- Minister for Water
More than 3,400 water users in Victoria's north-west are set to receive an upgrade to the quality of their drinking water through the connection of the South West Loddon Pipeline to several Coliban water treatment plants.
Minister for Water Lisa Neville today announced the Korong Vale, Bridgewater and Laanecoorie water treatment plants will be connected as pipeline works progress northwest of Bendigo.
Some towns will transition to the new source this year with the rest transitioning progressively over the next three years, as respective water treatment plants are connected. Timings will be confirmed with residents as more information becomes available.
The connection will mean water users in Bridgewater, Inglewood, Korong Vale, Wedderburn, Laanecoorie, Dunolly, Tarnagulla and Bealiba will receive an improved and more reliable drinking water supply with reduced organics and salinity levels.
It will also reduce water quality fluctuations seen with their current supply source.
The Andrews Labor Government has contributed $40 million to the $80.6 million project, with Coliban Water continuing to work with construction manager Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water (GWMWater) to facilitate the connections.
When complete, the project will service 260 rural farming enterprises and 370 lifestyle properties over an area of 2,900km2 with a reticulated water supply.
A secure water supply to the South West Loddon area will deliver economic benefits by supporting activity and employment in the farming and intensive livestock sectors. It will also reduce the current reliance on water carting and sustain the agricultural sector that underpins the viability of this region.
The new water will be supplied from both the Goulburn and Grampians systems via the South West Loddon and Wimmera Mallee Pipelines, while water will be sourced solely from the Grampians system when annual routine maintenance work is carried out on the Goulburn system from mid-May to mid-August each year.
The construction of the South West Loddon Pipeline is expected to be completed in the second half of 2019.
As noted by Minister for Water Lisa Neville
"The South West Loddon Pipeline project will help to reduce demand on the Loddon River system while providing local communities with a more reliable and healthy water supply."
"The region has been challenged by climate extremes over the past two decades and projects like this are helping place communities and farmers in a better position to deal with ongoing dry conditions."
