Finding new ways to save water across Victoria

Chris EdwardsOctober 7, 2022, 10:52 amJune 30, 2023

The $14 million Integrated Water Management program is helping save water across Victoria, with up to one billion litres of water saved annually.

Minister for Water Harriet Shing visited the Camperdown Regional Livestock Exchange. She was there to announce the recipients of Round 2 of this year’s Integrated Water Management Grants program.

Across regional Victoria, 18 projects will share in $3.9 million of grants – including five capital and 13 feasibility projects. This is on top of the $10 million awarded to Integrated Water Management projects under the program’s first round.

One of these projects is the Camperdown Regional Livestock Exchange Rainwater Capture and Re-Use project, which received $250,000 towards its total project cost of $1,300,000.

This project will install a roof over the Camperdown livestock saleyards that will capture stormwater in two 375,000-litre storage tanks. This project will harvest around 3.5 megalitres of rainwater annually, which will be used in the livestock exchange and truck wash to replace their potable water supply.

Joint funding to save water across the state

The project was funded by contributions from the Victorian State Government, Commonwealth Government, Corangamite Shire Council and Wannon Water.

Once completed, this round of funding will save up to 100 megalitres of potable water a year and irrigate more than 90 hectares of green spaces with diverse flora and fauna.

Projects include the Kilmore Recycled Water Scheme, Horsham Integrated Water Supply Connections, the development of a masterplan to rehabilitate Garibaldi Creek, Wonthaggi Stormwater Harvesting feasibility study and feasibility assessment of a water-sensitive town plan in Gough’s Bay.

Since 2017, the Labor Government has allocated over $59 million towards 137 Integrated Water Management projects, including stormwater and recycling projects that will save around 1 billion litres of drinking water each year.

This integrated water management investment will enable manufactured water, including rainwater, stormwater and recycled water, to alleviate demand for potable water supply further while delivering a broad range of benefits.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Water Harriet Shing

“We need to plan for our future water supplies now. By adopting an integrated water management approach that champions collaboration, we will continue to find smarter ways to manage our water supplies.”

“This project will allow Camperdown livestock exchange to save money on its water bills and capture precious stormwater for productive use while ensuring our waterways stay healthy for people, plants and animals.”

Quote attributable to Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney

“Camperdown is a growing town, and innovative projects like this will save our precious drinking water supply and boost the health of our waterways and communities.”

List of recipients:

Kilmore Recycled Water Scheme – $1,000,000
Horsham Integrated Water Supply Connections – $575,500
Adaptive Wastewater Pilot Project (Penshurst) – $560,000
Bairnsdale Nursery – Class A Recycled Water Plant – $390,000
Camperdown RLX Rainwater Capture and Re-use Project – $250,000
Large-Scale Alternative Water Grid Feasibility Study (Barwon Water) – $200,000
Avalon Corridor Integrated Water Management (IWM) Plan – $150,000
Recycled Water to Public Open Spaces in Mildura Feasibility Study – $135,725
Macedon Ranges North IWM Plan – $120,000
Goughs Bay Water-Sensitive Town Plan Feasibility Study – $117,520
Integrated Water Management Plan for Lake Mountain Alpine Resort – $100,000
Beaufort Linear Masterplan – $85,000
Diverse sources of water for Victoria Park (Yarrawonga) – $55,000
Alternative Water Supply for Castlemaine Botanical Gardens Feasibility Study – $52,500
Leongatha Stormwater Harvesting Feasibility Investigation – $50,000
Fit-for-Purpose Water for Irrigating Recreation Reserves in Morwell – $49,500
Greening Trafalgar Recreation Reserve – $45,000
Wonthaggi Stormwater Harvesting – $40,000