Lorne community and Barwon Water come together to discuss water future

Barwon Water’s new Lorne Community Working Group has met for the first time as part of the Lorne: Water, Your Say program, which was launched in May 2023.

This group will help Barwon Water design a sustainable and resilient future by sharing their knowledge, local insights and the community’s priorities and values.

Barwon Water Managing Director Shaun Cumming said he was eager to listen and learn about the things that were important to the Lorne community and to ensure that plans for the long-term water security of Lorne aligned with community values and priorities.

“We are moving to a hotter, drier and more variable climate where extremely dry conditions are possible year to year.

“In 2015/16, Lorne experienced hot and dry conditions that saw our storages at Lorne drop very quickly to levels where supply needed to be restricted and water carted to the town for the first time to supplement supplies.”

Mr Cumming said that climate change and the move to a hotter and drier climate meant that weather events like 2015/16 were predicted to become more frequent in the future.

“In planning for the challenge of a drying climate and reduced rainfall, we need to think differently about where our water comes from and how we use it, which is why the Lorne: Water, Your Say program is so important.

“We know that we can achieve much better outcomes by working with our community, sharing ideas, and coming up with the right water solutions for Lorne together.”

The newly formed Community Working Group, which met for the first time on Monday 25 September, contributed their thoughts to a critical flow study on the St George River – their connection to the river, memories, stories and what’s important to them. This study will ultimately determine how much water is required to support the river’s health.

“The group shared their local insights, including observations about changes to conditions over time, differences in biodiversity, and notable events that have had an impact on the river and estuary health,” Mr Cumming said.

Mr Cumming also noted the breadth of experience and knowledge in the group, saying that the attendees collectively brought many years of connection, stories, memories and knowledge.

The study is a key input into the broader Lorne: Water, Your Say program and will help identify future water supply options.

Mr Cumming said Barwon Water was looking forward to continuing to work with the Community Working Group on how to help Lorne thrive into the future.

The next Community Working Group will be held late November. Those interested in joining are invited to register interest by contacting the Barwon Water team at projects@barwonwater.vic.gov.au or 1300 656 007.

For more information about the Lorne: Water, Your Say project visit: www.yoursay.barwonwater.vic.gov.au/lorne-hub.