STUDIES COMMENCED ON THOMSON AND YARRA RIVERS
From the Minister for Water
Friday, 22 May 2009
Water authorities have commenced studies to look at the possibility of
suspending some environmental flows from the Yarra and Thomson rivers
should they be required to augment Melbourne’s water supplies.
Water Minister Tim Holding said with water storages currently at 26.7 per cent and with the possibility of extremely low inflows into Melbourne’s major reservoirs, it was vital that authorities investigated a number of contingencies.
“The Brumby Government has a long-term plan in place for securing water supplies for Melbourne which includes diversifying our water sources to include non-rainfall dependent sources of water such as Australia’s largest desalination plant,” Mr Holding said.
“In the meantime, it is important that Melbourne Water has short-term contingencies should Melbourne continue to experience extremely low rainfall and inflows into our major catchments.
“While we have to see what inflows eventuate over the coming months it is important that we understand the impact of suspending some environmental flows should one of these options be needed.
“We are particularly conscious that the Yarra River has been under stress as a result of the recent bushfires and the ongoing drought. This will be carefully assessed as part of this process.
Melbourne Water will examine the Yarra River and the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority will examine the Thomson River. Water authorities will consult with other stakeholders as part of investigating potential impacts and benefits from each contingency.
Melbourne’s storages currently have more than 470 billion litres of water – Melbourne used on average just under one billion litres a day last year.
For the year to date, the major catchments have received 38 per cent less rainfall than the long-term average (186.7mm this year compared to 302.9 mm). Inflows into our water storages are 43 per cent below the long-term average for the year - or more than 33 billion litres less.
The traditional filling season for Melbourne’s catchments is June to November. The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast a 40-45 per cent chance of exceeding median rainfall between May and July.
The Victorian Government has temporarily deferred some environmental flows from both rivers in recent years as a drought contingency measure.
Mr Holding said it was more important than ever that the Government continue with the major water projects contained in its Water Plan to boost Melbourne’s water supplies.
Melbourne’s major water projects which are underway include:
• 15 billion litres of water per year from the Tarago Re-connection from mid-2009;
• 75 billion litres from the Sugarloaf Pipeline in 2010 and a third of the water savings from Stage 1 of the irrigation upgrades in northern Victoria ever year after that; and
• 150 billion litres of water from Victoria’s Desalination Plant from the end of 2011.
Mr Holding said the current Stage 3a water restrictions combined with Target 155 would continue until at least the end of November.
“Melburnians are continuing to save water at record levels with 8 billion litres of additional water saved since Target 155 was introduced in December last year,” he said.
“It is vital that Melbourne households and industry continue to save water as our major water projects come online.”
Water Minister Tim Holding said with water storages currently at 26.7 per cent and with the possibility of extremely low inflows into Melbourne’s major reservoirs, it was vital that authorities investigated a number of contingencies.
“The Brumby Government has a long-term plan in place for securing water supplies for Melbourne which includes diversifying our water sources to include non-rainfall dependent sources of water such as Australia’s largest desalination plant,” Mr Holding said.
“In the meantime, it is important that Melbourne Water has short-term contingencies should Melbourne continue to experience extremely low rainfall and inflows into our major catchments.
“While we have to see what inflows eventuate over the coming months it is important that we understand the impact of suspending some environmental flows should one of these options be needed.
“We are particularly conscious that the Yarra River has been under stress as a result of the recent bushfires and the ongoing drought. This will be carefully assessed as part of this process.
Melbourne Water will examine the Yarra River and the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority will examine the Thomson River. Water authorities will consult with other stakeholders as part of investigating potential impacts and benefits from each contingency.
Melbourne’s storages currently have more than 470 billion litres of water – Melbourne used on average just under one billion litres a day last year.
For the year to date, the major catchments have received 38 per cent less rainfall than the long-term average (186.7mm this year compared to 302.9 mm). Inflows into our water storages are 43 per cent below the long-term average for the year - or more than 33 billion litres less.
The traditional filling season for Melbourne’s catchments is June to November. The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast a 40-45 per cent chance of exceeding median rainfall between May and July.
The Victorian Government has temporarily deferred some environmental flows from both rivers in recent years as a drought contingency measure.
Mr Holding said it was more important than ever that the Government continue with the major water projects contained in its Water Plan to boost Melbourne’s water supplies.
Melbourne’s major water projects which are underway include:
• 15 billion litres of water per year from the Tarago Re-connection from mid-2009;
• 75 billion litres from the Sugarloaf Pipeline in 2010 and a third of the water savings from Stage 1 of the irrigation upgrades in northern Victoria ever year after that; and
• 150 billion litres of water from Victoria’s Desalination Plant from the end of 2011.
Mr Holding said the current Stage 3a water restrictions combined with Target 155 would continue until at least the end of November.
“Melburnians are continuing to save water at record levels with 8 billion litres of additional water saved since Target 155 was introduced in December last year,” he said.
“It is vital that Melbourne households and industry continue to save water as our major water projects come online.”
