Officer taps into future

By Callan Date
OFFICER will be home to one of the first residential estates in Victoria to have mandatory recycled water.
The scheme, which also involves housing estates in the Cranbourne and Berwick area, is planned to save four billion litres of water a year over the next 25 years.
Water Minister John Thwaites was in Officer to make the announcement and outline plans for a range of other watersaving issues the Government is considering.
New government powers and changes to the planning system will result in more than 14,000 houses in Officer being compulsory connected to a “dual pipe” system.
Recycled water will be used from the dual pipe system to water gardens, flush toilets and wash cars in the new estates, measures expected to result in about onethird less drinking water being used.
“Recycled water also allows households to maintain green gardens throughout drought because it does not fall under water restrictions,” Mr Thwaites said.
“Greater use of recycled water is a key part of the Bracks Government’s plan to secure Melbourne’s water supplies.”
The recycled water will be sourced from the Eastern Irrigation Scheme (EIS), a major water recycling project in Melbourne’s southeastern corridor.
“This initiative helps manage growth in line with the Melbourne 2030 strategy by substituting drinking water supplies with recycled water,” Mr Thwaites said.
The Officer development will be similar to the recycled water scheme operating at the Hunt Club Estate in Cranbourne.
Purple taps, pipes, hoses and meters will clearly identify recycled water and residents will be encouraged to attend information sessions about how to safely use recycled water.