12-month Progress Report released

The Next Stage of the Government’s Water Plan was released in June 2007 and included $4.9 billion in new water infrastructure projects.

The Victorian Government has released a report that highlights the progress that has been made on these vital water projects over the past 12 months.

Desalination Plant Project

The 150 billion litre desalination plant will supply water to Melbourne, Geelong and towns in Western Port and South Gippsland regardless of rainfall.

The project includes an 85-kilometre transfer pipeline and the purchase of renewable energy to offset the energy requirements of the plant.

An extensive Environment Effects Statement is being conducted to ensure any impacts on the environment are minimised and drilling works recently commenced as part of developing a sea water sampling plant.

Northern Victoria Irrigation Renewal Project (Food Bowl Modernisation)

$2 billion is being invested to upgrade leaky, old irrigation infrastructure in northern Victoria to capture 425 billion litres of water now lost through seepage, evaporation and system inefficiencies.

Irrigators and rivers will each receive 175 billion litres of the water saved, with Melbourne to receive 75 billion litres through the Sugarloaf Pipeline.

The early works program is now underway with 1000 automated gates and meters being installed. The authority established to deliver the project has also commenced extensive consultation with farmers and other stakeholders in the region.

Victorian Water Grid

Work is underway to expand the network of pipelines which will enable water to be moved around the State. Planning and detailed studies are underway on projects in the Water Plan including the Geelong-Melbourne Pipeline and the Hamilton-Grampians Pipeline.

Projects like the $280 million Goldfields Superpipe project for Bendigo and Ballarat, which was completed two years ahead of schedule, are vital to secure Victoria’s water supplies.

Increased Water Recycling

A $300 million upgrade to Melbourne Water’s Eastern Treatment Plant will provide more than 100 billion litres of Class A recycled water to be used for non-drinking purposes, such as industrial and environmental flows.

Melbourne recycles more of its wastewater than any other major city in Australia and a business case is currently being prepared to determine the best use of additional recycled water from the Eastern Treatment Plant upgrade.

Water Conservation

Water conservation - including water restrictions and water saving products like rainwater tanks and showerheads - has helped reduce demand on drinking water supplies. Melburnians used 34 per cent less water per person in 2007 compared with the 1990s.