Greater Geelong is getting more drinking water and drought support as the region’s water storage levels hit a six-year low.
Minister for Water Gayle Tierney visited Barwon Water’s Lovely Banks pump station on April 4 and announced that 50 gigalitres of water would be ordered from the Victorian Desalination Plant for Geelong and Melbourne.
Ms Tierney said the decision to order drinking water followed Geelong’s water storage, which recorded its lowest level in six years of 42.2 per cent.
“We’re making sure that families in Geelong and Melbourne have access to an affordable, safe and secure drinking water supply and the Desalination Plant is critical to delivering this,” she said.
“We know that in a severe drought, storage levels can drop by 20 per cent in as little as a year, which is why we’re acting now to avoid water restrictions and put us in a strong position for the long term.”
Ms Tierney’s visit also highlighted the start of a major upgrade of Barwon Water’s Melbourne to Geelong Pipeline (MGP) to supplement regional water supplies during dry conditions.
Managing director Shaun Cumming said the project would help increase the capacity and reach of the pipeline to meet growing demand across Geelong, Bellarine and the Surf Coast.
“This is part of a balanced approach to managing resources and providing greater water security, as our region’s population grows,” he said.
“The pipeline upgrade will ensure Barwon Water can continue to provide high quality, affordable, and secure services to our customers.”
The Victorian Desalination Plant can provide up to a third of Melbourne’s annual water demand, supplying Melbourne, Geelong and parts of Gippsland.
Construction works on the MGP upgrade are expected to be completed later this year to pave the way for its operation during the 2025/26 summer period.
