Construction has commenced on a new 28km pipeline and pump station that will transfer water from the Melton and Bacchus Marsh recycled water plants to customers in the Parwan-Balliang district, as part of the Western Irrigation Network (WIN).
Current works are expected to finish in late 2023.
WIN is a large-scale irrigation project that will deliver a new, secure source of Class C recycled water. It will be used to irrigate thousands of hectares of farmland in the Parwan-Balliang agricultural district in Melbourne’s outer west.
The recycled water is produced at Greater Western Water’sr plants in Melton and Bacchus Marsh. It is used for a range of non-drinking purposes, including irrigation of pasture and certain crops.
By delivering a new reliable, year-round water supply to a region that experiences unreliable rainfall, WIN will help local farmers build resilience to the changing climate and expand their agribusinesses, supporting local economic growth.
WIN also helps to sustainably manage the increasing amount of recycled water being produced by the region’s growing population.
WIN is a $116 million project jointly funded by Greater Western Water, the Federal Government’s National Water Grid Fund and the private agribusinesses who will become the network’s foundation customers.