Central Highlands Water has issued a serious warning against unauthorised access to its operational sites after several criminal incidents at its facilities.

Thieves have stolen essential electrical cabling and other critical components causing extensive damage to infrastructure, leaving vital facilities inoperable and disrupting key water and wastewater services to customers.

Under the Victorian Water Act 1989, individuals can face fines up to $237,000 and imprisonment.

CHW is urging the public to stay alert and report any suspicious activity near its facilities.

Anyone observing suspicious activity should contact Victoria Police on 131 444, Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or CHW 24/7 Faults & Emergencies on1800 061 514.

To celebrate National Water Week, October 21-27, Central Highlands Water is inviting local early learning, kindergarten and primary school students to enter this year’s National Water Week poster competition.

This year’s theme, Water for all, inspiring action, highlights the importance of access to clean water.

CHW managing director Jeff Haydon said the poster competition provided a positive opportunity to engage the younger generation around the importance of the most precious resource, water.

Youngsters planning to enter still have a little time to get cracking on their poster designs as entries close on Friday, September 6.

Central Highlands Water says it’s thrilled to have been named as a finalist across three categories at the AWA Victoria Gala Dinner & Awards held last week, Thursday 26 October.

CHW’s Ballarat Sewer Build Project was recognised for delivering prosperity and sustainability as an Infrastructure Project Innovation Award finalist.

Building essential community infrastructure for the future, the Ballarat Sewer Build is the duplication of the Ballarat East and Ballarat South sewer lines. Throughout this project, we are working alongside community interest groups to closely focus on environmental and heritage values.  

This major project is an investment of more than $25 million and will service the Ballarat community for another 100 years. Ballarat’s population has grown from 22,000 to 117,000, since the original sewer pipe was constructed, nearly a century ago. 

Improving outcomes for our communities, Yarrowee River Rehabilitation Project was shortlisted as an Organisation Excellence Award finalist.And, after more than 30 years of service to the water industry, Jason McGregor, CHW’s Emergency Management Specialist, was named as a Water Professional of the Year finalist.

 

Central Highlands Water says it was pleased to announce the winners of the 2023 National Water Week poster competition last week.

National Water Week is held during the third week of October every year. It inspires individuals, communities and organisations to build awareness around the value of water.

“Access to clean water is hugely important in our daily lives, and it’s up to all of us to protect our water environments and resources, and to use water wisely,” a CHW spokeswoman says.

“United by Water’ was the 2023 theme for National Water Week and 90 students from seven schools across the CHW service region created colourful, imaginative posters.

“From water saving, and watering the garden, to recreational water use and water in the environment, we learnt what this year’s theme means to the students in our region.”

Congratulations have gone to:
Early Learning/Kindergarten
Yirram Burron Early Learning – winner
Goodstart ELC Mt Helen – runner up
Prep/Foundation
Isabella – Timor PS – winner
Aylah – Timor PS – runner up
Year 1/2
Ivy – Waubra PS – winner
Adeline – Timor PS – runner up
Year 3/4
Emerie – Wendouree PS – winner
Kiwi – Wendouree PS – runner up
Year 5/6
Abbey and Kenzie – Napoleons PS – winner
Marlie – Waubra PS – runner up

Central Highlands Water says it’s been throwing its support behind social impact workwear brand, TradeMutt this month as October is Safe Work and National Mental Health Month. 

TradeMutt’s vibrant workwear, aims to reduce Australia’s suicide rate, by encouraging tradies and workers alike to take ownership of their own mental health, while also making a social impact through financially supporting mental health services. Every TradeMutt purchase supports TIACS.org, as well as other charitable organisations and social initiatives.

CHW team members have the opportunity to add these impactful shirts to their ongoing uniform.

“Our hope is that these new additions to our uniforms help start, or continue, meaningful conversations between our team members, contractors, and the broader community, around mental health,” a spokeswoman for the local water management body says.

“The vibrant shirts work to make an invisible issue, difficult to ignore, and furthermore enable us to improve the mental health and wellbeing of the broader community by supporting mental health services,” she says.

“As part of our safety-first culture and associated uniform regulations, all personal protective equipment must comply with Victorian Railway standards. Through our support of this mental health initiative, a partnership has formed between Trademutt and local supplier, Hip Pocket Workwear & Safety Ballarat, which saw their shirt modified to add vertical reflective tape to the design, to meet rail requirements.”

Central Highlands Water has secured $60,000 in project funding through the state government’s Waste to Energy Bioenergy Fund.
As part of the funding, CHW will explore the circular economy benefits of the localised production of bioenergy such as utilising the unused resource of the forestry wood residue left onsite after the pine plantation is clear felled.

In a statement CHW says this includes exploring the viability of processing this material into a biomass product such as a pine pellet, which can then be used as a fuel source.

Central Highlands Water has reduced its environmental footprint by using solar to power its water and wastewater treatment plants, the local water manager says.
Since their installation in 2020, CHW solar arrays have generated enough electricity to
power 995 average households for a year. Electricity is generated from 6,336 solar panels at
5 of CHW’s water and wastewater treatment plants.
General Manager Infrastructure Planning and Operations, Paul Donohue, said, “The solar
arrays are generating around 40% of the power needed for 2 major treatment plants, making
our plants more energy efficient as part of our approach to a more sustainable future.”
“During 2022, 2,575 tonnes of carbon were avoided from grid electricity. The solar facilities
produced 3,029,000 kwh of electricity last year and through solar generation, 8,688 tonnes
of carbon (CO2) emissions have been avoided,” said Mr Donohue.
“Our commitment to customers over the next 5 years is that 100% electricity will come from
renewable sources by 2025. We will reduce total emissions by 55% by 2028 and be net-zero
by 2035,” he said.
This project is underpinned by CHW’s 2040 Strategy – setting our future ambition for the
region and outlining our vision of fostering sustainable living, thriving communities, and a
healthy environment.
The Victorian Government’s Statement of Obligations (Emission Reduction) commits the
water industry to sourcing 100% of electricity from renewable sources and achieving
net-zero emissions by 2035.
“We are striving to meet our zero emissions target earlier than 2035. We will achieve this
through energy efficiencies and sourcing 100% renewable energy, electrifying our corporate
fleet and reducing methane from wastewater treatment,” Mr Donohue said.
Victoria’s water sector is leading the way, being the first in Australia to commit to net-zero
emissions by 2035.