Barwon Water says more dams will not solve water needs during dry spells

Building new dams will not secure Geelong’s long-term water supply, says Barwon Water and the State Government.

Building new dams will not secure Geelong’s long-term water supply, says Barwon Water and the State Government.

Federal Minister for Water Resources David Littleproud said states like Victoria needed to consider building new dams to safeguard their water supply.

Of the 20 dams built since 2003, 16 were in Tasmania, two in NSW, one in Queensland, and one in the ACT.

Water supply in the greater Geelong region is predominantly provided by eight dams or reservoirs in the Otway Ranges, Brisbane Ranges, and the foothills of the Great Dividing Range.

Geelong’s two main surface water sources — the upper reaches of the Barwon and Moorabool rivers — also have dams.

Wurdee Boluc (Wurdiboluc) Reservoir. Picture: Alan Barber

Barwon Water managing director Tracey Slatter said its existing water supplies were secure for the short-term thanks largely to the connection to the Victorian water grid via the Melbourne to Geelong Pipeline.

The water authority was also readying the Anglesea borefield should it need to tap into groundwater reserves this summer.

“Our climate is getting hotter and drier, and lower rainfall directly impacts our water supply,” he said.

“Dams fill during times of high rainfall, but they can’t be relied on when rain is scarce.

“Lower rainfall and a growing population mean our system may need to be upgraded as soon as 2029.

“It’s time to think differently about how we use water and where it comes from.

“That’s why we are partnering with our community to design a new, sustainable water future.”

State Water Minister Lisa Neville said building new dams did not create extra water.

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“They simply take it from somewhere else — either from farmers who currently rely on it or from the environment,” Ms Neville said.

“The dams we have already are in the best places to collect a high yield of water — any new dams would mean less water for all and would be unlikely to capture enough water for the benefits to outweigh the costs.”

Mr Littleproud said an analysis of water storage capacity over the past 19 years has found water storage in the big states was at risk of falling behind population growth.

“The states have been responsible for urban water since Federation and should be taking the lead,” Mr Littleproud said.

“They’re just not keeping up with their growing populations.

“If NSW, Queensland and Victoria don’t start building dams, their water storage capacity will fall by more than 30 per cent by 2030.”

@AndrewJeffo

Originally published as Barwon Water says more dams will not solve water needs during dry spells