Progress on water pipeline through Surf Coast hinterland

A BARWON Water plan to pipe recycled water from its Black Rock reclamation plant through the Surf Coast hinterland has received $248,000 in state funding for a concept design and business case.

The proposed path for the pipeline is through the Thompson Valley and is also expected to carry stormwater diverted from the Karaaf wetlands, ultimately to end users in high value agriculture and other potential customers like Alcoa.

The pipeline has been the subject of at least three reports or expressions of interests by Barwon Water and private consultants over the last five years and was a central re-election pitch from Polwarth Liberal MP Richard Riordan.

Describing the project as “a pipeline, not a pipe dream”, Mr Riordan has said it could be a substitute for Alcoa’s controversial reliance on using groundwater to fill its former Anglesea coal mine.

It is a proposition that has previously warranted interest from Barwon Water when it commissioned a study from consultants GHD in 2019 on the plan, that also investigated the potential of bolstering flows in the stressed Anglesea River.

In 2021, Barwon Water broadened its scope of the project when it sought expressions of interest from other prospective users of the pipeline, particularly agriculture.

Barwon Water managing director Tracey Slatter said she welcomed support for the Alternative Water Scheme for the Surf Coast hinterland, saying “it’s the first step toward creating a connected grid that enables recycled water to be used where it’s needed most in the region”.

“We have been actively exploring opportunities to use integrated water management to supply recycled water to the Surf Coast hinterland, including the Thompson Valley, to support high value agriculture in the area and help maintain the green break between Armstrong Creek and Torquay, a key goal of the Surf Coast Distinctive Area and Landscape (DAL) statement of planning policy.”

In the authority’s 2030 plan, which is currently awaiting state government approval, Barwon Water has earmarked $17.7 million to “construct new assets to further support the productive use of recycled water including in the Surf Coast Hinterland.”

In seeking support for the project, Mr Riordan has previously said construction costs for the pipeline would be around $250 million, or similar to that of a rail level crossing removal.

Ms Slatter said the project would help achieve the organisation’s goal of diverting 100 per cent of recycled and reclaimed water to productive use by 2030.