12 December 2025
Goulburn Valley Water celebrated its recycled water partnership with five regional golf clubs last month when the inaugural Community Standpipe Cup golf event was staged at Marysville Golf Club.
The event raises awareness about the use of recycled water and recognises two decades of cooperation between Goulburn Valley Water (GVW) and the five clubs – Seymour, Euroa, Yea, Mansfield and Marysville – who all enjoy the benefits of recycled-water agreements.
All five clubs rely on recycled water to irrigate greens and fairways and Goulburn Valley Water Managing Director Dr Steve Capewell said the event showcased the mutual benefits of recycled water reuse across the region.
“This event recognises how recycled water reuse helps maintain important community assets, while ensuring treated wastewater is reused sustainably and responsibly.”
“This is more than a water-supply agreement. It’s an example of innovation and community spirit – and we’re proud to work with these clubs.”
Recycled water used to water regional golf course has undergone extensive biological and chemical treatment over many months to produce high-quality irrigation water.
Goulburn Valley Water works closely with clubs and other recycled water users to monitor irrigation systems, protect the environment and ensure sustainable reuse that avoids groundwater impacts, and salinity or rising water tables issues.
At Marysville, where the GVW Wastewater Management Facility sits across the road from the golf course, the partnership started when a gravity-fed pipeline was installed in 2005 and now supplies around 70 megalitres of recycled water annually.
Club President Steve Coker said the support had been “critical to the club’s continued operation”.
“We couldn’t have kept going without the recycled water,” Mr Coker said. “The relationship with GVW, our volunteers and our past greenskeeper Kellan Fiske has shaped the modern club. It’s been absolutely essential.”
Mansfield Golf Club, which will host next year’s Standpipe Cup, has also benefited significantly from recycled water since 2002.
Club representative Tony Cookson said the transition to recycled water – particularly during a period of severe water restrictions – had transformed the course and the club.
“Getting reclaimed water at Mansfield was the best thing we have ever done,” Mr Cookson said.
“The quality is excellent, the turf flourishes, and it simply wouldn’t make sense to irrigate with drinking water. Our course usage explodes in the warmer months, and having reliable recycled water underpins that.”
At Yea Golf Club, representative Gary Pollard said recycled water first arrived around 20 years ago and now provides about 40 megalitres each year.
“The recycled water is much more convenient than what we used previously, and it allows us to run a fully automatic system,” Mr Pollard said.
“Financially we’re better off, participation is up, and we’re keen to expand the use of recycled water as the town grows.
GVW also use of recycled water network also supports farming, with surplus flows returned to rivers and creeks when required. Winter storage lagoons built at all wastewater management facilities now enable full reuse of recycled water at most sites.
Fittingly, the hosts – Marysville Golf Club – claimed the first title and will defend the trophy next year when the tournament moves to Mansfield Golf Club.
Pictured below: Marysville Golf Club's winning Community Standpipe Cup team Colin Davies, Steve Coker, Fiona Wright and Alison Leydin with GVW Communications Officer Rohan Aldous.
