About the Anglesea borefield
The Anglesea borefield is one of a number of water sources that can supplement the existing Greater Geelong water supply system in response to dry conditions. Our diverse water supply mix is part of a balanced approach to managing the region’s water resources and providing greater water security.
Our access to groundwater from the borefield is governed by a bulk entitlement, issued by the Victorian Government. Under the terms of the bulk entitlement, we are licensed to extract a maximum of 40 million litres per day, 10,000 million litres in any year, and 35,000 million litres in any 5-year period.
The Anglesea borefield operates in conjunction with an extensive environmental monitoring program, which includes community oversight of the monitoring through the Anglesea River Working Group.
Anglesea borefield to re-commence operation in July
Due to ongoing dry conditions and low storage levels, Barwon Water will re-commence operation of the Anglesea borefield in July 2025, to supplement water supplies for Anglesea and the Geelong regions.
As one of a number of water sources that can supplement the existing Greater Geelong water supply system, the potential activation of the borefield is informed by storage levels and climate forecasts. With storage levels currently below 38% and potential for continued warm and dry conditions, the decision has been made to activate the borefield as part of our normal operational activities.
To prepare for activation we have been undertaking routine maintenance and checks on the bores, with the pumps due to be installed in the bores in July.
Once activated, groundwater from the Lower Eastern View Formation (LEVF), is pumped to a pre-treatment plant before travelling 20 kilometres to the Wurdee Boluc Reservoir where it is mixed with surface water from the Otway Ranges. Water from the Wurdee Boluc reservoir is then filtered, chlorinated and fluoridated, before supplying homes and businesses in Anglesea, Aireys Inlet, Torquay, the Bellarine Peninsula, and suburbs in the Greater Geelong Region.
Environmental monitoring will continue throughout the extraction period, and we will continue to keep you updated about the borefield and our monitoring program.
For more information on Geelong’s water storages go to Geelong region - Barwon Water.
If you would like to be kept up to date, join our project database by emailing projects@barwonwater.vic.gov.au.
Anglesea borefield Bulk Entitlement review and amendment
In November 2024 we submitted to DEECA a review of our bulk entitlement that governs the sustainable use of the Anglesea borefield. This review was accepted by DEECA in December 2024 and is now available in the document library.
We are now working to adopt any improvements identified as part of this review and incorporate them into the ongoing management of the Anglesea borefield through an application to amend our bulk entitlement.
The amendments are not seeking to increase our extraction volumes, rather these focus on ensuring the triggers and controls, including monitoring, continue to be adequate for protection of the environmental values and health of groundwater dependent ecosystems into the future.
More information
You can read more about the role the borefield plays in our region’s water security, and how it is managed to highest environmental standards, in the document library section of this page.
If you would like further information or have any questions, please contact our friendly team via projects@barwonwater.vic.gov.au or 1300 656 007.
