The Victorian Government has unveiled its Central and Gippsland Region Sustainable Water Strategy, outlining a pathway to secure the region’s water future over the next 50 years.
The strategy prioritises future investment into recycled water and stormwater infrastructure that will be used for non-drinking purposes like industry, agriculture and keeping sporting fields, parks and gardens green.
It also includes arrangements to allocate 16GL of the 3-4 Bench water entitlement in the Latrobe Valley to deliver outcomes for Traditional Owners, the environment and irrigated agriculture.
Also introduced is a new daily water use target for Melbourne, encouraging households to stick to 150L of water per person per day.
The Central and Gippsland Region Sustainable Water Strategy was developed in partnership with Traditional Owners and aims to increase their access to water entitlements without taking from existing entitlement holders.
The government said it is preparing now so Victoria’s communities, farmers, industries and tourism can have confidence in Victoria’s water security in the future.
Work to deliver on the strategy will include building on successful programs like the Schools Water Efficiency Program, which has helped 1,328 schools save more than 9.9 billion litres of water and cut down their water bills.
The program gives schools technology, specialist advice and curriculum materials to teach kids how to manage and monitor water use.
Victoria’s Minister for Water, Harriet Shing, visited Officer Primary School to launch the Central and Gippsland Region Sustainable Water Strategy.
“We need to meet the challenges of climate change and increased demand for water to ensure a reliable water supply is always available for our environment and the industries, agriculture, communities and jobs that rely on it,” Ms Shing said.
“We’ve already begun investment in critical infrastructure for recycled and storm water as well and educating Victorians to develop water saving habits for the future.”
