Sustainable water supply for Western Port farms

South East Water welcomes a $46.6 million funding boost from the Australian Government to secure precious water supplies for farms across one of Australia’s fastest growing regions.  

The National Water Grid Authority funding makes the $113 million Western Port Recycled Water Scheme a reality over the next 5 years, bringing long-term community, environmental and economic benefits.  

The new pipeline will unlock ~4,000 megalitres per annum of Class A recycled water, increasing the growth of high value fresh vegetables and the availability and reliability of water supply for irrigated agriculture in Cardinia Shire.   

Stage 1 construction will include a new pump station and ~49 km of recycled water pipeline from South East Water’s Pakenham Water Recycling Plant to local farms in Pakenham South, Cora Lynn, Vervale, Catani, Iona, Garfield, Tynong and Bayles regions. It will also increase irrigable land by around 2,900 ha, adding $104 million to the regional economy and creating around 100 direct jobs.  

South East Water Managing Director, Lara Olsen thanked the Australian and Victorian Government’s support to make the major project a reality. 

Providing a climate resilient source of water plays an important role in securing water supplies for the future, which is a key objective outlined in the Victorian Government’s Central and Gippsland Region Sustainable Water Strategy.   

South East Water expects the Western Port Recycled Water Scheme, designed in consultation with local land holders, Southern Rural Water and DEECA, to start delivering recycled water in 2028. 

The scheme is one of the organisation’s top 10 priority projects as part of its 5-year Customer Commitment (Price Submission 2023–28) and is also a priority project for the Western Port Catchment IWM forum and Western-Port-Catchment-IWM-Action-Plan.pdf (water.vic.gov.au).

For more information visit Western Port Recycled Water Scheme | South East Water 

L-R: 
South East Water Board Director, Dr Nick Fleming; Minister for Water, Harriet Shing; South East Water Managing Director, Lara Olsen; Australian Government Senator, Raff Ciccone.