Pyrenees Shire Council chief executive officer Jim Nolan said the project would be a significant aid to farmers in the shire.

"This is a major project for the region," he said.

"It involves around 1500 farming properties and covers around 530,000 hectares, spanning over three shires (Pyrenees Shire, North Grampians Shire, Ararat Rural City).

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"In the Pyrenees Shire, the pipeline will service farms on the western edge of the municipality.

"It will provide peace of mind for farmers who worry about periods of drought."

GWMWater is leading the project. To hasten the pipeline's delivery it intends to request Minister for Planning Richard Wynne amend the planning scheme to make the project exempt from being formally exhibited, and from planning permit requirements.

At the Pyrenees Shire Council meeting, Cr Ron Eason moved the motion to endorse the amendments and reiterated the importance of the pipeline.

"These are the sort of projects that provide some certainty to our farming communities," he said.

"Water is the lifeblood. We have nothing out of our farming communities unless it rains or we can provide water in some other way."

No councillors spoke against the motion before it was passed.

Both the state and federal government have contributed $32 million towards the project, while GWMWater has contributed $15.5 million. A further $5.7 million has come from landowner contributions.

Dunstons Construction Group has been contracted by GWMWater to deliver the early work on the project.

It is estimated the pipeline will take three years to complete once construction begins.

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