Pipeline corridor for Sugaroaf project announced

Wednesday, 06 August 2008 - State Government Media Release

Planning Minister, Justin Madden today announced his endorsement of the preferred corridor for the $750 million Sugarloaf Pipeline, which will connect the Goulburn River north of Yea to the Sugarloaf Reservoir.

Mr Madden said approval of the pipeline corridor will allow the 70km Sugarloaf Pipeline to transfer Melbourne’s share of water savings from the Food Bowl Modernisation Project.

Mr Madden’s decision was informed by the advice of an independent Advisory Committee who considered a number of expert reports and over 100 submissions to the project.

“The corridor I have announced today is generally in line with the preferred alignment put forward by Melbourne Water and recommended by the independent Advisory Committee,” Mr Madden said.

“The Advisory Committee report concluded the preferred route would be consistent with State policies on environmental protection.”

“I have broadly agreed to the Advisory Committee recommendations and have put in place a number of conditions to ensure the project is realised with minimal environmental impacts,” Mr Madden said.

“This significant project crosses three municipalities, and requires an effective framework for regulating its implementation. The strong conditions attached to the approval will ensure accountability and the protection of the environment along the pipeline route,” he said.

The conditions set out by Mr Madden include:
• Submission of an overarching Environmental Management Framework and individual Environmental Management Plans for the various route sections approved by the Planning Minister in consultation with the Environment and Climate Change Minister;
• Payment of a bond for the re-instatement of environments affected by the construction works, to be determined by the Environment and Climate Change Minister; and
• The appointment of an external EPA accredited environmental auditor to facilitate procedures around environmental monitoring, auditing and reporting.

Mr Madden said today’s decision will allow Melbourne Water to complete important planning work to prepare for construction.

"The Commonwealth Government must also make a decision on those matters of national environmental significance potentially impacted by the project under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conversation Act 1999 before construction can begin," he said

Mr Madden said the Sugarloaf Pipeline project is an integral part of the Brumby Government’s plan to secure water supplies for the State.

The $2 billion Food Bowl Modernisation Project will recover 425 billion litres of water currently lost through evaporation, seepage and system inefficiencies.

These savings will be shared between irrigators, rivers and Melbourne. Melbourne will receive 75 billion litres, through the Sugarloaf Pipeline with the 350 billion litres of water staying in northern Victoria.