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Candowie Reservoir, August 26, 2026. Video: Neil Rankine
BACK in June our main reservoirs were a sad sight with rapidly receding waterlines.
If you’ve driven past the Candowie Reservoir lately, you’ll see it’s now full to the brim, for the first time in three years. At the same time last year the water storage stood at just 45 per cent.
Candowie supplies water to Phillip Island, San Remo, the Waterline townships, Kilcunda and Dalyston.
If you’ve driven past the Candowie Reservoir lately, you’ll see it’s now full to the brim, for the first time in three years. At the same time last year the water storage stood at just 45 per cent.
Candowie supplies water to Phillip Island, San Remo, the Waterline townships, Kilcunda and Dalyston.
South Gippsland Water’s reservoirs are also full, up from 52 per cent at the end of August 2025.
The largest storage, with a capacity of 4200 megalitres supplying Wonthaggi, Inverloch, Cape Paterson and others, Lance Creek is up from 63 per cent at the end of June, and 56 per cent a year ago.
While local water storages are currently full, the Wonthaggi desalination plant is now operating at full capacity to supplement Melbourne’s water storages, which are below 70 per cent.
Wonthaggi will produce 150 gigalitres of water for 2026-27, up from 50 gigalitres in 2025-26. The desalinated water travels through an 84-kilometre pipeline to Berwick where it enters the Cardinia Reservoir. From there it can be transferred to Silvan Reservoir and on to most of Melbourne.
A Victorian water security taskforce is mulling a 50 gigalitre expansion to the plant to meet the water needs of a growing population and massive data centre boom. A decision is expected in March 2027.
Wonthaggi will produce 150 gigalitres of water for 2026-27, up from 50 gigalitres in 2025-26. The desalinated water travels through an 84-kilometre pipeline to Berwick where it enters the Cardinia Reservoir. From there it can be transferred to Silvan Reservoir and on to most of Melbourne.
A Victorian water security taskforce is mulling a 50 gigalitre expansion to the plant to meet the water needs of a growing population and massive data centre boom. A decision is expected in March 2027.
1 Comments
Growing up on a farm with only the water available being captured from the roof, has taught me how to conserve this precious resource. Unfortunately I never see the government promoting water saving measures until there is a problem. Water conservation should be an ongoing practice and encouraged by all levels of government.