The GWMWater Board is diverse and multi-faceted, with men and women from all different working and educational backgrounds. Our Board is skills-based and appointed by the Minister for Water. It represents the varied interests of the Grampians Wimmera Mallee region.

The Board is responsible for GWMWater's management in a number of areas. The Board's central purpose is to set the broad strategy and objectives of GWMWater. In doing this, the Board also has responsibility for risk management, organisational efficiencies and compliance, reporting and reviewing.

There are also five standing committees of the Board:

• Environment and Works Committee
• Audit Governance and Risk Committee
• Water Resources Committee
• Energy and Carbon Committee
• Remuneration Committee

Caroline Welsh

Caroline is a partner in Renney Farms, the family grain farm in Berriwillock. She is a former Chair and long term Director of the Birchip Cropping Group. Caroline has 30 years' experience working in agriculture communication, industry development, governance and climate variability. Caroline is a member of the Victorian Agriculture Climate Change Council and the national Future Drought Fund Consultative Committee. Caroline holds a Master of Agribusiness (Marketing), a Graduate Diploma of Rural Resource Management and a Bachelor of Agriculture Science. Caroline is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Caroline is Chair to the GWMWater Board of Directors.

Andrew Nicolaou

Andrew is a recognised leader in Financial and Risk Management Reform, Governance and Performance in the Public Sector, with significant experience in large government business enterprises including the water sector, rural sector and relevant departments. Andrew has significant experience with government and private sector boards, and audit and risk committees. He has a strong knowledge of financial management, risk and regulatory frameworks. Andrew holds a Bachelor of Economics and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. He is the Chair of audit committees at Department of Transport, Parliament of Victoria and Fire Rescue Victoria, is a Director and member of the Audit Committee of the Victorian Funds Management Corporation and a member of the Audit Committee of the Department of Education.

Andrew is Deputy Chairperson of GWMWater. He is also Chair of the GWMWater Audit, Governance and Risk Committee.

David Jochinke

Born and bred in the Wimmera, David is a third-generation broad acre farmer at Murra Warra. A strong advocate for rural communities and the farming industry, he has held numerous significant high-profile leadership roles representing the Wimmera and Victoria. He is currently Vice President of the National Farmers Federation and Chair of Grampians Tourism. David holds a Diploma of Applied Science, is a Nuffield Scholar, Australian Rural Leadership Fellow and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

David is Chair of the GWMWater Environment and Works Committee.

Elisa de Wit

Elisa is a partner in the Melbourne office of international legal practice Norton Rose Fulbright. She leads the Melbourne environment practice and is a national head of the firm’s climate change and sustainability practice. Elisa has 30 years of legal experience and has practised in three Australian jurisdictions and the United Kingdom. Elisa holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons), Bachelor of Arts, a Masters of Environmental Law and a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice. She is the former Chair of the Carbon Market Institute, a current Director of Beyond Zero Emissions and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Elisa is Chair of the GWMWater Carbon, Climate and Resources Committee.

Judith Holt

Jude and her husband are sheep and grain farmers in Wedderburn. She has held senior management roles in local government and the water sector for the past 30 years, and is a Board Director at CVGT Australia Limited. Jude is a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia, has a Graduate Diploma in Applied Corporate Governance, Graduate Certificate in Risk Management, a Bachelor of Business (Accounting), and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Michelle Jackson

Michelle is retired and lives in Loddon Shire. She has worked in the public sector, local government and the trade union movement. Prior to her retirement Michelle worked for the Australian Services Union (ASU) in senior leadership roles. Michelle was a member of the executive of the ASU and a member of the Finance Committee and Risk Management Committee. Michelle is currently a member of the Bendigo Trades Hall Executive. She has skills in governance, financial management, risk management, strategic planning and industrial relations.

Paul Hardy

Paul joins GWMWater with over two decades of board experience with expertise in the engineering, healthcare, sport, education and not-for-profit sectors. At board level he is passionate about driving growth and performance, having led one of the world’s leading engineering, project delivery, advisory and technical services companies and advising startup companies in the pharmaceutical, health, technology, AI and social investments sectors.

He is currently a Partner at PAN Group, investing in and driving the commercialisation of startups and is a director on the boards of Pitt and Sherry, Citywide, and the Collingwood Football Club Foundation. Previously he was the Global CEO of Aurecon, managing 80 offices in 28 countries, leading a three-way merger and managing the subsequent strategy, structure and culture alignment along with the five-year strategic roadmap and overseeing multi-billion-dollar projects.

Paul holds a Master of Engineering Science and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He has also been recognised by Engineers Australia as one of Australia's 100 most influential engineers (2009–2013).

Rod Jackson

Rodney Jackson is a proud Palawa and Cherbourg man, with a breadth of senior leadership experience and knowledge that bridges Government and Aboriginal Businesses.

Past roles include General Manager Operations TTLine’s MVSpirit of Tasmania, Port of Portland Chief Executive Officer and Chief Executive of four Aboriginal Organisations being Gunditjmara, Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS), Wathaurong and Ngwala Willumbong. Rod was a previous member of the Aboriginal Economic Development Board, National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation Inc (VACCHO), Respect Victoria, Foodbank Victoria, President Portland Football Netball Club, YMCA, Mayors Trust Fund and Rail Projects Victoria. Rod’s currently a Board Director of Federation Enterprises, whose strategic objective is to focus on opportunities for Traditional Owners which includes 51 percent ownership of Barpa Constructions. As well as a member of Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD), Advisor and Consultant on Registered Aboriginal Parties (RAP) and holds Board roles with Federation Enterprises, AFL SportsReady, Yuma Yirramboi and Court Services Victoria.

Rod is a Reconciliation Adviser to the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation (VRGF), Tract, Greater Western Water and a short-term contract with Consumer Action Law Centre and an Advisory Panel Member of the National Indigenous Knowledge's Education Research Innovation Institute at Deakin University and Stolen Generations Reparation Committee. Rod is a Board Director of the Indigenous Trajectory of the Emotional Wellbeing Institute - Geneva.

Rod is an Elder Respected Person on the County and Magistrates Courts, and volunteers with the Independent Visitor Program.

Uncle Ron Marks

Uncle Ron joins the Board as Independent Aboriginal Delegate for 12 months, commencing 1 July 2024.

I introduce myself to you as Uncle Ron Marks a proud Wotjobaluk Elder, originally from Dimboola, but now live in Horsham. I grew up in Dimboola on the Billabong and water was our lifeline along with the Little Desert and Bush. I left Dimboola at 9 to attended and board at Ballarat Grammar School from grade 4 till year 10. During that period my people in Dimboola were moved from our “homes” and put in houses in the township. But when I would come home for holidays, water and the bush still played a big part of my life.

I left Ballarat and moved to Melbourne as “all” 18/19-year-olds did. The time I spent there I stayed at the Gladys Nichols Hostel in Northcote and met a lot of our “pioneers” that paved the way for our people and who inspired me, mentored me and taught me all about Community development – Sir Pastor Doug Nichols, Stuart Murray, Bruce McGuiness etc. I worked in the Public Service with several federal departments.

I moved back home to Dimboola and began to practice what I was nurtured for – breaking down barriers with non-Aboriginal and Islander persons and our community; becoming a teacher and working at the Horsham Tech School, where I was invited into schools and onto their Camps in the Grampians and Wimmera regions. I was the inaugural Chairman of Goolum-Gollum Aboriginal Co-op, and I named the organisation 41 years ago. I also became the inaugural Chairman and named Brambuk Living Cultural Centre, help choose the architect for the fantastic design and finish that became a huge tourist attraction in Halls Gap.

I spent 30 odd years in Adelaide doing pretty much the same thing at home. I returned home in 2015 and took up the position of Education Officer with Barengi Gadjin Land Council, for two years, working as Education officer at the Little Desert Lodge, Nhill. During Covid I was working for Dja-Dja Wurrung Corporation as Member Engagement Officer and did work with Djandak’s Kapa Gadjin water crew. I now work for Goolum-Goolum Aboriginal Co-op as Facilitator of Gulgurn Manya Academy in the Youth Justice area with 13- to 17-year-olds and teach them about the “Bush – water and land management”, personal development, resilience, leadership motivate them to become our next “crop” of community developers.

Mark Williams

Mark Williams is a Board Director and is also GWMWater's Managing Director.

The East Grampians Rural Pipeline will secure the future of the region by providing a reliable, secure supply of high-quality water year-round.

Access to reliable, high-quality water supplies will help to provide growth opportunities and reduce risk, enabling existing agricultural enterprises to consolidate and expand, and providing opportunities for new enterprises to be developed.

A piped water supply would also provide ongoing water security for townships in the region as well as significant economic, social, recreational and environmental benefits to the region.

GWMWater has appointed Wangaratta-based Dunstans Construction Group to deliver early work for the East Grampians Rural Pipeline. Dunstans will be working through the planning approvals and design prior to commencing construction. Interest sub-contractors should register their interest via the Dunstans Employment and Supplier Portal. 

Landholders are encouraged to return Heads of Agreement documents as soon as possible to ensure land is included in the project scope.

Latest Updates

In the Pipeline... (Edition #17, issued 30 July 2024)

In the Pipeline... (Edition #16, issued 23 December 2023)

In the Pipeline... (Edition #15, issued 22 November 2023)

In the Pipeline... (Edition #14, issued 9 August 2023)

In the Pipeline... (Edition #13, issued 20 June 2023)

In the Pipeline... (Edition #12, issued 21 March 2023)

In the Pipeline... (Edition #11, issued 17 November 2021)

In the Pipeline... (Edition #10, issued 23 September 2021)

In the Pipeline... (Edition #9, issued 15 June 2021)

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Service area and network design

On completion, the scheme may service up to 1000 rural farming properties over an area of up to 200,000 hectares with a reticulated non-drinking water supply. 

We are pleased to share the preliminary pipe alignments for the East Grampians Rural Pipeline project.  Click here to view the interactive map in full screen. 

Please note that all pipe alignments are subject to change due to physical site conditions, customer interest and outcomes of cultural heritage and environmental investigations. The map will be updated as more information becomes available and the project progresses.

View larger map

Planning Scheme Amendment
GWMWater is pleased to be in the final stages of requesting an amendment to the planning schemes of Ararat Rural City Council, Northern Grampians Shire Council and Pyrenees Shire Council, which will allow the project to proceed with approval from the Minister for Planning and not require planning permissions from local government. The amendment will apply a Specific Controls Overlay to the land required for the project and insert an Incorporated Document into the Ararat, Northern Grampians and Pyrenees Planning Schemes which will allow the use and development of the land in accordance with this document. Given the extensive public engagement undertaken over the past three years, GWMWater is requesting that the Minister for Planning facilitate this amendment without the requirement for further public exhibition. The final draft planning scheme amendment documents can be viewed here:

• Ararat - Clause 45.12 - Schedule Change - EGRP
• Ararat - Clause 72.04 - Schedule Change - EGRP
• Explanatory Report - DRAFT - EGRP project
• Incorporated Document - DRAFT - EGRP project
• Northern Grampians - Clause 45.12 - Schedule Change - EGRP
• Northern Grampians - Clause 72.04 - Schedule Change - EGRP
• Pyrenees - Clause 45.12 - New Overlay - EGRP
• Pyrenees - Clause 45.12 - Schedule Change - EGRP
• Pyrenees - Clause 72.04 - Schedule Change - EGRP

Decision under Environment Effects Act

The Minister for Planning has decided that an Environment Effects Statement (EES) is not required for the East Grampians Rural Pipeline.Read more: REFERRAL 2019-R01.

Expressions of Interest now closed

Expressions of Interest (EOI) to be included in the pipeline design have now closed. EOIs can still be submitted, but your property will not be included in the pipeline design if it is not already fronted by a proposed pipe alignment.

What you need to know

We have created a series of fact sheets which will help you with what you need to know and do to connect to the East Grampians Pipeline.

East Grampians Rural Pipeline - Overview (3MB, 2 pages)

East Grampians Rural Pipeline - Planning (6.5MB, 3 pages)

East Grampians Rural Pipeline - Connection (6.4MB, 4 pages)

East Grampians Rural Pipeline - Transitioning from an existing supply to a Rural Pipeline Supply (4MB, 3 pages)

East Grampians Rural Pipeline - Construction Frequently Asked Questions (2MB, 3 pages)

On-Farm Water Reticulation Guide

We've published a comprehensive On-Farm Water Reticulation Guide to help you design and install your on-farm system. The guide provides practical and technical advice covering all aspects of a piped on-farm system. Download a copy or contact us to get your free printed copy of the guide.

On Farm Water Reticulation Guide

Online water calculator available

To assist landholders with calculating water requirements, we encourage landholders to use Agriculture Victoria’s water calculator by visiting their website at http://calculator.agriculture.vic.gov.au/fwcalc/step/home

Benefits to the community

A pipeline providing water to currently unserviced areas could:

• allow existing agricultural enterprises to consolidate and expand knowing they have access to a reliable, high quality water supply 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• encourage new enterprises and investment to the region with the certainty of continued access to water.
• improve the security and quality of water supply to the townships of Maroona, Westmere, Streatham, Tatyoon and Ross Bridge.
• increase environmental/cultural benefits associated with local landscapes, waterways and wetlands by relieving some of the reliance on catchment dams to intercept water.

Read some case studies about how connecting to rural piped water has benefited landholders in our community.