Work stopped on this part of the pipeline after contractors discovered they had disturbed Indigenous heritage on the Minyip site.

Work has stopped for an estimated four weeks while Aboriginal Affairs Victoria and Barengi Gadjin Land Council investigate the incident.

GWMWater supply system three and four contractor Mitchell Water has stood down employees due to the stoppage.

Mitchell Water commercial manager Roger de Maid said the company would continue to pay a full wage to employees who had been stood down.

Mr de Maid said Mitchell Water had also relocated some sub-contractors to supply system two.

"Any of our employees who may have been stood down will still be receiving a normal day's pay," Mr de Maid said.

"All employees and sub-contractors are impacted by this incident, but we are working co-operatively to minimise the impact by taking mitigating action and transferring resources wherever possible."

Mr de Maid said some Mitchell Water staff had taken annual leave.

"Mitchell Water's priority is to maintain employment options for our staff during this period," he said.

Mr de Maid dodged questions about the overall cost of a four-week stoppage.

"We are working with GWMWater and our sub-contractors to minimise the impacts," he said.

"We are hopeful that the matter will be resolved quickly."

Mr de Maid said Mitchell Water was reviewing its legal rights, in relation to passing stoppage costs on to GWMWater.

"Mitchell Water is reviewing our rights under the suspension of works by GWMWater, prior to any further discussions with GWMWater," he said.

GWMWater corporate services manager Andrew Rose said GWMWater would talk to Mitchell Water about who would cover the costs of the stoppage.

Mr Rose said there was a provision in GWMWater and Mitchell Water's contract that would account for who covers any cost burden.

"We'll go through a process under the contract to resolve who has got to foot the bill," Mr Rose said.

"The process hasn't commenced."

Mr Rose said GWMWater would continue to work with Mitchell Water to avoid unnecessary expenses. He said GWMWater's main focus was to have a Cultural Heritage Management Plan approved so work could restart on supply systems three and four.