Barwon Water to connect to Melbourne pipeline

BARWON Water will connect to Melbourne’s water network in response to the continuing dry conditions in the region, but will not get any of the water to be produced by Victoria’s desalination plant.
Geelong’s water storages are at 38.3 per cent capacity – the lowest since August 2010 – and nearly half as low (63.9 per cent) at the same time last year.
In response, Barwon Water has requested access to the 59-kilometre Melbourne to Geelong pipeline of its intention to draw down up to six gigalitres over the coming year.
The Wonthaggi desalination plant will switch on next summer to top up Melbourne’s water supply, but none of this water will be pumped here as the Melbourne to Geelong pipeline connects at Cowrie Hill, west of Werribee.
Barwon Water is also readying the Barwon “Geelong has continued to experience declining storage levels that have not been seen since the Millennium drought,” Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water Lisa Neville said.
“Thankfully, the Melbourne to Geelong pipeline that Labor previously invested in can be switched on to help provide the region with greater water security.”
Although Barwon Water’s Permanent Water Saving Plan remains in place, South Barwon member Andrew Katos has criticised the state government for not enacting water restrictions.
“Clearly Daniel Andrews and Lisa Neville are deliberately running down our water reserves in order to justify turning on their white elephant desal plant,” he said.
“Your water bills will soar when this happens.” However, Barwon Water customers will not pay extra, as the 2013-18 Water Plan locks in prices until June 2018. This includes an average annual Ms Neville said Geelong’s water storages were seriously declining.
“While Andrew Katos is continuing to playing politics, I am glad that Barwon Water are doing all they can to provide certainty to the region.”