By REBECCA BILLS
ALMOST 3000 million litres of drinking water will be saved in the greater Geelong region with the opening of a new class A recycled water plant.
The Black Rock plant was officially opened by water minister Peter Walsh to produce recycled water for homes in new residential growth centres.
Mr Walsh said the $42 million high tech facility would slash treated water discharges to Bass Strait and provide a sustainable water supply alternative to the “booming coastal strip”.
“Gone are the days where we flush precious drinking water down the toilet or send stormwater straight out to the ocean without a second thought,” Mr Walsh said.
Armstrong Creek will be the first water sensitive residential development to use the new plant with the suburb and North Torquay customers starting to receive water via a separate purple pipe system in early 2014.
Barwon Water Chairman Michael King said the plant would boost the Black Rock precinct’s value, delivering environmental, social and economic benefits.
“The plant will create new opportunities for water re-use and help Barwon Water achieve several recycled water targets in its overall drive towards sustainability,” he said.
The Australian Government provided $10 million towards the construction of the Black Rock Recycled Water Plant, and a further $10 million for recycled water infrastructure for the Torquay growth corridor.
