- Published:
- Friday 27 July 2018
The Donald community can now enjoy better swimming, fishing and other recreational activities at the iconic Donald Weir Pool thanks to drought-proofing support from the Andrews Labor Government.
Premier Daniel Andrews today returned to the Donald Weir Pool to inspect the $170,000 upgrade of the weir pool and get a first-hand look at how this project is benefiting the local community.
The project was funded through the Labor Government’s $3 million Sport and Recreational Water Infrastructure Program, which provides assistance for communities affected by drought.
Donald Mineral Sands has donated additional water that will see 100 megalitres of water delivered to the pool, which will flow into the weir over coming weeks.
While water levels in the weir pool are healthy following good conditions last year, more water in the weir ensures the local community can continue to enjoy the pool during summer, which includes fishing and canoeing.
As part of the project, a new 400 metre pipeline has been built connecting the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline to an existing stormwater pipeline to deliver water supply to the weir pool all year round.
The stormwater pipe will also direct harvested stormwater to a dam for use on local sporting grounds by the community. This was made possible thanks to an additional $75,000 from the water infrastructure program, which will also improve the irrigation and drainage system at the recreational reserve.
The Sport and Recreational Water Infrastructure Program was a key part of the $10 million Drought Support Fund announced early in 2016 as part of the Labor Government’s $27 million Drought Response Package.
The program includes developing more efficient solutions for water access and specific projects to increase certainty of recreational opportunities at lakes and weirs through drought periods.
Quotes attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews
“It’s great to be back in the north-west to see first-hand how this project is benefitting local communities.”
“People in the Wimmera and Mallee did it extremely tough in the recent drought and only Labor is delivering the water security these communities need to help them get through future tough times.”