Geelong will be drinking water from Victoria’s expensive desalination plant next summer, state government has announced.
Premier Daniel Andrews said an order of 50 gigalitres of desalinated water would be delivered next summer.
Geelong storages currently sit at 38.9 per cent compared to 65.0 per cent at this time last year.
Mr Andrews said advice from Melbourne Water in consultation with the three metropolitan water retailers recommended placing the water order.
He said the advice was based on a detailed analysis considering current water levels, the likelihood of low inflows, dry conditions in the short-term, and forecast demand.
Mr Andrews conceded the order would add $12 a year to an average metropolitan water bill, but a proposal being considered by the Essential Services Commission could reduce water bills by more than that amount.
“This critical move will improve water certainty for families in Geelong. It will mean certainty for businesses, for sporting grounds and local communities,” Mr Andrews said.
Geelong has a 59 km pipeline, built by the previous Labor Government, linking the city to Melbourne’s water grid.
Melbourne’s use of desalinated water means that Geelong will be able to access water from Melbourne’s storages.
Mr Andrews said the Target 155 water savings campaign would be reactivated because of ongoing pressures of population growth, climate change and current dry conditions.
The Government is also soon to release a Water Plan which will help ensure Victoria is best prepared to deal with the challenges posed by changing rainfall patterns, climate change and rapid population growth.
