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Macalister Fresh

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Macalister Fresh is a region-building water strategy that will deliver a vision and plan to drive future investment in Gippsland.  

Over the past two decades, Southern Rural Water, the Victorian Government and the Australian Government through the National Water Grid Fund have invested nearly $200 million in a program of modernisation works across the Macalister Irrigation District.  

We have an opportunity to maximise the benefits of this investment to identify more water savings, deliver best practice irrigation and find innovative solutions to emerging challenges.   

The $660,000 Macalister Fresh project, funded by the Victorian Government and Southern Rural Water, will be delivered over 18 months in four phases.  

Phase one involves collaborating and co-designing a vision for the region with customers and our key partners.  

Designing principles for use and distribution of water savings, decision making frameworks, project prioritisation and project pipeline will also be developed with customers and key partners as part of phases two and three of the project.  

Phase four of the Macalister Fresh project will deliver an investment prospectus that will identify the value of reliable and secure rural water management in Gippsland, and investment opportunities. 

More information

  • How we will involve customers and stakeholders in the process

    We will work with customers, stakeholders and the community to develop a shared vision of what the future looks like and investment opportunities that deliver economic, environmental and cultural benefits for the region.   

    We will use a range of communications channels to promote and inform stakeholders about consultation opportunities throughout the project. 

  • Who we will consult as part of the Macalister Fresh project

    We want to include a wide range of people and perspectives to inform what the future of the Gippsland area looks like and how we deliver it.  

    We will consult with our customers from across the Macalister fresh region as well as Traditional Owners, relevant Victorian and Australian government agencies, local government, relevant water agencies, agricultural industry peak bodies and environmental community groups. 

  • How we will deliver the Macalister Fresh project

    The Macalister Fresh project will be delivered over 18 months in four phases.   

    Phase one will involve working with customers, stakeholders and communities across Gippsland to develop a collective vision for the future of the Macalister Irrigation Area.  

    Phase two will involve working with key stakeholders to develop principles and frameworks to guide water sharing and investment decisions.  

    Phase three will involve working with key stakeholders to develop project opportunities that aligns with the Macalister Fresh Vision, our business plan and regional strategic priorities.  

    Phase four is the final stage of the Macalister Fresh project and will involve bringing all the elements together into a high-level investment proposal. This will play a key role in attracting business and government to partner with us on water projects that will help grow Gippsland’s multi-billion-dollar food and fibre sector. 

  • Why we need a vision for the Macalister Irrigation Area

    Over the last decade, we have already delivered huge benefits to farmers through modernising infrastructure in the Macalister Irrigation District.   

    Works on the last stage of modernisation will be completed in 2024. We now have an opportunity to think about how we maximise the benefits of this once-in-a-generation investment and ensuring a thriving region long into the future.   

    To do this, we need to develop a vision for the Macalister Fresh area that’s informed and shared by customers, businesses, government agencies and the community. This vision will crystallise our collective priorities and allow us to make decisions that align with it and what we all want to achieve. 

  • How we will allocate water savings from modernisation

    The Macalister Fresh project will be used to develop and define the principles and frameworks to guide future water sharing and investment decisions to 2050. 

  • How we will decide what projects to prioritise

    We will use the feedback we receive from customers and stakeholders during consultation, the Macalister Fresh vision and our capital expenditure plan to inform and prioritise projects.

  • Why we need an investment proposal for the Macalister Irrigation Area

    The Macalister Fresh area is one of Victoria’s most important food bowls and a thriving agricultural region. Compared to other parts of the nation this area is well placed to adapt to climate change. Together with the combination of ample water savings and modern infrastructure in place this is a unique opportunity to grow the region.  

    An investment proposal, informed by the Macalister Fresh project, will articulate the value of reliable and secure rural water management in the region and identify public and private sector investment opportunities.

Phase one

We conducted a six-month consultation with our customers, stakeholders and the community to understand their aspirations for the Macalister Fresh area and incorporate their knowledge and expertise in the developing a vision.   

We distilled this feedback into a high-level vision that aligns with business and government regional strategies which set the policy direction for securing long-term water supplies.  

We believe the Macalister Fresh Vision will lay the foundations for this region-building project that will inform new projects and drive future investment in the region.  

For more information on how we developed the vision read A vision for the Macalister Fresh area’s thriving future.

  • Macalister Fresh Vision Statement

    The Macalister Fresh irrigation area develops into a climate resilient Gippsland province with a shared ambition of innovation and partnerships that enable our community, region and environment to flourish.  

    The region will achieve this vision through: 

    More water 

    Maximising water security and managing water efficiently to enable a productive irrigation region. 

    Great partnerships 

    Nurturing strong partnerships with government, industry, community and Traditional Owners to create opportunities to flourish for all who live and work here. 

    Best practice and innovation 

    Valuing innovation and applying best practice water management to deliver social, environmentally and economically sustainable outcomes with acceptable risk. 

    Telling the region’s story 

    Recognising what is special about the region and embracing opportunities to share its story as a place of prosperity to attract new investment for long-term growth.