Sugarloaf Pipeline Connects to Melbourne
Quick stats
- 70km pipe to deliver up to 75 billion litres a year
- Connects to our fourth biggest reservoir
- Mixes with water from Maroondah and Yarra catchments
- Powered by renewable energy
- $750 million cost
The Sugarloaf Pipeline was officially connected to Melbourne in February 2010.
It represents the biggest boost to our water supply system since Thomson was connected in 1984.
The 70km pipe carries water from the Goulburn River, across the Great Dividing Range, and into Melbourne’s storages at Sugarloaf Reservoir.
It is one of three projects to help secure Melbourne’s water supply in the face of climate uncertainty.
- Where the water comes from
- Where the water goes
- Current status
- Impact on storages
- Boosts to our supply system
- Renewable energy use
- More about the pipeline
Where the water comes from
In 2010, the Sugarloaf Pipeline project will deliver 75 billion litres to Melbourne. This water comes from several sources, including savings from irrigation upgrades and the Goulburn Water Quality Reserve.
The water is stored in Eildon Reservoir and released into the Goulburn River to be piped to Melbourne.
After 2010, the pipe will transfer Melbourne’s one-third share of irrigation savings from upgrades happening now in Northern Victoria.
Where the water goes
Water from the pipe flows into Sugarloaf Reservoir. Here it mixes with water from the Maroondah and Yarra catchments (also stored in this reservoir).
All water from Sugarloaf Reservoir passes through Winneke Treatment Plant, to make sure it meets all quality standards.
Treated water is fed to smaller service reservoirs across Melbourne (central, northern, western, eastern and some parts of the south eastern suburbs).
Current status
The Sugarloaf Pipeline restarted for its first full irrigation season on 16 August 2010. This followed its scheduled shutdown period for the non-irrigation season between mid-May 2010 and mid-August 2010.
Due to the heavy rain Melbourne Water has temporarily suspended use of the Sugarloaf Pipeline to help make the most of the strong inflows from the Yarra catchment. The Sugarloaf Pipeline and the Yarra catchment both supply water to the Sugarloaf Reservoir.
The water already allocated to Melbourne will be kept in Lake Eildon and brought down the pipeline later in the year to continue to strengthen Melbourne’s water security ahead of summer.
Impact on storages
From 1 July 2010 our storage figure has included water in Lake Eildon that is allocated to Melbourne through the Sugarloaf Pipeline Project. This change was made to ensure our storage figure remained an accurate reflection of the amount of water actually available to Melbourne.
See our FAQ on storages for more information on this change.
Boosts to the system
Two important upgrades to Melbourne’s water supply system were completed at the same time as the pipeline.
- Upgrade to Winneke Treatment Plant – included a capacity increase to around 170 billion litres p.a. to deal with more water flowing into Sugarloaf Reservoir. Filters, tanks and pumps also upgraded. Project cost: $50 million.
- New pump station at Preston – addition of new pump house at Melbourne Water’s existing supply hub, so water from Sugarloaf Reservoir (plus Cardinia and Yan Yean) can be distributed more widely across Melbourne. Project cost: $20 million.
These two projects boost the supply capacity and supply footprint of Sugarloaf Reservoir. That means more flexibility in how we manage the system and the ability to reduce demand on other reservoirs, including Thomson.
Both project costs were part of the overall $750 million budget for the pipeline project.
See also:
- Boost to local water infrastructure ahead of pipe flows (media release)
Renewable energy use
Most of Melbourne’s water is moved around via gravity. It saves energy, emissions and costs.
Delivering more water to fill gaps that climate change has put in dam levels now means parts of the system are using more energy.
At the same time, we’re conscious of the broader need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
All energy used by the Sugarloaf Pipeline is supplied from renewable sources. A hydro plant has also been built to generate energy as water from the pipeline enters Sugarloaf Reservoir.
This is part of our target to reduce our net greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2018.
See also:
- Sugarloaf powered by renewable energy (media release)
Did you know… During construction of the pipeline, the Sugarloaf Reservoir was almost emptied (12%) to give access for works.
More about the pipeline
- Sugarloaf Pipeline project website.