Barwon Water has received approval from Heritage Victoria for a permit to partially remove sections of a historic aqueduct structure in Geelong.
The water utility lodged the permit application in September 2025, seeking approval to remove the aqueduct’s 14 towers and spans while retaining and activating other elements of the site.
Heritage Victoria has now confirmed the permit has been granted, subject to 29 conditions.
The 750m ovoid sewer aqueduct was built in 1915 across the lower Barwon and decommissioned in the early 1990s. Since then, it has suffered serious deterioration of the concrete, making it unsafe and rendering the bridge and surrounding river area inaccessible.
Despite local heritage groups advocating for its preservation, the cost for restoration has been a major obstacle to any resolution on the aqueduct for more than two decades.
Now Barwon Water hopes it can work toward a compromise, removing some parts of the aqueduct, preserving some elements for heritage and reactivating the riverside area.
Barwon Water acknowledged the decision, noting that Heritage Victoria undertook a comprehensive and carefully considered evaluation before reaching its determination.
The full determination and associated documentation have been published on the Heritage Victoria website.
Barwon Water said it will now review the conditions attached to the permit and assess how they may influence the broader project.
Despite the proposed changes, the utility said it remains committed to recognising the historical significance of the site while enabling the safe reopening of the river corridor and Porronggitj Karrong for public use.
Further information about the aqueduct project is available via Barwon Water’s community engagement platform.
