The Shire of Strathbogie’s Greening Euroa Committee campaign to attract funding for an innovative, first-of-its-kind wastewater management project, received an audience with Federal Member for Indi, Helen Haines, last week.
The project aims to establish a pipeline from the Wastewater Management Facility on the Euroa Tip Road to provide treated, recycled water to Euroa’s biggest water users in town.
Council says the project is being driven by a committee of passionate locals who want to lessen the impacts of chronic water shortages in a rapidly warming climate.
Strathbogie Shire Council Mayor, Chris Raeburn said Council was excited to be supporting the committee to seek funding opportunities and thanked Ms Haines for hearing their calls.
“We had a positive meeting with the Federal Member for Indi and we were encouraged to hear that we could lead the way with the initiative, paving the way for other townships to do the same,” Mayor Raeburn said.
“We want our communities to continue to live in green townships for so many reasons including mental wellbeing, bushfire safety and the overall cooling affect that areas with ample greenery provide.”
Greening Euroa is a joint initiative between Strathbogie Shire Council, Goulburn Valley Water (GVW), Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (GBCMA) and local schools and community groups. The project has been supported by the Victorian Government through Integrated Water Management Program funding.
Greening Euroa’s Richard McGeehan said the project would be the first of its kind in Victoria.
“More than this, it presents a clever solution to a growing concern for many rural communities about how to sustainably manage outdoor spaces in the scorching summer months,” Mr McGeehan said.
“We are proud of the work we have done so far to make it happen.
“It would ensure that during times of drought our prized community spaces stay green, meeting a critical public health need.”
Mr McGeehan said the committee had received commitment from nine user groups to utilise the service.
“The program plans to deliver recycled water to each user group, and they will be responsible for all on site costs,” he said.
Federal Member for Indi, Helen Haines said she was committed to assisting Council to look for possible funding sources at a Federal level.
“It is so positive to see the town of Euroa looking to embrace innovative uses of water for the community,” she said.
“Euroa is providing great leadership to other towns in thinking creatively about the best use of our most precious resource – water.
“There is no doubt that as our climate warms our need for conserving our water and using it wisely grows. This project could be a game changer for Euroa.”
