Council invites residents to attend the upcoming Howlong Water Information Session to be held on Tuesday, May 10 in The Mighty River Room (Howlong Football Clubrooms) from 6-7 pm.
The purpose of the info session is to provide residents with an update on major works identified to improve the performance of the town's current water supply and strategic planning underway to allow for future growth in Howlong.
Federation Council Mayor Pat Bourke said Council looks forward to the information session which will provide residents with the opportunity to understand projects proposed.
“At our February meeting, Council endorsed for design, approval and tender documentation to be progressed in respect to projects identified for Howlong’s Water Treatment Plant and Reticulation Network,” he said.
“Council supported the recommendations provided by Council Officers to ensure the performance of the reticulation network would be improved for current users, and allow for future growth and development in Howlong. Council has been actively working towards identifying works to improve network capacity but also strategically plan for future development. It is critical that this work coincides together.”
Design and tender documentation is currently being prepared for:
- A 375 mm rising main from the treatment plant to the Read Street Howlong Water Tower.
- The refurbishment of the existing water tower.
- An additional 2.5 megalitre water tower to be constructed in the Read Street Howlong road reserve.
- A new 375 mm trunk water main to be constructed along Townsend Street Howlong, from Victoria Street to Kennedy Street Howlong.
- For other ancillary works, and a road closure for Read Street between Hawkins Street and Pell Street, and minor modification works to the existing treatment plant.
Mayor Bourke said it is estimated that design and tender documentation will finalised and referred to the budget preparations for 2022/2023, and he is confident that Council will identify funding streams for the 22/23 budget, including likely to be partly from loan borrowings, partially from Council’s water funds held in reserve, and ideally some State Government assistance.
“Council will continue to engage with the community on these projects ongoing and notify residents of any works that will affect their water supply for short periods of time whilst works are carried out,” he said.
“More will be known on the timeframe of delivery of these works, once tenders have been awarded for each project, and Council will be working as quickly as it can to ensure this work occurs in a timely manner. Notwithstanding that, this work is still expected to take between three to four years. Works proposed will not affect the continuity of current water supply and that is something Council would like to reiterate to our residents.”