Candy Broad MP - Member for Northern Victoria Region

The Premier John Brumby has today released the latest water figures which show that Sunbury and Macedon are Victoria’s most water efficient towns using 145 litres per person per day (l/p/d).

Ballarat (147 l/p/d) and Melbourne (154 l/p/d) households were the next most water efficient. The highest water users were Swan Hill (412 l/p/d), Shepparton (392 l/p/d) and Yea (339 l/p/d).

Mr Brumby and Water Minister Tim Holding released the figures while inspecting the construction of steel frames for the desalination plant at Page Steel in Derrimut.

“The water saving efforts of households right across Victoria in recent years has been remarkable,” Mr Brumby said.

“What is even more pleasing is that water use has stayed relatively low despite the extremely hot and dry weather we experienced in 2009.

“Our Government’s unprecedented investment in diverse water projects are the roadmap back from severe water restrictions.

“There was a number of steps households could take to save water including exchanging an old showerhead for a free water efficient model and installing a rainwater tank.”

Water consumption varies from town to town depending on the local climatic conditions and the level of restrictions that are in place.

The latest statistics were provided by water authorities and compiled by the Department of Sustainability and Environment.

Mr Brumby and Mr Holding also announced today that AquaSure had awarded Victorian companies Page Steel and OneSteel $24 million in contracts for work on the desalination plant project.

“The desalination plant will turn sea water into drinking water and is our long-term insurance policy against drought and climate change,” Mr Holding said.

“1700 direct jobs and as many as 3050 indirect jobs will be created during construction of the project - these steel contracts alone have created around 20 new Victorian jobs and secured many more.”

Page Steel has been awarded a $7 million contract to fabricate, galvanise and install around 2500 tonnes of structural steel frame for the project. One Steel has been awarded two contracts worth $17 million to supply structural steel on the project.

Other contracts awarded to Victorian manufacturers for work on the desalination project include:

• $150 million contract to Tyco Water to produce about 6200 pipes for the 84km transfer pipeline, creating 50 news jobs at its Somerton factory. Tyco is using steel from BlueScope Steel’s Hastings facility, protecting a further 900 jobs; and
• $43 million contract to Olex to supply power cable for the underground power supply.

Construction is on track at the desalination plant site and on the 84km pipeline to connect the plant with Melbourne’s water supplies. The desalination plant will provide up to 150 billion litres of water, regardless of rainfall levels, from the end of next year.

Victoria’s Most Water Efficient Towns

Notes

The average water consumption in litres per person per day has been calculated using the reported permanent population of the relevant water district and annual residential water consumption for that district as reported by the responsible water corporation.

It should be noted that the peak population of certain towns will be higher during holiday periods.

PWSR = Permanent Water Saving Rules