Pricey proposal suggests using recycled water to improve lakes

THE Colac Otway Shire is considering a nine-figure proposal to pump recycled water from Black Rock to improve the quality of lakes such as Lake Modewarre and Lake Colac.

At their meeting last week, Colac Otway councillors resolved to seek support for feasibility and cost analysis of the proposal, which will bring water from Barwon Water’s Black Rock Water Reclamation Plant for industry and agriculture, and to replenish lakes across the region.

According to the report presented to Colac Otway councillors, Barwon Water suggests the capital cost for the proposal would be between $150 million and $300 million, as well as annual operational costs of between $4 million and $17 million.

“Black Rock presently generates about 20-25 gigalitres of recycled water, most of which goes directly out to sea,” the report states.

Colac Otway mayor Jason Schram said the council’s support followed initial discussions between Polwarth MP Richard Riordan, Barwon Water and the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority.

“The Colac community has been looking at how we maintain water levels at Lake Colac for recreation since the summer of 2008-2009 when the lake completely dried out.

“Community leaders previously launched a Just Add Water campaign to secure a sustainable water supply for Lake Colac and that campaign has evolved into the reclamation proposal, but with significant additional benefits for economic development across Colac Otway and Surf Coast shires.

“This project could provide water for sporting grounds including the Modewarre Sporting Complex proposal, and incredible opportunities to diversify our food bowl to include more aquaculture, fruit and vegetable production.

“It will be important to gain support from Surf Coast Shire Council and we will ask G21 to consider the proposal as a priority project across its economic development, sport and recreation and environment pillars.”

Corangamite federal member Libby Coker said an economic feasibility and cost benefit analysis “has merit, on first glance”.

“Certainly the possibility of providing relief to our water stressed region and potentially opening up new opportunities and new jobs for our agricultural and recreational sectors is worthy of further analysis.”