Phase 2 of Coliban Water’s Kyneton Solutions Project to upgrade the Kyneton Water Reclamation Plant is on track to be completed by December 2020, subject to favourable weather conditions.
Project Director Danny McLean said construction work on a 200-megalitre storage lagoon will start this month.
“Our new storage lagoon is a major component of our upgrade works and will more than double the storage capacity at the plant.
“Combined with the new storage lagoon at Hardwick Meatworks farm property, built as part of the Phase 1 works, the total storage capacity will be more than 600 megalitres.
“Phase 2 works on our Class C to Class B treatment plant to supply Hardwick’s storage are well advanced and we expect the plant to be commissioned in early September 2020.
“This multimillion-dollar investment will ensure we have a sustainable water reuse scheme in place and that only tertiary treated water that meets our Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria licence conditions is released to the Campaspe River,” said Mr McLean.
The Kyneton Water Reclamation Plant has struggled to store the treated water it produces when there isn’t a demand for irrigation water or sufficient flows to release water to the Campaspe River.
“The treated water we produce is supplied to the Kyneton Racecourse, Kyneton Botanic Gardens, Kyneton Showgrounds, Barkly Square Recreation Reserve and Hardwick’s farm,” said Mr McLean.
“We are currently assessing Expressions of Interest from local landowners wanting to be supplied with recycled water produced at the plant. This additional reuse scheme will support local businesses and agriculture and help protect the Campaspe River.
“We are committed to ensuring the water released from our plant is beneficial to the waterways and the environment and that we have a positive impact on water quality in the Campaspe River.
“In partnership with North Central Catchment Management Authority, we have carried out 14.3km of environment improvement works along Post Office Creek and Campaspe River in Kyneton.
“The $2.1 million project supports the North Central CMA’s Caring for the Campaspe project and will have a positive impact on water quality and catchment health.
“To ensure the success of the project we have committed to achieving an 80 per cent survival rate which involves supplementary planting in spring, watering in summer and weeding for four years.
“Healthy People and Environment is one of our four Strategic Directions of our Strategy 2030, our 10-year plan to achieve our vision of Water to Live, Grow and Enjoy.
“Strategy 2030 guides us to ensure our water and wastewater services sustain and grow economic activity and investment for our region.
Once completed the upgrade works at the Kyneton Water Reclamation Plant will serve the growing Kyneton community until 2040,” said Mr McLean.
Quote attributable to the Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas MP
“I’m pleased Coliban Water is continuing to respond to the concerns of our community and getting on with work that produces better outcomes for the environment, our local farmers and our local businesses.”
For more information see the Kyneton Solutions Project web page on www.coliban.com.au
Last updated on 01 Sep 2020