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 info@barwonwater.vic.gov.au, 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 info@barwonwater.vic.gov.au 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.

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Annual Inflows to West Barwon Reservoir 1928-2011

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Pre-1997 average inflow 29,000 ML/yr

Post-1997 average inflow 18,800 ML/yr

1928

1934 19

3719

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3119

462012

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1952

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1970 19

7619

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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

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Demand

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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

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Supply - Demand Forecast for Colac

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Demand

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Supply - Demand Forecast for Apollo Bay

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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

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Supply - Demand Forecast for Aireys Inlet

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Demand

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Supply - Demand Forecast for Lorne

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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.