Barwon Water intends to replace and upgrade 4.3 kilometers of pipes located in subpar condition within the Great Otway National Park and Otway Forest Park, situated to the west of Gerangamete and Forrest townships. These enhancements are crucial to ensure the ongoing delivery of high-quality, secure, and cost-effective services to our valued customers. Notably, the Colac pipeline serves as the primary water supply for Colac, drawing water from the Otways' West Gellibrand and Olangolah Reservoirs.
The exact timing for the project's execution will be determined once the planning approvals process is completed. Currently, our target is to initiate construction in 2024 and achieve project completion in 2025. The design phase has already been successfully concluded, and Barwon Water is presently engaged in rigorous environmental assessments and the acquisition of necessary approvals before the commencement of the construction phase. These comprehensive assessments encompass compliance with the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), a fundamental legal framework provided by the Australian Government to safeguard and manage nationally and internationally significant flora, fauna, ecological communities, and heritage sites. Our compliance with the EPBC Act is essential to mitigate potential risks to endangered flora and fauna species.
As part of the EPBC Act process, a period of public comment has been initiated. The proposed action of replacing sections of the pipeline has been designated as a controlled action under the EPBC Act, subject to assessment through Preliminary Documentation. The specific provision controlling this action pertains to 'Listed threatened species and ecological communities' (sections 18 & 18A). Public comments are invited regarding the Colac Pipeline Upgrade Sections 19, 20, 21, 23, and 25i Preliminary Documentation. This documentation is accessible both online at yoursay.barwonwater.vic.gov.au/colac-water-pipeline-upgrade and in hard copy format at two locations: the Colac Community Library & Learning Centre (173 Queen Street, Colac 3250) and the State Library Victoria (328 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000).
If you wish to make a submission, you have several options available. Submissions can be submitted online via the project page using the online submission form. Alternatively, individuals can make submissions directly via email or postal mail. For email submissions, please be sure to reference the project number EPBC 2022/09343 and send them to projects@barwonwater.vic.gov.au. For postal submissions, kindly address them to Attention: Enterprise Project Delivery, Barwon Water, PO Box 659, Geelong, Victoria 3220. All submissions must be received no later than 5 pm on 2 November 2023 (AEDT). Your valuable input is integral to the progress of this vital project, while ensuring compliance with legal requirements.
