The applicants, representing small domestic and stock customers across the region, allege they have been charged for services that do not exist.
“Year after year, our fees have increased far beyond inflation — for no service, no infrastructure, and no benefit,” group spokesperson Cameron Reid said.
“For most of us, water comes from small local creeks.
“We maintain our own pumps, pipes, and filtration.
“G-MW provides no service beyond enforcing compliance fees, yet continues to charge as if it does.”
The group formed a collective known as G-MW Concerns in 2018.
“We are not asking for special treatment,” Mr Reid said.
“We are simply asking that the fees applied to us relate to services we actually receive.
“This is about fairness, trust, and respect for small rural Victorians who have been left out of the system.”
The applicants said they acknowledged the important work G-MW did for large irrigation customers, but claimed the business model did not extend to small unregulated water users.
Country News reached out to G-MW and ESC for comment on the matter.
“G-MW’s tariffs are approved by the Essential Services Commission and reflect G-MW’s costs of managing water resources,” a G-MW spokesperson said.
“The tariffs subject to this case decreased in 2025-26 to their lowest amount since 2021.
“The tariffs include an amount that reflects G-MW’s costs of protecting customers’ access rights and the environment. This benefits all customers.
“G-MW will always ensure that water use is managed sustainably, efficiently, safely and consistently with legal rights.”
ESC said the case was an application for review of a previous decision.
“The commission is aware that an application for review has been lodged at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal in relation to its final decision in relation to the Goulburn-Murray Water’s prices,” the Essential Services Commission said.
“The commission respects the review process, and therefore we do not comment on matters currently under review.”
G-MW Concerns, G-MW and ESC will appear at VCAT on Thursday, November 27.
