C E N T R a L R E G Io N S U S T a in a B L E W a T E R S T R a T E G Y

62 CENTRAL REGION SUSTAINABLE WATER STRATEGY /CHAPTER 1 The Strategy at a Local Level

The analysis contained in this chapter looks at an initial set of proposed options to be implemented in the short, medium and longer-term for each area to address the water scarcity challenge.

While the alternative supply and augmentation options are particular Figure 7.1 Map of Greater Ballarat Area

e to each area, and have been identified specifically, a broad suite of �� p s �� a conservation and efficiency options can be applied across all sub- p m

regions. The mix of conservation and efficiency options adopted by C �� each area will be determined with reference to their conditions and the �� volume targets identified below. The detailed sustainability assessment of the suite of conservation and efficiency options can be found in Appendix 2. W im �� m e �� Greater Ballarat r a R iver

Local water challenge �� The population of greater Ballarat is forecast to increase from its �� current level of 96,000 to 124,000 by 2030 and to 149,000 by 2055. �� Under a medium climate change scenario, this population growth �� results in a need to find an extra 6,000 ML of water for urban �� purposes in 2030 and an extra 14,500 ML in 2055. ��

Figure 7.2 shows the forecast supply for nil, low, medium and high �� climate change scenarios and the forecast demand, assuming no interventions to increase supply or reduce demand. Even a small decrease in the demand will result in years of extra supply. �� Lei �� The Ballarat and district supply system straddles the Great Dividing �� gh Ri �� Range and includes towns in the Moorabool, Barwon, Corangamite, ve Loddon and Werribee river basins. Water is primarily sourced from r �� the Moorabool River. �� Agricultural production is important to greater Ballarat with a r � ve total value of $54 million, including $23 million in crop production, i of which $15 million is from vegetables.16 Environmental assets The aquifer is fully allocated with the volume of licences equalling

the aquifer’s sustainable yield. Groundwater levels in this aquifer 7 CHAPTER The Moorabool River is Victoria’s most flow-stressed river and currently have been stable in recent years. A groundwater management receives less than half its annual natural flow, and even less in drought plan is being prepared to manage the resources sustainably. years. It supplies water to Geelong and Ballarat. However, the river still retains some environmental values, particularly in the mid to lower The Cardigan aquifer is located on Ballarat’s expanding western fringe. reaches around the She Oak Weir. These values include native fish of high The annual yield of the aquifer is being estimated. At this stage, the conservation value, such as blackfish, and areas of remnant vegetation. volume is thought to be relatively small. The groundwater has relatively high salt levels (TDS of 500 to 800 milligrams/litre). This means it would The Bungaree aquifer east of Ballarat underlies several surface need to be treated to reduce salt levels, or diluted with surface water water catchments including 67% beneath the Moorabool catchment from reservoirs before being injected into Ballarat’s supply system. and 24% beneath the Barwon catchment. There is a high level of interaction between the aquifer and surface water streams in the Moorabool catchment which reduces flows in the Moorabool River, contributing to the river’s poor health and reducing water supplies to downstream farmers and to Ballarat and Geelong. CENTRAL REGION SUSTAINABLE WATER STRATEGY / STRATEGY WATER CENTRALSUSTAINABLE REGION

63 Figure 7.2 Forecast demand and available supply for greater Ballarat without further intervention

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�� Meeting greater Ballarat’s future needs If the Cairn Curran option was implemented, it would mean that the current agreement between Geelong and Ballarat to share water from Conservation and efficiency in the greater Ballarat area will produce the Lal Lal Reservoir could continue. It would not be necessary to approximately 2,500 ML of water savings by 2055, see Proposal 7.1. transfer Geelong’s share of Lal Lal to Ballarat. This in turn provides more However, greater Ballarat needs to access at least 5,000 ML of additional time for Geelong to better scope and test options for additional water water supplies. Two potential options for securing additional water are supplies. The Cairn Curran option would also provide opportunities to either from the Cairn Curran Reservoir on the Loddon River or the Lal Lal increase environmental flows in the east branch and lower reaches of the Reservoir on the Moorabool River. The latter option involves the transfer Moorabool River. of entitlement from Geelong to provide up to 7,000 ML to Ballarat. Greater Ballarat will examine the further use of groundwater from the Cairn Curran Reservoir is part of the Loddon water supply system which Cardigan aquifer. It is also assumed that Central Highlands Water will supplies about 20,000 ML of water for irrigation in the Loddon Valley

CHAPTER 7 CHAPTER not need to access water from the Pykes Creek Reservoir on the and about 80,000 ML to supplement the irrigation areas supplied from Werribee River. the Goulburn system. The Goulburn system supplies approximately 1,000,000 ML of high reliability entitlements. Average annual streamflows Proposal 7.1 is an initial set of suggested options that would meet water in the Loddon basin are about 415,000 ML. needs through to 2055, including preferred short-term options. Other combinations of options would be possible in the medium and long-term, There is currently no spare water in the Loddon system. However it and new options are expected to become available in the future. would be possible for Central Highlands Water to free up water for its use by working with Goulburn Murray Water to reduce losses in the Loddon In Proposal 7.1, the target buffer is contingency water equal to seven and Goulburn irrigation systems and transfer the savings of these losses years of incremental growth in demand, while the water availability buffer to Central Highlands Water. This could possibly occur in combination with is the actual buffer or surplus water when the proposed options have purchasing water from farmers who wish to sell their water. been implemented. The water supplied by the options increases from the short-term to the long-term for many of the conservation and This option warrants further investigation. In undertaking these efficiency options as more of the measures are taken up over time. investigations, it would be necessary to ensure that the levels of service In contrast, the options that rely on water from rivers and aquifers to irrigators in the Goulburn system were not adversely affected and that decrease over time as a result of potential climate change impacts. the environmental values of the Loddon River were protected. CENTRAL REGION SUSTAINABLE WATER STRATEGY / STRATEGY WATER CENTRALSUSTAINABLE REGION

64 Proposal 7.1 The Government proposes the following priorities to address urban water needs and provide a buffer for greater Ballarat Volume of option Now Proposed short Potential medium Potential long term (ML) (ML) term (ML) term (ML) (ML) 2015 2030 2055 Water use estimate 15,000 17,000 20,000 26,000 Water availability estimate 16,500 15,500 14,000 11,500 Reduction in water availability due to options for other users 1,200 1,100 900 under the strategy Difference to be made up by options 1,500 -2,700 -7,100 -15,400 Options

Conservation and efficiency

Water efficiency at home 640 1,420 2,050 Water efficiency for commercial and industrial users 180 290 400 Maintain existing water savings 1,100

Alternative supply

Substitution of potable water with recycled water - Lake 800 800 800 800 Wendouree and industry in Ballarat. (RR 27)

Interconnection

System interconnection - Transfer Cosgrave Reservoir to 450 420 380 310 White Swan Reservoir (already approved) (SA 43) System interconnection - Cairn Curran connection to 18,500 5,000 6,000 12,600 Ballarat (SA 65)

Augmentation

Groundwater - use of Cardigan aquifer for Ballarat - 2500 ML 2,500 1,000 1,000 1,700 blended with other sources (SA 47) Total volume provided by options 8,000 9,900 17,900 Water availability buffer using the above options 5,300 2,800 2,500 Target buffer 1,500 1,500 1,500 CHAPTER 7 CHAPTER CENTRAL REGION SUSTAINABLE WATER STRATEGY / STRATEGY WATER CENTRALSUSTAINABLE REGION

65 Table 7.1 Other possible options for greater Ballarat Other options not supported at present Other conservation and efficiency options 600 Piping Werribee Irrigation District - savings for urban consumption (CE 30) 1,000 Using recycled water in the Bacchus Marsh Irrigation District - to free up river water for urban consumption 3,500 System transfer - transfer Geelong’s entitlement in Lal Lal Reservoir to Ballarat (SA 45) 7,000 System interconnection - Transfer Newlyn Reservoir allocation to the Ballarat and District System (SA 44) 550 System interconnection - Newlyn Reservoir transfer to Korweinguboora for Ballarat (SA 50) 700 System interconnection - Colbrook Reservoir connection to Barwon Water’s East Moorabool with substitution in Lal Lal Reservoir for Ballarat (SA 60) 250 Total 13,600

In addition, Table 7.1 outlines other possible options that could assist is highly modified so the management response focuses on initially in meeting future needs. However, the results of the sustainability enhancing the flow regime and environmental health mainly by assessment for these options shows that they have limiting factors providing a small increase to the environmental flow regime and such as high cost, technical uncertainty or lack of public support. continuing to invest in complementary habitat works identified in Therefore, the Government does not propose to support these the Regional River Health Strategy. options at present. For further information refer to Central Highland Water’s Water Proposal 7.2 outlines options to initially enhance the environmental Supply Demand Strategy, Corangamite Regional River Health flow regime by providing critical flow components to sustain key Strategy and the Moorabool River Streamflow Management Plan. environmental values in the Moorabool River. The Moorabool River

Proposal 7.2 The Government proposes the following initial enhancements to the environmental flow regime in the Moorabool River Key environmental objectives:

• Improve water quality and protect pool habitats during times of low flow

• Maintain the relatively intact vegetation of the Moorabool River in the mid to lower reaches

• Protection of multiple threatened flora and fauna species (including Australian grayling) Critical flow components:

• Summer fresh flows in the mid to lower Moorabool River

• Summer low flows in the mid to lower Moorabool River CHAPTER 7 CHAPTER Proposed initial environmental flow regime enhancement: Improve environmental flow regime by 6,000 ML

Proposed Options (and options codes where applicable):

• Voluntary buy-back scheme for unregulated surface water diversion licences in selected areas of the Moorabool catchment to retire the licences and re-allocate the water to the environment (500 ML) (E 12/13)

• Augmentation of the Geelong and Ballarat supply systems and re-allocation of part of the water authorities’ water entitlements in the west and lower Moorabool catchments to the environment (2,500 ML). Options to achieve this include:

- Connection of Cairn Curran Reservoir to Ballarat (adaptation of SA 65)

- Connection of Newlingrook groundwater aquifer to the Geelong supply system (adaptation of SA 58)

• Re-direct the treated groundwater discharge from Fyansford quarry into the lower Moorabool River (3,000 ML) (E 3)

• The benefits of the enhanced environmental flow regime will be monitored and assessed to determine whether further enhancements are required CENTRAL REGION SUSTAINABLE WATER STRATEGY / STRATEGY WATER CENTRALSUSTAINABLE REGION

66 �� M a Figure 7.3 Map of Greater Geelong Area ri by Greater Geelong rn o �� n �� g R v Local water challenge e r �� The population of greater Geelong is forecast to increase from its � current level of 246,000 to 314,000 by 2030 and to 371,000 by Lei �� gh 2055. Under a medium climate change scenario, this population Rive ��

growth results in a need to find an extra 10,000 ML of water for r urban purposes in 2030 and an extra 28,000 ML in 2055. �� Geelong will need an additional 7,000 ML per year if the agreement r � ive R on to transfer its entitlement from Lal Lal Reservoir to Ballarat proceeds. �� rw �� a B �� Figure 7.4 shows the forecast supply for nil, low, medium and high �� climate change scenarios and the forecast demand, assuming no �� interventions to increase supply or reduce demand. Even a small �� decrease in the demand will result in years of extra supply. �� Water for Geelong comes from the East Moorabool River, the �� Barwon River and from the Barwon Downs groundwater system.

In the greater Geelong area, agricultural production is important with a total value of $196 million. Dairy production contributes $41 million 17 to the region. ��

Figure 7.4 Forecast demand and available supply for greater Geelong without further intervention

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67 Environmental assets The option of covering some reservoirs will be pursued for public health reasons as well as reducing evaporation despite the high cost. Flows in the Barwon River need to be increased to meet some critical flow components such as low summer flows and summer freshes. Barwon Water will pursue aquifer storage and recovery as a method for recharging groundwater aquifers with treated recycled water Lake Connewarre is a Ramsar listed wetland system on the lower from the Black Rock treatment plant and storing the water for later reaches of the Barwon River. It is fed by the combined flows of the extraction. An initial trial volume of 3,000 ML per year has been Moorabool and Barwon Rivers. Despite the reduced flows in these identified, but this could be increased to 10,000 ML per year or more rivers and therefore reduced flows to Lake Connewarre, advice from if the trial is successful. the scientific panel which conducted the environmental flow study for the Barwon River has indicated that the current flows are satisfactory It is assumed Barwon Water will not need to access water from the to maintain the lake and other wetlands on the lower Barwon. Pykes Creek Reservoir on the Werribee River.

The Moorabool River is also a part of this area but is already described Proposal 7.3 is an initial set of suggested options that would meet in the Greater Ballarat section of this chapter. water needs through to 2055, including preferred short-term options. Other combinations of options would be possible in the medium The West Gellibrand River, which could be a potential future water and long-term, and we expect new options are expected to become supply option for Geelong, is currently in good condition in the upper available in the future. reaches but its condition is poorer in lower reaches. In Proposal 7.3, the target buffer is contingency water equal to seven Meeting greater Geelong’s future needs years of incremental growth in demand, while the water availability Conservation and efficiency remain an important focus particularly buffer is the actual buffer or surplus water when the proposed options in the short-term for the greater Geelong (see Proposal 7.3). In the have been implemented. The water supplied by the options increases medium to long-term decisions concerning additional water supplies from the short-term to the long-term for many of the conservation and are necessary. Geelong will have time to test options for additional efficiency options as more of the measures are taken up over time. water supplies including a Geelong-Melbourne connection, a Geelong- In contrast, the options that rely on water from rivers and aquifers Gellibrand connection and a Geelong-Newlingrook aquifer connection decrease over time as a result of potential climate change impacts. if Ballarat meets its future water needs by connecting to Cairn Curran Reservoir. This is because Geelong will be able to continue to use the 7,000 ML it currently takes from Lal Lal Reservoir which would otherwise need to be transferred to Ballarat.

At this stage the Government prefers that a detailed feasibility study be carried out on the groundwater resource option. This option would avoid the environmental sensitivities associated with the Gellibrand River option and applying more pressure to the Yarra and Thomson/ Macalister rivers that connecting Geelong to Melbourne could cause.

Therefore, the Government proposes to grant Barwon Water an ‘exploration licence’ for the Newlingrook aquifer. This licence will

CHAPTER 7 CHAPTER enable Barwon Water to undertake a detailed feasibility study to determine how much water could be safely harvested from the Newlingrook aquifer and supplied to Geelong. Depending on the amount of water available in the Newlingrook aquifer, it may also be possible to supplement supplies to towns in the South West region.

The health of the Barwon River could also benefit from augmenting the Geelong supply system. As part of allocating additional water to Geelong, 1,000 ML of water should be made available for environmental flows in the upper Barwon River. Other options to increase the environmental flow regime include maintaining up to 2,000 ML of the existing Ballarat South STP treated discharges to the Leigh River by agreement with Central Highlands Water. Further contributions to improving the lower Barwon River would result from increases in environmental flows from the Moorabool River, for example by altering the treated discharge from the Fyansford quarry from the sea to the lower Moorabool River. CENTRAL REGION SUSTAINABLE WATER STRATEGY / STRATEGY WATER CENTRALSUSTAINABLE REGION

68 Proposal 7.3 The Government proposes the following priorities to address urban water needs and provide a buffer for greater Geelong Volume of option Now Proposed short term Potential medium term Potential long term (ML) (ML) (ML) (ML) (ML) 2015 2030 2055 Water use estimate 37,000 40,000 47,000 59,000 Water availability estimate 43,000 40,000 37,000 31,000 Reduction in water availability due to options for 2,100 2,000 1,600 other users under the strategy Difference to be made up by options 6,000 -2,100 -12,000 -29,600 Options

Conservation and efficiency

Water efficiency at home 1,600 3,400 4,700 Water efficiency for commercial and industrial users 500 800 1,040 Lining of Wurdee Boluc Inlet Channel and Ballan 100 100 100 100 Channel (CE 5) Covering of water basins (CE 6) 40 40 40 40 Maintain existing water savings 2,600

Alternative supply

Substitution of potable water with recycled water - Shell 1,700 refinery, Geelong (RR 10) 2,000 4,000 Aquifer storage and recovery of recycled water from 3,000 } Black Rock WRP using the Jan Juc aquifer (RR 33)

Interconnection

System interconnection - Melbourne to Geelong (SA 14) 17,000 Groundwater - Source groundwater from Newlingrook 16,000 } 5,000 21,000 aquifer for Geelong (SA 58)

Augmentation

Groundwater - Aumentation of Barwon Downs 3,500 3,290 3,045 2,520 groundwater supplies for Geelong (SA 12) Surface water - Reinstate the Dewing Creek diversion 1,000 940 870 720 for Geelong (SA 42) CHAPTER 7 CHAPTER Total volume provided by options 6,500 19,200 34,100 Water availability buffer using the above options 4,400 3,300 4,500 Target buffer 3,100 3,100 3,100

Table 7.2 outlines other possible options that could assist in meeting future needs. However, the results of the sustainability assessment for these options shows that they have limiting factors such as high cost, technical uncertainty or lack of public support. Therefore, the Government does not propose to support these options at present. CENTRAL REGION SUSTAINABLE WATER STRATEGY / STRATEGY WATER CENTRALSUSTAINABLE REGION

69 Table 7.2 Other possible options for greater Geelong Other options not supported at present Other conservation and efficiency options 1,500 Piping Werribee Irrigation District - savings for urban consumption (CE 30) 1,000 Using recycled water in the Bacchus Marsh Irrigation District - to free up river water 3,500 for urban consumption (RR 30) Using recycled water in the Werribee Irrigation District - to free up river water for 3,700 urban consumption (RR 32) Surface water - Gellibrand to Barwon interconnection (SA 32) 6,000 Desalination of seawater- for Geelong and District (SA 16) 5,000 Total 20,700

Proposal 7.4 outlines options to initially enhance the environmental For further information refer to Barwon Water’s Water Supply flow regime by providing critical flow components to sustain key Demand Strategy, Corangamite Regional River Health Strategy environmental values for the main rivers in greater Geelong. The and relevant Streamflow Management Plans. management response for the Gellibrand River is to protect the current flow regime and environmental health given it is already in good condition. The management response for the Barwon River, which is primarily in moderate condition, is to initially improve the environmental flow regime and continue to invest in complementary habitat works identified in the Regional River Health Strategy.

Proposal 7.4 Proposed option for intiial enhancements to the environmental flow regime for rivers in greater Geelong

Barwon River Key environmental objectives: • Improved water quality and instream habitat • Protection of Lake Connewarre (Ramsar) • Protection of Australian grayling, dwarf galaxias and Yarra pygmy perch • Improvement to achieve diverse plant communities (river red gums to salt marsh communities) • Improvement to achieve intact riparian zone through Leigh Gorge, billabongs on mid Barwon and lower Leigh rivers Critical flow components: • Winter low flows below the West Barwon Reservoir

CHAPTER 7 CHAPTER • Summer low flows in the lower Barwon River Proposed initial environmental flow regime enhancement: Improve environmental flow regime by 4,700 ML Proposed options (and option codes where applicable): • Connection between Newlingrook groundwater aquifer and Barwon Water’s Geelong supply system and re-allocation of part of Barwon Water’s West Barwon Reservoir entitlement to the environment (1,000 ML) (E 14) • Central Highlands Water to continue to release part of the discharge from the South Ballarat Treatment Plant for environmental flows in the Leigh/Barwon rivers. (up to 2,000 ML) • Increases in environmental flows for the Moorabool River (as identified for Ballarat region) will benefit the lower Barwon River • The benefits of the enhanced environmental flow regime will be monitored and assessed to determine whether further enhancements are require • Develop the Barwon River Streamflow Management Plan

Gellibrand River • Protect the ecological integrity of the West Gellibrand River by ensuring that any development occurs consistent with the environmental flows recommended in the 2006 scientific study

CENTRAL REGION SUSTAINABLE WATER STRATEGY / STRATEGY WATER CENTRALSUSTAINABLE REGION • Develop the Gellibrand River Streamflow Management Plan

70 Figure 7.5 Map of Inner West Area Table 7.2 Other possible options for greater Geelong Inner West Other options not supported at present Local water challenge �� Other conservation and efficiency options 1,500 The population of the Inner West area is forecast to increase from its Piping Werribee Irrigation District - savings for urban consumption (CE 30) 1,000 current level of 124,000 to 226,000 by 2030 and to 336,000 by 2055.

Using recycled water in the Bacchus Marsh Irrigation District - to free up river water 3,500 Under a medium climate change scenario, this population growth �� for urban consumption (RR 30) results in a need to find an extra 3,000 ML of water for urban �

� �� Using recycled water in the Werribee Irrigation District - to free up river water for 3,700 purposes in 2030 and an extra 21,000 ML in 2055. �� urban consumption (RR 32) Figure 7.6 shows the forecast supply for nil, low, medium and high �� Surface water - Gellibrand to Barwon interconnection (SA 32) 6,000 climate change scenarios and the forecast demand, assuming no �

� �� Desalination of seawater- for Geelong and District (SA 16) 5,000 interventions to increase supply or reduce demand. Without climate �� change, there is sufficient supply until about 2023. Climate change � Total 20,700 reduces this date by three to four years.

The Inner West area gets most of its water from the Werribee and Maribyrnong river basins and also the Thomson and Yarra Rivers M ar via a connection to the Melbourne water supply system. ib yr �� n � o Agricultural production in the Inner West is important with a total �� n � g value of $53 million.18 R iv e ��r � �� Leigh �� Ri �� Lara v �� e

Figure 7.6 Forecast demand and available supply for Inner West without further intervention

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71 Environmental assets Meeting the Inner West’s future needs The Werribee River has a significantly changed flow regime due The Inner West has sufficient water in the short to medium-term to several large reservoirs and weirs throughout the catchment. largely due to the recently completed interconnections to Melbourne. Consequently some sections have unnaturally low winter flows and However, this source of water is costly compared with local sources, high summer flows due to irrigation releases which impact river health. and conservation and efficiency measures and several small Some of the environmental values affected include platypus and interconnection options could help to maximise the use of local the migration of protected native fish species such as the Australian sources in preference to taking water from the Melbourne system grayling and tupong. Riparian vegetation such as the river red gums in (see Proposal 7.5). The connection with Melbourne does provide the the lower reaches and riparian vegetation through the Werribee Gorge opportunity to reallocate part of Western Water’s entitlement in the are also affected. The estuary also suffers from a lack of freshwater Maribyrnong catchment to the environment for Jacksons and Barringo inflow from the river, which helps to reduce the saltwater wedge to creeks. This would alleviate flow stress in both creeks. enable fish spawning and migration. The Government proposes to share the 1,800 ML of unallocated water The Maribyrnong River includes Jacksons Creek, which is the most in Lake Merrimu equally between the environment for the Werribee flow-stressed creek in the system due to Rosslynne Reservoir in its River and urban needs (see Proposals 7.6 and 7.7). Another option headwaters. The reservoir has significantly altered the flow regime to increase the environmental flow regime for the Werribee River could in Jacksons Creek between Gisborne and Keilor due to irrigation include the piping of the Werribee Irrigation District so that water releases in the summer low flow months and the reduction of savings can be allocated to the environment. important freshes and bank full flows. This reduces water quality and The Western Treatment Plant currently receives around 170-180,000 instream habitat for native fish and also affects the migration of the ML of sewage each year for treatment (see Table 7.3). A large protected Australian grayling. Deep Creek, which is a large ephemeral proportion of this flow, approximately 55,000 ML, is currently allocated tributary of the Maribyrnong River, is in moderate to poor condition. to various uses including on-site agricultural use at the Western Treatment Plant and recycled water for the Werribee Irrigation District.

Table 7.3 Allocation of Average Flows at the Western Treatment Plant The allocation of average flows is: Approx ML/annum Environment – bird habitat lagoons 20,000 Environment – to old lagoons for Port Phillip Bay bird habitat 45,000 Recycling – Western Treatment Plant (agriculture) 40,000 Recycling – Werribee Irrigation District (agriculture) 10,000 Recycling – West Werribee Dual Water Supply and Werribee Tourist and Technology Precincts (Class A) 5,000 Recycling – unallocated (mainly available in winter) 35,000 Sub-total outflows 155,000

CHAPTER 7 CHAPTER Evaporation 15,000 Total inflows 170,000 CENTRAL REGION SUSTAINABLE WATER STRATEGY / STRATEGY WATER CENTRALSUSTAINABLE REGION

72 Recycled water from the Western Treatment Plant has previously been held in reserve to be used for potable substitution within the Central Proposal 7.5 The Government proposes to work with City West Region. The water supply and demand findings of this Draft Strategy Water and Melbourne Water Corporation to explore ways to indicate that recycled water is not required in the short to medium-term release up to 35,000 ML of recycled water until 2030, (at existing for primarily potable substitution purposes. This leaves a volume of up quality standards) for potable water substitution and/or other viable to 35,000 ML of recycled water per annum that could potentially be uses that are consistent with the Werribee Plains Vision. allocated to new uses or potable substitution within the Werribee Plains Implementing this proposal may involve calling for expressions area. The fact that most of the flow is available between April and October of interest from the community to assist in determining the best each year leaving only a very limited amount for the peak demand period and highest value use for this recycled water. is a significant constraint on the potential to utilise this water. There is also a range of viable recycling and reuse projects in the area that could be pursued. In particular, proceeding with the Caroline A vision for the werribee plains area Springs sewer mining project in which sewage would be diverted to the Surbiton Treatment Plant. The project would enable treated The Vision for Werribee Plains is to position the area as a world recycled water to be used in the Bacchus Marsh Irrigation District to leader in sustainable development, generating new economic and free-up river water for drinking. To further this option, Western Water employment opportunities and securing the region’s future as an and City West Water will need to prepare a joint proposal for resolving internationally focussed, innovative and attractive place to live, work cost sharing. Widespread adoption of local recycling and reuse and invest. schemes is still hampered by the costs involved. Further experience Werribee Plains will become world renowned for its commitment to: and innovation are required to drive costs down.

• sustainable agricultural development and high-value outputs from Additional urban water supplies are needed in the long-term and agricultural land enlargement of the existing connection to the Melbourne system • sustainable industrial and urban development will be needed. • sustainable management of the region’s natural resources, including water, energy and ecosystems Proposal 7.6 is an initial set of suggested options that would meet water needs until 2055, including preferred short-term options. Other • high level innovation and the use of advanced technologies combinations of options would be possible in the medium and long- • a strong and vibrant community culture built on sustainability. term, and new options are expected to become available in the future. A key driver to the Vision will be the opportunities created by the region’s recycled water resources from the Western Treatment Plant. Western Water has commenced community consultation to investigate future supply options for Lancefield, Romsey and Woodend.

In Proposal 7.6, the target buffer is contingency water equal to seven years of incremental growth in demand, while the water availability buffer is the actual buffer or surplus water when the proposed options have been implemented. The water supplied by the options increases from the short-term to the long-term for many of the conservation and efficiency options as more of the measures are taken up over time. In contrast, the options that rely on water from rivers and aquifers CHAPTER 7 CHAPTER decrease over time as a result of potential climate change impacts. CENTRAL REGION SUSTAINABLE WATER STRATEGY / STRATEGY WATER CENTRALSUSTAINABLE REGION

73 Proposal 7.6 The Government proposes the following priorities to address urban water needs and provide a buffer for the Inner West Volume of option Now Proposed short term Potential medium Potential long term (ML) (ML) term (ML) (ML) (ML) 2015 2030 2055 Water use estimate 14,000 19,000 26,000 39,000 Water availability estimate 27,000 25,000 23,000 18,000 Reduction in water availability due to 2,100 1,900 1,600 options for other users under the strategy Difference to be made up by options 13,000 3,900 -4,900 -22,600 Options

Conservation and efficiency

Water efficiency at home 4,670 980 2,600 4,700 Water efficiency for commercial and 420 120 240 420 industrial users Active leak control in urban distribution 600 600 600 600 systems (CE 23) Maintain existing water savings 2,200

Alternative supply

Local substitution of recycled water in the 800 200 425 800 inner west sub-region (RR 3) Installing recycled water pipe systems in new 720 residential and commercial developments for non-potable uses (inner west sub-region) (RR 19)

Interconnection

Using recycled water in the Bacchus Marsh 4,000 6,000 8,500 Irrigation District - to free up river water for urban consumption at Melton Reservoir (RR3 30) } Substituting recycled water for river water in 8,000 the Werribee Irrigation District - to free up river water at Melton Reservoir (RR 32) System interconnection - increased supply 17,000 11,400 from Melbourne to Western Water (SA 10) CHAPTER 7 CHAPTER

Augmentation

50% of unallocated inflows of Lake Merrimu 900 840 760 600 for urban consumption (SA 3) Wellfield between Romsey and Lancefield (SA 4) 270 250 230 180 Purchasing/trading water from Pykes Creek 40 40 30 30 Reservoir to supply Myrniong (SA 5) Raising service basin at Lancefield (SA 9) 40 40 30 30 Total volume provided by options 3,100 10,900 27,300 Water availability buffer using the above options 7,000 6,000 4,700 Target buffer 3,500 3,500 3,500 CENTRAL REGION SUSTAINABLE WATER STRATEGY / STRATEGY WATER CENTRALSUSTAINABLE REGION

74 In addition, Table 7.4 outlines other possible options that could assist Proposal 7.7 outlines options to initially enhance the environmental in meeting future needs. However, the results of the sustainability flow regime by providing critical flow components to sustain key assessment for these options shows that they have limiting factors such environmental values for the main rivers in the Inner West. The as high cost, technical uncertainty or lack of public support. Therefore, management response for the Werribee River is to use opportunities the Government does not propose to support these options at present. to improve the current flow regime through a moderate increase to the environmental flow regime. The Maribyrnong River is highly modified so the management response focuses on initially enhancing the current flow regime through provision of a small increase to the current flow regime because of limited opportunities. Continued investment in complementary habitat works in both rivers will occur as identified in the Regional River Health Strategy.

For further information refer to Western Water’s Water Supply Demand Strategy, Melbourne Water’s Regional River Health Strategy and relevant Streamflow Management Plans.

Table 7.4 Other possible options for the Inner West Other options not supported at present Other conservation and efficiency options 1,100 Piping Werribee Irrigation District - savings for urban consumption (CE 30) 2,000 Piping Werribee Irrigation District - savings for urban consumption (CE 30) 1,000 Using recycled water in the Bacchus Marsh Irrigation District - to free up river water for 3,500 urban consumption (RR 30) Increasing the capacity of on-stream storages (SA 2/6/7/9) 300 Reconnect Barringo Creek diversion to Rosslynne Reservoir (SA 1) 250 Total 8,150 CHAPTER 7 CHAPTER CENTRAL REGION SUSTAINABLE WATER STRATEGY / STRATEGY WATER CENTRALSUSTAINABLE REGION

75 Proposal 7.7 The Government proposes the following options for environmental outcomes for rivers in the Inner West

Werribee River

Key environmental objectives: • Contribute to the protection of multiple threatened flora and fauna species(including Australian grayling and tupong) • Improve water quality and fish habitat • Restoration of estuary and fringing red gums Critical flow components: • Summer low flows in the Werribee River • Summer and winter freshes below Melton Reservoir to the estuary Proposed initial environmental flow regime enhancement: Improve environmental flow regime by 6,000 ML Proposed options (and option codes where applicable): • Increase the environmental flow regime with the substitution of water from the Werribee River with Class A recycled water from the Western Treatment Plant for users within the Werribee Tourism Precinct (1,000 ML) (E 23) • The Government to assign 50% of the unallocated Lake Merrimu inflow share to the environment (900 ML) (adaptation of E 10) • Piping of the Werribee Irrigation District to save water that is now lost from leaky channels and re-allocation of the saved water to the environment, with provision for an entitlement in Melton and/or Pykes Creek reservoirs. (4,000 ML) (E 18) • The benefits of the enhanced environmental flow regime will be monitored and assessed to determine whether further enhancements are required

Maribyrnong River

Key environmental objectives: • Improved baseflows and reduction in water quality risks in Jacksons Creek • Reduction in system losses and connectivity improvements Critical flow components: • Summer low flows in Jacksons Creek below Rosslynne Reservoir • Summer freshes in Jacksons Creek below Rosslynne Reservoir Proposed initial environmental flow regime enhancement: Improve environmental flow regime by 3,000 ML Proposed options (and option codes where applicable): • Voluntary buy-back scheme for regulated diversion licences on Jacksons Creek to retire the licences and re-allocate the water as an

CHAPTER 7 CHAPTER environmental entitlement in Rosslynne Reservoir for release to Jacksons Creek (500 ML) (part of E 12) • Voluntary buy-back scheme for unregulated surface water diversion licences in the Maribyrnong catchment to retire the licences and re- allocate the water to the environment (200 ML) (part of E 12) • The Government to review the current passing flows in Jacksons Creek with a view to convert part or all of the passing flow into a share of Rosslynne Reservoir inflow and capacity • Transfer entitlement for the Barringo Creek (a tributary of Jacksons Creek) to the environment. Secure water from the Melbourne system to augment Western Water’s Rosslynne supply system in return for re-allocation of Western Water’s Barringo Creek entitlement (250 ML) (adaptation of SA 1) • Create an environmental entitlement in the Rosslynne Reservoir. Secure water from the Melbourne system for Western Water to pump to Sunbury in return for re-allocation of part of Western Water’s Rosslynne Reservoir entitlement. (2,050 ML) (adaptation of SA 10) • Develop the Maribyrnong River Streamflow Management Plan • The benefits of the enhanced environmental flow regime will be monitored and assessed to determine whether further enhancements are required CENTRAL REGION SUSTAINABLE WATER STRATEGY / STRATEGY WATER CENTRALSUSTAINABLE REGION

76 Figure 7.7 Map of Melbourne Area Proposal 7.7 The Government proposes the following options for environmental outcomes for rivers in the Inner West Greater Melbourne Werribee River Local water challenge �� Key environmental objectives: The population of greater Melbourne is forecast to increase from �� its current level of 3.6 million to 4.4 million by 2030 and to 4.7 million �� • Contribute to the protection of multiple threatened flora and fauna species(including Australian grayling and tupong) �� by 2055. Under a medium climate change scenario, this population �� • Improve water quality and fish habitat growth results in a need to find an extra 53,000 ML of water for urban �� • Restoration of estuary and fringing red gums purposes in 2030 and an extra 178,000 ML in 2055. �� M � a Critical flow components: rib Figure 7.8 shows the forecast supply for nil, low, medium and high yr �� n � o � n r • Summer low flows in the Werribee River climate change scenarios and the forecast demand, assuming � g ive �� R R i Ya rra no interventions to increase supply or reduce demand. There is a v �� e � • Summer and winter freshes below Melton Reservoir to the estuary ��r �� significant difference in the timing of when demand exceeds supply � � B �� Proposed initial environmental flow regime enhancement: Improve environmental flow regime by 6,000 ML in light of potential climate change impacts. Without climate change un �� yip R

i there is sufficient supply to last until about 2035. However, with climate v Proposed options (and option codes where applicable): �� e � Ta �� r �� change, demand could exceed supply just before 2020. � n jil • Increase the environmental flow regime with the substitution of water from the Werribee River with Class A recycled water from the Western Treatment Plant for users within the Werribee Tourism Precinct (1,000 ML) (E 23) Melbourne gets its water from the Yarra River, Tarago River, Thomson �� River, Plenty River within the region and the Silver and Wallaby Creeks � • The Government to assign 50% of the unallocated Lake Merrimu inflow share to the environment (900 ML) (adaptation of E 10) in northern Victoria. • Piping of the Werribee Irrigation District to save water that is now lost from leaky channels and re-allocation of the saved water to the �� The rich soils and temperate climate of greater Melbourne make it �� environment, with provision for an entitlement in Melton and/or Pykes Creek reservoirs. (4,000 ML) (E 18) �� a very productive area for agriculture. The total value of agricultural �� • The benefits of the enhanced environmental flow regime will be monitored and assessed to determine whether further �� production for the region is $927 million. �� enhancements are required The Melbourne region is one of Victoria’s primary vegetable production �� Maribyrnong River �� areas, with production valued at $243 million.19 Together with other �� Key environmental objectives: high value irrigated horticultural crops including fruit, wine grapes, �� • Improved baseflows and reduction in water quality risks in Jacksons Creek flowers and nurseries, total crop production amounts to $456 million. �� Dairy production of $96 million is also important to the region. • Reduction in system losses and connectivity improvements Critical flow components: Timber production out of the Yarra tributaries catchment area amounts to a retail value of $22 million, including sawn timber, paper, woodchip, • Summer low flows in Jacksons Creek below Rosslynne Reservoir pulp and export.20 • Summer freshes in Jacksons Creek below Rosslynne Reservoir

Proposed initial environmental flow regime enhancement: Improve environmental flow regime by 3,000 ML Figure 7.8 Forecast demand and available supply for greater Melbourne without further intervention Proposed options (and option codes where applicable): �� • Voluntary buy-back scheme for regulated diversion licences on Jacksons Creek to retire the licences and re-allocate the water as an

environmental entitlement in Rosslynne Reservoir for release to Jacksons Creek (500 ML) (part of E 12) 7 CHAPTER �� • Voluntary buy-back scheme for unregulated surface water diversion licences in the Maribyrnong catchment to retire the licences and re- allocate the water to the environment (200 ML) (part of E 12) ��

�� • The Government to review the current passing flows in Jacksons Creek with a view to convert part or all of the passing flow into a share of �� Rosslynne Reservoir inflow and capacity �� • Transfer entitlement for the Barringo Creek (a tributary of Jacksons Creek) to the environment. Secure water from the Melbourne system �� to augment Western Water’s Rosslynne supply system in return for re-allocation of Western Water’s Barringo Creek entitlement (250 ML) (adaptation of SA 1) �� • Create an environmental entitlement in the Rosslynne Reservoir. Secure water from the Melbourne system for Western Water to pump to �� Sunbury in return for re-allocation of part of Western Water’s Rosslynne Reservoir entitlement. (2,050 ML) (adaptation of SA 10) �� • Develop the Maribyrnong River Streamflow Management Plan � • The benefits of the enhanced environmental flow regime will be monitored and assessed to determine whether further enhancements are required ��

��

�� / STRATEGY WATER CENTRALSUSTAINABLE REGION

77 Environmental assets Local water source projects to deliver 5,000 ML in this area are already committed for implementation in the short-term. In addition Presently flows in the Yarra River are generally adequate for river to this, it is proposed that another 5,000 ML could be provided in health, apart from directly below the Upper Yarra Reservoir where it is the short to medium-term by continuing to implement the most local moderately flow-stressed. However, water is required to improve the water recycling and reuse projects. critical flow components in the Yarra River including the provision of summer freshes for migratory fish and to flush pools and increased Over the next 50 years, there will be about another 725,000 homes in bank full flows to remove sediment, particularly in the river’s mid- Melbourne which is approximately 50% of the existing housing stock. reaches. It would require large volumes of water to return it to natural Businesses and industry is also expanding in Melbourne and there are condition, but because the floodplain is highly modified due to farming opportunities to use local water sources for open spaces and some and urbanisation, flooding and overbank flows are no longer desirable. manufacturing purposes as well as to flush toilets. If all new residential and commercial developments used a local water source for various The Bunyip/Tarago Rivers is in moderate condition with sufficient flows non-drinking uses inside and outside, up to about 25,000 ML could to maintain river health as low summer flows are generally provided be saved in Melbourne, however this option is relatively costly. through irrigation releases to irrigation users downstream. However, the reservoir has reduced important summer freshes that are required While local water recycling and reuse projects are being implemented for water quality purposes and for native fish such as the Australian to provide about 10,000 ML, opportunities to provide up to an grayling. Additionally there are decreased high flows leading to a additional 25,000ML will be investigated by the Melbourne water build up of sediment and subsequent loss of instream habitat. When authorities as part of the Metropolitan Water Conservation and Melbourne begins to take water from the Tarago Reservoir for urban Recycling Plan. This investigation will recognise the significant use, flows for the environment will reduce, further impacting river health. community support for local water sources and their associated environmental benefits which include avoiding augmentations to Melbourne is also supplied with water from the Thomson Reservoir sewerage systems, reducing peak flows and pollutants running off into on the Thomson River. The Thomson River is discussed in the West waterways and delaying potential large scale energy intensive supply Gippsland section of this chapter. solutions such as seawater desalination or large scale water recycling. Meeting Melbourne’s future need If these externalities are credited to local supplies then the cost of local water supplies (per litre) compares more favourably with centralised Based on current knowledge, Melbourne can meet its future needs water recycling or seawater desalination projects. in the short and medium-term through conservation and efficiency measures alone as shown in Proposal 7.9. These measures are The Government proposes to investigate the use of planning and proposed to be supported by a range of other options in the short to building codes, combined with incentives to achieve increased potable medium-term including local water recycling and reuse, and research water savings in new residential and industrial estates. Strengthening into future large-scale water supply options. targets in these areas will be considered as more is learned about the effectiveness of these measures. Proposal 7.8 For the Yarra River, the Government proposes to: In the long-term it is estimated that an additional 178,000 ML will • provide the full environmental flows recommended in the 2005 be required to secure the water needs of Melbourne, and this would scientific study for the Yarra River, through the granting of a new be increased to 201,000 if interconnections to other regional urban environmental entitlement. This includes 17,000 ML per year that centres west of Melbourne go ahead. Melbourne could obtain can be stored and released as needed to provide operational additional urban water supplies from a range of options including the flexibility to maximise environmental benefits Eastern Water Recycling Proposal (a proposal that if feasible, could CHAPTER 7 CHAPTER be progressed over the short to medium-term as outlined in Chapter • provide 57% of long-term average flows to the environmental 6), desalination or alternative supply sources such as stormwater. flow regime The range of options identified to supply this volume is included in • grant bulk entitlements for an average annual cap of 400,000 Proposal 7.9. ML per year for urban use. Proposal 7.9 is an initial set of suggested options that would meet The Government proposes to establish a total average annual cap water needs until 2055, including proposed short-term options. Other of 555,000 ML for Melbourne’s water supply system thus putting combinations of options would be possible in the medium and long- a limit on how much water Melbourne can take from rivers to meet term, and new options are expected to become available in the future. its future needs. In Proposal 7.9, the target buffer is contingency water equal to seven Recycling and reuse of local water sources such as rainwater, years of incremental growth in demand, while the water availability stormwater and recycled water enables the suitable substitution of buffer is the actual buffer or surplus water when the proposed options drinking water for activities such as toilet flushing, clothes washing, have been implemented. The water supplied by the options increases open space and garden watering and many industrial processes. from the short-term to the long-term for many of the conservation and efficiency options, as more of the measures are taken up over time. In contrast, the options that rely on water from rivers and aquifers decrease over time as a result of potential climate change impacts. CENTRAL REGION SUSTAINABLE WATER STRATEGY / STRATEGY WATER CENTRALSUSTAINABLE REGION

78 Proposal 7.9 The Government proposes the following priorities to address urban water needs and provide a buffer for greater Melbourne Volume of option Now Proposed short Potential medium Potential long term (ML) term (ML) term (ML) (ML) (ML) 2015 2030 2055 Water use estimate 484,000 510,000 556,000 602,000 Water availability estimate 555,000 548,000 503,000 424,000 Reduction in water availability due to options for other users under 1,900 1,800 22,900 the strategy Difference to be made up by options 71,000 36,000 -55,000 -201,000 Options

Conservation and efficiency

Maintain existing water savings 38,000 42,000 48,000 53,000 vOptions to meet Melbourne’s 25% conservation target: - Water efficiency at home 38,500 11,200 24,500 38,500 - Water efficiency for commercial and industrial users 9,000 5,000 7,700 9,000 Active leak control in urban distribution systems (CE 23) 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000

Alternative supply

Local water recycling and reuse (RR 14/16/19/25) 5,000 3,500 5,000 5,000 Use of recycled water for environmental flows in rivers and increase in 70,000 river diversions (RR 34) Recycle stormwater for drinking (Dights Falls) (RR 15) 30,000

Interconnection 120,000

Interconnection between Latrobe Valley and Melbourne system, using 76,000 23,000 Latrobe River water made available under the Eastern Water Recycling } Scheme (part of RR 2)

Augmentation

Investing in irrigation system efficiencies in the Yarra basin (SA 47) 1,500 1,425 1,335 1,155 Total volume provided by options 65,100 111,700 228,700

Water availability buffer using the above options 101,000 57,000 28,000 7 CHAPTER Target buffer 16,520 16,520 16,500 1. The water use estimates do not include water savings achieved by Melburnians as a result of changed water-use patterns achieved during the recent periods of water shortages. Maintaining these water savings into the future is included as an option. 2. The Eastern Water Recycling Proposal, subject to the outcome of a feasibility study, could be progressed over time – with a detailed business case, upgrade of the Eastern Treatment Plant and construction of the Gippsland Water Factory.

In addition, Table 7.5 outlines other possible options that could assist in meeting future needs. However, the results of the sustainability assessment for these options shows that they have limiting factors such as high cost, technical uncertainty or lack of public support. Therefore, the Government does not propose to support these options at present. CENTRAL REGION SUSTAINABLE WATER STRATEGY / STRATEGY WATER CENTRALSUSTAINABLE REGION

79 Table 7.5 Other possible options for greater Melbourne Other options not supported at present Other conservation and efficiency options 16,000 Installing recycled water pipe systems in new residential and commercial developments for non-potable uses (PR 19) Greywater reuse for toilet, laundry and garden in all new houses (RR 25) } 25,000 Installing rainwater tanks in all new houses (RR 13) Small scale use of stormwater for non-drinking purposes (RR 16) 14,600 Water recycling for drinking (RR 18) 100,000 Groundwater for drinking (SA 25) tbc Surface water - Reconnect Bunyip Weir to Melbourne’s supply system (SA 25) 6,000 Desalination - seawater (SA 19) 50,000 Total 211,600

Proposal 7.11 outlines options to initially enhance the environmental flow regime by providing critical flow components to sustain key Proposal 7.10 The Government proposes to grant bulk environmental values for the main rivers in greater Melbourne. entitlements in the Bunyip/Tarago system to the Melbourne water The management response for the Yarra and Bunyip/Tarago rivers retail authorities, Gippsland Water, Southern Rural Water and the is to improve the current flow regimes and environmental health given Minister for Environment (as outlined above). that they are in moderate condition. In addition, the upper reaches In addition, a scientific study of the environmental water of the Yarra River will be protected by maintaining the closed water requirements of the Bunyip/Tarago Rivers will be completed supply catchments. by the end of the 2006 to provide additional information about environmental needs at all the harvesting sites. This information Historically the Bunyip/Tarago system has supplied the south-east of will be used to develop water supply system operating rules that Melbourne, Gippsland towns including Warragul, Drouin and Neerim optimise environmental benefits. These rules will be incorporated South and irrigators on the Bunyip River at Koo-Wee-Rup. The final in the legal bulk entitlements orders. average annual entitlements will recognise historical rights including 21,000 ML per year from Tarago Reservoir for Melbourne, 5,000 ML For further information refer to the WaterSmart Water Supply Demand per year for the Gippsland towns and approximately 1,000 ML for Strategy for Melbourne, Melbourne Water’s Regional River Health irrigators. The granting of the bulk entitlements will include provision for Strategy and relevant Streamflow Management Plans. environmental flows in the Bunyip/Tarago system, including a 3,000 ML per year entitlement in Tarago Reservoir. CHAPTER 7 CHAPTER CENTRAL REGION SUSTAINABLE WATER STRATEGY / STRATEGY WATER CENTRALSUSTAINABLE REGION

80 Proposal 7.11 The Government proposes the following options for initial enhancements to the environmental flow regime for rivers in greater Melbourne

Yarra River

Key environmental objectives:

• Protection of assets requiring environmental flows include the threatened native fish species Australian grayling, Macquarie perch, river blackfish, mountain galaxias, common galaxias; populations of platypus

• scouring of sediments and fine silts

• flushing of water in pools to improve water quality and maintain habitat for fish and macroinvertebrate species during times of low flows

Critical flow components:

• Increase summer freshes in the Yarra River

• Increase high flows in the Yarra River

Proposed initial environmental flow regime enhancement: Improve environmental flow regime by 20,000 ML

Proposed options (and option codes where applicable):

• The Government to complete bulk entitlements for the Yarra River including an environmental entitlement that provides for the flows recommended in the 2005 scientific study for the Yarra River, including summer and winter low flows below reservoirs and weirs, and 17,000 ML per year that can be stored and released as needed to provide operational flexibility to maximise environmental benefits (E 15)

• The benefits of the enhanced environmental flow regime will be monitored and assessed to determine whether further enhancements are required

Bunyip/Tarago Rivers

Key environmental objectives:

• Increased flows will provide for channel maintenance and fish spawning (EPBC listed grayling), particularly in the 5-10 km below the storage

Critical flow components:

• Increase summer freshes

• Increase winter freshes

Proposed initial environmental flow regime enhancement: Improve environmental flow regime by 3,000 ML

Proposed options (and option codes where applicable): CHAPTER 7 CHAPTER • The Government to complete the bulk entitlements for the Tarago and Bunyip rivers, including provision for an environmental entitlement in Tarago Reservoir (3,000 ML) (E 8)

81 West Gippsland Figure 7.9 Map of West Gippsland Area

Local water challenge �� The population of West Gippsland is forecast to increase from its

current level of 90,000 to 94,000 by 2030 and by 97,000 by 2055. �� Under a medium climate change scenario, this population growth �� results in a need to find an extra 4,000 ML of water for urban purposes in 2030 and an extra 16,000 ML in 2055.

Figure 7.10 shows the forecast supply for nil low, medium and high ca

li climate change scenarios and the forecast demand, assuming no st �� er interventions to increase supply or reduce demand. Without climate R iv

er change West Gippsland’s water demand will not exceed supply until r ve Ri 2050; however climate change could bring this date forward by as Ya rra much as 25 years. �� Bu ny �� Important sources of water for West Gippsland are the Tarago River ip � R Ty

i v (Warragul and Drouin) and the Tanjil and Tyers rivers, which are er Th �� e �� T � om � s r ��anj � son tributaries of the Latrobe River for towns and industry in the Latrobe � Ri Ri il �� ve ve r Ri

Valley. The Macalister and Thomson rivers provide water to the r ve �� r r � ive Macalister Irrigation District. �� La Trobe R �� Primary industries in West Gippsland contribute significantly to the �� Victorian economy. Dairying dominates agricultural production for the region, producing $209 million worth of milk, with total agricultural �� production being $400 million.21 The high rainfall and rich soils of the �� upper catchments support high value timber production, with a total 22 annual value of about $1 billion of value-added product. �� In � �� The Latrobe Valley has the largest brown coal reserves in the world, �� estimated at 60 billion tonnes. Brown coal from the Latrobe Valley is almost exclusively used for electricity production.23 A total of 66 million tonnes of brown coal is produced annually with an estimated value of approximately $832 million.24

Figure 7.10 Forecast demand and available supply for West Gippsland without further intervention

��

CHAPTER 7 CHAPTER ��

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� ��

�� CENTRAL REGION SUSTAINABLE WATER STRATEGY / STRATEGY WATER CENTRALSUSTAINABLE REGION

82 Environmental assets Meeting West Gippsland’s future needs The Thomson and Macalister rivers, downstream of Thomson Dam The Government’s existing commitment to stage 1 of the Gippsland and Lake Glenmaggie, are moderately flow-stressed. The Thomson Water Factory together with savings from water conservation and and Aberfeldy rivers are listed as Heritage Rivers, in recognition of their efficiency measures will be sufficient to supply West Gippsland’s urban environmental, cultural and social values. and industrial needs in the short to medium-term (see Proposal 7.12). This Proposal does not include three of the major power generating The upper reaches of the Latrobe River are considered ‘ecologically companies which have their own entitlements to take water from the healthy’. Further downstream, reservoirs on the Latrobe’s tributaries Latrobe River. The power generating industry is expected to meet (Blue Rock Reservoir on the Tanjil River and Moondarra Reservoir on changes to its water needs in the future by water conservation and the Tyers River) and major power industry extractions impact on the use of recycled water. Latrobe River flows. In the long-term, West Gippsland may need to access additional Government has committed to returning 25,000 ML to the urban water from the Eastern Water Recycling Proposal. Given that Thomson and Macalister rivers. In 2005, 10,000 ML was provided sufficient buffer exists in both West Gippsland and Melbourne for as an environmental entitlement in Thomson Reservoir. Additional urban needs in the short to medium-term with the options proposed, environmental flows are required to improve summer and winter low and the uncertainty surrounding the environmental needs of the flows below Thomson Reservoir and winter freshes upstream of Gippsland Lakes, the Government proposes not to permanently Cowwarr Weir. This would provide for instream habitat and spawning allocate the 31,000 ML of unallocated water in Blue Rock Reservoir and migration flows for native fish. in the short to medium-term. Instead, the Government proposes that 10,000ML per year of this water be assigned to the environment on a temporary basis for the Latrobe River while further investigations of environmental water needs are undertaken

Proposal 7.12 is an initial set of suggested options that would meet water needs until 2055, including preferred short-term options. Other combinations of options would be possible in the medium and long- term, and new options are expected to become available in the future.

In Proposal 7.12, the target buffer is contingency water equal to seven years of incremental growth in demand, while the water availability buffer is the actual buffer or surplus water when the proposed options have been implemented. The water supplied by the options increases from the short-term to the long-term for many of the conservation and efficiency options as more of the measures are taken up over time. In contrast, the options that rely on water from rivers and aquifers decrease over time as a result of potential climate change impacts. CHAPTER 7 CHAPTER CENTRAL REGION SUSTAINABLE WATER STRATEGY / STRATEGY WATER CENTRALSUSTAINABLE REGION

83 Proposal 7.12 The Government proposes the following priorities to address urban water needs and provide a buffer for West Gippsland Volume of option Now Proposed short term Potential medium term Potential long term (ML) (ML) (ML) (ML) (ML) 2015 2030 2055 Water use estimate 63,000 65,000 69,000 74,000 Water availability estimate 71,000 69,000 65,000 58,000 Difference to be made up by options 8,000 4,000 -4,000 -16,000 Options

Conservation and efficiency

Water efficiency at home 750 1,630 2,400 Water efficiency for commercial and industrial users 690 1,080 1,290 Replace the existing Blue Rock Reservoir to Moondarra water 2,700 2,200 turbine driven pump to an electric pump (SA 63) Maintain existing water savings 800

Alternative supply

Interconnection

Substitution of potable water with recycled water - 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 Gippsland Water Factory Stage 1 (Part of RR 11) Eastern Water Recycling Project ( Part of RR 2) 9,000 9,000

Augmentation

- Total volume provided by options 4,400 5,700 17,900 Water availability buffer using the above options 8,400 1,700 1,900 Target buffer 1,500 1,500 1,500

In addition, Table 7.6 outlines other possible options that could assist straightening that has cut off the river meanders and led to a reduction in meeting future needs. However, the results of the sustainability in the diversity of habitat. It is likely that reinstating the meanders in

CHAPTER 7 CHAPTER assessment for these options shows that they have limiting factors the lower Latrobe River will mean that significantly less water will be such as high cost, technical uncertainty or lack of public support. required to restore the river. If undertaken, reconnecting the meanders Therefore, the Government does not propose to support these will be a long-term project and require support from the community. options at present. Enhancing the environmental flow regime of the Latrobe River would open up opportunities to enhance the Tanjil and Tyers rivers which are Proposal 7.13 outlines options to initially enhance the environmental flow-stressed due to the Blue Rock and Moondarra reservoirs. Habitat flow regime by providing critical flow components to sustain key improvements benefit the threatened Australian grayling and also environmental values for the main rivers in West Gippsland. The Australian bass. Government has committed to returning 25,000 ML to the Thomson and Macalister rivers. This will significantly reduce flow stress within For further information refer to Gippsland Water’s Water Supply the rivers. The benefits of this initial 25,000 ML will be monitored and Demand Strategy, West Gippsland Regional River Health Strategy assessed to determine whether further enhancements are required. and relevant Streamflow Management Plans.

The lower Latrobe River is moderately flow-stressed under current levels of water use. Increased flows are required to improve instream habitat through summer, which has been lost due to channel CENTRAL REGION SUSTAINABLE WATER STRATEGY / STRATEGY WATER CENTRALSUSTAINABLE REGION

84 Table 7.6 Other possible options for West Gippsland Other options not supported at present Other conservation and efficiency options 600 Unallocated entitlements in Blue Rock Reservoir for urban consumption (SA 32) 30,000 Total 30,600

Proposal 7.13 The Government proposes the following options for initial enhancements to the environmental flow regime for rivers in West Gippsland Thomson / Macalister Rivers Key environmental objectives: • Maintain environmental and social values of upper Thomson River – Heritage River listing (canoeing, fishing etc) • Water quality improvements • Localised fish movement • Contribute to protection of multiple threatened flora and fauna species(including Australian grayling, blackfish through migration / spawning flows • Protection of Ramsar listed Gippsland Lakes Critical flow components: • Increase minimum summer low flows • Provision of summer freshes • Increased minimum winter base flows • Provision of winter freshes Note: flows are to be provided below Lake Glenmaggie on the Macalister River and below Thomson Reservoir Proposed initial environmental flow regime enhancement: Improve environmental flow regime by 25,000 ML

Proposed options (and option codes where applicable): • The Government’s Our Water Our Future committed to return 25,000 ML to the Thomson and Macalister rivers. 10,000 ML was provided to the Thomson River in 2005 from water savings in Melbourne. The Government will invest in channel automation technology in the Macalister Irrigation District and other water efficiency projects, and allocate the water saved (15,000 ML) to the Thomson and Macalister rivers (adaptation of E 2) as follows: - 5,000 ML to the Macalistert River in the short-term - 8,000 ML to be provided to the Thomson River by 2014 - 2,000 ML to be provided to the Macalister River by the end of 2014 • The benefits of the enhanced environmental flow regime will be monitored and assessed to determine whether further enhancements are required CHAPTER 7 CHAPTER Latrobe River Key environmental objectives: • Increased flows will provide for channel maintenance and fish spawning (EPBC listed grayling), particularly in the 5 - 10 km below the storage Critical flow components: • Increased base summer flows • Increase summer freshes • Increase winter freshes Proposed initial environmental flow regime enhancement: Improve environmental flow regime by 10,000 ML (as well as the additional 25,000 ML to the Lower Latrobe from the Thomson and Macalister rivers).

Proposed options (and option codes where applicable): • The Government proposes to assign part of the unallocated share of Blue Rock Reservoir for 10 years until 2016 as part of a research program to determine the most effective combination of environmental water and river restoration works to meet river health objectives (10,000 ML) (adaptation of E 9) • The benefits of the enhanced environmental flow regime will be monitored and assessed to determine whether further

enhancements are required / STRATEGY WATER CENTRALSUSTAINABLE REGION

85 Westernport Figure 7.11 Map of Westernport Area Local water challenge

The population of Westernport is forecast to increase from its current level of 12,000 to 19,000 by 2030 and to 32,000 by 2055. Under a medium climate change scenario, this population growth results in a need to find an extra 1,700 ML of water for urban purposes in 2030 and an extra 3,200 ML in 2055.

Figure 7.12 shows the forecast supply for nil, low, medium and high climate change scenarios and the forecast demand, assuming no �� interventions to increase supply or reduce demand. At present, Westernport Water meets this gap by securing extra supply from �� Gippsland Water. Proposed options to address the gap between � supply and demand are outlined in Proposal 7.14.

Westernport gets its water from Candowie Reservoir. It also has an agreement for supplies from South Gippsland Water’s Lance Creek Reservoir.

The total value of agricultural production in Westernport is $42 million. �� Dairying dominates, producing milk to the value of $22 million (ABS � Agricultural Census 2001, unpublished data). Meeting Westernport’s future needs Conservation and efficiency remain an important focus particularly in the short-term for Westernport (see Proposal 7.14). In the short- �� term, decisions concerning additional water supplies are necessary. �� Westernport can augment its supply by accessing groundwater in Corinella aquifer, raising the existing Candowie Reservoir, connecting to the Melbourne system, or desalinating seawater.

Figure 7.12 Forecast demand and available supply for Westernport without further intervention

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CENTRAL REGION SUSTAINABLE WATER STRATEGY / STRATEGY WATER CENTRALSUSTAINABLE REGION ��

86 Connection to the Melbourne system is prioritised as a short-term In Proposal 7.14, the target buffer is contingency water equal to seven action because it is evaluated as the most sustainable option for years of incremental growth in demand, while the water availability meeting Westernport’s short-term water needs. Augmenting supplies buffer is the actual buffer or surplus water when the proposed options from groundwater from the Corinella aquifer should also be considered. have been implemented. The water supplied by the options increases from the short-term to the long-term for many of the conservation and The Government proposes to grant Westernport Water an ‘exploration efficiency options as more of the measures are taken up over time. licence’ for the Corinella aquifer. This licence will enable Westernport In contrast, the options that rely on water from rivers and aquifers Water to undertake a detailed feasibility study to determine how much decrease over time as a result of potential climate change impacts. water could be safely harvested from the aquifer. The licence will establish Westernport Water’s right to use this water. Table 7.7 outlines other possible options that could assist in meeting future needs. However, the results of the sustainability assessment Raising the Candowie Reservoir is not favoured because of for these options shows that they have limiting factors such as high environmental impacts on the local waterways. A desalination plant cost, technical uncertainty or lack of public support. Therefore, the is not favoured on the basis of cost and impact on the environment Government does not propose to support these options at present. from greenhouse gas emissions. For further information refer to Westernport Water’s Water Supply Proposal 7.14 is an initial set of suggested options that would meet Demand Strategy. water needs until 2055, including preferred short-term options. Other combinations of options would be possible in the medium and long- term, and new options are expected to become available in the future.

Proposal 7.14 The Government proposes the following priorities to address urban water needs and provide a buffer for Westernport Volume of option Now Proposed short Potential medium Potential long term (ML) (ML) term (ML) term (ML) (ML) 2015 2030 2055 Water use estimate 2,000 2,300 3,300 4,600 Water availability estimate 2,400 1,800 1,600 1,400 Difference to be made up by options 400 -500 -1,700 -3,200 Options

Conservation and efficiency

Water efficiency at home 90 240 380 Water efficiency for commercial and industrial users 20 50 70 Active leak control in urban distribution systems (CE 23) 1 1 1 1 Maintain existing water savings 200

Alternative supply

Reuse of water from water purification plant (RR 28) 30 30 30 30 Reuse water substitution (RR 29) 50 50 50 50

Interconnection 7 CHAPTER

System interconnection - Melbourne Water connection to 2,000 1,900 1,760 1,520 Westernport Water (SA 61) Westernport Water access to groundwater at Corinella (SA 62) 2,000 1,520

Augmentation

- Total volume provided by options 2,100 2,100 3,600 Water availability buffer using the above options 1,600 400 400 Target buffer 400 400 400

Table 7.7 Other potential options for Westernport Other options not supported at present Other conservation and efficiency options 100 Raise Candowie Dam (SA 60) 1,600

Total 1,700 / STRATEGY WATER CENTRALSUSTAINABLE REGION