‘Slug’ set for new estate water work

Peter Farago
BARWON Water could slug developers racing to build at Armstrong Creek for vital infrastructure.
The authority revealed the charge after it told Geelong’s council Barwon Water could not provide sewerage for a proposed 960-home subdivision at Fyansford.
The authority had objected to Moltoni-Clough Joint Venture’s plan to rezone 83-hectares at Fyansford but indicated it could cope with providing sewerage for 300 homes at two adjoining projects.
Acting executive manager for strategy and technology Paul Northey said the authority had withdrawn its objection but maintained it could not sewer the 960-home development “at this stage”.
“If 900 lots were built and sewered the existing main would be overloaded,” Mr Northey said.
“We’d have to build a main that connects further along the system. We’d have to get approvals and be confident that the project was viable and able to be delivered.”
Mr Northey said the authority would also have to slot a new project into a jam-packed $600 million capital works schedule.
The projects include a pipeline connecting Melbourne and Geelong systems, a North-ern Water Plant, a biosolids treatment facility at Black Rock and an investigation of an Anglesea borefield for additional supplies.
Mr Northey said Barwon Water would have to factor new housing into its schedule if developers “brought forward” their projects.
“There’s only so much infrastructure we can build (simultaneously),” he said.
Mr Northey revealed Barwon Water could charge developers “bring-forward” costs to cope with a potential glut of housing development on top of the capital works schedule.
“It’s fair to say the timing of Armstrong Creek, from what council is indicating, has been brought forward.”
But Urban Development Institute of Australia Victorian executive director Tony De Domenico said Barwon Water should seek State Government help to open more zoned land in Geelong.
“There’s very little zoned land available,” Mr De Domenico said.
“Unless you get that zoned land onto the market, existing prices are going to be blown out of the water.”
“Geelong is dominated by state and federal government members. There’s no excuse not to go to government to get money for infrastructure.”