Central Highlands Water (CHW) is building a pipeline to connect the Daylesford and Hepburn water supply to the Goldfields Superpipe.
The Goldfields Superpipe transfers water from the Waranga Western Channel and from Lake Eppalock to supply water to Ballarat.
A connection from the Superpipe will allow diversion of water to Wombat Dam and directly to the Daylesford Water Treatment Plant in East Street. The $15 million project, expected to be completed in the second half of 2024, is being fully funded by CHW with ongoing support from Hepburn Shire Council, as well as cultural, environmental and community stakeholders.
The underground pipeline will extend from Blampied to Daylesford along a 14 km alignment. The planned alignment is along the Midland Highway from Blampied to Old Ballarat Road, along Ridge Road, Stoney Creek Road and South Ajax Road, across private properties to a powerline leading to Lake Road and then past the old railway cutting to the existing water pipeline which connects Wombat Dam to the Daylesford Water Treatment Plant. A map of the alignment can be viewed on the Central Highlands Water website.
A section of the pipe being used to construct the pipeline. (Photo: Supplied)
The project will utilise 12-meter lengths of 400mm diameter, high-density polyethylene pipe (HDPE). Stockpiles of these pipes can be seen at varous locations along the alignment. These are welded together on site to form a continuous pipe. Flexibility within this pipe can assist with turns and directional changes when installing either with open trench or boring works.
Stage 1 of the pipeline installation has been focused on areas near Ridge Road, Daylesford, along the roadside of the Midlands Highway near Blampied, Old Ballarat Road and along Stoney Creek Road. Crews have completed 1.6 kilometres of the pipeline installation.
“The pipeline will provide, when required, more than 300 million additional litres per annum of supplementary water for the community and will future-proof the water needs of the service area against the impacts of climate change,” said CHW Managing Director Jeff Haydon. “It is pleasing to see that the project installation is well underway and we thank the local community for their support, as the construction works move along the 14-kilometre alignment.”
Along much of the alignment, pipe will be installed by trenching and filling with a minimum pipe depth of 600 mm. In some areas, to avoid roads, significant trees or other obstacles, more expensive tunnelling methods are being used. CHW is prioritising sections of the alignment along which it will be difficult to move heavy machinery during the wet winter months.
During construction of the pipeline, there will be minor traffic changes where works are occurring, with single lane movement at various sections, however road access will always be maintained.
For more information on the Daylesford Water Pipeline Project see the CHW website.
