highly valued for many reasons, including because:

• They provide a habitat for native plants and animals.
• They are places of cultural significance for Traditional Owners and First Peoples.
• They are places where people connect, relax, and enjoy nature.
• They offer recreational opportunities like boating, fishing, and water sports.
• They attract tourists and visitors to the region, supporting local businesses and economies.

The Victorian Mid-Murray Storages can play a role in reducing the risk of water delivery shortfalls by helping to store and release water more flexibly. However, this will require operational changes to how the lakes of the Victorian Mid-Murray Storages are managed.

In recent years, GMW has been able to keep water levels at the lakes at levels suitable for recreational uses. This has been possible due to several factors, including favourable weather conditions.

More recently, several external factors have increased pressures on the Murray River and the Victorian Mid-Murray Storages. These pressures include:

• Spikes in demand for water, especially during hot and dry periods.
• Population growth and changes in where and how water is used.
• Climate change, leading to more frequent and severe periods of dry conditions.
• Shifts in customer needs and land use, such as more permanent crops that require year-round water and peak demand in the summer months.

Because of these pressures, the Murray-Darling Basin Authority has identified an increasing risk of future water delivery shortfalls. A water delivery shortfall is when actual water usage is higher than what was expected or planned for, especially during heatwaves or peak irrigation periods. If a shortfall occurs, it could lead to:

• Delays or limits in the delivery of water to communities, agricultural industries, or other users.
• Rationing of available water, based on delivery entitlements.
• Economic impacts on the agriculture sector and local communities.
• Increased environmental stress on rivers, wetlands, and wildlife.

We are committed to:

• Maintaining recreational usage of the lakes as much as possible.
• Balancing community needs with the need to deliver water to entitlement holders.
• Keeping you informed before changes happen and as they occur.
• Listening to your concerns and working with you to manage the impact.

We will work with you to keep you informed before the changes occur and as they come into effect, and we will provide you with regular updates about what to expect. We also want to understand how we can best support you with navigating these changes, including any concerns or suggestions you might have.

For further information, to ask a question, raise a concern or share your feedback, please contact the project team by calling 1800 013 357.