Every year we carry out a major maintenance program over the winter months, during the irrigation off-season between 16 May and 14 August.

Our Winter Works program ensures we can continue to deliver water to customers when they need it, where they need it. This year, we are focusing on maintaining and improving infrastructure to improve water delivery flow and efficiency.

The program is specifically timed during the non-irrigation season, meaning we can dewater channels to carry out works on our submersed infrastructure without impacting on customers.

The $4.7 million 2026 works program will see more than 10km of channel banks remediated, an extensive aquatic weed removal program, and replacing or refurbishing ageing bridges, culverts and syphons.

More than 60 GMW staff will be deployed as part of the Winter Works program, along with specialist contractors.

Channels will be refilled in early August, to be ready for the first day of the 2026/27 irrigation season on 15 August.

We ask people to take care on local roads during this time, as construction works may mean an increase in vehicle and heavy machinery movements in some areas. Please follow all safety and traffic management directions.

We’re focusing on channels that have been identified as needing remediation to improve water flow and performance. Depending on the site, works may include stabilising and reshaping channel banks, repairing leaks or seepage, improving or repairing lining, and strengthening banks to manage erosion. These improvements help reduce water loss, boost delivery efficiency and extend the life of the water delivery network.

About 10km of channel will be part of the channel remediation program in 2026. Locations include channels near Lockington, Cohuna, Macorna, Shepparton, Toolamba West, Waaia and Echuca.

During winter, we carry out an extensive weed treatment program to target submersed aquatic weeds like Hornwort, Sagittaria, Ribbon weed and Egeria. Removing these weeds improves water flow and helps prevent silting and issues with automatic regulators.

Affected channels across the West, Central and East areas will be treated between 16 May and early August. Any remaining water in these channels will be treated with herbicides proven to remove aquatic weeds. While the chemical has low toxicity for humans and animals, there is a withholding period and we advise you not to use the treated water for livestock or to spray horticulture/broad acre crops.

During the irrigation off-season we also lower water levels in channels, which means exposed weeds are also treated by frost.

More information on how we treat weeds is in our fact sheet.

Box culvert replacement, Bourchiers Rd, Strathmerton

We’re replacing a 9m-long box culvert underneath Bourchiers Road near Strathmerton.

Bourchiers Road will be closed between Bearii-Mywee Rd and Bearii East Road, from Monday 18 May to about Wednesday 3 June.

Access for local residents will be maintained throughout the works.

Please take care while driving on nearby roads and follow all directions and signage. We appreciate your patience while we carry out these upgrade works.

If you need more information, please contact our Customer Experience team on 1800 013 357.