Water Security A High Priority

Monday, May 7th, 2018

The Lance Creek Water Connection is a Victorian Government project delivered by South Gippsland Water to secure the water supply needs of Korumburra, Poowong, Loch and Nyora over the next 50 years.

With Korumburra on Stage 3 water restrictions and the Little Bass supply system (Poowong, Loch and Nyora) likely to be placed on Stage 2 water restrictions within the next month if current dry conditions persist, water security for the area continues to be a high priority.

Construction of the Lance Creek Water Connection is a key component in South Gippsland Water’s long-term strategy to secure water supplies for the region. The project will connect Korumburra, Poowong, Loch and Nyora to South Gippsland Water’s largest reservoir, Lance Creek, which is also connected to the Melbourne Water Supply System.

Mark Lynch, Acting Managing Director for South Gippsland Water said, “The combination of these systems will secure water supply for the area and minimise the likelihood of staged water restrictions for these townships in the future.”

“Although the dry weather conditions are having an impact on current water storage levels, it has enabled construction of the pipeline to keep to schedule.”

The section of pipeline extending from South Gippsland Water’s Lance Creek Water Treatment Plant to its Korumburra Water Treatment Plant is 89% complete, with 19.3km of pipeline installed and rehabilitation work on some properties underway.

Site work for the construction of the Korumburra–Poowong section of pipeline is on schedule with an 8.8km stretch of construction corridor prepared and 5.9km of pipe installed.

The recent addition of a 50 tonne excavator to the project has add extra muscle to the excavation of a 2m wide trench needed for a 1.4km section of dual pipeline between the Korumburra Water Treatment Plant and the Korumburra township.

One pipe is part of the project’s infrastructure that will transport water from Lance Creek WTP northward to the Korumburra WTP. The other pipe will replace two existing, aged trunk mains that carry water from the Korumburra WTP southward to Korumburra.

“The project provided a timely and economically feasible opportunity to upgrade water supply to Korumburra residents through the reticulated system,” explained Mr Lynch.

“Significant upgrades are also occurring at each of the Lance Creek, Korumburra and Poowong water treatment plants to enable the processing and supply of the higher volumes of water the pipeline will provide.”

New pump stations being constructed at the Lance Creek and Korumburra Water Treatment Plants will be capable of pumping 140 litres per second and 30 litres per second respectively across some very steep terrain.

The Lance Creek Water Connection is a key Victorian Government project that will secure the water supply needs of Korumburra, Poowong, Loch and Nyora over the next 50 years.

“The Lance Creek Water Treatment Plant currently supplies water to Wonthaggi, Inverloch and Cape Paterson and, on completion of the pipeline, it will have the capacity to supply an average of 8 million litres per day to over 60% of South Gippsland Water’s customer base,” highlighted Mr Lynch.

To find out more about the Lance Creek Water Connection and to receive regular updates, visit the Project page.
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