Community has say in 50-year water plan

SOUTH East Water has called on the community to provide input into the State Government’s plan to secure Melbourne’s water supplies.
Water Minister John Thwaites last week released the draft Central Region Sustainable Water strategy.
The strategy aims to secure water supplies for home, business, industry, farms and the environment for the next 50 years.
South East Water managing director Dennis Cavagna said these actions would safeguard water supplies while improving the health of the rivers and creeks in the area. “Demand for water in Melbourne and elsewhere is expected to outstrip supply within 15 years.
“If we don’t act now, our children might one day turn on the tap for a glass of water and there won’t be any clean fresh drinking water,” Mr Cavagna said.
“The draft strategy proposes a combination of water conservation, alternative supplies such as recycled water, interconnecting systems and augmenting existing infrastructure to overcome the challenges of population growth and climate change.
“With sensitive areas such as the Mornington Peninsula, Western Port and the Pakenham growth corridor falling in South East Water’s service area, it is important that our customers provide input into this crucial water policy document.”
Key parts of the strategy include increased water saving targets up from 15 per cent by 2010 to 30 per cent by 2020, increased environmental flows for the region’s rivers, including an additional 20 billion litres for the Yarra River, and interconnection of water systems across the region.