By Jed Lanyon
Coldstream Water Supply Scheme Inc (CWSS) is calling on major political parties contesting the upcoming federal election to commit $10 million to fund the Coldstream Recycled Water Pipeline.
The Coldstream Recycled Water Pipeline would involve the construction of 46 kilometres of new water distribution pipeline throughout the Coldstream district.
CWSS state that he pipeline would carry treated wastewater from Yarra Valley Water’s Lilydale Sewage Treatment Plant to 50 on-farm dams in Coldstream and Gruyere for irrigation purposes.
CWSS president Cliff Riseborough said the pipeline scheme was a community driven initiative that Council had supported and been advocating for over a number of years. A business case undertaken in 2017, involving extensive community consultation, indicated a strong level of support for the pipeline.
Recent advocacy efforts had also successfully secured $250,000 from the federal government for a feasibility study to finalise design and planning for construction.
“Water security poses a significant risk for many businesses in the Yarra Valley, which are major contributors to our local economy and account for a significant proportion of Yarra Ranges’ Gross Regional Product, worth an estimated value of $5.22 billion,” Mr Riseborough said.
“This community led solution would support a diverse range of agricultural businesses, including wineries, strawberry growers, fruit orchards and equine facilities.
“It is backed by a number of state government agencies and is shovel ready, with a full business case including design details, engineering plans and an environment management plan – all it needs now is the funding to make it happen,” he said.
“With the Federal Election drawing closer, we call on all major political parties to throw their support behind our local growers and commit to funding and future-proofing water supplies for irrigation in this region.”
CWSS said the Yarra Valley has had one of the driest summers with water levels in many of the dams in the area significantly below previous levels, and that a number of growers are willing to back the project by investing 50 per cent of the total cost of the $20 million project.
Once constructed, CWSS state that the Coldstream Recycled Water Pipeline would be run either as a community owned and operated scheme, governed by a Community Water Supply and Access Agreement (CWSAS), or in conjunction with an authority allowing the supply and access of water to participating landowners.
