Page 8 The Moorabool News – 19 January, 2021
News
Email - news@themooraboolnews.com.au
Family violence figures released By Caitlin Bewley
Works commence at the Melton water recycle plant where Western Water are creating a massive outdoor recycle water storage. Photo - WW
WIN is a win win for region
A major recycled water supply system is currently under construction for dryland farmers in the Parwan Balliang region. Western Water commenced work on the Western Irrigation Network (WIN) after $48 million in funding was secured from the Australian Government. The funding agreement was signed by the Western Water board and the Victorian Minister for Water, the Hon Lisa Neville MP, and was presented under the National Water Infrastructure Development Fund. The WIN is co-funded by Western Water with contributions from the farmers in recognition of the transformative benefits from accessing a reliable, year-round supply of recycled water. The $116 million project will include a major 1.1 gigalitre recycled water storage at the Melton Recycled Water Plant, and a recycled water pipeline
and pump station to connect supplies between the Melton and Bacchus Marsh treatment plants. Managing director for Western Water, Jeff Rigby, said the co-funding for the WIN demonstrates the national significance of the project. “Strong population growth presents many challenges for our region, including how to manage the increasing volumes of recycled water due to this growth,” he said. Mr Rigby said after years of planning, the WIN will address this challenge by delivering costeffective recycled water supply for large-scale, productive agriculture use. “The project will also protect the environment for future generations by avoiding excess recycled water releases into local waterways,” he said. “WIN is a genuine win-win solution for our region.” The project is projected to be completed by the second half of 2022.
NEW YEAR NEW CAREER NOW RECRUITING FOR OVER 3000 POLICE SCAN FOR POLICE CAREERS
Victoria Police responded to more than 90,000 family violence incidents over a 12-month period, and over 450 of those were in the Moorabool Shire. State-wide statistics showed police responded to 474 family violence incidents in the Moorabool Shire over a 12-month period to September 2020. “We know family violence doesn’t discriminate and can affect anyone, and that family violence can take many forms,” a Vicpol spokesperson said. “In addition to physical violence, it can also take the form of coercive and controlling behaviour, financial abuse, emotional abuse, and elder abuse. Police respond to these forms of family violence in the Moorabool Shire, and across the state.” Victoria Police said they are concerned about family violence; however, they know victims living in regional Victoria experience unique challenges compared to those in metropolitan Victoria. “[Regional Victorian victims can experience] increased isolation, which can impact victims’ confidence in reaching out for support,” the spokesperson said. A recent study released by the Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) on December 11, 2020 discussed collated police data looking at family violence perpetrators between 1 July 2016 and 30 June 2017. During this time, CSA found there to be seven distinct types of family violence occurring across Victoria, with four groups showing violence against their intimate partner and three groups showing violence against a family member (not intimate partner). Overall, the research found that 74 per cent of recorded family violence perpetrators were male, with an average age of 35.5 years. Five per cent of offenders were Aboriginal. Perpetrators in regional areas of Victoria made up 23 per cent of offending, compared to 15 per cent of the population of Victoria. The most disadvantaged areas of Victoria were substantially over-represented, with 50 per cent of offenders living in the 30 per cent most disadvantaged areas of the state. 51 per cent of perpetrators had been recorded for at least one other family violence incident in the previous 12 years. “Our message to victims is that support is available,” the police spokesperson said. “If you believe you, or someone you know, is experiencing family violence, please reach out to a support organisation or police.”