Barwon Water project gives nod to European and First Nations history

BARWON Water is working towards opening up 66 hectares of land surrounding the century old Ovoid Sewer Aqueduct in Breakwater on the Barwon River, with a project that seeks to acknowledge the regions European and First Nations history.

Constructed between 1912 and 1915, the deteriorating sewer is heritage protected but public access to the area has been closed since 1995 due the risk of falling concrete.

A visible part of Geelong’s otherwise hidden first public sewerage system, in 2020 Barwon Water was granted a permit to remove four of the 14 spans that take the pipe over the river, and up to $6.5 million has been allocated to the works.

In its latest update on the project the water authority said it will create a new cultural, recreational and community precinct in partnership with the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation under the working title of Porronggitj Karrong, meaning place of the Brolga.

As part of the planning process Traditional Owners will confirm a final name for the precinct, and other stakeholders are also being asked to help gather information about the history of the aqueduct, landscape and water.

Stabilising works on the pipeline structure are scheduled to begin but are subject to rainfall, given the area is on a floodplain.

Once the site is made safe the area will once again be opened up to the community, which is expected to be between mid-2023 and 2025.