Construction has begun  on the $42 million Black Rock Recycled Water Plant, which aims to improve water security for the Victorian surf coast growth corridor.

 

The new infrastructure will recycle and treat water that would otherwise be discharged into Bass Strait, producing high-quality recycled water to support new residential developments and expanding areas of the surf coast growth corridor, such as Armstrong Creek and north Torquay.

 

It is expected to save up to three billion litres of water each year and reduce the need for drinking water to be used to water gardens, flush toilets or irrigate sports fields. The plant will have capacity to produce enough recycled water to offset the volume of drinking water currently used for irrigation in the area by up to ten percent.

 

The plant will be constructed beside the Black Rock Water Reclamation Plant that currently produces a 'C Class' quality of water.

It will produce  'A Class' quality recycled water for new developments such as Armstrong Creek, where 22,000 homes will have access to recycled water to flush toilets and irrigate household gardens and public open spaces.

 

The Australian Government has invested $10 million in the project through the Water for the Future initiative under the National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns program. This funding is in addition to $10 million to assist in the construction of a pipeline to transport recycled water to developments in the Torquay growth corridor.

 

Under the National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns program the Australian Government has committed more than $250 million to fund practical projects that save water in cities and towns across the country.