PROJECT AQUARIUS: Maryborough Home Water Refit – Open for business

Expressions of interest are now being sought for Project Aquarius: Maryborough Home Water Refit following its official launch today by the Member for Ripon, Joe Helper.

Mr Helper said the project will enable 500 Maryborough households to have their home fitted with water-saving fittings for a total cost of $30 which will help each household save an average of 18,000 litres of water every year.

“Project Aquarius is a fantastic initiative designed to help local people make an even greater contribution towards saving our most important natural resource” Mr Helper said.

“As the Maryborough community knows only too well, the drought has unfortunately been an ever present reality. Despite this, locals have done an outstanding job in reducing their water use.

“Importantly, initiatives such as Project Aquarius recognise the willingness of individuals and communities to make a practical contribution towards saving water.

“With this in mind, I’d strongly encourage as many community members as possible to register their interest in taking part.”

The project will result in an estimated savings of nine million litres of water annually in the Maryborough & District Water Supply System.

Residents of households in Maryborough & District Water Supply System can call 1300 88 22 51 or 13 14 50 (for interpreting) between the hours of 8.00am to 6.00pm Monday to Saturday, exclusive of public holidays, to register or find out more information.

Households receiving mains water from the Maryborough & District Water Supply System will be eligible to participate. This includes the townships of: Adelaide Lead, Alma / Moonlight, Bentley, Bet Bet / Simson, Carisbrook, Craigie, Daisy Hill, Havelock, Majorca, Maryborough, Rodborough, Talbot and Timor/Bowenvale.

“We are excited to extend Project Aquarius to Maryborough after a tremendous response from our Ballarat customers that have exceeded our expectations”, said Mr John Barnes, Chairman of Central Highlands Water.

“Project Aquarius: Home Water Refit will help preserve valuable water in the reservoirs for this coming summer”.

Although the refit is valued at $180, households will only pay an initial fee of $80. The Victorian State Government will provide a $50 rebate to each household who take up the service under the audit component of the Water Smart Gardens and Homes Rebate Scheme, resulting in an effective cost of just $30 for each household, water-saving services, such as the fitting of a three-star showerhead, flow regulators on internal taps, toilet flush control for single flush toilets and the fixing of leaking taps or toilets.

In addition the service provides an in-home water audit and general water saving advice.

The refit project is the second refit for Central Highlands Water and will be conducted by FieldForce Services P/L who are currently conducting major refit programs in Ballarat, Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra and Queensland.