BARWON Water will connect to Melbourne\u2019s 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\u2019s desalination plant.
\nGeelong\u2019s water storages are at 38.3 per cent capacity \u2013 the lowest since August 2010 \u2013 and nearly half as low (63.9 per cent) at the same time last year.
\nIn 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.
\nThe Wonthaggi desalination plant will switch on next summer to top up Melbourne\u2019s water supply, but none of this water will be pumped here as the Melbourne to Geelong pipeline connects at Cowrie Hill, west of Werribee.
\nBarwon Water is also readying the Barwon \u201cGeelong has continued to experience declining storage levels that have not been seen since the Millennium drought,\u201d Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water Lisa Neville said.
\n\u201cThankfully, the Melbourne to Geelong pipeline that Labor previously invested in can be switched on to help provide the region with greater water security.\u201d
\nAlthough Barwon Water\u2019s Permanent Water Saving Plan remains in place, South Barwon member Andrew Katos has criticised the state government for not enacting water restrictions.
\n\u201cClearly Daniel Andrews and Lisa Neville are deliberately running down our water reserves in order to justify turning on their white elephant desal plant,\u201d he said.
\n\u201cYour water bills will soar when this happens.\u201d 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\u2019s water storages were seriously declining.
\n\u201cWhile Andrew Katos is continuing to playing politics, I am glad that Barwon Water are doing all they can to provide certainty to the region.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
BARWON Water will connect to Melbourne\u2019s 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\u2019s desalination plant. Geelong\u2019s water storages are at 38.3 per cent capacity \u2013 the lowest since August 2010 \u2013 and nearly half as low (63.9 […]<\/p>\n