Planned inspection - Cohuna water tower
- Cohuna
We are completing a planned inspection of the Cohuna tower on Wednesday 11 March at the Cohuna Water Treatment Plant near corner of Cohuna Island Road and King George Street.
No works planned as part of the inspection and there will be no interruption to your water supply.
This inspection will take place from 9am to 1pm and involve the use of a crane, which will be in the carpark of Cohuna Island Road.
During this time there may be limited access to the car park. We apologise for any inconvenience.
Harcourt - Bushfire Bill Relief
- Harcourt
The following support is now available for customers in Harcourt following the bushfires that impacted the community on 9 January 2026.
Bushfire Bill Relief Program
| For urban customers in Harcourt who lost their primary dwelling or business | We have waived our entire bill for the billing period early November 2025 to early February 2026. We will waive our fixed service charges for the billing period early February 2026 to early May 2026 (this means you will only pay for any water used on your property during this time). No action is required. These benefits will be applied automatically for eligible customers. |
| For rural customers in Harcourt who access water from our rural pipeline (and who are billed using a different structure) | Impacted customers in the fire-affected area will receive $450 in bill relief, including a $300 rebate off their current bill (received in February 2026) and a further $150 rebate off their next bill (due to be issued in April 2026). These benefits will be applied automatically for eligible customers. Eligible customers may also be entitled to an additional $500 if their primary dwelling was destroyed by fire. Please contact us if you believe you are eligible for this support. |
| Whole-of-community support | Through our Community Rebates Program, we made a $6,000 contribution to the Harcourt Progress Association rebate to support local recovery efforts. This contribution acknowledges the impact of the Do Not Drink Advisory caused by the fires. |
If you need help or have questions, please call us on 1300 363 200.
Further information is available at www.connect.coliban.com.au/harcourt.
Click here for information about our Coliban Assist program and our support for customers.
The Victorian Government is providing recovery support for people and communities affected by the fires. Click here to learn more about the help and support available.
You can call the Emergency Recovery Hotline every day on 1800 560 760 from 9am to 5pm.
Echuca Water Tower repairs
- Echuca
Update Wednesday 4 March 2026
Scaffolding in place around the Echuca Water Tower is currently being removed.
If you're passing the tower, you may see signage and additional temporary fencing. Please follow any instructions provided to ensure your safety while work is underway.
What to expect next?
We have received the final report of an independent structural assessment commissioned to evaluate the long-term safety of the Echuca Water Tower.
The report has confirmed the tower is operating past its expected lifespan with structural issues likely to pose a future risk to Coliban Water staff, contractors, and members of the public.
Following engagement with external stakeholders, the decision has been made to decommission the tower and plan for its removal.
We have made changes to the way the local water network operates and lowered the water level in the tower to less than 60%. Some customers may have experienced slightly lower water pressure since this time.
Work is now underway on a project to transform the Echuca water supply from an elevated storage to a direct booster pump system.
Drop in and learn more
We're holding two Community Drop-in Sessions in March. Call in at a time that suits you, meet our project team, learn more about the tower and the Echuca water network, and explore the project timeline.
Wednesday 11 March
11am to 1pm
Mercure Port of Echuca
465 High Street
Wednesday 18 March
4pm to 6.30pm
Mercure Port of Echuca
465 High Street
If you can't make it on the day, you can contact us on 1300 363 200 or email coliban@coliban.com.au with any questions or feedback you may have.
More information
For the latest information, FAQs, and a project timeline visit connect.coliban.com.au/echuca-water-tower.
Blue-green algae detection - Dingee
- Dingee
We are experiencing poor raw water quality due to blue-green algae being detected in the raw water supply at Dingee.
We have increased our water quality testing program to monitor the situation more closely.
Customers in Dingee are reminded that the town’s water supply is untreated and not suitable for drinking, food preparation, brushing your teeth or ice-making. It is recommended that pets are not given this water to drink.
For additional blue-green algae water quality information visit Connect Coliban.
Coliban Main Channel blockage - Sedgwick
- Coliban Main Channel, Sedgwick
Update, Tuesday 10 March
Due to the blockage in Wirths Tunnel, we are using a pump to bypass the blockage and supply customers. We expect to have this solution in place by Friday 13 March.
This setup will allow us to carry out the clearing works following the rural water season.
Our team will be in contact in the coming days to confirm existing orders and scheduling.
Update, Monday 2 March
Following recent structural and safety assessments, we can advise that clearing the Wirths Tunnel blockage is a complex task that will require significant time to resolve. This is due to the location and extent of this blockage.
As a result, we are working to provide a temporary supply to customers using a pump to bypass the blockage. We expect to have this solution in place within the next two weeks.
Once the bypass is in place, our team will be in touch to discuss the delivery of existing orders.
Update, Wednesday 25 February
Following initial structural and safety assessments last week, we are seeking additional assessment and support from contractors to assist in unblocking Wirths Tunnel.
This is due to the location of this blockage and the risks of working in confined spaces and underground,
At the same time, we are considering a number of solutions to safely and effectively remove the blockage.
We are also working on a plan to provide a temporary alternative to supply customers until the blockages are cleared.
A second, partial blockage in Byrnes Tunnel near Byrnes Road, Sutton Grange will be removed by Thursday 26 February.
To manage risk of the forecast heavy rain, we will open the gates of affected channels to allow captured rainfall to flow to customers.
Update, Friday 20 February
We have completed a structural and safety assessment of Wirths Tunnel and confirmed a significant blockage caused by debris entering the Coliban Main Channel from recent fires in the Harcourt area.
We are currently investigating avenues to safely clear the blockage.
We will provide another update mid next week.
Wednesday 18 February
Our crews are attending a blockage on the Coliban Main Channel at Wirths Tunnel near Youngs Lane in Sedgwick.
Debris from the recent fires in Harcourt has washed into the channel, causing the blockage.
This blockage is impacting our ability to deliver water to parts of the rural network including Spring Gully Channel, Abbotts Channel, Mannes Channel, Emu Valley #1 Channel, Emu Valley #2 Channel and the Coliban Main Channel downstream of Charles Lane in Faraday.
Our rural network provides water to our rural customers for irrigation and stock use. There is no impact to our drinking water networks which supply the towns in our region.
Due to the unknown structural condition of the tunnel, it is critical that a thorough assessment is completed before any crews enter, to ensure their safety. As a result, resolving the blockage may take some time.
An assessment is scheduled for this Friday. Following the inspection, we will provide an updates to affected rural customers outlining the next steps and anticipated timeframe to resolve this issue.
Once the issue is resolved, all water orders placed will be fulfilled however there may be delays due to the backlog of orders we receive during this time.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Please check this website or our social media for updates or call us on 1300 363 200.