The Andrews Labor Government is securing long-term water supplies and protecting jobs, farmers, families and communities that rely on them.
The Victorian Budget 2022/23 will invest $112 million to manage our water sustainably into the future – ensuring green spaces remain green, supporting farmers and securing our drinking water supply.
The Labor Government is putting $56.6 million behind the Central and Gippsland Region Sustainable Water Strategy – our 50-year water security plan – to support jobs, communities, industry and agriculture across the region.
This includes $10 million for waterway and catchment health projects, improving the water supply to the Lower Latrobe wetlands, delivering a fishway at Maffra Weir and investigating ways to improve the health of the Moorabool River and upgrade the Werribee Diversion Weir.
It also includes $39 million for more recycled and stormwater projects, giving communities and businesses guaranteed water supply for green spaces such as local parklands, and preserving our drinking water supply.
The Budget invests $6 million to help protect our water sector from the harsh effects of climate change as part of the Water Cycle Adaptation Action Plan. This includes projects to increase stormwater and recycled water uptake and trialling new blue-green algae management approaches to prevent outbreaks.
There is $1.6 million to explore ways regional Victoria can unlock more benefits from the desalination plant, including investigating an expansion of the Melbourne-Geelong Pipeline, to ensure we continue to secure drinking water supplies, drought-proof our natural environment and support industry and agriculture.
The Budget includes $51.8 million for a long-term solution to mine-affected groundwater under Bendigo, with remediation works to support tourism at Central Deborah Gold Mine and protect the natural environment of Bendigo Creek.
There is also $3.9 million to support the water aspirations of Aboriginal Victorians and develop leadership opportunities for Aboriginal Victorians on water sector boards.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Water Lisa Neville
“By investing in our water security, we’re investing in the future of our state – as well as the jobs, communities and industries that rely on it.”
“As Victoria’s population grows and the climate gets warmer and drier, we need to use more recycled and storm water to irrigate places like local parklands, and help save more water for drinking. It’s an important part of our plan to keep water bills low for all Victorians."
Reviewed 03 May 2022