Highlighting GMW’s GMID Customer Committee members

Monday 14 September, 2026

Goulburn-Murray Water's (GMW) Customer Committee members' practical experience, local knowledge and customer insight are helping shape the future of irrigation services across northern Victoria.

Members of GMW's three GMID (Goulburn Murray Irrigation District) Customer Committees were appointed in April 2025. These committees are aligned to the East (Murray Valley, Shepparton), West (Torrumbarry, Loddon Valley) and Central (Central Goulburn, Rochester) irrigation areas.

GMID Customer Committee - East member Craig Reynolds is a seasoned cropping farmer and has a long-standing connection to customer representation through his previous role as a GMW Water Services Committee chair. Based in Congupna, Mr Reynolds is also actively involved in the Irrigation Farmer Network.

Mr Reynolds said he valued the opportunity to share constructive feedback with GMW and contribute to decisions that affect irrigators across the region.

"I've always wanted to be involved," he said.

"I think I understand water fairly well. I've grown up on an irrigation farm. All my life has basically been around irrigating and irrigating crops and using irrigation to make money.

"I think I can feed constructive information back to Goulburn-Murray Water."

Mr Reynolds said he was happy with the way the committee was running.

"There's a lot of input from Goulburn-Murray Water to give us information about things and take our feedback on how they could do things better, which they seem to be genuinely listening and wanting our feedback."

GMID Customer Committee - West member Dianne Bowles brings 18 years' experience as an irrigator and dairy farmer in Mead, along with a strong interest in agricultural and environmental water use and how organisations work with their customers and communities.

"I thought I might be able to provide some input in that area," she said.

Ms Bowles said she valued the respectful discussion at Committee meetings and the opportunity to contribute ideas, ask questions and learn more about areas of GMW's operations.

"A few ideas have been tested with us, and I assume that will grow as the term goes along," she said.

"I've just put my hand up to go on the drainage subcommittee which is something I really don't know a lot about except how it works on my farm.

"That will be interesting to learn a bit more about that."

GMID Customer Committee - Central member Peter Hacon brings more than 48 years' experience in irrigated farming and water leadership, including 17 years as a past Water Services Committee chair. Based in Tongala, he runs a farming business focused on grazing sheep and cattle.

Mr Hacon said he joined the Committee because he believed being part of the conversations was the best way to have a say on important issues and decisions for customers.

He said the Customer Committees provided an important communication link between GMW and its customers.

"It's about a communication between the two different parties to find ground that will work and not repeat stuff we've done in the past that hasn't worked very well at all," he said.

"It's a two-way benefit. Not for just the customer, there's a benefit there for Goulburn-Murray Water as well."

GMW Managing Director Steve Capewell said it was great to see the Customer Committees progress well and to receive important input from Committee members.

"The Committee members are providing a valuable link between GMW and its customers," he said.

"We appreciate the skills and insights they are bringing to the Committees and we look forward to continuing to work with them to help our region thrive."

To help highlight the GMID Customer Committees and its members, video profiles about Mr Reynolds, Ms Bowles and Mr Hacon can be viewed on the GMW website at

Customer Committees - Goulburn Murray Water

GMW is looking to recruit new Customer Committee members soon and will provide more information about that in the near future.

• GMW has seven Customer Committees which align with the water corporation's services, have a strategic focus and are collaborative.

• The GMW Customer Committees are: GMID - East, GMID - Central, GMID - West, Diversions, Pumped Districts, Water Districts, and Loch Garry.

• All seven GMW Customer Committees have replaced GMW's former Water Service Committees.

• More information about GMW's Customer Committee can be found here: