Overview
The East Grampians Rural Pipeline will secure the future of the region by providing a reliable, secure supply of high-quality water year-round.
GWMWater awarded the tender to Mitchell Water Australia for the works, which involves the laying of the pipe which will transfer and deliver water to landholders and constructing additional pump stations and water storages.
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 will also provide ongoing water security for townships in the region as well as significant economic, social, recreational and environmental benefits to the region.
Lake Fyans will be the main water source for the East Grampians Rural Pipeline, with smaller volumes of water being sourced from Mt William headworks and the Mt Cole Reservoir.
Landholder Construction update
Construction of the East Grampians Rural Pipeline is well underway!
• Works on the Lake Fyans Pump Station are now complete.
• Two hundred kilometres of pipe has been laid across Construction Zones 2, 3 and 4.
Our focus continues on maximising the number of connections and constructing the pipeline to get water to landholders as soon as possible.
Pipeline water access as the project progresses
As pipeline construction progresses and hydrostatic pressure testing is completed, landholders may be able to access an interim supply of water through their meter prior to project commissioning. Please refer to the live map below to check the availability for your property.
This interim water supply may not meet our standard service obligation as detailed in our Rural Customer Charter. The water supply should have sufficient pressure and flow to reduce the need to cart water until the system is fully commissioned.
Landholders must purchase their water allowance prior to using water from their meter. Water taken in the interim phase will be from landholder’s water allowance entitlement.
Landholders will only be billed for water used during this interim water supply phase. No service charges will apply until GWMWater deems water services to be fully commissioned. The usage charge will be in line with GWMWater’s Schedule of Tariffs, Miscellaneous and Other Charges 2024/25.
As per Landholders heads of agreements, we remind landholders that water must be directly connected to a storage tank from their meter point with sufficient capacity for a minimum of three days peak demand. A minimum air gap of 100 mm must be maintained between the tank filling inlet and tank overflow. For more information, please refer to the below fact sheets.
Landholders are reminded that the raw water being supplied through pipelines is not fit for human consumption. Landholders may use this water for household activities, such as watering gardens, flushing toilets, irrigation, showering/bathing and laundry.
Latest Updates
In the Pipeline... (Edition #20, issued 2 June 2025)
In the Pipeline... (Edition #19, issued 24 February 2025)
In the Pipeline... (Edition #18, issued 18 November 2024)
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.
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.
Pipeline in the news...Stawell Times-News/Ararat Advertiser
18 October 2017, Victorian Water Minister Lisa Neville receives final business case for East Grampians Water Supply pipeline (external link)
Wimmera Mail-Times
Minister for Water, Lisa Neville Member for Wannon, Dan Tehan12 May 2019, Unlocking Regions Potential (external link) Premier of Victoria12 October 2017, Water Security For East Grampians Farmers and Communities (external link) GWMWater
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