Eppalock catchment, photographed from one of G-MW’s aerial inspection drones.
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Climbing ageing dam structures, driving narrow channel banks and inspecting assets at height have long been part of the job for Goulburn‑Murray Water staff.
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Increasingly, those high-risk tasks are being replaced by drones.
From the air, and even underwater, drone technology is changing how G-MW monitors and maintains its network of channels, dams and infrastructure across northern Victoria, improving safety for workers and delivering outcomes for customers.
G-MW is Australia’s largest rural water corporation, managing 23 catchments, 10,000 kilometres of delivery and drainage infrastructure, across an area of 68,000 square kilometres.
G-MW currently service 26,000 customers.
G-MW’s manager of civil and environmental services, John Walker, said the organisation was mainly using aerial survey drones to support inspection and maintenance work across its assets.
“These are generally survey drones at the moment,” Mr Walker said.
Drone technology is already well embedded in parts of the business such as surveying and electrical inspections.
A major benefit has been improved safety by reducing the need for staff to access hazardous locations.
“It’s obviously safer,” Mr Walker said.
“We don’t have personnel driving along channel banks in vehicles or climbing structures where we can avoid it.
“Instead, we can fly in from the nearest roadway and get the information we need.”
G-MW senior storage officer Holly Westbrook operating an aerial drone.
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Senior storage officer Holly Westbrook, who oversees five storages in the Loddon system, said drones had become invaluable when inspecting assets where access was limited, confined or unsafe.
“There are areas that are really difficult to get into, or not safe to access without specialised equipment,” Ms Westbrook said.
“Using drones lets us see those areas first. If something doesn’t look right, we can then plan a safe and efficient way to inspect it properly.”
In addition to aerial drones, Ms Westbrook uses underwater remotely operated vehicles, or ROVs, to inspect submerged structures such as intake towers, valves and concrete assets.
The tethered drones return live high-definition video footage, allowing issues to be identified before divers are required.
“Instead of sending divers down straight away, we can see what’s going on first,” Ms Westbrook said.
“If work is needed, the divers know exactly what to expect. That’s safer, quicker and more cost‑effective.”
Yarrawonga shot from one of G-MW’s aerial inspection drones. G-MW uses drones to provide high-definition photo and video of assets.
At Yarrawonga Weir on Lake Mulwala, senior storage officer David Murphy said drones were also improving safety while allowing crews to inspect structures that would otherwise require specialist access equipment.
“It allows us to look at parts of the structure you normally wouldn’t reach, or where you’d need to physically climb or walk out,” Mr Murphy said.
He said repeated aerial imagery also helped teams track erosion, riverbank condition and vegetation changes over time, building a clearer picture without the need for frequent on‑ground inspections.
This winter, LiDAR‑equipped drones will be used to assess silt build‑up in major carriers, helping prioritise maintenance before the irrigation season.
Mr Walker said improved efficiency translated to better system performance.
“The efficiency we gain with drone usage delivers a tangible benefit to customers,” he said.
“Better‑targeted maintenance improves reliability across the channel system.”
With fewer risks to staff, faster inspections and more informed maintenance decisions, drones are proving to be a practical tool in G-MW’s kit.
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