Water Resource Update

9 March 2007

Goulburn Valley Water is to commence tankering water to Euroa this weekend, and is planning to also tanker water to Broadford in about three weeks in accordance with the Authority’s Drought Response Plan if good rainfall is not received in March.

Both supply systems will obtain tankered supplies from the Goulburn River at Seymour.

Goulburn Valley Water’s CEO, Laurie Gleeson, said that the tankering at Euroa was necessary to ensure that the town’s normal Stage 4 restricted water supplies can be met. Approximately 600 kL of water will be trucked to Euroa each day. This is approximately 50% of daily use and will be used to supplement the limited water available from the town’s storages.

Storage levels in the Sunday Creek system, which supplies Broadford and Kilmore, are continuing to decline. The Authority estimates that the water held in storages will be sufficient to last for 70 days without any inflows or supplementary supplies provided by tankers.

If storage levels fall to below 200 ML then the Authority will implement the next stage of its Drought Response Plan and commence tankering water to Broadford. At this time water held in storages would be reserved for use by Kilmore residents.

The Authority tankered water to Broadford for several months in 2002/03 to supplement supplies.

Mr Gleeson said that the costs of the water carting will be borne by the Authority and not residents in the affected areas. Stage 4 restrictions will remain in place.

“No town supplied by Goulburn Valley Water will run out of water” said Mr Gleeson. “Tankering to these towns is a practical means of maintaining supplies to these towns as was demonstrated in 2002/03. It is important, however, that residents comply fully with the Stage 4 restrictions and minimise water use”.

Authorised By L.J. Gleeson 104-110 Fryers Street Shepparton