Funded by the Victorian and Commonwealth governments, the $2 billion Connections Project is the largest irrigation modernisation project in Australia.
A 2016 mid-term government review determined the project was in distress, not only was it significantly over budget, but also failing to achieve its water savings objectives, and it had alienated the irrigation community.
Sequana’s Managing Partners were engaged to lead the reset process which included a High Value High Risk oversight procurement process to ensure the sustainable future of productive agriculture in northern Victoria by generating 429 GL of water savings under Victoria’s obligation to the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. The reset focused on the project’s key deliverables of water savings and modernisation within the existing budget.
Sequana’s role was to turn around the project and completely overhaul every aspect of project delivery to improve water savings and significantly improve stakeholder engagement with local communities and regain trust and social licence for the project. The GMW Connections Project demonstrates Sequana’s ability to engage with the market, identify risks and opportunities within complex projects, and develop innovative commercial solutions to deliver a broad range of outcomes for Government agencies. The project was delivered on time, on budget and with additional water savings and full community support.
