Urban Channel Pipeline Project a win for all
9 July, 2024
Murrumbidgee Irrigation (MI) has welcomed the announcement of $62.2 million in funding under the Resilient Rivers Water Infrastructure Program, to replace inefficient aging channels around Griffith and Leeton with 47.5 kilometres of new pipeline.
The Urban Channel Pipeline Project will provide a range of benefits to the community and MI including:
- Increased water security for towns and industry, by enabling residents to connect to a raw water pipeline supply.
- Increased regional productivity through water use efficiency.
- Repurposing open channels to public paths and green spaces for the community.
- Improved customer service levels and system capacity through more precise water control.
- Enhanced road safety through the elimination of roadside open, urban channels.
- Improved roadside drainage, and reduced road maintenance, and
- Employment opportunities for local contractors.
MI CEO, Brett Jones, said that The Urban Channel Pipeline Project would further enhance delivery efficiency off the back of MI’s automated network.
“Our goal ever since the announcement of water buybacks has been to complete as many infrastructure projects as possible to offset the ramifications,” he said.
Mr Jones said MI has other projects in the pipeline as part of the Resilient Rivers Water Infrastructure Program.
"We've put in applications for one additional project which is under assessment by the Federal Government, while three others are being evaluated by the State," he said.
“We want to ensure that the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area is sustainable for the future and set up the network for the next 20 to 50 years."
The Urban Channel Pipeline Project is funded by the Australian Government and is being delivered in partnership with the NSW Government under the Resilient Rivers Water Infrastructure Program.