Barwon RegionSummary Water Supply Demand Strategy
Draft for public comment
Feedback period closes 9 March 2012
Barwon Water / Water Supply Demand Strategy 2012 / Our service region 2
Water District
Lakes
Barwon Water reservoir
Special water supply catchment
Water channel/pipelines
Main sewer
Water service basin/tank
Water treatment plant
Groundwater production bores
Water reclamation plants
Sewer Flow Management Facility
Recycled Water Plant
Recycled water tank
Recycled water pipeline
Outfall
Our service region
Barwon Water / Water Supply Demand Strategy 2012 / Purpose of this strategy 3
The Water Supply Demand Strategy builds on previous water strategies and details Barwon Water’s actions to:
– manage demand for water, and – source sufficient water supplies.
Our water supply will be used to meet residential, agricultural, business and environmental needs well into the future.
This strategy has a planning horizon of 50 years, but is updated every five years to be responsive to a constantly changing water outlook. This means our region’s water supply options can either be delayed or brought forward as required.
Our nominated actions are based on the past 80 years of climate records, along with projections of future climate variability and population growth.
Planning within this strategy takes into account future uncertainty, building on water supply systems that are resilient and adaptive to change.
Purpose of this strategy
Barwon Water / Water Supply Demand Strategy 2012 / How we developed this strategy 4
How we developed this strategy
Review of previous strategies
Supply and demand forecasts
Expert advisory panel
Public forums for stakeholders and the community
Generation of options
Technical investigations
Triple bottom line assessment
Options assessment
Expert advisory panel
Draft released for public comment
Strategy development
Current stage
2010 2011 2012
Next steps - Finalise strategy
- Submit to DSE (Mar 2012)
Engaging our community
Barwon Water / Water Supply Demand Strategy 2012 / Engaging our community 6
Barwon Water has provided numerous opportunities for the community to contribute to the development of this Water Supply Demand Strategy. These include:
Community input
EVENT TIMING
Geelong Water Forum April 2011
Colac Water Forum April 2011
Barwon Water Leadership Lunch April 2011
Colac Lifestyle and Garden Expo (including a community survey)
September 2011
Information kiosks at the Sustainable Home and Garden Expo, the ANGAIR Wildflower Festival and the Lara Christmas Market
March – December 2011
Draft Water Supply Demand Strategy feedback period
February – March 2012
Information kiosk at the Colac Lions Market February 2012
Our stakeholders were consulted throughout the development of the strategy and included:
Stakeholder consultation
GROUP
Environmental Consultative Committee
Customer Consultative Committee
Independent Expert Advisory Panel
Local government
Developer groups
We are seeking feedback from the community and other stakeholders on this strategy. The feedback period closes on 9 March 2012. Feedback can be provided via email at [email protected], online at www.barwonwater.vic.gov.au, or by written submissions mailed to:
Water Resource Planning Team, PO Box 659, Geelong VIC 3220
Have your say
You can request a copy of the full draft strategy document by emailing [email protected] or calling 1300 656 007.
The full draft strategy
Water resource planning takes into account future uncertainty. This uncertainty applies to climate, population growth and other risks. Long-term forecasts are used to identify trends and challenges in the future.
Challenges we face
Barwon Water / Water Supply Demand Strategy 2012 / Challenges we face 7
More recently, our region has experienced record rainfall, which has now refilled our reservoirs. However, total runoff into our catchments is still well below the long-term average.
Climate modelling predicts that conditions are likely to be drier in the future. This means that inflows may fall by up to 15 per cent.
Future growth
Population in our service region is expected to increase to 500,000 residents by 2060. This is almost double the 2012 population of around 285,000. Although per capita consumption has reduced in recent years due to water restrictions and conservation programs, overall demand for water will increase because of such significant population growth.
Bushfire risk
Bushfire in our catchments can reduce runoff and can impact future water supply, with long term runoff reductions of up to 14 per cent. The full recovery of a catchment after a bushfire has been estimated to take about 120 years.
Meg
alit
res
Annual Inflows to West Barwon Reservoir 1928-2011
60,000
70,000
80,000
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
50,000
0
Pre-1997 average inflow 29,000 ML/yr
Post-1997 average inflow 18,800 ML/yr
1928
1934 19
3719
4019
4319
3119
462012
1949
1955
1958
1961
1964
1952
1967
1970 19
7619
7919
8219
8519
7319
8819
9119
972000
20032006
1994
2009
Financial year end
ML = 1,000,000 litres
Climate uncertainty
The accompanying graph shows historic inflows into the West Barwon reservoir. For more than a decade, beginning in the late 1990s, our region experienced a prolonged period of drought.
Our region is widely recognised as a desirable place to live. Residents and businesses benefit from a safe and healthy environment, offering strong economic and employment opportunities. These have been key factors in the surge in population over the past five years as people embrace a sea or tree change lifestyle.
To plan for future water uncertainty within our region, we are delivering on an Integrated Water Cycle Management (IWCM) approach, which recognises the many values of water. This is supported by our internal strategy document, the Strategic Intent.
Our approach will build resilience and diversity into our water supply systems as well as ensuring our region is sustainable, liveable and productive.
Delivering a more liveable region
Our methods of maintaining water supply will improve our region’s liveability. As well as offering water security, by diversifying our water supply options we are providing additional benefits to our community, such as reduced river and ocean discharges and making more water available for parks and gardens.
Customer affordability
Following a period of severe drought and rapid population growth, we have invested heavily in infrastructure to help secure our region’s future water supply. Barwon Water is committed to efficient spending over the next five years and limiting the financial impact for our customers.
Barwon Water / Water Supply Demand Strategy 2012 / Delivering a more liveable region 8
This strategy has been developed to be responsive to the constant changes in water supply and demand. It includes implementation of short term actions to meet any immediate water supply shortfalls, and supports ongoing investigations into options available for the medium and long term.
Any of the outlined options can be delayed or brought forward through an adaptive management approach so that this strategy can respond to change accordingly.
These principles guide decision making for this strategy and are outlined below.
PRINCIPLE DESCRIPTION
Actions will represent value for money
Actions (if required) will be chosen if they represent value for money to our customers. However this principle highlights that the ‘least cost option’ may not always be the best service outcome for customers.
Actions will have sustainable outcomes
Preferred options will be chosen using a triple bottom line assessment as well as cost indicators. This will take into account broad economic, social and environmental impacts and benefits.
Water will be made available for future needs
The supply demand balance will be maintained while being adaptive to the challenges of population and economic growth, climate variability and other challenges.
Community input will be sought
Our broader community will contribute to the decision making process.
A more resilient water system will be developed
Our community recognises that the future outlook is uncertain. It is also important that future actions offer broad community benefit. A more resilient urban water system can meet these expectations, and may include actions categorised as IWCM options.
Decision making will be adaptive to change
With future uncertainty recognised, and recent climatic variations highlighting the speed at which a situation can change, a more adaptive approach is required. Regular monitoring, planning and flexible options will be necessary.
Barwon Water / Water Supply Demand Strategy 2012 / Guiding principles 9
Vision and guiding principles
Vision and guiding principles
VISIONGOAL PRINCIPLES
Balancing water supply and demand for the future
Value for money
Water available for future needs
Adaptive decision making
Community involvement
Sustainable outcomes
Build on water system resilience
A more liveable Barwon region supported by sustainable water supplies
Barwon Water / Water Supply Demand Strategy 2012 / Vision and guiding principles 10
Our actions by service region
What we are doing for greater Geelong
New water supply sources such as the Anglesea Borefield, the Melbourne Geelong Pipeline and recycled water sources have made available an additional 30,000 megalitres to ensure our region’s water security until 2050 even with Barwon Downs borefield switched off. If climatic conditions return to dry and water consumption patterns increase to pre-water restrictions, our water supply will continue to be secure beyond 2030. As a result, water restrictions have been lifted and the Permanent Water Saving Plan applies in the greater Geelong region.
Barwon Water / Water Supply Demand Strategy 2012 / What we are doing for greater Geelong 12
New water supply and demand actions
– Catchments (Barwon & Moorabool) – Melbourne Geelong Pipeline
– Armstrong Creek (dual pipe) – Torquay and Fyansford – Northern Water Plant – Sewer mining scheme
– Anglesea borefield – Barwon Downs borefield
– Collaboration with stakeholders on opportunities in stormwater harvesting and reuse schemes
– Water consumption has dropped by 26% under water restrictions and through water efficiency programs
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Supply - Demand Forecast for Geelong
60,000
70,000
80,000
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
50,000
0
Supply
Demand
20102015
20202030
20352025
20402045
20502055
2060
What we will do for Colac
Analysis of Colac’s existing water system indicates that demand will exceed supply by 2017. Reliance on seasonal catchment inflows, limited storage capacity and the potential for bushfire and landslip risks to the water supply system indicate that we need a water source upgrade within the next five years. The best mix of options will be identified to balance supply and demand for Colac. Further consultation with the Colac community will occur in 2012.
Barwon Water / Water Supply Demand Strategy 2012 / What we will do for Colac 13
Options under further investigation
– Increased reservoir storage (upper Gellibrand River) – Increased basin storage in Colac
– Investigate potential recycled water schemes (non-drinking)
– Investigate potential groundwater sources
– Investigate potential stormwater harvesting and reuse schemes (non-drinking)
– Water efficiency programs for residential, farming and business customers
Existing water supply and demand
– Catchments (upper Gellibrand River)– Water efficiency programs for residential and business customers
Meg
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res
Supply - Demand Forecast for Colac
6,000
4,000
3,000
2,000
1,000
5,000
0
Supply
Demand
20102015
20202030
20352025
20402045
20502055
2060
Meg
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Supply - Demand Forecast for Apollo Bay
800
400
300
200
100
600
0
Supply
Demand
20102015
20202030
20352025
20402045
20502055
2060
700
500
What we are doing for coastal townships
The coastal towns of Aireys Inlet, Lorne and Apollo Bay are secure beyond 2050, although water restrictions may be needed from time to time in very dry years. Apollo Bay will still require seasonal water restrictions until a new storage is completed in 2014.
Continuing actions
– Monitor catchment inflows
– Monitor customer demand – Permanent Water Savings Plan applies
Barwon Water / Water Supply Demand Strategy 2012 / What we are doing for coastal townships 14
Meg
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Supply - Demand Forecast for Aireys Inlet
250
50
150
0
Supply
Demand
20102015
20202030
20352025
20402045
20502055
2060
200
100 Meg
alit
res
Supply - Demand Forecast for Lorne
600
400
300
200
100
500
0
Supply
Demand
20102015
20202030
20352025
20402045
20502055
2060
Barwon Water / Water Supply Demand Strategy 2012 / Next steps 15
Next steps
We will use your feedback to finalise this draft Water Supply Demand Strategy.
This strategy will then be submitted to the Department of Sustainability and Environment by 31 March 2012 for approval by the Minister for Water, the Hon. Peter Walsh MLA.
Once approved, we will make a copy of the completed strategy available for the public.