JOE HELPER MLA MEMBER FOR RIPON

New groundwater resource to boost Maryborough's water supply

Minister for Agriculture and Member for Ripon, Joe Helper, confirmed today that 505 megalitres per year of groundwater has been secured for Maryborough's future water supply from an existing source located in the Moolort aquifer near Carisbrook.

Mr Helper said Central Highlands Water (CHW) will also investigate the potential to add 300 megalitres of groundwater from an existing license in the the same aquifer.

"This is fantastic news, and will go a long way towards securing the future of Maryborough's water supply into the future," Mr Helper said.

"Confirmation of these new groundwater sources will provide welcome certainty for the local community as well as facilitating important economic development opportunities.

"A secure new water supply is the life blood of our communities and I look forward to this project delivering major benefits for Maryborough for years to come. In celebrating this outcome, I'd like to commend the efforts of Central Highlands Water and Central Goldfields Shire in securing this critical project for Maryborough."

Mr Neil Brennan, Chief Executive Officer, Central Highlands Water said that the new water supply would be developed as a matter of priority and that water from the new supply would be transferred directly into the distribution system and not via a surface reservoir.

Mr Brennan said that Central Highlands Water had been investigating several sources of water over the past few months and he thanked the Central Goldfields Shire for their support and the community for their patience while investigations were completed.

"We expect the new source to be operational early next year and ease the pressure on the Maryborough water supply," said Mr Brennan.

The new groundwater source could supply nearly half of Maryborough's water needs and will supplement the current surface water supplies which are obtained from the Talbot, Evansford and Tullaroop Reservoirs.