Every winter, when irrigation water deliveries pause, a different kind of work begins across our irrigation districts. It involves upgrading ageing infrastructure, replacing critical assets and carrying out maintenance that can't be done during the irrigation season. This short window each year allows us to strengthen the network and keep water flowing reliably to farms, businesses and communities throughout the irrigation season.
This year's program includes major upgrades and maintenance across our irrigation networks, spanning customer outlets, regulator and gate replacements, pipeline renewals, tunnel and flume improvements, channel maintenance and other critical infrastructure works. Completing these works during the winter shutdown allows us to safely upgrade and maintain the network while minimising interruptions to customer water deliveries.
Macalister Irrigation District
This winter marks a major milestone in the Macalister Irrigation District (MID) modernisation program. We will complete the final 11 customer outlet upgrades, replacing remaining Dethridge wheel outlets with modern automated Slip Meters, with one pumped site receiving a magnetic flow meter.
Automating outlets means customers can order water at any time and, assuming capacity within the system, outlets can operate automatically, seven days a week. The upgrades also improve measurement accuracy and enable water allocations and compliance decisions to be made in real time, helping us deliver more efficient services.
Most upgrades involve modifying existing concrete structures to install the new Slip Meters. Where structures are in poor condition, the entire outlet will be replaced. Access to some properties may be required, and we will work closely with landholders to minimise disruption.
This project completes the final works funded under Phase 2 of the MID modernisation program, which began in 2020 and has delivered $62.6 million of investment across the district.
We are also continuing our multi-year regulator replacement program along the Main Northern Channel. This winter, we will complete seven full regulator upgrades and 32 pedestal upgrades — year two of a three-year investment program valued at more than $6 million. Regulators play a critical role in maintaining water pool levels and managing consistent flows throughout the network.
Following successful downstream works completed in 2025, we are continuing upgrades to Tunnel 5 on the Main Southern Channel, with this year's works focusing on replacing approximately 200 metres of pipeline upstream of the tunnel. Tunnel 5 is a critical asset downstream of Lake Glenmaggie. Environmental protections will remain in place during construction, including measures to minimise disturbance to a bat colony in the adjacent Tunnel 6.
Additional works in the Macalister Irrigation District include targeted joint sealing and concrete remediation on sections of the Main Southern Concrete Flume, routine maintenance painting of spillway gates at Lake Glenmaggie, and channel clearing across approximately 40 kilometres to control submerged weeds. We will also carry out improvements to access tracks, repairs to concrete pipes and headwalls, erosion control works and walkway upgrades on key assets.
Werribee Irrigation District
In the Werribee Irrigation District, we will replace an ageing penstock gate at the Werribee River offtake with a modern gate integrated with our remote monitoring and control systems. This work is part of a longer program that builds on our completed modernisation works and will support a fully automated irrigation system in the future.
To complete these works, water deliveries from the Werribee River offtake will be unavailable from Monday 22 June to Friday 3 July 2026 while the weir level is temporarily lowered. We encourage customers to place orders ahead of time to ensure on-farm storages are full before the outage. Full supply is expected to resume on Monday 6 July, allowing approximately 24 hours for water to flow from Melton Reservoir to the offtake.
We will also undertake targeted renewal works on Spur 5A–5–1, replacing a 90-degree bend and sections of pipeline to improve performance and extend the life of the network. These works will be completed during the shutdown with no interruption to customers.
Bacchus Marsh Irrigation District
In the Bacchus Marsh Irrigation District, we are undertaking planned upgrade and renewal works on sections of Spur 2 and Spur 2–2 to support the ongoing performance and reliability of the network. Works will be delivered in stages, with final works scheduled during the winter shutdown. We are also replacing a valve on Spur 5 to support operational flexibility and future maintenance activities.
Some local traffic management and access adjustments may be required during construction. We will work with contractors and stakeholders to minimise disruption, with appropriate environmental protections in place throughout.
Together, these works form part of our ongoing investment in the irrigation network across our region. By renewing ageing infrastructure, improving automation and carrying out planned maintenance, we are keeping the network reliable and ensuring it can continue to deliver water when and where it's needed.