Goulburn Murray Water Channel Remediation

The Goulburn Murry Water's Connections Project aimed to enhance water efficiency in the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District by upgrading 1,226km of channels in northern Victoria across a five-year span. Symal, subcontracted by John Holland, undertook a significant portion of this project by completing 6.7km of channel upgrades during the project's initial winter program, spanning from May to August 2017.

Symal's scope included extensive earthworks (130,000m³), channel shaping (180,000m²), construction of crushed rock access tracks (6km), removal and reinstatement of fences (12km), installation of geosynthetic clay liners and crushed rock cover (51,000m²), HDPE lining (60,000m²), and rock beaching (4,205m²).

Despite successful completion, the project faced a range of challenges throughout. Working within a narrow window due to heavy channel use by local farmers during summer made it necessary for meticulous scheduling and logistical coordination, with up to 64 pieces of equipment operating simultaneously at peak times. Despite these constraints, efficient project management ensured completion one week ahead of schedule.

Symal employed drones for project monitoring, capturing regular footage to track progress and conduct earthworks surveys. This technological approach proved particularly valuable given the project's extensive rural reach, providing both Symal's management and the client with real-time visual updates without the need for frequent on-site visits.