General News
31 October, 2024
Water means growth - Shing opens new tanks
TWO new concrete tanks at Laanecoorie had a bigger story than their $5 million price tag, Coliban Water managing director Damien Wells said on Friday. Mr Wells said the tanks meant better water quality and climate resilience for people in...
TWO new concrete tanks at Laanecoorie had a bigger story than their $5 million price tag, Coliban Water managing director Damien Wells said on Friday.
Mr Wells said the tanks meant better water quality and climate resilience for people in Laanecoorie, Tarnagulla, Dunolly and Bealiba.
Officially opened by Water Minister Harriet Shing, the tanks receive and store water from the South West Loddon Pipeline, which is operated by Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water.
The project marks the final connection between the Coliban Water system and the pipeline.
“Upgrading essential infrastructure like the Laanecoorie Water Treatment Plant ensures we can deliver higher quality, reliable water supplies for our regional communities now and into the future,” Ms Shing said.
Ms Shing and Mr Wells said the Laanecoorie water supply upgrade was part of Coliban Water’s $500 million investment over five years in the Big Water Build - delivering one of the largest capital investment programs in the water authority’s history.
Mr Wells said the Loddon River had always been a challenge for quality supply to the 800 people in the four towns.
He said river water was of a varying quality at different times in the climate cycle.
Mr Wells said connection to the South West Loddon pipeline was part of Coliban’s climate resilience plan while the Laanecoorie uprade fitted Loddon Shire’s vision for growth.
“These investment support communities for future growth,” he said.
Coliban’s chief officer assets and operations Danny McLean said the current works plan also included an upgrade to the treatment tanks at Bridgewater that would improve supply reliability and water quality for Inglewood and Bridgewater.
Mr Wells said: “Fronting up to the key challenges of climate change, population growth and aging assets shaped our pricing submission in 2023, the Laanecoorie water treatment plant is just one of our Big Water Build projects.”
GWM Water managing director Mark Williams said: “We’re pleased to deliver a high-quality, secure supply of water from the Grampians to even more homes and farms across Victoria, enhancing the liveability and prosperity of our region and the communities we serve.”
Water in the South Loddon pipeline comes from Lake Bellfield, near Stawell.