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Urban Water Strategy
2017
newater.com.au
North East Water
Contents
List of Figures 04 3.4 Integrated Water Management Planning 25
3.4.1 Leneva – Baranduda WOWCM Plan 25
List of Tables 05 3.4.2 Baranduda Fields 25
3.4.3 Bellbridge urban reuse concepts 25
List of Acronyms 06
3.4.4 One Resource – Yackandandah 25
3.5 Climate Change 25
Summary07
3.5.1 Adapting to a changing climate 25
Background07
3.5.2 Climate change mitigation 27
Definitions07
3.6 Bushfires 27
UWS approach and findings 08
3.7 Demand reduction and management 29
Actions and options 09
3.7.1 Community and education programs 29
1. Introduction 11 3.8 Use of water markets 30
1.1 Scope 11 3.8.1 Water share trading 30
1.2 Objectives of the UWS 11 3.8.2 Allocation trading 30
1.3 Principles for UWS development 11 3.8.3 Return flow credits 31
1.4 Approaches to decision making under uncertainty 12 3.8.4 Carryover 31
1.4.1 Scenario planning 12 3.9 Further studies 31
1.4.2 Adaptive management 12
4. Levels of Service 32
1.5 Decision-making framework for guiding action 13
4.1 North East Water’s agreed level of service 32
1.5.1 Water supply planning 15
4.2 North East Water’s minimum level of service 32
1.5.2 Drought Preparedness Plan 15
1.5.3 Decision-making framework to aid integration 15
5. Infrastructure Assessment 33
1.6 Strategy content 16
1.6.1 Catchment outlines 16 6. Demand Forecast 36
1.6.2 Water Systems Atlas 17 6.1 Demand uncertainty 36
1.6.3 Drought Preparedness Plan 17 6.1.1 Population growth 36
6.1.2 Residential water consumption trends 37
2. North East Water Region 18
6.1.3 Commercial and industrial consumption trends 38
2.1 Overview of systems and supply sources 18
6.1.4 Public open space demand 38
6.2 Methodology 39
3. Recent Experience 21
6.3 Current demand 40
3.1 Previous UWS development 21
6.4 Future system demand 41
3.2 Supply augmentation 21
6.4.1 Climate change 42
3.3 Droughts and floods 22
6.4.2 Future commercial and industrial demand 43
3.3.1 Millennium Drought – from 1997 to 2009 and
recent recovery 22 6.5 Summary of demands 44
3.3.2 Drought response 24
3.3.3 Floods – 2010 and 2011 24
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North East Water
7. Supply Forecast 45 13. Community and Stakeholder Engagement 70
7.1 Methodology 45 13.1 Community engagement 70
7.1.1 Selecting scenarios 45 13.1.1 Outcomes 72
7.1.2 Selecting climate scenarios 46 13.2 Stakeholder engagement 73
7.1.3 Baseline yield and reliability 47 13.3 Aboriginal engagement 73
7.2 Supply uncertainty 48
7.2.1 Climate variability 48 14. References 74
7.2.2 Climate change projections 49
Appendix A – Description of Demand
7.2.3 Groundwater yield 50
Management Activities 75
7.2.4 Environmental requirements 50
Permanent water saving rules 75
7.2.5 Input data and model uncertainty 50
Restrictions
75
7.3 Forecast yield 50
Target your water use 75
8. System Performance Evaluation 53
Appendix B – Water Market Measures 76
8.1 Long-term assessment of performance 53
Regulated systems 76
8.2 Short-term assessment of performance 54
Unregulated systems 76
8.2.1 Outlook components 54
Access to entitlement 76
8.2.2 Outlook methods 54
Appendix C – Project Involvement 79
9. Analysing the Supply Demand Balance 56
Project control group 79
9.1 Provision of minimum and agreed level of service 56
Technical working group 79
Urban Water strategy project team 79
10. A
pproaches to Provide Service Levels 59
Stakeholder project reference group 80
10.1 Classification of initiatives 59
10.1.1 Loss reduction 59
Glossary of Terms 81
10.1.2 Demand management 59
10.1.3 Using water markets 60
10.1.4 Supply augmentation 60
10.2 Options considered 61
11. E valuation and Prioritisation of Measures 62
12. Implementation 67
12.1 Short-term actions 68
Urban Water Strategy 2017 03
North East Water List of Figures Figure 1: Reliability of North East Water’s systems at present and under high climate change 08 Figure 2: North East Water’s Strategic Intent 13 Figure 3: Alignment within North East Water’s Strategic Intent 14 Figure 4: North East Water’s decision-making framework to ensure reliability of supply in the long and short term 16 Figure 5: North East Water’s area of operation and supply catchments 18 Figure 6: Long-term annual rainfall at Beechworth (station 082001) 23 Figure 7: Long‑term annual inflow to Lake Buffalo 23 Figure 8: Regional map showing systems least resilient and most vulnerable to climate hazards 27 Figure 9: Bushfire extents in North East Water’s supply region 28 Figure 10: Illustrative change in catchment runoff after bushfire 29 Figure 11: Typical factors influencing urban water demand (from Turner et al., 2010) 36 Figure 12: Historical residential consumption per connection for Wodonga 37 Figure 13: Historical commercial and industrial consumption for Wodonga 38 Figure 14: Clear water demand breakdown for Benalla 39 Figure 15: Example demand regression fitted to treated water data (Wahgunyah / Rutherglen) 40 Figure 16: Forecast demand to 2065 for Wahgunyah / Rutherglen 42 Figure 17: Process to select climate scenarios (DELWP 2016b) 46 Figure 18: Yield and demand over the planning horizon (example only) 53 Figure 19: Reliability and demand over the planning horizon (example only) 54 Figure 20: Forecast supply demand balance for Beechworth 58 Figure 21: Supply mix scenarios for Beechworth at 2065 58 Figure 22: Location and type of engagement activities undertaken across North East Water’s Region 71 04 newater.com.au
North East Water
List of Tables
Table 1: Priority actions for those systems where modelling resulted in shortfalls prior to 2040 09
Table 2: Overview of catchments 19
Table 3: Summary of supply system changes under WSDS 2012 and associated outcomes 21
Table 4: Summary of supply system changes that did not proceed under WSDS 2012 22
Table 5: Shifts in seasonal rainfall since 1997 at Beechworth 24
Table 6: Identification and description of climate hazards 26
Table 7: Summary of education activities completed (2012/13 to 2015/16) 30
Table 8: Summary of studies to support supply augmentations 31
Table 9: Planned or likely projects and / or upgrades over the next 25 years 34
Table 10: Treatment and distribution losses adopted for the purpose of demand forecasting for the UWS 41
Table 11: Climate change adjustment factors by river basin 43
Table 12: Summary of water and wastewater demand on North East Water services 44
Table 13: Vulnerability and resilience assessment criteria description 46
Table 14: Current climate baseline yield at 90% reliability and average annual demand for North East Water Systems 47
Table 15: Current climate baseline reliability and average annual demand for North East Water Systems 47
Table 16: Climate scenarios adopted for North East Water’s systems 48
Table 17: Period of water resource assessment to account for long-term climate variability 48
Table 18: Change in climate under future climate change scenarios relative to historical conditions 49
Table 19: Climate change impacts on temperature and PET 49
Table 20: Summary of forecast yield under different climate change scenarios for each of North East Water’s systems 51
Table 21: Forecast reliability of Ovens and King towns under climate change scenarios 52
Table 22: Provision of minimum and agreed level of service 56
Table 23: Approaches under operational status 59
Table 24: Summary of categories and options considered under each 61
Table 25: Project implementation risk category definitions 62
Table 26: Summary of demand, yield, additional water requirements and options for all North East Water Systems under
high climate change scenario 64
Table 27: Summary of reliability for Wangaratta and the King towns 66
Table 28: Long-term actions to ensure reliability of supply across NEW systems 67
Table 29: Short-term actions as a result of supply demand balance assessment 68
Table 30: Short-term actions resulting from the process of undertaking the UWS 69
Table 31: Reach achieved through each engagement activity across the North East Water region 71
Table 32: North East Water customer values ranked by customers 72
Table 33: Common forms of entities to water entitlement used in Victoria 77
Table 34: Flexibility to trade water 78
Urban Water Strategy 2017 05
North East Water
List of Acronyms
Acronym Definition
BE Bulk Entitlement
CIV Commercial, Industrial and Vacant land customers.
CWS Clear Water Storage
DELWP Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
DHHS Department of Health and Human Services
DPP Drought Preparedness Plan (previously the Drought Response Plan (DRP))
EPA Environmental Protection Authority Victoria
ESC Essential Services Commission
EWR Environmental Water Reserve
GCM Global Climate Model / General Circulation Model
GMW Goulburn-Murray Water
IWM Integrated Water Management
MDB Murray Darling Basin
ML Megalitre (1 million litres)
PET Potential Evapotranspiration
RDV Regional Development Victoria
RGS Regional Growth Strategy
TWTP Trade Waste Treatment Plant
UWS Urban Water Strategy (previously the Water Supply Demand Strategy)
VIF Victorian in Future
WOWCM Whole of Water Cycle Management
WSDS Water Supply Demand Strategy
WTP Water Treatment Plant
WWTP Waste Water Treatment Plant
Please note: This document has been reissued on 31 July 2017.
06 newater.com.au
North East Water
Summary
Background Definitions
North East Water sought community and stakeholder feedback Level of Service is a measure of North East Water’s ability
for this Urban Water Strategy (UWS) prior to the finalisation and to maintain a reliable water supply to meet the needs of its
submission to the Minister for Water in March 2017. The UWS customers. Level of service objectives, for the purposes of this
is a detailed 50 year supply and demand balance required by UWS, are defined by an agreed level of service and a minimum
the Minister for Water under our Statement of Obligations. The level of service.
UWS provides information to help with planning water supply
The agreed level of service is defined as the long-term annual
now and into the future. While it covers a 50 year time period,
reliability of supply. North East Water aims to provide an agreed
a detailed review is undertaken every five years to ensure the
level of service of 90% which equates to restrictions occurring
most up-to-date knowledge and trends are included. As such
not more frequently than one year in 10 on average in the long
in 2012 North East Water delivered its Water Supply Demand
term. This reflects recent community expectations for long-term
Strategy (WSDS), the previous version of this document. The
reliability of supply based on historical experience and previous
UWS considers supply and demand projections for all townships
community consultation.
supplied by North East Water under a range of climate change
scenarios that have been determined by the State Government. The minimum level of service is the minimum volume of
The strategy considers supply enhancement and demand water which North East Water has planned to provide customers
management measures to maintain a reliable water supply. during a severe drought. It is the component of demand that
can’t be restricted, and includes in-house demand, commercial
The strategy also includes a number of
and industrial demand. North East Water plans to provide this
accompanying documents.
volume under a repeat of the worst drought on record.
• The Drought Preparedness Plan (DPP) – was revised in
early 2017 and contains the measures required to provide Reliability of supply is used in this UWS to indicate whether
minimum supply during drought years when it can become the agreed level of service is being met. It is a measure of how
necessary to restrict demand. As part of this 2017 UWS, often water restrictions could be expected to occur on average in
North East Water will work with local government and the long-term over a given climate sequence, with a given set of
communities to prioritise which public open spaces and operating rules and infrastructure, and at a given demand level.
sporting fields be kept green during drought periods. North If supply system behaviour is assessed using 100 years of climate
East Water will recognise community sentiment and any and streamflow data, and restrictions occur in five of those years
prioritised facilities in its future DPP. under current demand, then the system is said to have a current
reliability of 95%. If supply system behaviour is re-assessed at
• The Water Systems Atlas – provides an inventory of all urban
a future, higher level of demand under a drier future climate
water resources for each town including those resources
scenario, then reliability may drop, because restrictions could be
such as stormwater, surface and ground water that are often
assessed as occurring more frequently.
managed by local government and other organisations.
• Catchment Outlines – provides more specific and detailed Yield is a measure of how much water can be supplied from
information relating to the assessment of the water delivery a supply system at a specified level of reliability. It is calculated
systems capacity to meet increased water demand and as the average annual demand supplied over the period of
outlines options to ensure demand can be met until at assessment. There is usually a relationship between yield
least 2040. and reliability, in that yield decreases as the desired reliability
increases. So a given system may be able to supply 100 ML
North East Water provides water and sewerage services to an at 90% reliability but only 80 ML at 95% reliability. Yield is
estimated 110,000 people across North East Victoria. The region connected to the way a system is set up and run, so if system
has been broken into seven river basins for the purposes of this infrastructure (e.g. pump size) or operating rules (e.g. restriction
UWS and a catchment outline contains the relevant details for triggers) change then the yield changes. Yield also changes if the
each system within that river basin. These catchment outlines are characteristics of the period of assessment changes, e.g. under
complementary documents to this UWS document. climate change.
Yield projections are directly compared with demand projections
in this UWS to indicate the timing of future actions by North
East Water to maintain target level of service standards. Where
it is impractical to estimate yield, reliability of supply has been
projected over the 50 year planning horizon.
Urban Water Strategy 2017 07
North East Water
UWS approach and trends. In Benalla, Wangaratta and Wodonga two demands were
derived, one assuming the standard commercial and industrial
findings
growth assumption and another with a high growth assumption
for the commercial and industrial portion of demand.
Yackandandah’s water availability was also examined further by
Analysis of current level of demands was undertaken by various posing a second high growth scenario, which represents a higher
sectors; residential, commercial and industrial with an audit of growth than Victoria in Future predictions. This scenario is in
public open spaces and an account of losses. A demand model response to the observed growth in new residential connections
was fitted to recent consumption data to estimate current over the last decade.
demands over a long climatic period, taking into account the
Water availability was assessed using Resource Allocation
influence of climate on water consumption. Population and
Models (REALM) for each supply system, except for the Murray
demand were then both projected out to the year 2065.
River which was assessed using North East Water’s Murray
Population projections were based predominantly on Victoria System Allocation Account Model, which utilises inputs from
in Future (VIF) figures provided by the State Government, the MDBA/DELWP’s MSM-BIGMOD river system model. Model
except where the recent trend in the number of property water layout and rules were updated as a first step to ensure they
connections was widely different from VIF projections. The final were representative of the present situation. Both Walwa and
demand projections included an allowance for future population Dartmouth do not constitute part of any REALM model, and
growth, the influence of climate change on projected demands, assessment using streamflow data indicated that their water
and commercial/industrial growth in major urban centres, as availability is very secure, thus no further assessment was carried
informed by regional growth strategies and recent water use out for these two towns.
Figure 1: Reliability of North East Water’s systems at present and under high climate change
08 newater.com.au
North East Water
After an estimate of current yield and/or reliability, an assessment review when the next revision of the UWS is completed in five
was carried out in line with the Guidelines for Assessing the years’ time. In addition to towns where level of service objectives
Impact of Climate Change on Water Supplies in Victoria (DELWP, were projected to no longer be met under the do-nothing
2016b) to determine the potential impacts of future climate scenarios, Corryong and Harrietville were also placed on this list
change for supply systems assessed as being at risk of those due to uncertainties, or significant changes to the modelling
changes. This analysis resulted in all (low, medium, high and outcomes relative to the previous WSDS.
post-1997 step change) climate scenarios being adopted for all
systems except Benalla, Corryong, Harrietville, Mount Beauty
and Myrtleford which were deemed to be of lower risk. Actions and options
System yield and/or reliability was assessed at both 2040 and
2065 under the climate scenarios presented above – and Actions and options were broken into five categories:
compared to forecast demand to assess the long-term supply • Demand management
demand balance. The results of undertaking this comparison are • Loss reduction
shown in the figure over the page which also shows North East
• Water market measures
Water’s region and systems, broken down by river basin.
• Supply augmentation
Analysis of the long-term supply and demand balance resulted
• Drought preparedness measures
in the Murray, Wangaratta, and King River towns being the only
systems where level of service objectives could no longer be met Demand management and loss reduction are considered to be
prior to 2040 under any climate change condition and without relevant to all systems, and should be integrated as business as
intervention by North East Water. A second high growth scenario usual. A loss reduction program has been identified as a priority
for the Yackandandah township meant that the agreed reliability action in the UWS and targets set for those towns where losses
could not be met under any climate change scenario by the year are higher than desired (state wide average).
2026. It should be noted that the growth scenario was quite
Water market measures and supply augmentation were only
aggressive and represented a large number of allotments being
considered for systems where level of service objectives were
developed by the year 2040. This could be representative of the
projected to no longer be met by 2040 under the do-nothing
growth seen in this peri-urban centre in recent years.
scenario, which as stated above, were the Murray system,
Despite this, some systems outside of this group will be placed Wangaratta and the King River towns. Table 1 summarises the
on watching briefs to ensure they undergo a complete modelling priority actions for these three systems.
Table 1: Priority actions for those systems where modelling resulted in shortfalls prior to 2040
System Priority Actions
Murray Implement purchasing strategy
Results of the modelling carried out for this UWS should be integrated into the revised Murray purchasing
strategy, to ensure that the agreed level of service can continue to be met for the Murray towns.
Investigate Integrated Water Management (IWM) options to reduce demand or substitute potable
consumption
IWM options could be used to either reduce demand (such as installation of rainwater tanks) or to substitute
potable consumption (such as reclaimed water irrigation or stormwater harvesting). The range of options
under this banner is extensive and determination of an appropriate goal will need to be resolved.
Urban Water Strategy 2017 09North East Water
System Priority Actions
Kiewa Catchment – Modelling transfer of entitlement from Beechworth to Yackandandah
Yackandandah and Further modelling can be undertaken to understand what additional Bulk Entitlement could be reliably
Beechworth harvested from Yackandandah using the current supply source and infrastructure. This will be completed
by using some of the Bulk Entitlement from Beechworth in the REALM model and assessing what affect
it has on the yield for both Beechworth and Yackandandah. It may be found that an increase in the Bulk
Entitlement for Yackandandah may not improve the amount of water which can be reliably harvested due to
lack of inflows during certain times of the year.
Groundwater investigation
A number of desktop studies have previously been completed to explore opportunities to supplement supply
to Yackandandah through the One Resource project. Whilst there appeared to be limited opportunities for
groundwater in close vicinity of the township, the community preference was to utilise local water resources
in preference to piping water from outside of the catchment. Further physical exploration work may be
completed to confirm the likelihood of utilising groundwater to supplement existing surface water resources.
It may be worthwhile to understand the groundwater options for Beechworth as part of this investigation.
Review supplementary supply concepts covered in the One Resource project for Yackandandah
and investigate Integrated Water Management (IWM) options to explore additional water
resources to help meet potential increased future demand. Options will also address demand
reduction measures or substitute potable consumption
A body of work was completed between 2008 and 2012 as part of the One Resource project to
understand how a number of alternative water supply options could help to supplement future demands in
Yackandandah.
It is proposed that these concepts are revisited in order to understand how North East Water might best
address potential shortfalls in Yackandandah, should growth proceed at a rate flagged in the second
scenario. Some of these options included, treated piped supply from Wodonga, raw water supply from the
Kiewa River, construction of an off stream storage and development of groundwater.
It is intended that some of this work could be utilised during the IWM forums to commence conversations on
how North East Water might approach potential high residential growth in Yackandandah. The impact and
effect of other options will be addressed such as demand reduction (such as installation of rainwater tanks)
and potable substitution for outdoor areas (such as reclaimed water irrigation or stormwater harvesting).
Wangaratta and Liaise with Goulburn-Murray Water (GMW) concerning the triggers and their impact on reliability
King River Towns results
It was found that the GMW triggers were very sensitive to changes in inflows under climate change. This
has resulted in the model forecasting a reduction in reliability for both Wangaratta and the King River
townships. It is recommended that North East Water and Goulburn-Murray Water work together to develop
new triggers which are appropriate for climate change conditions.
Continue to investigate and implement additional groundwater supply to not only augment
existing supply but improve resilience at Wangaratta
Restrictions can be delayed or a less severe level of restriction can be applied if North East Water supplements
its water supply with groundwater. The bore at Kerr Street can be utilised at a rate of 3ML/d (limited by the
capacity of package treatment plant). It presently has a licence to extract a maximum of 6ML/d.
Works are underway to amend the licence agreement of this bore subject to the results of pumping
tests and approval from Goulburn-Murray Water. The aim is to be able to extract enough water to meet
Wangaratta’s unrestricted daily demand of 12.4ML/d. A more permanent treatment facility would be
required to treat the higher volumes.
An augmented groundwater supply would be able to permanently supplement current supply to meet and
maintain 90% reliability under both the current and future climate change scenarios.
Undertake a preliminary assessment of the potential for groundwater or raw water storage for
Moyhu, Oxley and Whitfield.
Should the negotiations to alter the restriction triggers for the King River townships be unsuccessful, further
assessment would be required to understand the potential for groundwater to supplement supply to these
towns, or supply augmentation in the way of raw water storage to address level of service issues.
10 newater.com.auNorth East Water
1. Introduction
The scope of the UWS is confined to communities that North
North East Water’s Urban Water Strategy (UWS) seeks to East Water currently provides water and wastewater services
identify the best mix of measures to maintain a balance to. Although it does not provide direction for unserviced areas
between the demand for water and available supply in (e.g. small towns without a reticulated potable water service),
urban supply systems now and into the future. The UWS: these opportunities are being explored through the outcomes
• has a 50 year timeframe of North East Water’s Regional Growth Strategy (RGS) and
Domestic Wastewater Management Plans.
• contains actions which
– consider the total water cycle, consistent with the
principles of integrated urban water management;
– support the development of resilient and
liveable communities;
1.2 Objectives of the UWS
– balance social, environmental and economic costs The objectives of the UWS are to facilitate efficient and effective
and benefits; and urban water and related wastewater planning and investment
– take account of the consequences and across North East Victoria, to:
uncertainty associated with population growth, • ensure safe, secure, reliable and affordable water services
climate change and climate variability. that meet society’s long-term needs.
• is reviewed on a five-yearly basis in accordance • encourage the sustainable use of all water resources –
with any guidelines issued by the Department of including rainwater, stormwater and recycled water and
Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP). rainfall-independent supplies in ways that are efficient
and fit-for-purpose, whilst ensuring that public and
environmental health are protected.
• enhance the liveability, productivity, prosperity and
environment of our cities and towns.
1.1 Scope • ensure that water needs of environmental assets are
transparently considered.
The UWS provides strategic direction for the planning and • provide for a transparent and rigorous decision-making
management of water and related wastewater services at process, with clear roles, responsibilities and accountabilities,
the whole of business level and for each individual system. which can adapt to the changing environment.
According to the Statement of Obligations issued by the Minister
for Water (DELWP, 2015) it should consider all aspects of the
urban water cycle across a 50 year planning horizon and be
consistent with the guiding principles of this Statement and any
relevant Sustainable Water Strategy. It must include: 1.3 Principles for UWS
•
•
proposed levels of service;
measures to deliver sub-regional planning outcomes,
development
and integrate water cycle management with relevant The following principles have been applied in the development
planning schemes; of the UWS.
• options to facilitate efficient investments in projects across • Customers should be consulted on their willingness and
the urban water cycle that optimise shared benefits and ability to pay for levels of service.
avoidable costs;
• Planning should be based on the best available information
• measures to adapt to climate change; about current and future water resources.
• measures to maintain a balance between the customer’s • Planning should be scenario-based, incorporating uncertainty
demand for water and the supply of water in cities in supply and demand, and where possible should incorporate
and towns; future economic development and land use planning.
• options for the management of extreme event supply
contingencies; and
• options and trigger points for major augmentations.
Urban Water Strategy 2017 11North East Water
• An integrated water management approach should be taken The demand and supply projection under these conditions forms
when developing and assessing options. All potential water the baseline scenario for North East Water’s assessment of the
sources and demand options require consideration while also future supply and demand balance. This enables North East
meeting public health and environmental regulations. Water to assess how sensitive its current supply system is to
• All servicing options should be assessed on a robust and future uncertainties. Supply options can also present differences
transparent basis, examining the social, environmental and in resilience and ability to provide security of supply. This is taken
economic costs and benefits and taking into account specific into consideration when assessing actions developed as part of
system characteristics. the strategy.
• Value of individual options to the overall supply-demand
portfolio should recognise supply characteristics (e.g. reliability 1.4.2 Adaptive management
and flexibility) as well as how much water they can produce.
Adaptive management is a systematic process of continually
• Pricing and markets should be used to help balance the
improving management policies and practices by learning
supply and demand for water, where it is efficient and
from management actions and using that learning to improve
feasible to do so.
the next stage of management (Holling, 1978). Adaptive
• Plans and strategies should be flexible to reflect additional management is required in water planning, as our knowledge of
information and knowledge as it comes to hand, as well as future conditions is uncertain. This includes changes to natural
changing circumstances. systems, the regulatory environment in which North East Water
operates and shifts in community preferences and behaviour
over time.
1.4 Approaches to decision The UWS, as a 50 year planning document that is reviewed on
a five yearly cycle, inherently ensures an adaptive management
making under uncertainty approach. Updated knowledge (i.e. changed customer
behaviour, improved knowledge on climate change impacts etc.)
is used to ensure planning and management approaches keep
pace with improved knowledge levels.
1.4.1 Scenario planning This UWS recommends actions to collect further information in
There are numerous uncertainties which can affect future supply systems where supply availability is uncertain. This defers
demand and/or water availability in North East Victoria. Based potentially costly or unnecessary infrastructure investments until
on the advice in DELWP’s UWS guidelines and Climate Change more is known about likely future supply system conditions. As
Guidance (DELWP, 2016a and 2016b), North East Water has a result of reductions in per capita water use due to changes
undertaken a combination of scenario planning and adaptive in customer behaviour long-term actions proposed in previous
management approaches to address these uncertainties. WSDSs have been deferred or are no longer required in some
supply systems.
North East Water adopted a baseline demand and supply
scenario over the next 50 years using: Being ready for these changes in conditions is important.
• Victoria in Future (VIF) population projections for residential North East Water is committed to progressing its program of
population growth1 investigations and design outlined in this UWS so that demand
reduction and supply enhancement measures are ready to
• anticipated changes in industrial/commercial demand in
implement if future conditions change. Equally, North East Water
individual supply systems
will defer large capital expenditure where small improvements in
• an adjustment for future climate change using a range of knowledge over time could have a large bearing on the timing
climate change projections and magnitude of that expenditure.
• a current-climate baseline using reference climate data from
the post-19752 period
1 Where a system’s connection history presented a growth pattern that did not correlate well to VIF growth rates an alternative growth rate
was adopted.
2 Adjusting the historical climate sequence to represent post-1975 conditions creates a long-term climate series that is representative of current
climate at recent levels of greenhouse gas emissions (DELWP, 2016b)
12 newater.com.auNorth East Water 1.5 Decision-making framework for guiding action Policy and strategy forming at North East Water is guided by the Strategic Intent. The Strategic Intent sets out a series of Ambition Statements for the five operational portfolios of People / Environment / Water Services / Assets and Infrastructure / Customers and Community, as shown below in Figure 2. Figure 2: North East Water’s Strategic Intent The UWS sits under the ‘Assets and Infrastructure’ ambition complementing the Regional Growth Strategy (RGS), Asset Management Strategy and Climate Adaption Strategy as shown in Figure 3. Urban Water Strategy 2017 13
North East Water Figure 3: Alignment within North East Water’s Strategic Intent 14 newater.com.au
North East Water
1.5.1 Water supply planning 1.5.2 Drought Preparedness Plan
This section of the UWS outlines the role of North East Water’s North East Water updated its DPP in 2017 in parallel with the
short and long-term water supply planning tools and how they update of its UWS. Common elements of the two plans include:
interlink. North East Water has three key water supply planning • common supply system descriptions
tools which form its integrated decision making framework.
• a common set of demand models
1. UWS – a proactive tool that sets out water supply and • common level of service targets, and
demand measures needed to manage water supply growth
• use of the same water resource models to assess supply
and climate change over the next 50 years.
system performance.
2. Drought Preparedness Plan (DPP) – an operational tool that
The DPP was prepared in accordance with DELWP’s Guidelines
informs how to respond to water shortages if they arise in
for the Development of Urban Water Strategies, which includes
the immediate to short term; e.g. if inflows are worse than
a section on DPPs. The DPP is required to incorporate past
expected (includes the Drought Response Plan)
Drought Response Plans as well as actions that North East Water
3. Water Outlook – short-term, forward-looking projections on will undertake to ensure that communities are prepared for the
a scenario basis that help to identify when actions scoped eventuality of drought. The DPP is a separate supplementary
either in the UWS or DPP need to be implemented to ensure document. For each supply system, the DPP discusses the
water security. (That is, which “tools from the tool-box” short-term actions available during drought and provides triggers
should be chosen for use.) for implementing those actions under future climate conditions.
The UWS sets out when particular actions might be needed over
a 50 year planning period to maintain minimum and agreed 1.5.3 Decision-making framework to
levels of service. In contrast, the DPP sets out the short-term
actions that could be needed during drought or severe water aid integration
quality events in order to maintain the minimum level of service. The role of these three water planning tools in North East
These short-term actions can include temporarily using alternative Water’s integrated decision-making framework for action
supply sources, carting water or temporarily introducing water are shown in Figure 4. North East Water will develop an
restrictions, as has occurred across North East Victoria during implementation plan as part of this UWS, which will identify
drought. Drought response actions can be implemented quickly some actions beyond the timeline of UWS review (more than
in response to an immediate need, but may not necessarily be the five years). Actions may be either deferred or brought forward
most cost effective solution in the long term. depending on the climate conditions or changes in demand.
North East Water’s UWS presents a timetable to implement When faced with a possible future water shortage, North East
demand reduction and supply enhancement measures over the Water considers a number of factors before deciding whether
next 50 years. When faced with a drought that threatens supply to implement a temporary drought response measure or a
security, North East Water has a choice about whether to bring long-term measure identified in the UWS. These include:
forward a planned long-term action, or to implement a short-term • Lead indicators of drought. Supply systems which can display
action, thereby deferring a long-term action until it is more likely early warning signs of drought allow UWS response options
to be utilised on an ongoing basis. By integrating the planning with long lead times to be implemented. For example, low
processes for the UWS and DPP, North East Water is able to allocations for towns supplied from the River Murray are
directly compare short- and long-term options to make the best generally known well in advance, whilst low river flows for
decision about which actions to implement at any given time. towns supplied from local tributaries are sometimes only
The Water Outlook demonstrates whether a supply system can known a few weeks in advance.
provide sufficient water security in the short term, or whether • Duration of drought. Longer duration droughts allow UWS
action needs to be taken. It therefore informs whether the response options with long lead times to be implemented.
prioritised list of actions determined in the UWS is the most Forecast supply system behaviour and the Bureau of
appropriate or whether actions should be brought forward Meteorology’s seasonal climate forecasts provide a broad
or delayed. indication of likely drought duration.
• Lead time for response action. An action in the UWS must
be able to be implemented quickly if it is to be an effective
drought response measure. If the lead time is longer than
the time available until reliability of supply to customers is
threatened, then the action will not help to maintain North
East Water’s minimum level of service during the drought.
• Cost of implementation. Depending on the likely duration of
drought, the cost of implementing a UWS measure may be
more or less than the cost of implementing a measure from
the Drought Preparedness Plan.
Urban Water Strategy 2017 15North East Water
Figure 4: North East Water’s decision-making framework to ensure reliability of supply in the long and
short term
• Evaluating and analysing the performance of systems in
1.6 Strategy content terms of our infrastructure and the supply and demand
balance under differing future climate scenarios (Sections 5,
Documentation prepared to support the UWS 8 and 9).
development includes: • Applying North East Water’s decision-making framework to
• UWS document (this document) classify and evaluate options to meet levels of service where
• the catchment outlines for each of the seven systems required and summarising with a timeline for implementation
for which North East Water is responsible (Sections 10, 11 and 12).
• the Water Systems Atlas • Describing how North East Water engaged with customers,
stakeholders, the Aboriginal Community and Traditional
• the Drought Preparedness Plan
Owners to finalise the Strategy (Section 13).
This UWS has been prepared in accordance with the guidelines
issued by DELWP (DELWP, 2016a). An overview of the process
used to develop the UWS is summarised below: 1.6.1 Catchment outlines
• Setting the context for the strategy by identifying North The UWS is complemented by a number of short reports termed
East Water’s region and lessons from recent experience and catchment outlines. The origin of each townships water supply
the key challenges likely to be encountered over the next determines which catchment outline it will be reported under.
50 years (Sections 2 and 3)
Each catchment outline provides more specific and detailed
• Analysing the supply and demand balance, including information relating to the assessment of the water delivery
confirming levels of service, projected demand and projected systems capacity to meet increased water demand and outlines
supply (Sections 4, 6 and 7). options to ensure demand can be met until at least 2040.
16 newater.com.auNorth East Water
1.6.2 Water Systems Atlas
The water systems atlas has been developed to present an:
• Overview of infrastructure associated with each catchment
and townships
• Location and current water resources, alternative water
sources (e.g. groundwater, stormwater, reclaimed water)
and existing ‘off grid’ initiatives. This overview has been
captured in a series of catchment and system maps
together with some high level commentary. Some more
detailed information on existing and potential alternative
water use arrangements has been summarised in the
accompanying tables.
The purpose of the Water Systems Atlas is to highlight
the diverse nature of each system and its resilience and
inform further option analysis and integrated water projects
going forward.
1.6.3 Drought Preparedness Plan
The plan sets out the actions that will be needed to prepare for
and respond to water shortages if they arise in the immediate
to short term (e.g. if inflows are worse than expected under the
assumptions on which Urban Water Strategies are based, or in
response to water quality issues).
The DPP describes how North East Water will prepare for
and manage its systems during the following types of
extreme events:
• An extreme dry period
• A water quality event of an intensity, magnitude and
duration that is sufficient to render water unsuitable for
treatment and supply.
The plan incorporates actions that North East Water will
undertake to ensure that communities are prepared for the
eventuality of drought. This will be initially captured by outlining
a process which North East Water proposes to undertake to
capture community sentiment regarding maintaining community
assets during times of drought. For example, maintaining
minimum watering for significant community parks and gardens
or sporting or recreational facilities which could deteriorate
during severe water restrictions.
The DPP details the management actions to meet critical
human water needs during the above events. The DPP has been
reviewed and updated as part of the Urban Water Strategy
and will also be reviewed and updated within 12 months of
either the lifting of any period of water restrictions or the
augmentation of any water supply system.
Urban Water Strategy 2017 17North East Water
2. North East Water Region
North East Water sources water from various locations which
North East Water is a regional urban water are detailed in Table 2. The management of these sources
corporation that: is undertaken by various bodies but predominantly by
Goulburn-Murray Water. These water sources are used to supply
• provides water and wastewater services to an
water for multiple purposes including irrigation, rural water users,
estimated population of 110,000 people across North
hydropower generation, the environment as well as the urban
East Victoria
supply to towns under the responsibility of North East Water.
• provides water services to 41 localities as shown in
Figure 5 and 50,000 connections
• produces up to 16,000 ML/yr of drinking water
•
through 21 water treatment plants3
provides wastewater services to 28 localities and
2.1 Overview of systems
•
nearly 45,000 connections
treats approximately 9,800 ML/yr of wastewater
and supply sources
through 20 wastewater treatment plants The UWS is complemented by catchment outlines, covering
• produces approximately 2,600 ML of water suitable the water supply and wastewater service for each system. An
for re-use from its 16 reuse schemes. overview of the seven catchments highlighting water source,
townships serviced, wastewater services and discharge point is
shown in Table 2. A map of North East Water’s region broken
into these systems is shown in Figure 5.
Figure 5: North East Water’s area of operation and supply catchments
3 In 2017 Goorambat will be connected to the Murray system via a pipeline from Yarrawonga and will therefore no longer use its own water
treatment plant, reducing the overall number of water treatment plants to 20.
18 newater.com.auNorth East Water
Table 2: Overview of catchments 4
Catchment Township serviced Water source Wastewater services Discharge point
for water
Broken Benalla Ryans Creek at Loombah Benalla Reuse
Dam
Kiewa Beechworth Nine Mile Creek Beechworth Reuse + Reedy Creek
Mount Beauty West Kiewa River / AGL Mount Beauty – Reuse + Kiewa River
Diversion Tunnel at Mt tertiary treatment
Tawonga Beauty Partially serviced (pumped to
Mount Beauty)
Tawonga South Pumped to Mount Beauty
Yackandandah Nine Mile Creek Yackandandah – lagoons Reuse
Murray Bellbridge Murray at Lake Hume Bellbridge – lagoons Reuse
Tallangatta Murray at Lake Hume Tallangatta – lagoons Reuse
Wahgunyah Murray at Wahgunyah Pumped to Rutherglen
Rutherglen Rutherglen – lagoons Reuse4
Wodonga Murray at Wodonga West Wodonga – Reuse + Murray River
tertiary treatment
Baranduda Pumped to Wodonga
Bonegilla / Ebden Partially serviced, pumped to
Wodonga
Kiewa Pumped to Wodonga
Tangambalanga Pumped to Wodonga
Barnawartha Pumped to Wodonga
Chiltern Chiltern – lagoons Reuse
Springhurst No service
Yarrawonga Murray at Lake Mulwala Yarrawonga – lagoons Reuse
Tungamah Tungamah – lagoons Reuse
St James No service
Devenish No service
Goorambat No service
Bundalong Bundalong – lagoons Evaporation
Eskdale Mitta Mitta at Eskdale No service
4 Reuse includes agricultural and horticultural irrigation as well as urban public open space irrigation
Urban Water Strategy 2017 19North East Water
Catchment Township serviced Water source Wastewater services Discharge point
for water
Ovens Bright Ovens at Freeburgh Pumped to Porepunkah
and King Porepunkah Porepunkah – lagoons Reuse5 + Ovens River
Wandiligong No service
Harrietville Ovens at Harrietville No service
Myrtleford Buffalo Creek at Myrtleford – lagoons Ovens River
Myrtleford
Wangaratta Ovens at Wangaratta Wangaratta – lagoons + Reuse6 + Reedy Creek /
phosphorus removal Yellow Creek
Glenrowan Glenrowan mechanical WWTP Reuse
Moyhu King at Moyhu Moyhu – lagoons
Oxley King at Oxley Partly serviced – pumped to
Wangaratta
Whitfield King at Whitfield No service
No service N/A Milawa – pumped to Oxley
Mitta Mitta Dartmouth Mitta Mitta at Dartmouth Dartmouth – lagoons Mitta Mitta River
Upper Murray Walwa Upper Murray at Walwa Lagoons Reuse
Nariel Corryong Nariel Creek at Corryong Lagoons Reuse
Cudgewa No Service
5 6
Table 2 also shows the source of water supply for each of the systems as well as how effluent is discharged from the wastewater
treatment plant. Details specific to each system can be found in the respective catchment outline including:
• bulk water entitlements
• catchment profile
• storage information
• water and wastewater treatment processes
• current and future demand and capacity of treatment plants and
• delivery and collection infrastructure
5 Reuse used for only urban public open space irrigation
6 Reuse used for agricultural and horticultural irrigation, urban public open space irrigation and industrial use. All other reuse is for agricultural and
horticultural irrigation purposes only.
20 newater.com.auNorth East Water
3. Recent Experience
year in its annual report. The current UWS is a continuation of
North East Water’s water supply systems have been this ongoing water resource planning that is being undertaken
tested by a wide spectrum of climatic conditions since by North East Water.
implementing its first WSDS in 2007, which has included
A full review and update of the UWS is scheduled to occur every
one of the driest and wettest years on record. This
five years, which gives North East Water the opportunity to
experience has allowed North East Water to test previous
adjust and refine its course of action if conditions change from
assumptions and as a result North East Water has a
currently anticipated.
higher level of certainty around appropriate drought
response trigger levels and actions.
3.2 Supply augmentation
3.1 Previous UWS The 2012 WSDS identified a number of augmentation options
that have been implemented or where implementation will
development have commenced prior to the finalisation of this UWS. Supply
augmentations and associated outcomes are summarised in
Table 3.
North East Water’s previous UWS (then titled a Water Supply
Demand Strategy – WSDS) was prepared in 2012. Since that In addition to this, the 2012 WSDS also identified a number of
time, North East Water has been tracking progress against the supply augmentation measures that did not go ahead, either
actions proposed in that strategy, with an update provided each because the situation was re-assessed or because the need for
augmentation was delayed. These are shown in Table 4.
Table 3: Summary of supply system changes under WSDS 2012 and associated outcomes
Community Change in system configuration or Key outcomes Status
change in system management
Goorambat Supply augmented with pipeline from • increase supply reliability To be constructed in 2017
Devenish • reduced water quality risks
Bright, Design of 520 ML off stream storage • increased supply reliability Delivered 2013–2016
Porepunkah, with proposed amendment of Bulk • reduced water quality risks
Wandiligong Water Entitlement.
• increased environmental passing
flows for Ovens River
Wangaratta Augmentation of Ovens River supply • increased supply reliability Phase 1 to provide current
source with ground water supplies. • alternative source for use in low supply reliability needs to be
(Phase 1) flow conditions finalised 2017/18
Supply augmented with off stream • increased supply reliability Phase 2 – development of
storage or groundwater (Phase 2) • increased system resilience long-term supply security plan
during 2018–2023 period
Harrietville Offtake physically moved from • increased supply reliability Delivered 2013
Simmons Creek to Ovens River East • avoid issues of low flow and
Branch passing flow requirements
Urban Water Strategy 2017 21North East Water
Table 4: Summary of supply system changes that did not proceed under WSDS 2012
Community Original proposed change Reason not implemented Status
Corryong Supply augmented with either off- Corryong supply deemed secure Action removed
stream storage or groundwater
Harrietville Supply augmented with either off- Move of offtake eliminated the Emergency supply bore to
stream storage, water carting or need for augmentation option improve system resilience
groundwater being investigated for delivery
in 2017/18
3.3.1 Millennium Drought – from 1997 to
3.3 Droughts and floods 2009 and recent recovery
Droughts and floods are a natural feature of the climate in Long-term rainfall behaviour for a representative rainfall gauge
North East Victoria. Major droughts lasting several years have (at Beechworth) in North East Water’s supply area is shown
occurred in the early 1900s (the Federation Drought), from the in Figure 6. The figure indicates that North East Victoria has
mid‑1930s to mid‑1940s (the World War II Drought) and the experienced several extended periods of below average rainfall
Millennium Drought recently experienced from 1997–2009. in the past, notably during the droughts mentioned above.
Severe single year droughts such as in 1967/68 and 1982/83
In Victoria, the 13 year period from 1997 to 2009 was
have also occurred at regular intervals. These droughts have
particularly dry with rainfall totals markedly below average. At
been interspersed with floods, such as that recently experienced
Beechworth, located centrally within North East Water’s supply
in September and October 2016. Other significant flood events
region, the average annual rainfall in the 10 year period from
occurred in February 1898, March 1906, April 1959, March
1999 to 2008 was 13% less than the long-term average. This
1985, December 1988 and February 2011.
is similar to the reduction in rainfall over a comparable ten year
In addition to the need for significant water shortages and period during the World War II drought (1936–1945).
restrictions, drought and floods can also impact upon water
quality which can affect the capacity to deliver safe drinking
water. General water quality risks at a system level have been
identified in respective catchment outlines. North East Water’s
Drinking Water Quality Risk Management System addresses
water quality risks in more detail.
Flood in particular can impact on wastewater treatment plants,
causing flooding and the need to release effluent in addition to
regulated releases and sewer spills.
22 newater.com.auNorth East Water Figure 6: Long-term annual rainfall at Beechworth (station 082001) While the magnitude of the reduction in average rainfall over several years of above average rainfall over the Millennium this 13 year period was not greater than in earlier drought Drought, only one year of above average streamflow was periods, the corresponding impact on stream flows was much recorded over this period. Streamflows over the period July 1997 worse than previously observed. Figure 7 shows the long-term to June 2009 were in the range of 30% to 40% below the streamflow for a representative site (inflow to Lake Buffalo) in long‑term average for the region. North East Victoria. It can be seen in this figure that despite Figure 7: Long‑term annual inflow to Lake Buffalo Urban Water Strategy 2017 23
North East Water
There are a number of key differences between the Millennium autumn rainfall declined by 27%, whilst rainfall at other times
Drought and previous drought events. The Millennium Drought of the year only reduced by 5–9%. The inclusion of post
was characterised by a sharp reduction in autumn rainfall. Millennium Drought data (the fifth column in Table 5) shows
Autumn rainfall has been found to be important across Victoria that autumn rainfall in the post-1997 period has remained
for wetting catchments to generate streamflow in the following in deficit relative to pre‑1997 long-term averages, and that
Winter/Spring period (DSE, 2009). The shift in seasonal rainfall summer rainfall has increased significantly as a percentage above
at a representative rainfall gauge in North East Victoria (at pre‑1997 historical average.
Beechworth) is shown in Table 5, where it can be seen that
Table 5: Shifts in seasonal rainfall since 1997 at Beechworth
Season Seasonal average rainfall (mm) Change in season Seasonal average Change in season
average (%) rainfall (mm) average (%)
1900/01 to 1996/97 1997/98 to 2009/10 between recent (to 1997/98 to 2015/16 between most
2010) and historic recent (to 2016)
rainfall and historic rainfall
Summer 165 155 –6% 190 +15%
Autumn 228 168 –27% 194 –15%
Winter 345 313 –9% 322 –7%
Spring 260 246 –5% 241 –7%
Total 998 882 –12% 947 –5%
Relative to earlier droughts, the reduction in streamflow in • Several of North East Water’s supply systems make provision
the Millennium Drought was further exacerbated by higher for the use of alternative water supply sources:
temperatures across Victoria. Demand for water from other – At Dartmouth, the supply source was changed from Lake
water users upstream of some of North East Water’s offtakes Tabor to the Mitta Mitta River due to poor water quality
may have also been higher than in the past, with possible conditions caused by bushfires and subsequent algae.
increased interception of runoff in farm dams and diversion of
– At Mount Beauty, the supply source was changed as
water for irrigation.
required from the regular Kiewa River source to the West
Kiewa River and Simmonds Creek sources. This occurs
3.3.2 Drought response when AGL energy turns off the aqueduct system for
maintenance which results in poor water quality due to
North East Water’s Drought Response Plan (DRP) (2012) was only high alkalinity.
activated on the following three occasions during the preceding
– At Bright, the supply source was changed from the Ovens
five years:
River source to the Bright groundwater bore during
• 2011–12: Bundalong Stage 4 restrictions (Bundalong periods of poor water quality in the river. This typically
has since been connected to the Yarrawonga water occurred several times a year. The new Bright off River
supply system) storage and WTP mitigate the risk of poor water quality.
• 2012–13: Bright – public awareness trigger reached (new – At Harrietville, the supply source was changed a number
Bright off-river storage and water treatment plant (WTP) of times between the Simmons Creek and Ovens River
have since been completed) sources as a resilience mechanism due to poor water
• 2013–14: Bright – public awareness trigger reached quality. The Simmons Creek source has now been
decommissioned.
Key emergency and contingency actions taken during extreme
water shortages included: – At Wangaratta, groundwater was used as a resilience
mechanism to supplement the Ovens River source and at
• North East Water temporarily supplemented supplies from
times was the sole source during periods of poor water
alternative sources at several of its towns when regular sources
quality caused by fires and flooding.
of water were physically unavailable or of reduced quality.
Water was carted during periods which ranged from a single
day to a number of weeks. This occurred not as a result of 3.3.3 Floods – 2010 and 2011
water resource availability but as a resilience mechanism when:
In contrast to recent trends, the summer of 2010/11 was the
– water quality was impacted by bushfires at Harrietville, and
wettest in Victoria since records began. Almost two-thirds of the
– heavy rainfall resulted in periods of dirty water at Moyhu State received rainfall with totals above the long-term average in
and Oxley. 2010. The wet conditions experienced in 2010/2011 replenished
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