BALLARAT’S WATER SUPPLY SECURED

Water flowed for the first time today through the 87-kilometre Ballarat leg of the Goldfields Superpipe, marking the completion of a $180 million project to secure the city’s future water supply.

Premier John Brumby said the Superpipe would deliver water security to almost 100,000 people in Ballarat and surrounding towns.

“We said securing Ballarat’s water supply was a major priority for our Government and we have delivered the pipeline six weeks ahead of schedule,” Mr Brumby said.

“With climate change and drought resulting in record low inflows, Ballarat’s water supplies have fallen to a record low of 7.4 per cent.

“The Goldfields Superpipe has the capacity to transfer up to 18 billion litres of water from Sandhurst Reservoir near Bendigo to White Swan Reservoir near Ballarat.

“The completion of this vital project means people living and working throughout the region can now plan for and invest in the future with renewed confidence.”

Mr Brumby and Water Minister Tim Holding today visited White Swan Reservoir to turn on the tap of the $180 million Ballarat leg of the Goldfields Superpipe.

The project was jointly funded through $71 million from the Victorian Government, $90 million from the Commonwealth Government and $19 million from Central Highlands Water.

Water Minister Tim Holding said the Goldfields Superpipe had been fast-tracked due to ongoing drought conditions affecting Ballarat’s water supply.

“The Ballarat leg of the Goldfields Superpipe was originally planned for completion in 2010 but was fast-tracked to midway through this year with construction of the pipeline taking only 10 months to complete,” Mr Holding said.

“It is vital component of the Victorian Water Plan which includes the desalination plant, a $2 billion upgrade of ageing irrigation infrastructure in the state’s north, increased water recycling and ongoing water conservation.”

Member for Ballarat West Karen Overington said contributions from the Brumby Government and the Commonwealth had significantly reduced the impact on household water bills.

“If the community had been required to fund the Goldfields Superpipe alone, average household bills would be several hundred dollars more than they are today,” Ms Overington said.

Member for Ballarat East Geoff Howard congratulated Central Highlands Water on its early and on budget delivery of the project.

“The dedicated staff at Central Highlands Water and the project’s many contractors have been pivotal to the success of the Goldfields Superpipe, as has the co-operation of landowners along the pipeline route,” Mr Howard said.

Other major water projects underway in the Ballarat region include a $7 million project to provide 600 million litres of recycled water for the historic Lake Wendouree.

The $98 million Bendigo leg of the Goldfields Superpipe was connected in August last year and will transfer up to 20 billion litres of water each year to the region via a 46.5-kilometre pipeline.