Phase one consultation complete for rural water efficiency project
Coliban Water has completed phase one of consultation with its almost 1,200 rural water customers, Rural Customer Advisory Group, and other stakeholders to better understand current and anticipated usage patterns as it plans for the future of its rural network.
The consultation forms part of the Coliban Regional Rural Modernisation: Rural Water Efficiency Project, which aims to make the region’s ageing rural water network more efficient.
General Manager Water and Climate Strategy, Adam Crameri, said that unlike the fully piped urban water network, untreated or recycled water is predominantly delivered to rural customers through a series of open earthen or concrete channels.
“Many of these channels are old, with some originally constructed to bring water to the region’s goldfields. This ageing infrastructure is inefficient, and we currently estimate the network loses approximately 3.2 gigalitres of water per year through seepage and leakage.
“That’s the equivalent of 1,280 Olympic swimming pools,” Mr Crameri said.
“In a region where climate change is likely to create extended dry periods or drought in the future, it’s essential we are wise custodians of our precious water resources, improve our network’s performance, and do all we can to improve our water security.
Mr Crameri explained that consultation was an essential step in the development of a Detailed Business Case for the Rural Water Efficiency Project. The business case is being co-funded by the Australian Government, which is contributing $3.7 million to the project through the National Water Grid Fund, which complements Coliban Water’s $2 million.
“In phase one of our consultation, we invited rural customers to complete a detailed survey and ran drop-in sessions across our rural service areas. Interest and participation levels were high, with approximately 35% of rural customers completing the survey and 165 people attending face-to-face sessions.
“Feedback is confirming there has been a change in our rural network over the years. Many of our rural channels can now be found in more built-up urban areas, often with alternate water sources,” he said.
“While our rural network still supports stock, crops, and food production, in many instances this valuable water is not used as it once was. Understanding these patterns will ensure our future plans can meet customer needs for the next 50 years, reduce water loss, deliver greater reliability, and lead to better environmental and cultural outcomes.”
Mr Crameri said the next steps involved the development of options for each of the rural water network’s 12 channel systems.
“We’ll be combining customer feedback and usage patterns with our own technical investigations to come up with a range of options for each system. Those options might range from modernisation, to reconfiguration, connection to alternate water supply, or rationalisation where rural water supply may no longer be needed.
“We’ll then continue our consultation to further explore these options with customers before completing our Detailed Business Case in December 2025,” he said.
Coliban Water has previously modernised the Harcourt rural water system, which doesn’t form part of the current review.
More information is available and those interested can follow the Rural Water Efficiency Project at www.connect.coliban.com.au/rural-water-efficiency
ENDS
For more information:
Communications and Engagement
communictions@coliban.com.au
T: 0459 888 980