The Next Stage of the Government's Plan
The next stage of the Government's Our Water Our Future plan provides long-term solutions to secure our water supplies by building a desalination plant, saving water through upgrading irrigation channels, expanding the Water Grid to pipe water around the State and extending conservation programs and recycling.
Over the next five years, around $4.9 billion will be spent on major infrastructure projects to manage the risk that Victoria's worst drought will continue.
Water scarcity is a key challenge of climate change. The current unprecedented and severe drought has highlighted the importance of water to our economy, our way of life and the health of our environment.
The Water Plan balances traditional water sources with new rainfall-independent sources of water.
The new projects will boost water supplies for Victoria's cities and towns. The total supply for Melbourne will increase by 240 billion litres annually by 2011 - half of our current annual water use.
Irrigation system upgrades in the Food Bowl in Northern Victoria will capture lost water for farms, stressed rivers and urban households and businesses.
We are also providing more water for regional centres including Geelong, Westernport, South Gippsland and Hamilton.
Community information sessions about specific Water Plan projects will be held in several locations across the State. For information please visit the project specific web pages on this site or call DSE Customer Service on 136 186.
Our Water Our Future: The Next Stage of the Government's Plan
Hard copies of this document can also be ordered through DSE customer services - call 136186 or email customer.service@dse.vic.gov.au