Groundwater pumping test

We completed the Anglesea borefield pumping test on Wednesday 27 July, extracting 1,783 ML over six months. This water was used to supplement precious drinking water supplies for Barwon Water customers. The test results will inform a review of the bulk entitlement and associated monitoring program. The bulk entitlement review will confirm how much water can continue to be taken sustainably for a drinking water supply backup, and ensure the ongoing protection of groundwater-dependent ecosystems into the future.

Barwon Water’s test followed the Alcoa pumping test. Data from both tests will be used to inform the groundwater model for the area. Engaging with our community and key stakeholders – including Surf Coast Shire, Anglesea River Working Group, Friends of Anglesea River and the wider Anglesea community – was critical to ensuring a successful test. Thank you to everyone who came along to the community information sessions in January and April, or reached out to our project team to ask a question or share feedback.

We will continue to share updates with the community, including outcomes from the groundwater pumping test and next steps on the bulk entitlement review. Keep an eye out on our web page and social media for more information.

Spring monitoring program

Under the Bulk Entitlement for the Anglesea borefield, we have established a comprehensive Monitoring and Assessment Program (MAP) that has been reviewed by independent experts and approved by the Minister for Water.

As part of this program, expert zoologists and botanists from Ecology Australia undertook terrestrial and aquatic ecology monitoring in spring to early-summer 2021. This includes vegetation, frog, fish and macroinvertebrate surveys.

Thank you to the local residents for sharing observations around frog numbers with us. This local knowledge is incredibly valuable and has been referenced in the report.

The results of the spring monitoring program are available in the Ecology Australia report on the web page: www.yoursay.barwonwater.vic.gov.au/anglesea-borefield