Golf course project to save millions of litres of drinking water

WORKS will begin this week at the Apollo Bay Golf Club to construct a 1km water pipeline to connect the course to Barwon Water’s local reclamation plant.

The project will allow the club to make the switch to sustainable recycled water for irrigation at the golf course, helping to save the five to 10 million litres of drinking water now being sourced annually from the Barham River.

Delivered with the support of $450,000 from the Victorian government’s Integrated Water Management Grants Program, the project will also help Barwon Water progress it’s aim of recycling 100 per cent of the wastewater treated at its water reclamation plants.

Barwon Water managing director Shaun Cumming said the organisation had been working with the golf club to find ways to use water more efficiently.

“Our community strongly supports the productive use of recycled water, and it will play a key role in helping us to maximise the value of our resources.

“We’re pleased to assist the golf club to improve its sustainability and to significantly reduce its reliance on the region’s precious drinking water.”

As part of the work, Barwon Water will also upsize and replace a section of the water main along Gambier Street in Apollo Bay to eliminate bottlenecks in the water supply system, improve pressure for existing customers and reduce pressure losses for future developments.

All construction will occur on weekdays and both improvements will be delivered concurrently to minimise disruption to the community.

Apollo Bay Golf Club president Dick Lythgo celebrated the partnership approach to developing the recycled water project.

“We have been working very constructively with Barwon Water over the last few years, culminating in the realization of the recycled water project,” he said.

“This has been a wonderful example of cooperation between the golf club, Barwon Water and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action for the benefit not only of the golf club, but also for the wider Apollo Bay community.”

Club secretary Graham Hill said the project was a good example of organisations working together in an open and collaborative fashion to achieve sustainable outcomes.

“The result will save the Apollo Bay community valuable drinking water, particularly during the summer months, but also save the golf club valuable funds from using Class B recycled water,” he said.

Construction is expected to be completed by December.

For more information, head to yoursay.barwonwater.vic.gov.au/works-in-your-area/colac-otway