Funding will soon flow for the South West Loddon Pipeline, creating more than 130 local jobs, with the Australian and Victorian governments agreeing to a schedule for delivery of the project.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Barnaby Joyce, and Member for Murray, Damian Drum, said the $20 million in Coalition Government funding delivered on a key election commitment under the Coalition’s $500 million National Water Infrastructure Development Fund.
“This project will not only create more than 130 local jobs, but will also deliver a permanent connection to a secure, reticulated water supply for more than 600 local landholders for the first time, drought proofing the region,” Minister Joyce said.
“This drought breaking pipeline will give farmers, who currently rely on rainfall and catchment dams, the water security and confidence they need to increase their agricultural productivity and create an overall economic benefit of $114 million.”
Mr Drum said the project would involve construction of an additional 1,300 kilometres of pipeline to connect West Waranga Channel with the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline.
“Once complete, the pipeline will supply around 780 megalitres of water per year to local landholders,” Mr Drum said.
“This is great news for local producers, putting an end to the frustration and constraints of water carting, and giving them the ability to increase their agricultural productivity and farmgate returns.”
The South West Loddon Pipeline is one of six priority water infrastructure projects across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, made possible through the commitment of almost $300 million in funding under the Coalition Government’s $500 million National Water Infrastructure Development Fund.