About the process

Water plays a vital role in our everyday lives - from the inherent rights and connection Traditional Owners hold, to supporting our health, the environment, communities and our economy here in the Barwon Region.

Our region is one of the fastest growing regions in Australia and we are experiencing a long-term decline in rainfall. Over the next five years we will need to innovate and deliver new solutions to meet these challenges.

With ongoing cost-of-living pressures, we will also need to support customers who may require financial assistance.

Community input is critical to the success of Barwon Water’s longer-term planning. Listening and learning from our customers enables us to deliver what our communities value and expect from us.

Through this process we will look at the services we’ll provide, the infrastructure we’ll build and maintain, and how costs will be shared across our customer base. Your feedback will inform our next five-year promise to our customers and the prices that customers will pay in return.


Have your say

There are a number of ways we will be engaging with our customers to help shape what we prioritise and invest in between 2028-2033.

Customer survey

All residential and business customers are encouraged to complete our survey. We’d like your input to help inform our next five-year promise to our customers. This promise includes the services that we will deliver to support the community, environment and regional prosperity and the prices that customers pay in return. 

The survey will open in June.


Community panel

Our customers are also invited to join our Community Panel which will meet four times in 2026 to explore:

“How should Barwon Water invest in water and sewerage services between 2028 and 2033 and what does a valued service and fair price look like for all customers?”

The panel’s recommendation will help shape our submission to the Essential Services Commission.

Registration will be open soon.



We are coming to you!

Our team will be out and about over the next few months talking to our customers at markets, community events and meetings.

If you see us, please come and have a chat about our future plans and goals for the region.

Where does this plan (Price Submission) fit into our other strategies and plans?

We’re currently seeking feedback as we prepare to develop a number of long-term plans:

  • Strategy 2040
  • Urban Water Strategy; and
  • Price Submission 2028-2033.·

Longer-term planning is essential to the ongoing provision of valued services that supported thriving communities.

All Victorian water corporations, including Barwon Water, are required to develop and submit Price Submissions to the Essential Services Commission.

The Price Submission outlines service standards, infrastructure and operational investments, and customer prices over a five-year period (2028 – 2033).

Its priorities and actions will be incorporated into Strategy 2040, which would replace the organisation’s existing guiding vision, Strategy 2030.

The Urban Water Strategy 2027 takes a longer-term view and will outline a 50-year plan to manage demand for, and ensure sufficient supplies of, urban water.