Victorian Minister for Water Peter Walsh has visited the town of Rochester to see first-hand how local water treatment plant upgrades are benefiting the community and supporting growth in the region.
Mr Walsh and Member for Rodney Paul Weller toured Coliban Water’s newly upgraded Rochester Water Treatment Plant and inspected current works at the nearby Water Reclamation Plant.
“The Victorian Coalition Government is committed to ensuring regional communities like Rochester have access to reliable and high-quality water supplies to underpin their future growth,” Mr Walsh said.
“The Rochester Water Treatment Plant has undergone a $7.6 million upgrade to deliver a more reliable and higher quality supply of potable water to residents.
“At times when the quality of the raw water supply is low, the plant previously struggled to treat the water and continue supplying customers. The plant’s upgraded treatment processes mean it can now continue producing a high standard of water year-round.”
Mr Walsh said upgrade works were also well underway at the Rochester Water Reclamation Plant, with the $9 million project expected to be completed in July this year.
“This project will not only improve the quality of water recycled at the plant from Class C standard to Class B, it will also increase the amount of water produced,” Mr Walsh said.
“Around 220 megalitres of recycled water from the plant will be provided to local irrigators in the Campaspe Irrigation District Scheme each year, on top of 1200 ML already supplied by the Echuca Water Reclamation Plant.
“The reliable and secure water supply is great news for irrigators, enabling them to increase production and more confidently make on-farm planning decisions.
“I have set a goal for Victoria’s food and fibre producers to double production by 2030 and providing a reliable water supply will support them in achieving this target.”
Member for Rodney Paul Weller said the more reliable, high-quality water supplies would underpin the success and growth of the region.
