By Luke Voogt
Parklands could fringe Geelong’s heritage-listed sewer aqueduct at Breakwater, according to Barwon Health.
Strategy and planning general manager Carl Bicknell said Barwon Water recently began investigating options for the site.
Residents would be able to have their say on the fate of the aqueduct and surrounding land, he said.
“No firm decisions will be made on options for the aqueduct and a possible river park without public consultation.”
The concrete aqueduct structure had long been in poor condition, Mr Bicknell said.
Despite attempted repairs, authorities had prohibited access under the structure since 1995 due to the risk of falling concrete.
“For many years Barwon Water has been investigating options for improving public access to the riverside land,” Mr Bicknell said.
“Our aim is to preserve as much of the existing structure as possible while still allowing safe passage along the river under the aqueduct.
“There’s also the issue of funding the necessary stabilisation works for the structure and on-going management costs.”
Geelong Environment Council president Joan Lindros said she looked forward to seeing plans for the aqueduct.
“It’s a great opportunity for anothe Barwon River parkland.”
The 756-metre long aqueduct was decommissioned in 1992 when a new sewer pipe was constructed under the river.
The aqueduct carried Geelong’s first main outfall sewer pipe across the Barwon River to reach Bass Strait since 1916.
Barwon Water purchased the 65-hectare floodplain on the north side of the river in 1993 after the then-Geelong Regional Commission put it on the market.
After acquiring the land Barwon Water excluded grazing from most of the site to re-establish native vegetation.
Grazing on the site ceased entirely about a decade ago.
