Today’s announcement by the Victorian Government of the Victorian Water Security Plan is welcomed by Victoria’s five major water corporations: Barwon Water, Greater Western Water Melbourne Water, South East Water and Yarra Valley Water.
Growing demand and climate variability are placing unprecedented stress on our water supplies. By the end of summer 2024-25, people across Greater Melbourne, Geelong and connected regions used 99 million litres more water per day than the year before. That’s enough to fill over 39 Olympic-sized swimming pools every day.
Most of our drinking water still comes from rainfall, but since the end of the Millennium Drought in 2010, despite efficiencies, water demand has increased by around 25 per cent and our communities have grown by more than 23 per cent. With rainfall becoming less reliable, we need a diverse portfolio of sources to maintain security and resilience.
The Victorian Water Security Plan takes an all-options approach: exploring additional desalination capacity, purified recycled water, integrated water management initiatives and ongoing efficiency measures. Delivered in collaboration with the Victorian Government and the water corporations, this Plan provides a long-term blueprint to secure safe, reliable supplies for the next 50 years.
The five major water corporations are working with Government on detailed planning, assessments and implementation timelines.
“Safe and clean drinking water is critical to life, liveability and economic prosperity,” said Dr Nerina Di Lorenzo, Managing Director of Melbourne Water. “As our climate continues to change and our population grows, we need to bring on new water supplies. By planning ahead and working together, we’re ensuring communities have the water they need in the most efficient way possible."
Barwon Water Managing Director Shaun Cumming agreed: “Water authorities and the Victorian Government are collaborating on ways to respond to the shared challenges of climate variability and population growth.
“By the end of 2025, the existing desalination plant will have delivered half a trillion litres of drinking water to many of our communities and as we continue to grow it is critical that we make plans to ensure safe and reliable supplies well into the future.
“The newly released Water Security Plan enables us to do that through consideration of solutions such as additional desalination capability, purified recycled water and integrated water management initiatives.”
The Plan is a deliverable of the Greater Melbourne Urban Water System Strategy (2023) and will guide strategic direction and policy setting on a regional scale.
With storages in decline and parts of regional Victoria subject to water restrictions, timely, coordinated action is critical. More information about the Water Security Plan for Melbourne, Geelong and connected towns can be found in Water Security Plan.
