Deakin University Director Sustainability Zoe Paisley, Barwon Water Managing Director Shaun Cumming, Member for Geelong Christine Couzens, Barwon Water Chair Jo Plummer and Deakin’s Senior Director Resilience and Cyber Security Martin Bayly.
A university campus will be irrigated with 100 million litres of recycled water each year, under an extension of Geelong’s recycled water network.
Works are underway on the $5.6 million project, which will extend a recycled water pipeline from the Armstrong Creek growth area to Deakin University’s Waurn Ponds campus.
Member for Geelong Christine Couzens, representing the Minister for Water Gayle Tierney, joined Barwon Water and Deakin University leaders to mark the start of construction.
“This is a great example of sustainable water management that both benefits the community and alleviates demand on our precious drinking water,” Ms Couzens said.
Barwon Water allocated $3.3 million and Deakin University $2.3 million to build a six-kilometre pipeline that will deliver Class A recycled water to the campus.
The pipeline will irrigate the sports and recreation fields in Deakin’s elite sports precinct, reducing the university’s reliance on precious drinking water by around 60 per cent.
Construction began in late July and is expected to be completed in early 2026.
The initiative aligns with the Victorian Government’s Central and Gippsland Region Sustainable Water Strategy.
The strategy is a comprehensive plan to meet the region’s water needs over the next 50 years, with a focus on increasing the use of recycled water.
Barwon Water is reducing its reliance on rainfall and diversifying its sources to increase the region’s water security.
Recycled water initiatives are playing a key role in building a diverse portfolio, with other major projects underway in Portarlington and the Surf Coast.
This collaborative project was initiated through the Victorian Government’s Integrated Water Management Program, which supports development of rainwater, stormwater and recycled water projects that alleviate demand for fresh drinking water.
Minister for Water Gayle Tierney said the program had co-invested $72.8 million in 176 projects since its inception in 2017.
“This fantastic project builds on the Allan Labor Government’s ongoing investment to maximise the use of recycled water across Victoria, through long-term planning and infrastructure upgrades.”
The project is part of Deakin University’s wider Integrated Water Management plan, which supports its vision to create a Climate Ready Campus.
Class A recycled water is safe, high-quality and always available, helping safeguard drinking water supplies during periods of dry conditions.
