Connections answers sought

Through three different iterations, since 2008, Connections covers a 250 kilometre stretch of Victoria, from Cobram to Swan Hill, and accounts for about 90 per cent of all the state’s irrigation water.

But farmers, particularly in the Loddon, Torumburry and Rochester districts, continue to raise concerns about its continued roll out. Perhaps the most damning assessment has been made by several irrigators, who described a “swiss cheese effect”, with some areas achieving upgrades and others missing out.

Farmers said the “low hanging fruit” of finding water savings, particularly around the Shepparton area, had been picked. That left other projects in the too hard basket.

Drive along any of the main roads around Shepparton and Tatura and evidence of Connections is striking; lined channels, new meters and expensive infrastructure. But, west of Shepparton - particularly around the Loddon Valley – and irrigators have waited years for on-farm plans to be finalised.

Irrigators have raised concerns about “dry channels”, where some of the 18,000 Dethridge wheels have been replaced by modern Magflow meters, but a drop of water will never pass through them.

Variable flow rates, along the main channels, have been a fact of life for several seasons, while another irrigator has talked about a “lots of stuff ups”, wastage and the lack of accountability for past mistakes.

There is still optimism that Connections project director Frank Fisseler will be able to turn things around, but frustration is growing. Irrigators want answers – how did it come to this, where has the money gone and on what? GMW has promised transparency, advising information, relating to the future roll-out of the project, is readily available on the web.  But, for many, that’s not enough.

Connections won’t be the first irrigation project, or upgrade, completed in Victoria – farmers want to make sure the issues, which have plagued it, are not repeated elsewhere.

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