Basic plan in creek pipeline

Jessica Benton
BARWON Water has developed a plan to supply “basic” services to Geelong’s Armstrong Creek growth area.
But the authority said its business case did not “preclude” later development of features such as recommendations in a consultants’ study to cut water consumption by 75 per cent.
The Bonnaci Water report recommended measures such as on-site recycling and a third-pipe system to make Armstrong Creek a model of water conservation.
Bonacci proposed options to cut mains use by 75 per cent and sewage discharges by 65 per cent.
The report said adopting all the measures as well as further cuts to consumption of 25 per cent would make the proposed construction of a Melbourne-Geelong pipeline unnecessary for up to 30 years.
But the reports’ authors said Barwon Water was “hesitant” about some of the options because the pipeline from Melbourne could provide an “abundance” of potable water.
However, Barwon Water said it would consider options such as water-sensitive urban design and “conservation measures” in a second business plan.
Geelong councillor Rod Macdonald said the conservation features should be included at the start of work on Armstrong Creek’s housing estate for around 60,000 residents.
“To be efficient, we need to include the measures right from the onset. This would reduce the costs of the initial infrastructure, piping, and would mean everything was done at the same time,” he said.
“I sincerely hope they (Barwon Water) adopt the sustainability measures because the developers are keen to see recycling options go ahead.”
Cr Macdonald said Armstrong Creek could be a “flagship model” of water conservation for the rest of the country.
Geelong Environment Council president Joan Lindros said commencing housing developments without recycling infrastructure would be “outrageous”.
She believed Barwon Water had a problem balancing its role as a retailer of water with community expectations about reducing consumption.
Ms Lindros called on State Government to “rethink the whole use of water” and to set conservation standards for authorities.