Construction has begun on a new pipeline connecting Parwan and Balliang, which will irrigate thousands of hectares of farmland with recycled water, expand agribusiness and support economic growth.
The pipeline will provide Parwan and Balliang farmers with a reliable, year-round supply of recycled water from late 2023, as part of the Western Irrigation Network (WIN).
WIN is a large-scale irrigation project that will deliver a new, secure source of Class C recycled water. It will be used to irrigate thousands of hectares of farmland in the Parwan-Balliang agricultural district in Melbourne’s outer west.
WIN is a $116 million project jointly funded by Greater Western Water, the Australian Government’s National Water Grid Fund and the private agribusinesses who will become the network’s foundation customers.
The recycled water is produced at WIN plants in Melton and Bacchus Marsh. It is used for a range of non-drinking purposes, including irrigation of pasture and certain crops.
The current stage of works is expected to finish in late 2023. Once complete, the 28km pipeline and a new pump station will transfer water from the Melton and Bacchus Marsh recycled water plants to customers in the Parwan-Balliang district.
By delivering a new water supply to a region that experiences unreliable rainfall, WIN will help local farmers build resilience to our changing climate and expand their agribusinesses, supporting local economic growth.
WIN also helps sustainably manage the increasing amount of recycled water being produced by the region’s growing population.
