Transfer of water from Barwon Water to Central Highlands Water

Barwon Water has agreed to transfer its existing 750ML share of water in Lal Lal Reservoir to Central Highlands Water to help ease Ballarat’s water supply situation. In exchange for the water resource, Central Highlands Water has agreed to tanker water to Meredith if required, which relies on water from the Moorabool River for its town water needs.

Acting Chief Executive Officer for Central Highlands Water, Mr Tony Wright, said the initiative made good sense and would provide a timely boost to Ballarat’s water reserves.

“This ensures that the remaining water in Lal Lal Reservoir is used as efficiently as possible for the benefit of all Meredith and Ballarat residents,” said Mr Wright.

“If water was released into the Moorabool River for downstream water needs at Meredith then the majority of the water would be lost to evaporation and seepage,” he said.

A 240ML environmental reserve will also be maintained in Lal Lal Reservoir and will be released into the West Moorabool River at the discretion of the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority. This will be done to maintain the health of the river environment and is based upon data from a water quality monitoring site already established by Central Highlands Water.

Mr Wright said that the 750ML would help ensure the Ballarat & District Water Supply remains sustainable to June next year when the Ballarat Link of the Goldfields Superpipe is completed.

Mr Wright said that landholders between Lal Lal Reservoir and Meredith who relied upon the Moorabool River for essential stock and domestic water needs would be contacted shortly with details of the arrangements.

The Lal Lal Reservoir resource is shared between Central Highlands Water and Barwon Water. Ballarat’s total storage is currently 7,686ML (11.8% of full storage capacity), with the Ballarat West Groundwater supply providing about one-third of Ballarat’s daily drinking water needs in addition to these storages.