A sustainable resource that is always in supply is greening a growing number of golf clubs in the Barwon region.

Barwon Water is helping a variety of customers to tap into recycled water, which is fit for purpose, high-quality and cheaper than drinking water.

The Apollo Bay Golf Club – traditionally one of the town’s highest users of drinking water - is enjoying the benefits of making the switch.

At the height of summer and across the year, it is maintaining its picturesque course with the help of recycled water.

The club is connected to Barwon Water’s local reclamation plant via a 1.1-kilometre pipeline, which was backed by $450,000 in funding from the Victorian Government.

“We are very pleased with our recycled water project, and the support and cooperation we have received from Barwon Water,” Apollo Bay Golf Club President Graham Hill said.

“In our very dry summer, our course is now standing up well.”

Recycled water is drawn from the plant to irrigate the majority of its course overnight, saving millions of litres of drinking water for other uses in the area.

This is a significant saving in a coastal town that is vulnerable to dry climate conditions, having experienced water restrictions in 2025 when flows reduced in the Barham River.

Apollo Bay joins a growing list of golf clubs in the Barwon region using recycled water, including Anglesea, Bannockburn, Barwon Heads, Curlewis, Portarlington, and Winchelsea.

Recycled water also supports a variety of other local businesses, such as flower farms, vineyards and sports grounds.

Several other projects are underway to further increase the productive use of recycled water and to ease the pressure on local drinking water supplies.

These include providing recycled water to irrigate the sports fields at Deakin University’s Waurn Ponds campus, and to support agricultural and tourism ventures on the Bellarine Peninsula.

Recycled water is part of our approach to mitigate dry conditions and secure our long-term water future through alternative water sources, smart technology and water efficiency initiatives.

By treating and reusing more wastewater, we can safely irrigate and green spaces without relying on rainfall. For more details on recycled water visit www.barwonwater.vic.gov.au/water-and-waste/recycled-water

Apollo Bay Golf Course Membership Secretary Susan Beatty pictured with Barwon Water General Manager People and Corporate Melissa Stephens on the Apollo Bay course.