Work has started on the second stage of Gippsland Water’s new pipeline and pump station.
The $15 million Moe to Warragul interconnector will allow the transfer of up to eight million litres of water per day between the two previously unconnected water grids.
The second stage of the project involves construction of a pipeline from Darnum to the Warragul South basin on Korumburra-Warragul Road, along with new booster pumps at Darnum and a new pump station at Trafalgar West.
Gippsland Water currently takes water from the Tarago Reservoir to supply Warragul and Drouin, but entitlements are limited as the reservoir also supplies Westernport and the Mornington Peninsula.
The interconnector will allow the transfer of water in either direction, offering improved operational security and making the region more resilient to changes in supply and demand, such as climate change and population growth.
Gippsland Water’s General Manager Customer and Community, Paul Clark, said that the new pipe is a key piece of infrastructure.
“We’re proud to support the economy and liveability of our region by investing in the water grid. Ultimately, we’re ensuring that Gippslanders are able to benefit from our valuable water resources, and enabling water to be accessed from a wider range of sources,” Mr Clark said.
The first stage of the project, a pipe between Yarragon and Darnum, was completed in 2012.
Construction of stage two is expected to be complete by mid-2018, and the pipe is expected to be operational by 2019.
