Channel spruce-up in Sedgwick

A large-scale cleanout of the Coliban Main Channel has been completed so water can flow again this spring.

General Manager Operations Julian Bull said approximately 15t of silt and rock had been removed from three water dissipators along the Leanganook Track near Springs Road in Sedgwick.

“By dissipators, we mean historic brick and stone structures which play an important role in our rural network. They displace energy from fast-flowing water that descends from a higher to a lower elevation. It’s an impressive structure from an engineering perspective,” Mr Bull said.

“These dissipators were built in the 1870s and have been a significant maintenance task for our teams. This is the first time this section has been cleaned out in over ten years.

“Removing the silt and debris has taken some real elbow grease. Due to their historical significance and the limited space around the dissipators, the work has been done by hand. Water will now flow more freely through the network,” Mr Bull said.

In the coming weeks, crews will replace sections of the concrete channel, repair leaks, and install concrete canvas linings as part of ongoing maintenance.

“Winter is the ideal time of year to complete this maintenance, while rural water is not in demand. This helps us prepare for the coming rural season as the weather gradually warms again.”

Up to 140ML of water travel down the Coliban Main Channel daily between October and May each year.

This water starts its journey at the Upper Coliban, Lauriston, and Malmsbury Reservoirs near Kyneton. It is then delivered to the Bendigo and Castlemaine Water Treatment Plants.

“It also supplies our 1,150 rural customers who operate farms, orchards, food processing plants or wineries; or use the water for livestock and domestic use,” Mr Bull said.

“The Coliban Main Channel was built to bring much-needed water to the Goldfields Region in the 1860s and is still in use for Bendigo and surrounding areas today.”

While the channel remains a critical water supply infrastructure, it is also of significant heritage importance. The original channel was built by thousands of workers who constructed the watercourse by hand to create channels, aqueducts and tunnels.

“We continue to liaise with Heritage Victoria to ensure we retain the integrity of these beautiful assets,” Mr Bull said.

Long-term works on the Coliban Main Channel will focus on reducing water loss and improving environmental and cultural outcomes. This will be part of the Rural Water Efficiency Project and may include replacing open channel sections with a piped network to minimise evaporation and leakage.

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