Local Mining Company Provides Water to Help Boost Ballarat and District’s Water Supply

Central Highlands Water has secured another additional water resource to boost the Ballarat and District Water Supply thanks to local mining company, Imerys Minerals Australia Pty Ltd.

Central Highlands Water will receive 200 million litres of water from a disused Imerys Minerals open cut mine at Lal Lal for use in the Ballarat and District Water Supply.

Central Highlands Water Managing Director, Mr Neil Brennan congratulated Imerys Minerals for their community minded gesture, proactive approach and leadership displayed by generously providing Central Highlands Water, and the community, with much needed water for the Ballarat and District Water Supply.

“Imerys Minerals Australia Pty Ltd are an excellent example of a socially responsible company by not only providing valuable water for the region’s water supply but also by developing an approved Water Action Management Plan to reduce their own water usage and ease pressure on the Ballarat and District Water Supply,” said Mr Brennan.

Imerys Minerals Australia Pty Ltd Production Manager, Mr Garry Matthews says he is pleased to be able to assist the community and help boost the Ballarat and District’s Water Supply.

“We are a community-minded organisation that is committed to sustainable development and we are keen to give back to the community where possible and are very proud to be able to help the region as it experiences the unprecedented ongoing dry conditions by providing Central Highlands Water with water from our disused Kaolin mine,” said Mr Matthews.

Central Highlands Water has received approval from EPA Victoria to transfer the water from the Imerys Minerals Kaolin Lal Lal mine to Lal Lal Reservoir with initial pumping commencing this week.

The water transferred from the quarry will be routinely monitored by both Central Highlands Water and EPA Victoria to ensure the water is of a consistently high standard which meets all drinking water guidelines. The Ballarat and District Water Supply will continue to meet and exceed all the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act 2003 and the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.

The Ballarat and District Water Supply will also receive an additional 5,000 million litres of water in the coming months through various water supply projects undertaken by Central Highlands Water, such as Ballarat West Groundwater, Newlyn Reservoir connection and Bungaree Groundwater, which will help secure the region’s water supply until the Goldfields Superpipe comes on line in June next year.