Slide 121

The work at Eppalock involved heavy machinery and trucks, unlike the earlier dam builders who relied on manual labourers and horse-drawn wagons.

Slide 122

One of the largest tasks was forming, then pouring the enormous concrete spillway over the dam’s embankment wall.

Slide 123

All of this work coincided with similar works underway on Australia’s Snowy Mountains Scheme.

So suitable labourers, engineering expertise and concrete technology was all readily available.

Slide 124

The original plans for Eppalock set its capacity at 370,393 ML.

But when finished, the actual holding is 312,000 ML – which is still a substantial addition to the region’s water supplies.

Slide 125

An addtional engineering feature of Eppalock’s design was a hydraulic pump which used energy from water released for downstream irrigation to pump a smaller volume of water uphill through the Eppalock pipeline to Bendigo's local storages.

Slide 126

In 1963, at the opening of the new Eppalock Reservoir, Victorian Premier Sir Henry Bolte believed this massive new storage (already full) would finally ‘drought-proof’ Bendigo.

Slide 127

The dam would also provide ample water for downstream irrigators, and help mitigate floodwaters affecting Rochester and Echuca.

Slide 128

Predictably, drought came again in early-2006, dropping Eppalock’s level to barely 5 per cent that summer.

By January 2007 Eppalock was empty.

Slide 129

The final major structure built to enhance Bendigo’s water supplies was Sandhurst Reservoir, commenced in 1982.

Slide 130

This new storage was built at Big Hill in the rising southern end of the Bendigo Valley, on the same site Brady had selected for the Bendigo Water Works Reservoir No. 8

Slide 131

The reservoir was completed by 1983, and acted as a distribution basin of Coliban water, inflowing from the Malmsbury, via the Main Channel.

Slide 132

The Upper Coliban Reservoir dam wall was raised by two metres in 1993 increasing the capacity of the storage from 35000 megalitres to 37500 megalitres improving water security for an increasing North Central Victorian population.

Slide 133

In 1999 Sandhurst Reservoir was chosen by the local water authority, Coliban Water, as the site to build one of three new world class water treatment plants as part of a BOOT (Build, Own, Operate and Transfer) contractual arrangement with Veolia Water.

Slide 134

The resulting AQUA project delivered world class drinking water using microfiltration processes capable of removing a range of disease causing organisms including Cryptosporidium and Giardia.

Slide 135

During a succession of very dry years from 2003-2006 the Coliban River storages and Lake Eppalock became so depleted that Bendigo was at risk of running out of water. 

Slide 136

Construction of a Recycled Water Factory at the Bendigo Water Reclamation Plant and a 14.5 kilometres pipeline to carry the water to Spring Gully Reservoir was completed in 2007 to reuse reclaimed water from Bendigo’s sewerage system.

Slide 137

Customers connecting to the pipeline could access Class A Recycled Water for the purpose of irrigating recreational areas. The water has also been used to supply rural customers and to boost water levels in Bendigo’s Lake Weeroona.

Slide 138

The introduction of Stage 4 Water Restrictions during 2006/07 across most of the region saw a dramatic reduction of water consumption with outside watering banned except for rainwater and greywater use.

Slide 139

In response to Stage 4 Water Restrictions Coliban Water together with the City of Greater Bendigo as a major partner embarked on a community education campaign to demonstrate how to save water both inside and outside the home. Water Education Sessions, publications displays and a water efficient showerhead exchange were delivered to thousands of customers over a two year period from 2006/07.

Slide 140

A behaviour change program was specially designed for schools to encourage students to contribute to water savings by spending less time under the shower. 70% of primary schools in Coliban Water’s region participated in the Shower Saver Challenge over a three year period from 2007-09.

Slide 141

In addition to efforts towards reducing consumption a major infrastructure project was required to secure sufficient water for Bendigo and connected towns. In 2007 Coliban Water completed the construction of a 46.5km pipeline, the Bendigo Link of the Goldfields Superpipe. This pipeline was designed to transfer water from the Waranga Western Channel near Colbinabbin to an existing pipeline at Lake Eppalock through which the water could be pumped further to Bendigo. For the first time this established a pathway to move water from the Goulburn Catchment to supplement Bendigo’s supply.

Slide 142

The existing Coliban Rural System comprising over 500 kilometres of open channel has served the community well over many decades but is in need of upgrading to reduce water losses and minimise environmental impacts. The rural reconfiguration project is a major project which will need to be staged over at least 10 years and completed in sections.

Slide 143

From drought to floods! A complete and dramatic change to the cycle of weather patterns during 2010 delivered substantial and sustained inflows filling most storages across Victoria and causing widespread flooding in the latter half of the year.

Slide 144

On January 15 2010, Bendigo moved off water restrictions and onto Permanent Water Savings Rules. PWSR rules are common-sense water conservation measures that apply at all times when water restrictions are not in force.

Slide 145

Major floods during January 2011 were the largest on record in our region. Successive towns in the Campaspe and Loddon catchments were affected compromising our ability to provide water and wastewater services as raw water became polluted from many sources. Water treatment plants were threatened, sewage treatment plant lagoons were inundated and water quality monitoring was limited due to restricted access.

Slide 146

During 2010-11 three new Bendigo housing estates were established and provided with an addtional water supply system prioviding future residents with recycled water through a 'purple pipe'. The water will be supplied by the Recycled Water Factory at the Bendigo Water Reclamation Plant and is treated to what is referred to as 'Class A' Recycled Water.