Delivering for our customers as we continue to grow
Coliban Water is delivering one of the largest capital investment programs since the formation of the water authority, with close to $500 million investment planned.
Managing Director Damian Wells said as the business enters year two of its five-year regulated pricing period, monitored by the Essential Services Commission, it was an opportunity to reflect on our progress.
“Fronting up to the key challenges of climate change, population growth and aging assets shaped our pricing submission in 2023. We’re now delivering on these commitments we made for our region,” Mr Wells said.
“We know the decisions we make today are delivering value for our customers while ensuring readiness to serve future generations. We are guided by our renewed strategy dhelk gatjin dhelk balak (healthy water, healthy people), providing us with a fresh approach to serve current and future communities.
“We want to demonstrate a sustained track record of performance, continue to pursue operational excellence and be a reliable, efficient water utility for our customers. As we step into year two of this journey, we have a solid foundation to build from, with 2023/24 proving to be a strong year of performance.”
So far, Coliban Water has delivered $73 million in its annual capital program. Annual investment has more than doubled in three years (from $31.3 million in 2020/21) and will continue to grow, with some very large projects ahead.
This includes a major upgrade of the Bendigo and Castlemaine Water Reclamation Plants. There are plans to break ground at the Bendigo site in Epsom for the first stage of upgrades near the end of 2025.
Drinking water networks and treatment processes have been improved, from Echuca in the north to Trentham in the south, including key growth areas of Epsom, Huntly and Marong.
“The investment we’re making now across the board will benefit almost 180,000 people who call our region home, through the delivery of core water and wastewater services we provide, and our environmental stewardship.
“We’ve also doubled our Coliban Assist program. Including utility relief grants, we have provided more than $1 million in financial support to reach thousands of customers who needed extra support,” Mr Wells said.
A number of flood recovery works have been completed, including reinstatement of the Lake Eppalock Pump Station which suffered major damage in 2022. It is one of the region’s most crucial pieces of water infrastructure, and work included upgrades to internal switchboards, pumps and motors to improve long-term sustainability of the asset. It is now easier to operate and safer for those working onsite.
“For our staff, we’ve reduced the gender wage gap from 9% to 3%, with the most senior levels of our business achieving gender equity. We’ve improved staff engagement and satisfaction for the third year in a row,” Mr Wells said.
“We’re also on track to be a 100% renewable energy consumer by 2025 and deliver net zero carbon emissions by 2030.
“There is so much more to come as we continue to grow and deliver the water and sewerage services on which we all rely. We know that resilient assets will address long term water security for our region,” Mr Wells said.
Reflecting on 2023/24
· $2 million was invested at the Pyramid Hill Water Treatment Plant to refurbish the clarifiers and filters.
· An $11 million upgrade of Echuca Water Treatment Plant was completed. The works included the installation of two 3.3 megalitre water storage tanks along with new pumps, a pump station and a new ultraviolet water filtration system.
· We invested $5.8 million to deliver the five-kilometre Epsom-Huntly Pipeline, which improved water pressure and capacity for more than 6,200 households. It is one of the largest water supply pipeline projects installed in our region recently.
· A new 10-hectare Biosolids Base was completed at Dunolly, to help us process biosolids for sustainable reuse later, on farmland.
· A new 1.2 megalitre clear water storage was brought online at Trentham to increase the capacity and efficiency of our plant and network.
· We wrapped up our largest ever program of water and sewer main renewals, with $8.5 million invested. This included 16.8 kilometres of water main renewals and 25 kilometres of sewer main renewals at more than 60 sites.
And there’s a lot more to do – with a further $20 million planned for renewal works between now and 2028.
· We invested $2.5 million to renew sections of the Coliban Main Channel, with another $1.9 million in coming years.
· We completed works to remediate erosion at Campbells Creek, with further significant works planned for Castlemaine Water Reclamation Plant during this pricing period.
· We replaced the clear water storage liner at Specimen Hill Reservoir and also at Bendigo Water Treatment Plant, to protect drinking water supplies for a population of 110,000.
· We spent $1.1 million to refurbish Elmore Water Tower, which increased storage capacity and improved water pressure for the town.
· We’ve upgraded our water treatment processes at Cohuna, Korong Vale, Laanecoorie and Leitchville as part of day-to-day efficiency and improving the water supply we provide to customers.
· More than 19,932 megalitres of drinking water was supplied to customers across our region.
· Approximately 350 megalitres of recycled water was supplied which keeps our parks and gardens green. This includes Bendigo's beautiful Rosalind Park and the Garden for the Future in White Hills.
· 13,210 megalitres of wastewater was collected and treated at our water reclamation plants across the region.
· We cleaned more than 500 kilometres of water mains across our region
· We delivered approximately 2,491 megalitres of rural water to 672 licence holders.
· We continued development of a major business case to modernise our rural supply network.
Last updated on 11 Oct 2024