Goulburn Valley Water’s 2024 Annual Water Outlook has confirmed that water restrictions are unlikely in 2025, with drinking water supplies stable for the region.
According to the updated water security outlook, only one of the 54 towns supplied by the 13 river, creek and groundwater supply systems has any chance of experiencing water restrictions during the year.
Managing director Steve Capewell said the major factors in this outcome were the strong storage levels and wetter catchments following the spring 2022 floods.
“All of the northern region’s water supply systems — the Murray River, Goulburn River, Seven Creeks, Nine Mile Creek and Katunga’s groundwater — have a very rare likelihood of restrictions, while the Delatite and Upper Delatite River, Brewery Creek, Steavenson River, Yea River and the Sunday Creek systems also have positive supply outlooks,” he said.
The outlook is supported by Agriculture Victoria’s projection of average to above-average rainfall conditions for December 2024 to February 2025.
Dr Capewell said every five years GVW produced an Urban Water Strategy to plan for short, medium and long-term water availability and wastewater demand.
“The 2027 strategy will create more opportunities for the use of recycled water, which was a preference outlined by our customers during engagement for the development of the 2022 Urban Water Strategy,” he said.
Projects in the current strategy are progressing, and include a new pipeline connecting Numurkah to Nathalia to be completed in 2027.
Also planned are water treatment plant upgrades in Shepparton, Broadford and Cobram, as well as a raw water pipeline in Mansfield.
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