$550,000 State funding for new LMW Rural Masterplan

The Board of Lower Murray Water (LMW) has announced it will be conducting a review of its rural and irrigation services and setting a new Rural Masterplan for its Nyah to SA Border region.

“We see this as a significant opportunity for Lower Murray Water to plan for how we see irrigation and rural water services will be provided in decades to come” said Chair of the LMW Board, Sharyon Peart.

“There has been significant change in our region over the past decades which has seen major changes to the crops grown in our region and the services that are required from an irrigation provider such as LMW.”

“Urban encroachment has left some of our old irrigation and drainage assets stranded. The volatility of domestic and export markets and recent political factors including water buybacks already have and will continue to influence the rural customer profile and future water service requirements that LMW need to consider.” She said

The development of the Masterplan will enable LMW to assess rural services to identify efficiencies within the system, opportunities for further investment or the removal of old infrastructure.

$550,000 in funding has been received from the Victorian Government for the development of the Masterplan.
LMW will utilise its newly appointed Strategic Advisory Committee (SAC) to ensure that engagement with stakeholders including irrigation and stock & domestic customers, first nations and environmental groups as well as planning authorities is maximised to enable a range of perspectives to be considered in incorporated within the new Masterplan.

Lower Murray Water will be completing the masterplan over the next 18 months with a final document released by June 2026.

“We’re supporting Lower Murray Water to plan for the future through their Rural Masterplan 2050 that will set out a clear direction for the region’s irrigation and rural services to best meet the future needs of customers”, said Minister for Water, Harriet Shing.