Thursday, 24 March 2022

Melton recycled water plant

Mr McGHIE (Melton) (10:00): It was a delight to attend Greater Western Water’s new 1.1-gigalitre recycled water storage dam at the Melton recycled water plant with the ever hardworking Parliamentary Secretary for Water, Harriet Shing from the other place. Water is now flowing into the storage dam at the Melton recycled water plant. It was a pleasure to mark the occasion of the first drops of water entering the network. By next year the water stored at the dam will irrigate thousands of hectares of farmland, supporting agricultural production in the Parwan-Balliang region. The Parwan-Balliang region in Melbourne’s outer west experiences unreliable rainfall. Using recycled water for irrigation will help boost agricultural production in this region, transforming it into a thriving agricultural district. Reliable access to recycled water also offers customers better value for money when using water for non-drinking purposes.

Combined with existing storage, the dam will be part of a network capable of supplying 18.3 gigalitres of recycled water each year by 2050. Over 50 kilometres of pipeline will also be constructed throughout the project. By delivering class C recycled water to the farming region, the western irrigation network will help transform the dryland farms into a thriving agricultural precinct. The project futureproofs precious water supplies across communities experiencing strong population growth and warmer, drier climate conditions. Providing farmers access to a reliable alternative supply of water will also bring wider regional benefits. The local farming community can expand agricultural production, generating more local jobs and growth in Victoria’s agricultural sector.