Sunraysia Water Efficiency Project (SWEP)
Creating a more efficient water delivery network across the Mildura, Red Cliffs and Merbein irrigation districts.
In progressLower Murray Water (LMW) is delivering the Sunraysia Water Efficiency Project (SWEP), a modernisation project that will modernise and remove outdated water infrastructure in the Mildura, Red Cliffs, and Merbein irrigation districts.
Funded by the Australian Government, these works will improve the condition of the channel and increase the efficiency of water delivery.
Project benefits
The Project will provide many benefits to the Sunraysia region, including:
- Further modernisation and rationalisation of assets in the Mildura, Red Cliffs, and Merbein irrigation districts, benefiting local growers.
- Helping the Sunraysia district maintain its competitive advantage in the agri-food sector with more efficiency in its water delivery systems.
- Bringing forward essential maintenance and upgrade works to maintain water supply and reduce interruptions, offsetting works that otherwise would have been funded through LMW rural customer charges.
- Supporting more than 100 construction and delivery jobs for the region.
- Generating an estimated regional GDP increase of more than $20 million.
- Reducing the amount of salinity in the River Murray and surrounding topsoil caused by leaking channels.
This project will generate 1.8 GL of water savings by:
- minimising channel leakage and seepage
- more accurately measuring water used.
Any additional savings will be shared equally between delivering water for Traditional Owners and improving urban water security in the region.
About the project
The SWEP builds on the success of the Sunraysia Modernisation Project and Sunraysia Modernisation Project 2 and aims to create a more efficient water delivery network across the Mildura, Red Cliffs and Merbein irrigation districts.
These works will increase the efficiency of water delivery for Lower Murray Water customers, remove redundant assets, extend the lifespan of irrigation infrastructure, and support the agricultural productivity of the region. For an overview of the project, see SWEP fact sheet.
Most of the works have been constructed during the winter months when the irrigation demands are low. There is a significant amount of work to be undertaken in winter 2024.
To best understand customer needs this winter and inform planned shutdowns to complete this work, LMW initiated a communication and engagement campaign across February and March 2024. The details of these activities, the outcomes, and the final winter shutdown plan are captured in this summary.
A key part of these works includes removing the irrigation channel adjacent to the Nichols Point Primary School and Nichols Point Recreation Reserve and replacing it with a buried pipeline, improving community safety and opening the space.
We will keep community and landowners informed through the planning and construction of the works.
Project updates
In 2023, the Project delivered more than 4 km of channel lining in the Red Cliffs and Mildura districts and removed almost 100 old Dethridge wheels from the system.
All channel works were completed within the shutdown period and impacts on customers were minimised.
The SWEP team is now focusing on completing the project scope. For any remaining service interruptions, see the winter schedule dates.
Check out our time-lapse for a glimpse of the process.
For more information, take a look at our recent Project Updates here:
- August 2024 update
- June 2024 update
- March 2024 update
- February 2024 update
- November 2023 update
- September 2023 update
- July 2023 update
- May 2023 update
How to find out more
For any further questions, or to sign up for project updates, please email swep@lmw.vic.gov.au or phone 1800 808 830 and ask to speak to the SWEP team.