Environment and Energy

A welcome rise in storage levels will see water restrictions lifted in the Daylesford and Hepburn Region.

Hepburn Shire Council has reiterated its strong opposition to the Western Renewables Link (WRL), lodging a detailed submission to the Environmental Effects Statement and confirming it will present expert evidence at upcoming hearings.

Daylesford’s water supply was down to 31% in late June but following several good rainfalls they were 97% full as of 2nd September. The Bureau of Meteorology’s (BOM) local agent recorded 119.2mm of rain for August well above the long-term average of 103.7mm.

Hepburn Shire Council has been granted an extension until September 8 to submit a full response to the Environmental Effects Statement (EES) for the proposed Western Renewables Link (WRL). Council has outlined the key concerns which will be elaborated in their submission.

Work has begun on the final phase of a major upgrade to the Daylesford water supply. The $25M project will extend the capacity of the Daylesford Water Treatment Plant.

Six towns in the Hepburn Shire could be connected to the Ballarat water supply network under a $600,000 joint Federal–State Government funding commitment.

Good rainfall in June and July has not made up the deficit which resulted from a very dry autumn. Although pastures look green because of recent rains, growth has been limited because of the cold winter weather.

Hepburn Energy will lead a regional energy literacy initiative to help households across the Grampians Central West region switch to cheaper, cleaner electric appliances.

Hepburn Energy’s 5MWh community battery, “Bessie”, arrived last Friday. Bessie...