South East Water has welcomed a $46.6 million funding boost from the Australian Government to secure precious water supplies for farms across one of Australia’s fastest-growing regions.
The National Water Grid Authority funding will make the $113 million Western Port Recycled Water Scheme a reality over the next five years, bringing long-term community, environmental, and economic benefits.
The new pipeline will unlock ~4,000 megalitres per annum of Class A recycled water, increasing the growth of high-value fresh vegetables and the availability and reliability of water supply for irrigated agriculture in Cardinia Shire.
Stage 1 construction will include a new pump station and about 49 kilometres of recycled water pipeline from South East Water’s Pakenham Water Recycling Plant to local farms in Pakenham South, Cora Lynn, Vervale, Catani, Iona, Garfield, Tynong and Bayles regions. It will also increase irrigable land by around 2,900 ha, adding $104 million to the regional economy and creating around 100 direct jobs.
South East Water Managing Director Lara Olsen thanked the Australian and Victorian Governments for their support in making the major project a reality.
“To the many stakeholders at a local, state and national level, we appreciate your unwavering support and tireless advocacy of our work to ensure this scheme happens.
“We look forward to ongoing engagement with farmers and the community, helping to realise the benefits of using fit-for-purpose water in the region,” Olsen said.
Providing a climate-resilient source of water is important in securing future water supplies, a key objective outlined in the Victorian Government’s Central and Gippsland Region Sustainable Water Strategy.
South East Water expects the Western Port Recycled Water Scheme, designed in consultation with local landholders, Southern Rural Water, and DEECA, to start delivering recycled water in 2028.
The scheme is one of the organisation’s top 10 priority projects as part of its 5-year Customer Commitment (Price Submission 2023–28). It is also a priority project for the Western Port Catchment IWM forum and Western-Port-Catchment-IWM-Action-Plan.pdf.
For more information, visit Western Port Recycled Water Scheme | South East Water
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