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Melbourne's water
storages are currently

34.7%

Reconnecting Tarago Reservoir

The Tarago Project aims to ensure long-term sustainability of the Tarago Reservoir catchment and its waterways, increase the security of local and regional water supplies, and provide benefits to the local community.

Learn more about our activities in this region:

Tarago Reservoir
Tarago Reservoir history

The Tarago Reservoir near the small township of Neerim South was constructed in 1969 to supply several nearby townships and the Mornington Peninsula and Westernport regions.

The reservoir has a history of water quality issues and occasional algal blooms. Land surrounding the reservoir is used for a number of purposes, such as residential, agriculture and forestry, and this can have an impact on water quality.

In 1994 supply to Melbourne Water customers in Westernport and the Mornington Peninsula - who received untreated water from the reservoir - was stopped when the water became unsuitable for drinking.

Melbourne Water is now working to reconnect the reservoir to supply an extra 15 billion litres of water a year to its customers. Central to these plans is a new water treatment plant and several major initiatives to improve water quality in the reservoir.

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New Water Treatment Plant to Reconnect Tarago Reservoir

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View time lapse construction photos

When Tarago Reservoir was taken offline in 1994, Melbourne's storages were close to 90% full. Since then, the effects of climate change have greatly depleted our reservoirs and action is needed to secure Melbourne's water future in the face of further reductions in yield.

In 2005, the then Victorian Minister for Water announced that Tarago Reservoir would be reconnected to Melbourne Water customers in the Mornington Peninsula and Westernport region to provide an additional 15 billion litres of water a year.

To avoid the water quality problems of the past, a new water treatment plant must be built.

Work on the treatment plant began in November 2007. It is located in Drouin West, nine kilometres south-west of the reservoir on the route of the existing Tarago-Westerport Pipeline, and is scheduled for completion in mid-2009.

The site was chosen to enable the treatment plant to be gravity fed from the reservoir, and this combined with the plant's hill-top location will virtually eliminate the need for pumping and greatly reduce the ongoing energy costs during operation.

The purchase of the land for the plant was announced on 14 May 2007.

The technology behind the new plant is commonly used across Australia. The plant will treat water to the same high standard as at Gippsland Water's local plant in Warragul and Melbourne Water's other treatment plant at Sugarloaf Reservoir.

The key components of the process are Dissolved Air Flotation and Filtration (DAFF) and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection.

The new Tarago Water Treatment Plant is being delivered for Melbourne Water by construction partners Baulderstone Hornibrook and United Group, designer GHD and Superintendent Sinclair Knight Merz.

Keeping the community informed

Melbourne Water and our project partners are committed to keeping the community informed during the construction of the new treatment plant and will endeavour to minimise construction impacts on neighbouring residents. However, we recognise that there may be times when our construction activities will have some unavoidable impacts.

The local community can contact us toll-free on 1800 096 546 with any questions or comments about the construction process.

Keeping the community informed Keeping the community informed
Learn more about reconnecting Tarago Reservoir:

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Tarago Catchment Project - working together to improve water quality

While Melbourne Water hasn't drawn on Tarago Reservoir since 1994, it has remained a valuable water resource for the local community. Water from the reservoir is currently treated to a high standard by Gippsland Water for local customers in Neerim South, Warragul, Drouin and Rokeby. Water is also shared with local irrigators (Southern Rural Water customers) and the environment via releases to Tarago River.

Good catchment management is needed to ensure local and regional customers receive high quality drinking water from Tarago Reservoir for years to come.

Melbourne Water has been working with local farmers, residents, Landcare groups, Gippsland Water,Baw Baw Shire Council and other agencies to develop a comprehensive plan to manage the Tarago Reservoir catchment and its waterways for the long-term.

The plan aims to minimise the impact of human activities in the land around Tarago Reservoir to help ensure the highest possible quality of source water for the local community and Melbourne Water customers.

The Tarago Catchment Management Plan contains a number of projects that aim to protect water quality for current and future human consumption, conserve soils in the catchment and ensure sustainable farming practices into the future.

Huge progress has been made as a result of the cooperation and goodwill of the partners involved.

Further information on the Tarago Catchment Project:

Tarago Project Newsletter - Winter 2008 (PDF, 981kb), Tarago Project Newsletter - Spring 2007 (PDF, 470kb), Tarago Project Newsletter - Winter 2007 (PDF, 266kb), Tarago Project Newsletter - Autumn 2007 (PDF, 87kb) and Tarago Project Newsletter - Spring 2006 (PDF, 516kb) contain information on project activities.

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Update on Baw Baw Shire Planning Scheme Amendment C43

Baw Baw Shire Council and Melbourne Water are working together to improve the management of all land that forms the Tarago Reservoir Water Supply Catchment.

As part of this work, some planning scheme amendments were proposed for the townships of Neerim and Neerim Junction as well as all other land within the revised Tarago Water Supply Catchment Area.

In addition, the amendment proposed a preferred lot layout for land located at 2570 Main Neerim Rd, Neerim. A planning permit application was also lodged which proposed to subdivide part of this property.

As the planning authority, Baw Baw Shire prepared this amendment at the request of Melbourne Water who is responsible for the management of the Tarago Reservoir and the Tarago Water Supply Catchment.

Following an independent panel hearing in March 2008, the Baw Baw Shire Council has adopted the panel's recommendations for the C43 Amendment to the Baw Baw Shire Planning Scheme. The amendment has now been lodged with the Department of Sustainability and Environment for a full assessment. If approved by the Planning Minister, the amendment will be gazetted.

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Tarago River Environmental Flows Study

Melbourne Water has completed an investigation of the environmental water requirements for the rivers and streams in the Bunyip and Tarago Rivers Catchment.

Bunyip and Tarago Environmental Flow study recommendations (PDF, 58kb)

Tarago Environmental Flow study - further information:

Environmental Flow Planner
Christine Hughes, Melbourne Water, 9235 2104

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Tarago Catchment Sustainable Farms Project

The Tarago Catchment Sustainable Farms Project aims to provide landholders with funding and support to undertake projects on their land that work towards achieving sustainable production.

As part of the Tarago Catchment Management Plan, Melbourne Water and the National Landcare Program provide funding support to the Tarago Catchment Sustainable Farms Project to enable a variety of activities to take place including a Stream Frontage style grants program, educational courses such as Whole Farm Planning and Field days on topics of interest to the local landholders.

A working group consisting of community representatives, Neerim and District Landcare Group, West Gippsland Landcare Network, Department of Primary Industries Baw Baw Shire Council and Melbourne Water work together with the Project Officer; Nicole Driessen (Kimm) to achieve the outcomes of the Sustainable Farms Project.

Sustainable Farms Project - further information:

  • Nicole Driessen (Kimm), the project officer for the Tarago Catchment Sustainable Farms Project, is based at the Baw Baw Shire Council offices in Warragul. Interested landowners can contact her on 0419 366 790.
  • Visit the Neerim and District Landcare Group website for more information.

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Contact Us

Tarago Water Treatment Plant
Call toll-free on 1800 096 546

Catchment Management Plan
Craige Brown, Melbourne Water, 9235 2597

Tarago Catchment Sustainable Farms Program
Nicole Driessen (Kimm), Project Coordinator, 5624 2506 or 0419 366 790

River health
Louise Kerferd, Melbourne Water (waterway rehabilitation), 9235 1478
Gavin Brock, Melbourne Water (stream frontage management), 0408 549 451

Environmental flows
Christine Hughes, Melbourne Water, 9235 2104

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