ANNUAL WATER RESOURCE SUMMARY

December 2020 CENTRAL HIGHLANDS WATER SERVICE AREA

TRADITIONAL OWNERS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Navarre Central Highlands Water acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the region we work Redbank in, including the Dja Dja Wurrung, Wadawurrung, Wurundjeri, Djab Wurrung, Wotjobaluk, Havelock Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagulk Peoples. We pay our respect to the Elders Timor Landsborough Bowenvale of these communities both past, present and emerging, acknowledging that they have

Alma been custodians of land and water for many centuries and that their continuing culture Maryborough Centenary and contribution is important to the life of the region. Reservoir Tullaroop Sugarloaf Avoca Reservoir Reservoir Bung Bong Craigie Lead Daisy Hill OUR REGION Dam Majorca Central Highlands Water services a large geographical region of 9,275 square Amphitheatre Talbot kilometres and manages 15 distinct water supply systems and 13 wastewater systems in the local government areas of Ballarat, Central Goldfields, Golden Plains, Hepburn, Pyrenees, Northern Grampians, Moorabool and Corangamite. The Central Highlands Talbot Reservoir Region straddles the western fringes of the Great Dividing Range with southern Lexton Lexton Evansford systems draining to Bass Strait while the northern systems are in the Murray Darling Reservoir Reservoir Clunes Hepburn Springs Basin. The region is spread across five of Victoria’s major catchment management Smeaton Hepburn Reservoir areas (Corangamite, North Central, Glenelg Hopkins, Wimmera and Port Phillip and Raglan Waubra Daylesford Kingston Westernport) and is supported by rural water corporations (Goulburn Murray Water, Broomfield Bullarto Reservoir Southern Rural and Grampians Wimmera Mallee). Wombat Learmonth Newlyn Beaufort Lake Creswick Reservoir Learmonth Cosgrave Central Highlands Water’s water resource and delivery assets include: Reservoir Dean Burrumbeet Miners Rest Dean Blackwood Lake White Swan Reservoir 30 reservoirs 15 water treatment plants Burrumbeet Reservoir Wilson’s Moorabool 34 groundwater bores 71,054 water connections Ballarat Reservoir Reservoir Colbrook Gong Gong Reservoir Reservoir

Kirk’s Wallace Bungaree Carngham Haddon Reservoir System Source water type Population Average annual demand Gordon (megalitres per annum)* Snake Valley Ballan Surface water Groundwater Lal Lal Smythesdale Reservoir Amphitheatre Primary Secondary 125 14 Pittong Buninyong Scarsdale Napoleons Avoca Secondary Primary 1,098 131 Linton Skipton Ballarat Primary Secondary 119,844 12,702 Beaufort Primary Secondary 1,370 160 0 4.75 9.5 19 Kilometres Enfield LEGEND Blackwood Primary Secondary 373 38 Clunes - Primary 1,679 218 Water pipeline Dereel Daylesford Primary Primary 3,805 670 Recycled water Dean - Primary 45 13 Corindhap Wastewater treatment plant Forest Hill - Primary 993 155 Rokewood Water treatment plant Landsborough - Primary 243 27 Major road Learmonth - Primary 281 48 Lake and reservoir Lexton - Primary 197 26 Water district Maryborough Primary Primary 11,231 1,401 Sewer district Redbank Secondary Primary 63 5 Waubra - Primary 192 29

Cover: Main image – White Swan Reservoir, inset images (L-R) – Tullaroop Reservoir, *Average of last 5 years. CHW Maintenance Team member (photo taken in 2018), Lal Lal Reservoir Spillway OUR WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS

While our overall water resources are in a good position, we encourage System Current Supply Status (25/11/2020) Expected Status in our customers to continue to use water efficiently. the Outlook period Amphitheatre Storage at 68% of capacity PWSR* Our 15 separate water supply systems utilise a range of surface water supplies, groundwater Avoca Bore levels in normal range – full groundwater entitlement PWSR* resources and water from Northern Victoria via the Goldfields Superpipe. Central Highlands Ballarat Local storage at 96% of capacity, Northern Victorian PWSR* Water’s water supply resources are in a good position leading into the start of the 2020-21 allocation – Goulburn system 100% summer period. Moreover the seasonal outlooks suggest that the reservoir drawdowns may be Beaufort Storage at 100% of capacity PWSR* in the low range of modelled scenarios. Permanent Water Saving Rules (PWSR) are expected to Blackwood Storage at 100% of capacity PWSR* remain in place in all systems for the 12-month outlook period. This is supported by the Target Clunes Bore levels in normal range – full groundwater entitlement PWSR* Your Water Use program which encourages customers and the community to continue using Daylesford Storage at 100% of capacity PWSR* water efficiently. Community water needs are also supported by a range of integrated water Dean Bore levels in normal range – full groundwater entitlement PWSR* management solutions such as the use of recycled water, stormwater harvesting schemes, Forest Hill Bore levels below long-term normal range – currently the PWSR* rainwater tanks and groundwater resources. Central Highlands Water works collaboratively with allocation is at 75% of groundwater entitlement the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning; Catchment Management Authorities; Landsborough Bore levels in normal range – full groundwater entitlement PWSR* local governments; and other water corporations on strategies for long-term water security for the benefit of all customers. Learmonth Bore levels in normal range – full groundwater entitlement PWSR* Lexton Bore levels in normal range – full groundwater entitlement PWSR* FORWARD OUTLOOK (2020-21) Maryborough Local storages at 79% of capacity, Tullaroop allocation 100%, PWSR* full groundwater entitlement Details of Central Highlands region’s largest water systems – Ballarat, Maryborough and Redbank Bore levels in normal range – full groundwater entitlement PWSR* Daylesford are included in this summary document. Waubra Bore levels in normal range – full groundwater entitlement PWSR* For more information about our Annual Water Outlook and 15 water supply systems refer to: * PWSR – Permanent Water Saving Rules https://www.chw.net.au/about-us/annual-water-outlook Extreme events or emergencies such as bushfires in our catchments, major loss of power supply or contamination may require the implementation of restrictions to manage water demands.

Tullaroop Reservoir

Permanent water saving rules are a set of common sense rules to ensure we use water efficiently. For more information refer to: https://www.chw.net.au/education-sustainability/saving-water/ permanent-water-saving-rules A HOT SUMMER AHEAD

TEMPERATURE STREAM FLOWS

Maryborough Total Inflows to Tullaroop Reservoir Forecast terciles for Sep 2020 – Nov 2020

20% high 21% 20% flow Daylesford 14GL 14GL 14GL

near- 44% 48% 49% median flow 3.4GL 5.5GL 6.5GL

Ballarat 35% 32% 32% low flow

Sep Sep-Oct Sep-Nov Melbourne 2020 2020 2020

Lerderderg River at Sardine Creek O'Briens Crossing Forecast terciles for Sep 2020 – Nov 2020

16% high 19% 18% 15GL 6GL 11GL flow

40% 45% near- 44% median flow http://www.bom.gov.au/water/ssf/?ref=ftr 1.8GL RAINFALL 3.3GL 4.3GL

The Bureau of Meteorology provides the most up-to-date 40% 38% 39% low information on rainfall and stream flow outlooks which flow Central Highlands Water continuously monitors. Sep Sep-Oct Sep-Nov 2020 2020 2020 For more information refer to: http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/ahead/

At the time of preparing this report, the Bureau of Barwon River at Pollocksford Meteorology Climate Outlooks are indicating a 65-70% Forecast terciles for Sep 2020 – Nov 2020 chance of above median rainfall for the December 2020 high 22% 19% to February 2021 period across the CHW region. 26% 105GL flow 83GL 45GL Stream flow projections are: near- • 49% chance of median flows at Tullaroop 47% median 43% 47% • 45% chance of median flows at Lerderderg flow 36GL • 47% chance of median flows at Barwon Catchment 14GL 26GL

34% low 31% 31% flow

Sep Sep-Oct Sep-Nov 2020 2020 2020 LONG-TERM WATER SECURITY

Central Highlands Water actively assesses its water supply systems BALLARAT GROWTH CURRENT CLIMATE throughout the region taking into Ballarat is a growing regional city. Within the next 50 years, the AND STREAM FLOW account long-term climate change population is likely to be more than twice the current size. The IN THE LONGER economic context is also changing with the services sector growing and population growth projections. to meet the needs of a growing local and regional population. TERM CONTEXT Victoria’s climate has shown a warming and drying trend over recent decades, and this is Ballarat – A healthy water supply and demand balance, now and in the future. expected to continue. In comparison to historical conditions, we are already experiencing: 30,600 • higher temperatures Water supply range with higher demands with lower demands

Demand range and higher climate and lower climate • reductions in rainfall in autumn change impacts, we change impacts, we and winter, and in some High climate change have enough water have enough water locations, increases in rainfall 25,600 Median climate change until around 2041 until around 2062 during the warmer months Low climate change • in many catchments, a shift Base population growth scenario in the stream flow response to rainfall, with less stream 20,600 flow generated for the same amount of rain. Over the longer term, we can expect: • rainfall reductions in winter 15,600 to persist • possible increases in summer rainfall • possible increases in potential 10,600 Average annual water volume (megalitres) volume water annual Average evapotranspiration due to higher temperatures and lower relative humidity • reductions in stream flow 5,600 across all catchments

Ballarat has a secure water supply System improvements will be required when demand • the stream flow response to for many years. exceeds supply, potentially within this range. rainfall to no longer remain stationary, and generally decline.

600 For more information refer to 2017 2022 2027 2032 2037 2042 2047 2052 2057 2062 https://www.water.vic.gov.au/ climate-change This graph is an example of a long-term water security assessment. For further details about Ballarat and all other water and wastewater systems, refer to Central Highlands Water's 2017 Urban Water Strategy https://www.chw.net.au/about-us/reports-and-publications BALLARAT THE NEXT 12 MONTHS

SYSTEM SUMMARY The Ballarat water supply system is comprised of a number of elements: • White Swan Reservoir which harvests supply from the Upper Yarrowee (Gong Gong, Kirks and Pincotts Reservoirs) and Upper West Moorabool (Moorabool, Wilsons and Beales Reservoirs) catchments. • Lal Lal Reservoir (which is shared with Barwon Water and the Victorian Environmental Water Holder). • Goldfields Superpipe (which is connected to the Northern Victorian water grid). • Cosgrave and Newlyn reservoirs. • Ballarat West groundwater borefield.

allarat System 202021 Water Outlook

70000 Tinworth Tank Rehabilitation Works Tinworth Tank Rehabilitation Works

60000 100%

50000 80%

40000 possible scenarios based system position at 60% 1 November 2020 on system modelling 30000 Note: this excludes water allocations from our groundwater and Northern Victorian systems 40%

20000 of local storage volume Full supply volume ocal storage volume (megalitres) Recorded storage levels 20% 10000 Very dry Wet

0 0%

1/1/20 1/2/20 1/3/20 1/7/20 1/1/21 1/2/21 1/3/21 1/4/21 1/5/21 1/6/21 1/7/21 1/8/21 1/9/21 1/11/19 1/12/19 1/4/20 1/5/20 1/6/20 1/8/20 1/9/201/10/20 1/11/201/12/20 1/10/21 South Lagoon Wastewater Treatment Plant Cuthberts Road Water Main Works

BALLARAT WATER SUPPLY – PROJECTS & PROGRAMS UPDATE • Recreation Road Treated Water Tank – asset refurbishment works – completed • Fellmonger’s Siphon – raw water pipeline/channel asset renewal – completed • Water renewals – ongoing renewals program • Remembrance Drive cross connections as part of Ring Road Water Main Improvements – soon to commence • White Swan Dam improvements – in planning and design • Control Valve Renewals – in design • White Swan Water Treatment Plant UV Upgrade – in planning BALLARAT WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM NEWLYN RESERVOIR GOLDFIELDS SUPERPIPE COSGRAVE RESERVOIR

CRESWICK

WILSON RESERVOIR

MOORABOOL RESERVOIR WHITE SWAN RESERVOIR BEALES RESERVOIR

WHITE CRESWICK TO SWAN WATER PINCOTTS TREATMENT RESERVOIR PLANT

BALLARAT WEST K WATER E E TREATMENT R PLANT C

TO BALLARAT TO L A L L A L GONG GONG RESERVOIR BALLAN TANKS ER IV R LAKE L TANK OO WENDOUREE AB KIRKS OR MO RESERVOIR WEST

Cuthberts Road Water Main Works

LAL LAL BALLAN TO RESERVOIR LAL LAL WATER BALLARAT WEST TREATMENT GROUNDWATER PLANT BORES

BALLARAT & DISTRICT TO BALLARAT TO K EE CR EE OW YARR WEST TANKS MOORABOOL RIVER MARYBOROUGH THE NEXT 12 MONTHS

SYSTEM SUMMARY The Maryborough water supply system contains three reservoirs that are managed by Central Highlands Water. The main water harvesting reservoirs are Evansford Reservoir and Talbot Reservoir. Centenary Reservoir serves as a central holding basin only. Central Highlands Water also has access to Tullaroop Reservoir which is owned and operated by Goulburn Murray Water. Central Highlands Water has two sites (Moolort and Stony Creek) which provide groundwater supply for the Maryborough system.

Maryborough System 202021 Water Outlook

6000

100%

5000

possible scenarios based 80% Evansford Pipeline on system modelling 4000

system position at 1 November 2020 60% 3000

40%

2000 of local storage volume Note: the major resource increase on ocal storage volume (megalitres) 1 July is due to new season groundwater and Tullaroop Reservoir allocations Full supply volume 20% 1000 Recorded storage levels Very dry Wet

0 0%

1/1/20 1/2/20 1/3/20 1/7/20 1/1/21 1/2/21 1/3/21 1/4/21 1/5/21 1/6/21 1/7/21 1/8/21 1/9/21 1/11/19 1/12/19 1/4/20 1/5/20 1/6/20 1/8/20 1/9/201/10/20 1/11/201/12/20 1/10/21

Evansford Pipeline Pipeline Works near Talbot

MARYBOROUGH WATER SUPPLY – PROJECTS & PROGRAMS UPDATE • Evansford Raw Water Pipeline Replacement – completed • Water Treatment Plant – modification of the Maryborough Water Treatment Plant to enable the plant to simultaneously treat water from surface water and groundwater sources – completed • Maryborough Water Treatment Plant Power Activated Carbon closing system upgrade and site asset management plan works – in progress • Moolort Pipeline Modifications – in progress and soon to be completed • Maryborough Water Treatment Plant Lagoon rehabilitation and concrete repairs – complete • Maryborough Integrated Water Management Plan – complete MARYBOROUGH WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM

MARYBOROUGH & DISTRICT

MARY- BOROUGH WATER TREATMENT PLANT CLEARWATER STORAGE

RAW WATER TANK

CENTENARY RESERVOIR

TALBOT RESERVOIR

TULLAROOP RESERVOIR

STONEY CREEK GROUNDWATER BORE MOOLORT GROUNDWATER BORES

EVANSFORD RESERVOIR DAYLESFORD THE NEXT 12 MONTHS

SYSTEM SUMMARY The Daylesford system primarily sources its supply from Wombat Reservoir, Bullarto Reservoir and Hepburn Reservoir with the planned Daylesford superpipe connection to provide a valuable reliable additional water source to ensure supply security. The Coomoora groundwater bore has been developed to increase the water supply of the system. Recent system works have enabled better use of the Coomoora groundwater and the Hepburn Reservoir. The system is located within the Loddon catchment.

Daylesford System 202021 Water Outlook

900

800 100%

700

80% 600 Daylesford High Level Basin system position at possible scenarios based 1 November 2020 on system modelling 500 60%

400

40% 300 of local storage volume ocal storage volume (megalitres) 200 Full supply volume 20% Recorded storage levels 100 Very dry Wet

0 0%

1/1/20 1/2/20 1/3/20 1/7/20 1/1/21 1/2/21 1/3/21 1/4/21 1/5/21 1/6/21 1/7/21 1/8/21 1/9/21 1/11/19 1/12/19 1/4/20 1/5/20 1/6/20 1/8/20 1/9/201/10/20 1/11/20 1/12/21 1/10/21

Daylesford Tank

DAYLESFORD WATER SUPPLY – PROJECTS & PROGRAMS UPDATE • Daylesford Low Level Basin Rehabilitation – completed • Daylesford High Level Basin – in planning and approvals • Daylesford Groundwater Pre-treatment Facility – completed • Superpipe Interconnection to provide secure reliable water resource into the future – in planning and design DAYLESFORD WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM

HEPBURN RESERVOIR

PRE-TREATMENT HEPBURN PLANT SPRINGS

RAW WATER LOW LEVEL TANK BASIN COOMOORA GROUNDWATER BORE DAYLESFORD WATER TREATMENT PLANT

HIGH LEVEL BASIN

DAYLESFORD

BULLARTO RESERVOIR

WOMBAT RESERVOIR SMALL TOWNS THE NEXT 12 MONTHS

SMALL TOWNS SYSTEM SUMMARY Outside the large systems of Ballarat, Maryborough and Daylesford, Central Highlands Water provides services to the towns of Amphitheatre, Avoca, Beaufort, Blackwood, Clunes, Dean Forest Hill, Landsborough, Learmonth Lexton, Redbank and Waubra. Apart from Ampitheatre, Beaufort and Blackwood, which have surface water as their primary water source, the primary supply of water for these towns is via ground water bores.

Lexton Reservoir Groundwater drilling at Bung Bong for improved water security in Avoca

SMALL TOWNS WATER SUPPLY – PROJECTS & PROGRAMS UPDATE • Dean Water Supply Upgrade – complete • Bung Bung Bore upgrade and replacement works – scheduled to be completed in 2020-21 • Avoca Water Treatment Plant asset upgrades – complete • Waubra WTP Masterplan – complete, planning and approvals underway in 2020-21 • Lexton Tank work – complete • Landsborough Water treatment plant safety, control and lighting protection upgrades – complete • Blackwood UV upgrade – complete • Steiglitz Basin – complete • Talbot Dam Safety Upgrade Works – complete CARING FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Digital Education OUR COMMITMENTS Metering Delivering water TO OUR CUSTOMERS Digital metering forms education resources part of our technology The customer is at the core of everything we Carbon and programs in innovations for water partnership with do at Central Highlands Water. We look forward efficiency initiatives which Emissions Pledge to continually delivering new and improved numerous education will provide customers with Our Emissions Reduction services to our customers and community. Support institutes on projects greater access to water Pledge of a minimum of a for vulnerable that enhance our parks In our Let’s Talk Water program 2018-2023 use information and 20% reduction by 2025 to customers and reservoirs. you told us you wanted… alerts to leaks or help deliver on the objectives • Better customer experience. CHW assisted 4,565 high water use. in Water for Victoria and vulnerable customers • Safe clean drinking water that tastes great. the Victorian Government’s during 2020. Our Assistance emissions reduction target • Reliable and sustainable water and Programs include payment of zero net emissions by sewer systems. arrangements, Utility Relief the year 2050. • Support for more efficient water use. Grant Scheme, Customer Improved customer support • Increased value for money and Rebate Program, Community Recreational price certainty. Housing Retrofit Program CHW is committed to Assets Masterplan and home visits. reviewing and improving Begin implementation We are ahead of schedule on our customer’s experience on a number of delivering these commitments to through e-billing, service initiatives from our our customers and community, interruption alerts, annual Recreational Assets including guaranteeing price Integrated customer survey, online Masterplan in Kirks, Gong certainty for the next five years Water two-way digital Gong and Moorabool and which means capped prices, at Management communication other designated or below CPI (Consumer Price Working collaboratively and Live Chat. reservoirs. Index), until 30 June 2023. Stakeholder to create “A greener, Engagement Water more liveable and Working collaboratively Efficiency prosperous water future with communities and Continued delivery for the city and towns stakeholders to obtain a of an expanded Water of the region.” deeper level of understanding Efficiency Program Choose Tap of customer concerns and for our residential and Climate Water corporations preferences. Together we will non-residential customers Adaptation Plan across the state are investigate options for water and sustainable water Implementing actions to promoting the health, quality improvements and resource planning for our ensure that our activities environmental and cost security of water supply community’s future. are focussed on the benefits of choosing tap water in Waubra, Clunes, key issues so that our through a number of initiatives: Avoca, Maryborough customers and community drinking fountains, education and Daylesford. continue to receive reliable programs, reusable bottles services in an increasingly and water jugs for cafés challenging future. throughout the region. For more information visit chw.net.au Central Highlands Water 7 Learmonth Rd Wendouree Vic 3355 PO Box 152 Ballarat Vic 3353 T 1800 061 514 F 03 5320 3299

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