Willera wins water award

Article and words written and published with RMCG -

State water innovators were recently announced at the 2016 Rural Water Awards, in Melbourne.

These Awards recognised and rewarded Victorian rural water customers (licence/entitlement holders) that have developed or adapted clever ideas that have led to better water use outcomes for their business.

Chairman of the awards, Richard Anderson said that “It’s pleasing to see the great work of our farmers being acknowledged and valued. I congratulate all who nominated for this year’s awards, as they are all winners. The great innovative initiatives that have been implemented on farms across Victoria is both startling and inspiring.”

RMCG proudly sponsored the groundwater user award which was won by Karl and Will Hooke of Willera Merinos.

Increased returns on stock sales, higher cropping income, larger crop yields and better planning certainty are all benefits brothers Karl and Will Hooke have enjoyed thanks to their clever use of groundwater. Following repeated low allocations from the Loddon River system for their Serpentine property, the pair decided to take matters into their own hands. Following exploratory drilling, a high yielding aquifer not previously mapped was located. The brothers invested in drilling and construction of a 450 mm diameter bore to a depth of 102 metres and capable of delivering a 21 ML per day. Now even in dry seasons such as 2015, Willera Merinos have a back-up water supply which provides them with a significant advantage.

These awards are a joint initiative of Southern Rural Water (SRW), Lower Murray Water (LMW), Goulburn-Murray Water (GMW), Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water (GWM) and Coliban Water together with the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF), VicWater and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP).