About the project
Barwon Water has begun a master planning process for a North Western Recycled Water Centre north of Geelong, to service Geelong’s anticipated growth.
In 2021 Barwon Water, the City of Greater Geelong and other stakeholders created an Integrated Water Management (IWM) Plan for the Growth Areas North and West of Geelong.
As part of these plans Barwon Water purchased a 113-hectare site in 2024, at 795-865 Anakie Road Moorabool. We’ll now commence a master planning process for the site, currently referred to as the North West Recycled Water Centre, to determine how the land will be used.
Land purchased at 795-865 Anakie Road, Moorabool
About the North Western Recycled Water Centre
A key feature proposed for the North Western Recycled Water Centre is an Advanced Water Recycling Facility, which will treat and recycle water, enabling us to manufacture and move large volumes of recycled water across the region for potential beneficial uses.
The site at Anakie Road was selected for its limited impact on visual amenity, cultural sensitivity and the surrounding area, and its proximity to the proposed Growth Area locations.
While the master planning process is underway, the site will continue to be used as farmland.
Master planning
The master planning process will set out a long-term vision for the site, and guide its development to ensure Barwon Water can meet its service obligations to the local area as the area grows.
The master planning process will identify opportunities for the project to deliver on Barwon Water’s strategic goals (see Strategy 2030, and Urban Water Strategy 2022) and will set out how the project will assist us to adapt to change and uncertainty over time.
What to expect
You may see some activity on the site over the coming months as we begin environmental, biodiversity, cultural heritage and geotechnical investigations assessments.
Consultation with key stakeholders is underway. We’ll be engaging with local residents and customers to progress the master planning for the site and design of the new facility, which is expected to be operational by the mid 2030’s.
Sustainable Water Network
The North Western Recycled Water Centre is a key component of the Sustainable Water Network.
As demand for water continues to rise due to population growth, our rainfall-dependent sources are declining. This means that our region will need to find more water to meet its growing needs.
The Sustainable Water Network is an innovative option that will enable Barwon Water to manufacture and move large volumes of recycled water across the region.
The Sustainable Water Network will support the Growth Areas North and West of Geelong by reducing demands on drinking water, and supporting investment in housing, agriculture, horticulture and industrial ventures.
