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.

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One very advanced feature of Eppalock’s design was its hydro-electric pumping station.

Water released from the storage for downstream irrigation turned a turbine that drove a generator.

The generator then produced enough electricity to power a nearby pump, which then forced some of the outlet water on its uphill journey back to Bendigo’s local storages.

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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.

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

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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

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

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.

When full, Sandhurst holds around 128 days supply of water, at minimal rates of use (i.e. 20.3 ML consumed per day).

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In 1999 Sandhurst was chosen by the local water authority, Coliban Water, as the site to build one of three new world class water treatment plants.

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The resulting AQUA project delivers world quality drinking water to over 130,000 residents of Bendigo, Castlemaine, Kyneton and other smaller townships.

Slide 134

The plant uses microfiltration processes to remove a range of disease-causing agents, including Giardia and Cryptosporidium.

The plant’s filters can even remove blue-green algae.

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Visitors to this high-tech facility are amazed at the technology employed here; indeed, it looks more like a food processing factory than a water treatment plant.

Slide 136

With the exception of Eppalock’s addition in 1963, the Coliban Scheme operates much as it was originally designed by Brady in 1862.

Bendigo receives about 70 percent of its water from the Coliban Scheme; the remaining 30 percent is drawn from Coliban Water’s 18 percent share of annual inflows into.

Slide 137

Frustratingly, drought remains a regular problem for this system – as indeed it does across south-east Australia.

In this photo, the drought of 2006 has reduced Upper Coliban to less than 5 percent capacity.

Slide 138

Aerial images (kindly provided by the Bendigo Weekly newspaper) tell the story from a different vantage point.

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Wisely, during drought Coliban Water stores its remnant water in its deepest storage, Lauriston.

This reduces the surface exposure, and thus limits the rate of evaporation.

Slide 140

The other Coliban storages, such as Malmsbury Reservoir (shown here), are left to empty into the deeper Sandhurst storage basin, to again limit water loss through evaporation.

Slide 141

But water authorities across Australia are increasingly facing the challenge of providing for a future beset by an altered climate, resulting in less rainfall across our catchments.

Whatever the cause – human or otherwise – there is no doubt that our climate is warming, making our already scarce water resources even scarcer.

Slide 142

Water authorities attempt to plan for the future by examining annual mean rainfall data.

But as Bendigo’s mean rainfall graph for the past 15 years demonstrates, there is a vast variation between high and low rainfall – making planning for future rainfall patterns a huge challenge.

Slide 143

One further enhancement to the Coliban System, mooted during 2006, is the construction of an $85 million pipeline to feed water from the Eildon system into Lake Eppalock.

Slide 144

From Lake Eppalock, a new pipeline will then convey this water to Bendigo, and on to Ballarat.

Slide 145

Other system enhancements included either the gradual shutting down or piping-in of the wasteful rural water system.

Slide 146

These ageing open channels are not cost-effective to repair, so many suffer from leaks – wasting our precious water.

Slide 147

Some observers believe Coliban Water should build new storages, to fill during times of plenty.

Once potential dam site lies in the valley behind the Taradale Railway Viaduct – an area mooted back in 1860.

Slide 148

This prime grazing area would make an ideal dam site.

Yet the cost of purchasing the private farmland and then erecting a massive new dam would be enormous.

Slide 149

Such work would also have a devastating effect on the local environment, especially the Back Creek.

And even if a new storage was completed, there is no guarantee it would fill; indeed, we can’t even fill our current storages.

And when we do receive enough rainfall to fill our existing storages, then these are more than adequate for our current needs.

Slide 150

With this in mind, Coliban Water has embarked on a long-term education program to encourage its customers to use the available water far more wisely.

As part of this campaign, homeowners are being urged to adopt waterwise garden practices, rather than lay thirsty lawns.

Slide 151

The traditional green lawn may have looked good 40 years ago, but in our drying climate they are a luxury we just can’t afford anymore.

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Residents are also being encouraged to do more with the water that falls on their own rooves.

Slide 153

The installation of domestic rainwater tanks of all shapes and sizes is now a popular move, allowing homeowners to catch and store rain locally, ready for use on their gardens.

Slide 154

But is this enough, especially as our climate warms up?

Perhaps we need to encourage even bigger changes to how we design our new houses, and adjust our expectations.

For example, in a country as dry and warm as Australia, can we afford to build houses with black rooves and no shading eaves, then expect water and power-hungry evaporative air-conditions to cool these dwellings?

Slide 155

If we don’t take responsibility ourselves for reducing our water consumption, then governments may ‘encourage’ us to do this instead.

One way would be through dual metering, with a two-tiered water tariff: the low rate would be for essential water, and the higher rate would be for ‘everything else’ in excess.

Or perhaps we should demand recycled water systems be built into all new housing subdivisions?

Slide 156

Some of our largest corporate organisations are setting a great example to follow.

Bendigo Bank’s new $85 million headquarters in Bendigo recycle all of its wastewater, and use minimal water and energy for cooling (and heating).

Perhaps this is the way of the future?

Slide 157

Certainly Australians are becoming far more aware of the need to conserve and re-use what water we have.

Such matters dominated Victoria’s state elections in 2006, and continue to affect our everyday decisions.

After all, there is only a finite amount of water on the entire earth, and we have been recycling this for billions of years.

Slide 158

One final thought: perhaps water is simply too cheap.

In 2007 you can buy a thousand litres of world quality drinking water from Coliban Water for just 73 cents.

The same amount of soda water from a local supermarket would cost you a massive $890!

If our drinking water was similarly expensive, perhaps we would value it more.

Slide 159

Whatever we do to improve our water security, we will no doubt face the same questions that plagued our 19th century water planners: how will we pay for such enhancements?

We can either increase our taxes, or increase our overseas borrowings.

That’s the price we all have to pay to live on the inland fringe of the world’s driest inhabited continent!