Western Irrigation Network progresses with new recycled water infrastructure
10 March 2023
Construction has started on a new 28-kilometre pipeline that will connect Parwan and Balliang farmers to a reliable, year-round supply of recycled water from late 2023, as part of the Western Irrigation Network (WIN).
WIN is a large-scale irrigation project that will deliver a new, secure source of Class C recycled water. It will be used to irrigate thousands of hectares of farmland in the Parwan-Balliang agricultural district in Melbourne’s outer west.
The recycled water is produced at our plants in Melton and Bacchus Marsh. It is used for a range of non-drinking purposes, including irrigation of pasture and certain crops.
This current stage of works is expected to finish in late 2023. Once complete, the 28-kilometre pipeline and a new pump station will transfer water from the Melton and Bacchus Marsh recycled water plants to customers in the Parwan-Balliang district.
By delivering a new water supply to a region that experiences unreliable rainfall, WIN will help local farmers build resilience to our changing climate and expand their agribusinesses, supporting local economic growth.
WIN also helps us sustainably manage the increasing amount of recycled water being produced by our region’s growing population.
WIN is a $116 million project jointly funded by Greater Western Water, the Australian Government’s National Water Grid Fund and the private agribusinesses who will become the network’s foundation customers.
