A late-night water main break on Dimboola Road has put the spotlight on the behind-the-scenes work needed to keep the region’s water flowing — and the crews who step up when it matters.

GWMWater crews battled a tricky, high-risk repair near the Wawunna Road and Western Highway intersection — restoring services as quickly as they safely could after the break.

It wasn’t a simple job.

The burst sat in one of the busiest, most congested underground areas in town — with multiple services criss-crossing the site and even traffic signal infrastructure sitting right on top of the damaged main.

Executive Manager Service Delivery Michael Schneider said it was a tough job from the start.

“It was a really complex break,” he said.

“We had other services everywhere — including traffic lights sitting right over the pipe — so the team had to work carefully around everything to get it fixed.”

Wimmera Operations Manager Damien Crouch said the conditions made it a challenging night for crews on the ground.

“It wasn’t straightforward, but the crew just got on with it,” he said.

“They worked through it safely and got water back on as quickly as possible, which is what matters most for our customers.”

Crews also juggled traffic management and public safety while carrying out the repair — all while working overnight in a confined and complex site.

The job is now being used as a reminder of why protecting access to underground infrastructure matters.

Building over or too close to water mains and easements can make emergency repairs like this slower, harder and more expensive — especially when access is restricted.

Keeping these areas clear helps crews get in, fix issues faster, and restore essential services with less disruption.

GWMWater has thanked the community for its patience during the incident — and paid tribute to the crews who stepped up when it counted.

“The team put in a huge effort overnight,” Mr Schneider said.

“It’s a great example of the work that goes on behind the scenes to keep water flowing.”