Vol. No. Vol. 2118No. 31 27
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Wednesday,February January 13, 13, 2019 2016 Wednesday,
FUN AND COLOUR: Students are continuing a Wimmera tradition by using annual school swimming sports as an opportunity to dress up and promote their houses. Students, from left, Tenae Pitt, Georgia Baker-Miller, Marli Pymer and Libby Heard were among many to get into the spirit at Horsham College’s swimming sports day at Horsham War Memorial Swimming Pool yesterday. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
Water drives region S
BY DEAN LAWSON
ecure access to high-quality water is helping open the door to drive major development opportunities across the WimmeraMallee.
Despite long periods of dry weather across the region, water via the region’s extensive piping system is providing a catalyst for growth. GWMWater managing director Mark Williams, responding to questions about the role water was playing in the region, provided insight into the scope of regional growth based on supply.
He explained the precious liquid was playing an integral role in everything from major renewable-energy infrastructure projects and agricultural expansion to ensuring the health and viability of recreation and environmental assets. “We often get asked, ‘gee is there enough water in the system because we haven’t had much rain’, when the reality is the amount of saving we are getting from the piped system is substantial,” he said. “For what we are doing now in providing supply for consumption and development, we have enough water in the system to last for the next five
years. That does not mean we can afford to waste it through inappropriate use, but we are equipped to meet strategic demand. “We couldn’t supply it, for example, for broad-scale open irrigation. It’s about having reliable high-quality water more than in excessive volumes. “We’re already providing water to drive regional development, but if circumstance arose that swung the region into a higher gear, then we are equipped to meet that challenge.”
its heart, now covers almost 15 percent of Victoria. Mr Williams said guaranteed access to water was providing security to large-scale projects across much of the western third of the state. “In Buloke Shire for example, having confidence in water access is supporting $23-million in agricultural production, especially in poultry,” he said. “The shire is also preparing to serve another $27-million worth of permits for other farming enterprises. “Completion of the Ouyen Lake project, supplied by the Northern Mallee Pipeline, has generated significant
Security
Western Victoria’s piping system, with the Wimmera-Mallee Pipeline at
socio-economic benefits. We are also supplying water to a solar-farm project at Kiamal. “Closer to home we’ve been supporting major infrastructure work involving renewable-energy development, such as providing water for concrete pours and dust suppression. “Project sites such as Murra Warra are tapping into piped supply and in an opportunistic arrangement, Bulgana Green Power Hub in Northern Grampians Shire is pulling water from a Landsborough pipeline, which was constructed primarily to support viticulture in the Pyrenees Valley.” Continued page 3
IN THIS ISSUE • ‘Gift still has a future’ • Gas fight heats up • 2019 football and netball previews Phone: 03 5382 1351 Read it online: www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au
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